Autoblog

MotoGP 2010: All things Italian leave their mark on Japan's home turf [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Japan, Motorcycle, Event Alert, Racing

As the battle between Fiat-Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa materialized over the last few rounds of racing action, it appeared that this past weekend's Japanese Grand Prix would offer fans somewhat of a "perfect storm" in terms of two-wheeled racing drama. Pedrosa entered as the only man with a mathematical chance of swiping the crown from Lorenzo this late in the season, with both jockeys desiring to become the pride of Spain, their home country, adding to that. Plus there's the fact this duo headed to Japan piloting two of the country's finest examples of two-wheeled awesomeness... Oh, we could hardly wait!

That was precisely when the news of Pedrosa's shoulder injury, and the need for a surgery that would put him out of the race, rolled across our desk, kind-of-like a lead balloon sent to squash our dreams. However, that feeling was quickly replaced with anticipation again as the Japanese round offered up edge-of-the-seat racing to satisfy our appetite. But as the dust settled, we were left with a podium full of all things Italian.

First, Casey Stoner continued his winning ways and put his Italian bike atop the block by passing pole-man, and Italian native, Andrea Dovizioso, who took great care to match Stoner's pace for a time, only to gladly hang on as second man under the checkers just 3.8 seconds behind the Ducati. Jorge Lorenzo did end up with a battle on his hands, albeit not as he may have expected, as team-mate Valentino Rossi put the final boot shaped nail in the podium while knocking the points leader out of the winners circle. Follow the jump for the complete top ten, which included an unexpected performance from American Colin Edwards.

[Source: motogp.com | Image: AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: All things Italian leave their mark on Japan's home turf [Spoilers]

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MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]

Devon Brozek — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Racing

When Dani Pedrosa left Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week, there's little doubt he was the envy of his fellow MotoGP contenders. The Spaniard clinched victory, proving that he possessed not only the speed, but also the fortitude to truly challenge Jorge Lorenzo. The question on everyone's mind was this: Could Pedrosa and Repsol Honda really mount a solid comeback? Make the jump to find out.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: Mirco Lazzari GP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]

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MotoGP 2010: Getting back on track in the Czech Republic [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

For us, the mid-season break in GP action seemed reminiscent of the Monday night following the Superbowl, something is just missing. As the hot tires penciled in the fast lines around the Brno circuit, we remembered just what it was: lightning fast motorcycles of course! High winds and poor weather conditions slowed the race pace - the fastest lap of the actual race was over a second slower than Dani Pedrosa's fastest qualifying run.

For much of the field, the Czech Republic represented a chance to get back on track and realize the goals they have set forth, and for others those goals seem just out of reach.

Take, for example, the stark contrast of the top two finishers. For winning rider Jorge Lorenzo, the goal of clinching his first world championship seems solidified by his outstanding performance, leaving the Czech round with a 77-point buffer as the show heads back the States. For runner up Dani Pedrosa, the goal of not only emerging victorious but also putting the heat on Lorenzo seemed far off, as he cleared the checkers ahead of third place finisher Casey Stoner, but yielded almost 5.5 seconds to Lorenzo's Yamaha in the process.

Off the box, Ben Spies made good use of a front-row start, clinching fourth position by edging out Valentino Rossi, who rounded out the top five. If Spies lands in The Doctors' vacated Fiat Yamaha seat, as expected, he could become the man to watch in 2011. As the official news of Rossi's departure to Ducati (and subsequent Italian Stallionry) sets in, we can't help but wonder if we will continue to see reserved performances from Rossi for the remainder of this season as he focuses on staying healthy for his Desmo-debut.

Also worth noting was the performance of Randy de Puniet, who became the second rider this year (the other being Rossi, of course) to return from a badly broken leg and finish within the top ten, even if it was just barely. It's good to see the Frenchman back in the game. If its official results and championship standings you're after, click past the break. If you yearn for an up close look at the action, pack your bags and head to Indy for the next round August 29th!

[Source: motogp.com | Image: Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Getting back on track in the Czech Republic [Spoilers]

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Valentino Rossi makes switch to Ducati officially official

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Motorcycle, Celebrities

We're sure that none of you saw this one coming, right? To the surprise of absolutely nobody paying even an ounce of attention, Valentino Rossi has officially announced that he will ride for the Ducati factory team for the 2011 MotoGP race season. It's a veritable dream scenario for Italy, as an Italian rider will take to the track at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing aboard a bright red Italian motorcycle. Bellissima!

