Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ducati's Nicky Hayden stops by AMG headquarters for a new CLS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/22/ducatis-nicky-hayden-stops-by-amg-headquarters-for-a-new-cls/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/22/ducatis-nicky-hayden-stops-by-amg-headquarters-for-a-new-cls/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/22/ducatis-nicky-hayden-stops-by-amg-headquarters-for-a-new-cls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Nick Hayden and the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG
Nicky Hayden takes delivery of his new Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

Membership, they say, has its privileges. Just ask Fernando Alonso, who's landed himself a free Ferrari 458 Italia, Maserati GranCabrio and Abarth 695 since moving to Maranello. That's a heck of a garage, but it's fairly standard for F1 drivers to get comp'd on free cars from the automakers that support them. But while MotoGP riders can probably get their hands on any bike their hearts desire, when it comes to a new car, the nature of their profession leaves them in the same position (albeit likely a better paid one) as the rest of us.

That's where AMG's partnership with Ducati comes in. (Well, that and a special edition Cigarette speedboat.) Since the Mercedes-Benz performance division sponsors the Italian bike racing team, they invited star rider Nicky Hayden down to the headquarters for a quick visit. And while he was there, the 2006 world champion picked out for himself a set of (four) new wheels. In Hayden's case, he took home a new CLS63 AMG, complete with the AMG Performance Package and the Edition One trim with matte grey paintjob.

Nice work if you can get it, and we bet his teammate Valentino Rossi will be stopping by for his own new ride in due course. He may have to pass Hayden in the standings to get there, though.


Gallery: Nicky Hayden at Mercedes AMG headquarters


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Ducati's Nicky Hayden stops by AMG headquarters for a new CLS

Ducati's Nicky Hayden stops by AMG headquarters for a new CLS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clscls amgducatimercedesmercedes-benzmercedes-benz cls 63 amgmercedes-benz cls63 amgmotogpnicky haydenFri, 22 Apr 2011 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19918996/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/22/ducatis-nicky-hayden-stops-by-amg-headquarters-for-a-new-cls/19918996/article-detail.xml 19918996 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-hayden-amg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-hayden-amg.jpg <![CDATA[Showdown: Rossi versus Alonso, winner wears red]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/05/showdown-rossi-versus-alonso-winner-wears-red/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/05/showdown-rossi-versus-alonso-winner-wears-red/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/05/showdown-rossi-versus-alonso-winner-wears-red/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Formula 1 drivers in go karts

In what's sure to be a competitive affair, MotoGP star Valentino Rossi and Formula 1 ace Fernando Alonso are scheduled to go head-to-head in a race for ultimate Italian bragging rights. One thing's for certain: the winner will wear red.

On January 10th, when fellow Italian brands Ducati and Ferrari share the stage to show off their racing wares at the annual Vrooom event, the so-called Challenge Exhibition will pit Rossi and Alonso, along with the rest of the two teams' drivers and riders, in go karts specially prepared to drive on the ice and in 4X4 Fiat Pandas on an off-road course.

We wish there was a little two-wheeling on the schedule... we know Rossi is more than capable on four wheels, but we're kinda curious how Alonso might fare with only half his normal contact patches. In any case, feel free to place your bets in the Comments section.

[Source: Visordown]

Showdown: Rossi versus Alonso, winner wears red originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1felipe massafernando alonsoferrariformula 1kartkartingnicky haydenvalentino rossivrooomWed, 05 Jan 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19786290/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/05/showdown-rossi-versus-alonso-winner-wears-red/19786290/article-detail.xml 19786290 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/ferrari-kart_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/ferrari-kart.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/motogp-2010-aragon-adds-fuel-to-the-comeback-fire-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/motogp-2010-aragon-adds-fuel-to-the-comeback-fire-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/motogp-2010-aragon-adds-fuel-to-the-comeback-fire-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dani Pedrosa MotoGP

With racing action returning to Spain and the top two contenders being Spanish natives, MotoGP Aragon certainly became a highly competitive forum not only for the championship race, but also for bragging rights at stake in front of the home-country fans. For Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, added pressure came in the form of also being caught in a late season battle for the overall championship points lead. However, as the checkered flag waved, neither of the Spanish shoe-ins would emerge victorious.