It's expected that American Ben Spies will take over Rossi's vacated paddock at the Fiat Yamaha factory team, joining 2010 title-leading rider Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo himself told us as much in an interview ahead of the U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca a few weeks ago. Rossi's teammate at Ducati is very likely to be American rider Nicky Hayden, giving the Italian team a duo of riders who have each won world championships - in Rossi's case, an impressive nine of them, in fact.

Of course, we already knew that current Ducati rider Casey Stoner was transitioning to Honda at the end of the 2010 season, where it's rumored he could share space with both Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso. Read Vale's own emotional statement about the move to Ducati, which was made shortly after the end of the latest MotoGP round in the Czech Republic, after the break.

[Source: Valentino Rossi]

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MotoGP 2010 USA: Live action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca [Spoilers]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Racing

MotoGP action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're live from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca today for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, and we just witnessed some awesome racing action. Well, awesome for some riders, less so for others. For instance, we're certain that Factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa isn't particularly pleased with his result.

After leading the race for the first 11 laps, Pedrosa crashed out at turn five. Yamaha-mounted Jorge Lorenzo, who had positioned himself in second position following Pedrosa, inherited first place. He would not relinquish his grip on the lead for the remainder of the race, earning his sixth win of the 2010 season and his first at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The rest of the field sorted itself out over the course of the race, with Ducati (for now, at least) rider Casey Stoner finding himself in second place behind Lorenzo by 3.5 seconds. Third position was claimed by Valentino Rossi, who made his second start of the season riding with a broken leg.

Andrea Dovizioso relinquished third position to Rossi with just five laps left to go in the race, and he ended up finishing in fourth place. American riders managed to take the next three slots, with Nicky Hayden edging out Ben Spies and Colin Edwards (in that order) for fifth. Check out our high-res image gallery below and see the full finishing order after the break.

Gallery: MotoGP 2010: Race action from Mazda Raceway

Continue reading MotoGP 2010 USA: Live action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010 USA: Live action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP 2010: Qualifying in pictures, Lorenzo on the State of Yamaha

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Racing

Jorge Lorenzo at the 2010 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're live from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix this weekend, and we've just finished unloading our memory cards after MotoGP qualifying. Let's just say that the race is even more awe-inspiring in person than it is on television. The sights, the sounds and the smells truly are amazing. We can only hope that our high-res image gallery below can offer at least a bit of the excitement that we feel after witnessing the amazing athleticism required to handle the famous Corkscrew.

We also found a way to sneak away a few of Jorge Lorenzo's rather valuable time, and we asked a couple of questions that we know are on the minds of MotoGP fans the world over. First up, Lorenzo tells us that Ben Spies is very likely to be his teammate on Yamaha's Factory Team in 2011. Where will Valentino Rossi be? Lorenzo's not going to speculate, naturally... but draw your own conclusions on that one.

Further, Lorenzo - who is on pole for tomorrow's race - indicates that relations between he and Rossi are "not good." Again, not exactly earth shattering news to anyone paying attention, but we still thought it was interesting that Lorenzo chose those words in our interview. And finally, for those who may be interested, Lorenzo's last name is indeed pronounced "Lorentho," as you hear on American television every MotoGP weekend. So there you go.

Stay tuned for actual racing results tomorrow, and be sure to check past the break for the official qualifying results.

Gallery: MotoGP 2010: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Qualifying in pictures, Lorenzo on the State of Yamaha

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MotoGP 2010 Sachsenring: Shake-up, crack-up and the return of The Doctor [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Racing

Call it a feeling of shear uncertainty, nervousness if you will... or better yet anticipation. That is exactly what the German round of MotoGP racing provided for fans around the globe. Not only was the Sachsenring round the mid-marker of this season's racing schedule, but more importantly it would give life back to the shake-up that can only be described as "The Rossi Factor." A turn-nine crash by Randy de Puniet, which would take out two other riders culminating in his motorcycle bursting into flames, didn't hurt the action either.

Just as the rest of the field were settling into their respective places in the championship fight, and only six weeks after the brutal high-side that would leave a bone poking through his skin, Valentino Rossi - who had to hobble out to his bike using crutches - returned to racing with the goal of salvaging valuable championship points and proving that no one should relax just yet. As racing reached blastoff - and after the Puniet crash and re-start of the abbreviated 21-lap race - Jorge Lorenzo was able to fall into a familiar position at the front of the pack, but Repsol Honda pilot and runner-up in overall points Dani Pedrosa was not about to let Lorenzo run away with the German round.

After swapping positions several times, Pedrosa finally took firm control of the lead and proceeded to set a blistering pace around the Sachsenring circuit, setting a track record only to best that time two laps later on his way to a 3.5-second margin of victory. Lorenzo admitted to happily playing it safe on his way to second place, collecting valuable championship points, when he said, "Dani was very, very strong and I was at the limit trying to stay ahead."

Stoner, Rossi and Dovizioso competed the top five in just that order, with Rossi almost edging his way on to the podium as he and Stoner had a wonderful battle that would last right up to the final turn. Hit the jump for the full top ten results, including that of Spies and Hayden. To put it mildly, we can't wait to see what develops as the action comes Stateside. See you at Laguna!

[Source:Motogp.com | Image: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010 Sachsenring: Shake-up, crack-up and the return of The Doctor [Spoilers]

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MotoGP 2010: Tire choice plays a key role for top finishers at Assen [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:38:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

The sixth round of GP racing for 2010 from the Assen circuit marked not only the 80th anniversary of the Dutch TT but also the further dominance of Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo. With Rossi still out, Lorenzo's winning ways seem untempered by any of the fields competitors. The Spaniard's start-to-finish victory also places him within an elite grouping of riders who have taken victory in three unique (125cc, 250cc and Premier) classes at the Dutch track.

As right wrist exercises began, Lorenzo secured the starting lead, with a confident Ben Spies following closely behind. The young American, still charged from his podium finish at Silverstone, would flicker early in the race allowing himself to be passed by a heavy-handed Dani Pedrosa - who was making his way forward from a seventh place start - but also the Ducati of Casey Stoner to fill the top three positions and chase the series points leader.

This is where tire choice began to play a key role in the action. As Pedrosa and Stoner began to reel in Lorenzo in the beginning, it became clear that the softer tire compound was paying early dividends for the runners-up. As lap-after-lap action continued though, the Yamaha shod with a firmer compound rubber held up well and was said to be a critical component in the overall victory by a margin of just under three seconds. Pedrosa would go on to hold off a very driven-looking Casey Stoner (who must have wanted to prove us wrong for calling his performances thus far marginal) to hold on to second place, stationing the Aussie on the last tier of the podium.

The final two spots in the top five belong to the Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovisioso and the non-factory Yamaha of Ben Spies. If Spies keeps this pace up though, future descriptions of his ride will probably not include the term non-factory for long. The sun has set on round six, and it would appear that a clear direction is forming in the championship hunt. Just remember, we are only one third of the way through this great season, and there will be a whole lot more opportunity for thrills, spills and good or bad tire choices to come. For now you can click past the break for a full listing of the top ten finishers, but don't fear, we'll see you next round in Catalunya!

[Source: motogp.com | Vincent Jannink/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Tire choice plays a key role for top finishers at Assen [Spoilers]

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MotoGP 2010: Momentum and surprises from Silverstone [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, UK, Racing

We came away from the Italian GP round with the feeling that anything was possible. The season had settled into a blistering pace and drama had definitely begun to unfold. Departure from Mugello left many heads spinning as we saw defending champ Valentino Rossi leave on a stretcher following a nasty get-off and the subsequent end of Yamaha's ownership of the top spot on the podium. We have a feeling that did not sit too well with the boys in blue, as Jorge Lorenzo showed up at Silverstone to put a punctuation on his championship points lead... a 6.743 second punctuation to be exact!

The race launch gave birth to a hungry pack of racers, and although Lorenzo held the top honors, there would be no runaway (at least not at first) as Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa gave early chase with the lead swapping between riders as early as lap one. As the laps ticked off though, Jorge had found his way to a comfortable lead, leaving the real battles behind him. Andrea Dovisioso and Randy de Puniet pushed hard to round out the podium, while a pair of patient young Americans named Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies lay in wait just outside the top three.

As the rubber boiled in Great Britain and the laps wound down to just three, Dovisioso made his move pulling away from the battle with de Puniet. Just as this was happening, Spies also found his speed and was able to make another pass stick on the Frenchman, riding inside the top three for the first time this year. Nicky Hayden also managed to put his Ducati in front of de Puniet and would pass the checkers in the number four spot for the fourth time since Qatar. After suffering an extremely poor start and having to work his way up the ranks from the very last position, Casey Stoner pulled up the caboose of the train that would pass de Puniet prior to the finish line and round out the top five.