Coming from pole position for the first time this season, Ducati-mounted Casey Stoner, rode quickly and consistently as he maintained control of the lead from start to finish, earning his first victory this season. The win also neatly advanced him into third place in the overall points standing. Giving chase, Dani Pedrosa struggled from the outset to find good grip, eventually making his way just behind Stoner. Unable to match his pace, Pedrosa would have to settle for second, which is exactly where things got interesting.

Click on the jump to see who was able to knock Lorenzo off the podium for the first time this year, in the process adding fuel to Pedrosa and Repsol Honda's comeback fire.

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

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS]

MotoGP 2010: Aragon adds fuel to the comeback fire [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AragonBen SpiesCasey Stonerdani pedrosaducatihondajorge lorenzoMotoGPMotoGP 2010Nicky Haydenspainvalentino rossivalentino rossi ducatiyamahaMon, 20 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19640500/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/09/20/motogp-2010-aragon-adds-fuel-to-the-comeback-fire-spoilers/19640500/article-detail.xml 19640500 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/dani-pedrosa-getty-630-1285015840_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/dani-pedrosa-getty-630-1285015840.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



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]

MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP at Indianpolis

The hype, the drama and one final chance to perform in front of the home town crowd made Indianapolis Motor Speedway a forum for several American riders to "leave it all out on the track " before MotoGP departed the U.S. for the remainder of the season. But with so much happening off the racetrack, when all the cast members were in place, who really had what it took to steal the spotlight? Make the jump to find out.

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

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Winds of change blow into the Brickyard [Spoilers]

MotoGP 2010: Winds of change blow into the Brickyard [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben SpiesBenSpiesdani pedrosaDaniPedrosaDesmosediciDesmosedici-RRducatiIMSIndianapolisindianapolis motor speedwayIndianapolisMotorSpeedwayMotogpMotoGP 2010motogp2010Nicky HaydenNickyHaydensoap operaSoapOperathe brickyardTheBrickyardMon, 30 Aug 2010 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19612592/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/30/motogp-2010-winds-of-change-blow-into-the-brickyard-spoilers/19612592/article-detail.xml 19612592 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/gyi0061433601-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/gyi0061433601-630op.jpg <![CDATA[Back to His Roots: The Kentucky Kid returns to the Indy Mile, but not to race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/back-to-his-roots-the-kentucky-kid-returns-to-the-indy-mile-bu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/back-to-his-roots-the-kentucky-kid-returns-to-the-indy-mile-bu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/back-to-his-roots-the-kentucky-kid-returns-to-the-indy-mile-bu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Before Nicky Hayden was an international superstar making use of some of the best front brakes in the world on his MotoGP bike, he was just a kid from Kentucky who made a name for himself forgoing the front binder altogether and winning a ton of AMA flat track races. Back then he was known as the rookie, or the Kentucky Kid... On August 28th, that same kid from Kentucky will have officially come full circle (pun-intended) by returning to the track that helped launch his career.

Timing being everything, Mr. Hayden will be in Indianapolis working his real job as a Desmo pilot, which gave him the opportunity to accept the invitation to act as Grand Marshal of the AMA Pro Grand National Championship at the historic Indy Mile. Is it a coincidence that Nicky's sponsor, Ducati, recently made some major in-roads to the Harley-Davidson-dominated world of flat track racing? Not likely, but the return of the Kentucky Kid to his childhood playground will no doubt be a special occasion for the racer and fans alike.