So there we have it folks, Jorge Lorenzo is taking care of business, both for Yamaha and for his championship hopes. Andrea Dovisioso is quickly becoming a solid runner up, and all the while Ben Spies finally found his groove and got a bottle of champagne in the process. We can only hope Hayden can break his fourth place curse one of these rounds. As for his teammate Casey Stoner... well, his results remain marginal at best this season, and it remains to be seen if that is going to change.

Next stop: the Netherlands. We can only imagine that it is still anyone's game at Catalunya! Click past the break for the top ten results.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Momentum and surprises from Silverstone [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010: Momentum and surprises from Silverstone [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP 2010: Italian round opens door to endless possibilities [SPOILERS]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

Racing into the first turn at Mugello - Click above to see a video of Rossi's crash and the finishing results after the break

The streak has ended, the defending champ is on the bench with a broken leg... oh, the humanity! The fourth round of world-class two-wheeled racing may just go down as the definitive turning point in a season that up to this point has been high on excitement seeing the one-two punch of team Fiat-Yamaha dominate the podium.

The largest single piece of news from Italy comes not from who was racing, but rather who was not. With defending champ Valentino Rossi suffering a broken leg in practice (see image gallery below), the rest of the field no doubt felt a good bit of remorse for their fallen comrade but also likely a renewed sense of possibility, knowing that one less obstacle remained between each man and the championship. Would points leader Jorge Lorenzo extend his lead and take an unprecedented fourth win for the blue and white camp?

As the tires spun and the smell of burnt rubber signaled the start of racing, a new color graced the front of the pack, with Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa setting the pace under the Italian sun. Pedrosa never looked back as he developed a lead of over seven seconds at one point in the race, all the while setting a new circuit record on his way to a convincing start-to-finish victory in Mugello. Lorenzo held up well in the "first loser" position and was able to hold on to crucial championship points, however he posed little threat to Pedrosa's dominant performance.

Andrea Dovisioso challenged Lorenzo throughout the race but seemed to eventually fade comfortably into the the final podium position. This is where the action really heated up. Ducati claimed the number four position in as many rounds, but this time it was at the hands of Casey Stoner, who showed for the first time this season that he might just want to win something, holding off Marco Melandri and Randy de Puniet in a very close three-way battle. We'll see you June 20th at Silverstone as the action continues and the possibilities seem endless... what next?

Check out our high-res image gallery detailing the aftermath of Rossi's crash at Mugello and hit the jump to see a video of the accident as it unfolds along with the finishing order from the race.

Gallery: Valentino Rossi crashes at Mugello

[Image: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Italian round opens door to endless possibilities [SPOILERS]

MotoGP 2010: Italian round opens door to endless possibilities [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP 2010: Action continues at LeMans, no letup in sight [spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

As the action continues relentlessly in the premier venue of motorcycle racing, round three took us to the land of champagne and baguette, as the French race lent the first glimpse of clarity into how the championship fight might turn out.

Straight out of the chutes, Fiat-Yamaha rider and international superstar Valentino Rossi converted a great start into an early lead, while Dani Pedrosa and points leader Jorge Lorenzo brought on the chase. The Yamahas were quickly one-two as Lorenzo passed Pedrosa and began to close the gap on Rossi. By lap seven, the points leader made his move for the front, only to see Rossi respond almost immediately to reclaim the lead. After ten loops, Lorenzo put a pass on that would stick, and was able to hold a convincing five-second lead as he passed the checkers, extending his overall points margin to nine ahead of Rossi, who repeated his second place finish from Spain. This also marked a third straight top finish for a Yamaha pilot in as many rounds, a feat that has not been repeated since 1980.

Behind the leaders, the battle to round out the top five was an intense one, using up the entire race to play out. During a dramatic final lap we saw Pedrosa surrender two positions in another battle of teammates, allowing Andrea Dovizioso to squeak by followed by the hard-charging Ducati topped by Nicky Hayden, who again carried the red team's results. Casey Stoner struggled and was put out of the race early due to a turn-six crash that he would be unable to return from, begging the question of whether his mind has already departed for Japan? Next stop: June 6th for all things Italian at Mugello and a chance for dethronement of the Yamahas. We can hardly wait!

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: AP Photo/David Vincent]

MotoGP 2010: Action continues at LeMans, no letup in sight [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Casey Stoner leaves Ducati for Honda

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Motorcycle

2009 MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to reports streaming in from the Italian media (via Visordown.com), Australian phenom Casey Stoner is planning to switch teams from Ducati to Honda following the 2010 MotoGP season that's currently taking place. If true, that will punch a gaping hole in the Italian manufacturer's rider lineup for 2011, leaving American Nicky Hayden alone in the race paddock assuming he's back with Ducati.

We'd have to assume that Stoner would replace Dani Pedrosa (seen leading the Australian at last year's U.S. Grand Prix) atop the Repsol Honda lead bike, leaving us to wonder where the star Spanish rider might end up in '11. In any case, the leading candidates for the supposedly open Ducati seat both come from the Fiat Yamaha camp, as Jorge Lorenzo has reportedly been a potential Ducati target for the last few seasons and Valentino Rossi, last year's champion, has previously said he had an open offer from Ducati.

Then again, there's those always-persistent Rossi-to-Ferrari rumors, too. And it's important to remember that this rider movement is still firmly in the rumor stage. Regardless, with the 2010 season just barely underway, next year is already shaping up to offer a slew of intriguing story lines.

Gallery: 2009 MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix

[Source: SportsMediaSet.it via Visordown]

Report: Casey Stoner leaves Ducati for Honda originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP: All out battle at Jerez keeps the 2010 season running full throttle [Spoilers]

Devon Brozek — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Motorcycle, Racing

Final lap battles, changes atop a world championship leader board and a season that's keeping us champing at the bit for each new round. With absolutely no disrespect to cream-colored ponies or crisp apple strudels, we can say with confidence that MotoGP 2010 is delivering a few of our favorite things.

With one swift pass on the inside, Spain's Jorge Lorenzo not only crossed the finish line in first place, but also claimed the same rank in the battle to crown a new world champ. The Spanish round was not characterized by a runaway victory at the hands of the Fiat Yamaha rider, as his Honda-mounted countryman and rival Dani Pedrosa held the top spot most of the race. Lorenzo came from third position passing not only Pedrosa, but also his teammate Valentino Rossi, in the process of hunting down the win. This battle came down to the final lap and involved passing margins that seemed to embody the 'rubbin is racin" philosophy.

The intense action at the Jerez circuit adds fuel to an already burning fire of possibilities for the 2010 MotoGP season. Once again, Nickey Hayden fell just short of the podium in fourth position besting his Ducati teammate Casey Stoner, who claimed the final place in the top five. Stay tuned as the drama unfolds, and yes, we are officially hooked.

[Image: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images]

MotoGP: All out battle at Jerez keeps the 2010 season running full throttle [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP: Autoblog tours the Yamaha garages

Drew Phillips — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:09:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle

Yamaha MotoGP Garage Tour - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Access to the garage areas of MotoGP teams is limited to say the least, and all but the highest-level passes will leave you trying to get a glimpse from afar while the mechanics diligently work on the bikes throughout the weekend. Good fortune was with us, however. Yamaha was kind enough to give us access to its garage so we could take a closer look at the inner-workings of a MotoGP team.

While we couldn't spend too much time in any of the areas, we were amazed to see just how much goes into simply setting up each garage. Space is at a premium, so everything is extremely well organized. The workstations are incredibly clean, and some sections are even carpeted. Perhaps our favorite part was getting a close look at the motorcycles and their components. Each bike is a beautiful mass of carbon fiber, titanium, and CNC-machined parts. Yamaha allowed us to take photos, so you can check out the two-wheeled rides of Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Colin Edwards for yourselves in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Yamaha MotoGP Garage Tour

MotoGP: Autoblog tours the Yamaha garages originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle

Professionals earn pockets full of cheese usually because they do whatever it is they do better, faster, stronger than anyone else. Sometimes, though, they get the big bucks because they'll do something again after having nearly killed themselves the first time. That is: they'll get right back on the horse when a lot of non-professionals would instead grab a gin and tonic and watch reruns of I Love Lucy.

Jorge Lorenzo earned his money and a stay in hospital over the weekend during practice for the MotoGP China Grand Prix. On one run the bike bucked under him coming out of a turn, sending the 21-year-old rider up out of his seat like he was riding a bronco, but he managed to keep the bike upright and moving. On a following run he wasn't so fortunate, highsiding, somersaulting, and suffering a fractured left ankle, a painful right ankle, a cut heel, a knee abrasion, and forearm compression.

But here's where Lorenzo really impresses: he still got on the bike to qualify on Saturday, and came in fourth in Sunday's race. Follow the jump to check out the videos of the bucking incident and the highside. And from now on, the word you're looking for to describe Jorge Lorenzo: pro.

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Continue reading VIDEO: Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead

VIDEO: Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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