If you would like to read the complete event blotter, hit the jump. Nickey Hayden fans can join us in the hope that the trip to the Indy Mile will be a powerful reminder of what it takes to win races when he makes it back over to the big show at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

[Source:Ducati]

Continue reading Back to His Roots: The Kentucky Kid returns to the Indy Mile, but not to race

Back to His Roots: The Kentucky Kid returns to the Indy Mile, but not to race originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ama pro racingAmaProRacingducatiflat trackflat track ducatiflat track racingFlatTrackFlatTrackDucatiFlatTrackRacingharley davidsonHarley-DavidsonHarleyDavidsonhaydenIndy MileIndyMileMotogpMotoGP 2010motogp2010motorcycleNicky HaydenNickyHaydenthe kentucky kidTheKentuckyKidThu, 26 Aug 2010 08:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19606618/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/26/back-to-his-roots-the-kentucky-kid-returns-to-the-indy-mile-bu/19606618/article-detail.xml 19606618 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/nicky_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/nicky.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Getting back on track in the Czech Republic [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/motogp-2010-getting-back-on-track-in-the-czech-republic-spoile/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/motogp-2010-getting-back-on-track-in-the-czech-republic-spoile/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/16/motogp-2010-getting-back-on-track-in-the-czech-republic-spoile/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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]

MotoGP 2010: Getting back on track in the Czech Republic [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben spiesBenSpiesBrnocasey stonerCaseyStonerCzech RepublicCzechRepublicdani pedrosaDaniPedrosaducatijorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzoMotogpMotoGP 2010motogp2010Nicky HaydenNickyHaydenrandy de punietRandyDePunietThe DoctorTheDoctorValentinovalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiMon, 16 Aug 2010 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19594474/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/16/motogp-2010-getting-back-on-track-in-the-czech-republic-spoile/19594474/article-detail.xml 19594474 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/motogp-czech_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/motogp-czech.jpg <![CDATA[Valentino Rossi makes switch to Ducati officially official]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/15/valentino-rossi-makes-switch-to-ducati-officially-official/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/15/valentino-rossi-makes-switch-to-ducati-officially-official/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/15/valentino-rossi-makes-switch-to-ducati-officially-official/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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]

Continue reading Valentino Rossi makes switch to Ducati officially official

Valentino Rossi makes switch to Ducati officially official originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ducatijorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzomotogpmotogp 2011Motogp2011nicky haydenNickyHaydenrossirossi ducatiRossiDucatiValentinovalentino rossivalentino rossi ducatiValentinoRossiValentinoRossiDucatiSun, 15 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19594276/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/15/valentino-rossi-makes-switch-to-ducati-officially-official/19594276/article-detail.xml 19594276 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/rossi-doctor_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/rossi-doctor.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010 USA: Live action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/25/motogp-2010-usa-live-action-from-mazda-raceway-laguna-seca-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/25/motogp-2010-usa-live-action-from-mazda-raceway-laguna-seca-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/25/motogp-2010-usa-live-action-from-mazda-raceway-laguna-seca-spo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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


Photos by Jeremy Korzeniewski / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben spiesBenSpiesbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewscasey stonerCaseyStonercolin edwardsColinEdwardsdani pedrosaDaniPedrosaducatihondajorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzolaguna secaLaguna Seca RacewayLagunaSecaLagunaSecaRacewaymazdamazda racewayMazda Raceway at Laguna SecaMazda Raceway Laguna SecaMazdaRacewayMazdaRacewayAtLagunaSecaMazdaRacewayLagunaSecaMotogpmotogp 2010motogp2010motorcycle racemotorcycle racingMotorcycleRaceMotorcycleRacingnicky haydenNickyHaydenvalentino rossiValentinoRossiyamahaSun, 25 Jul 2010 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19567861/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/25/motogp-2010-usa-live-action-from-mazda-raceway-laguna-seca-spo/19567861/article-detail.xml 19567861 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/motogp-mazda-lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/motogp-mazda-lead.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010 Sachsenring: Shake-up, crack-up and the return of The Doctor [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/motogp-2010-sachsenring-shake-up-crack-up-and-the-return-of-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/motogp-2010-sachsenring-shake-up-crack-up-and-the-return-of-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/19/motogp-2010-sachsenring-shake-up-crack-up-and-the-return-of-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



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]

MotoGP 2010 Sachsenring: Shake-up, crack-up and the return of The Doctor [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben SpiesBenSpiesCasey Stonercasey stoner hondaCasey Stoner y DucatiCaseyStonerCaseyStonerHondaCaseyStonerYDucatidani pedrosaDaniPedrosajorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzolaguna secaLagunaSecaMotogpmotogp2010motorcyclemotorcycle accidentmotorcycle racingMotorcycleAccidentMotorcycleCrashMotorcycleRacingmotorcyclesNicky HaydenNickyHaydenSachsenringThe DoctorTheDoctorvalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiMon, 19 Jul 2010 17:40:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19559006/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/19/motogp-2010-sachsenring-shake-up-crack-up-and-the-return-of-th/19559006/article-detail.xml 19559006 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/motogp-germany_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/motogp-germany.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Momentum and surprises from Silverstone [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/21/motogp-2010-momentum-and-surprises-from-silverstone-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/21/motogp-2010-momentum-and-surprises-from-silverstone-spoilers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/21/motogp-2010-momentum-and-surprises-from-silverstone-spoilers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrea DovisiosoAndreaDovisiosoBen SpiesBenSpiesbritish gpBritishGpCasey StonerCaseyStonerducatijorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzoMotoGPmotogp2010Nicky HaydenNickyHaydensilverstonesilverstone circuitSilverstoneCircuitvalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiMon, 21 Jun 2010 17:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19523840/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/21/motogp-2010-momentum-and-surprises-from-silverstone-spoilers/19523840/article-detail.xml 19523840 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/motogp-silverstone_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/motogp-silverstone.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Italian round opens door to endless possibilities [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/07/motogp-2010-italian-round-opens-the-door-to-endless-possibiliti/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/07/motogp-2010-italian-round-opens-the-door-to-endless-possibiliti/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/07/motogp-2010-italian-round-opens-the-door-to-endless-possibiliti/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben SpiesBenSpiesCasey Stonercasey stoner hondacasey stoner repsol hondaCasey Stoner y DucatiCaseyStonerCaseyStonerHondaCaseyStonerRepsolHondaCaseyStonerYDucatidani pedrosaDaniPedrosaitalyjorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzoMotogpMotoGP 2010MotoGP ChampionshipMotoGP-10Motogp2010MotogpChampionshipmugellonicky haydenNickyHaydenrepsolrepsol hondaRepsolHondaValentinovalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiMon, 07 Jun 2010 18:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19505521/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/07/motogp-2010-italian-round-opens-the-door-to-endless-possibiliti/19505521/article-detail.xml 19505521 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/motogp-mugello_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/motogp-mugello.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Action continues at LeMans, no letup in sight [spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/24/motogp-2010-action-continues-at-lemans-no-letup-in-sight-spoi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/24/motogp-2010-action-continues-at-lemans-no-letup-in-sight-spoi/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/24/motogp-2010-action-continues-at-lemans-no-letup-in-sight-spoi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Casey Stonercasey stoner repsol hondaCaseyStonerCaseyStonerRepsolHondafrancejorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzoLeMansMotogpMotoGP FranceMotoGP round 3MotoGP round threeMotogpFranceMotogpRound3MotogpRoundThreeNicky HaydenNickyHaydenvalentino rossivalentino rossi ducativalentino rossi ferrariValentinoRossiValentinoRossiDucatiValentinoRossiFerrariMon, 24 May 2010 18:39:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19489521/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/24/motogp-2010-action-continues-at-lemans-no-letup-in-sight-spoi/19489521/article-detail.xml 19489521 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/motogp-france_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/motogp-france.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP: All out battle at Jerez keeps the 2010 season running full throttle [Spoilers]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dani pedrosaDaniPedrosaducatifiat yamahaFiatYamahagrand prixGrandPrixjerezjorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzomotomoto gpmotogpmotogp jerezmotogp jerez 2010MotoGP10motogp2010MotogpJerezMotogpJerez2010motorcyclemotorcyclesMotorcyle racingMotorcyleRacingmotorsportsNicky HaydenNickyHaydenPedrosaRound two moto gpRoundTwoMotoGpValentinovalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiMon, 03 May 2010 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19461908/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/03/motogp-all-out-battle-at-jerez-keeps-the-2010-season-running-fu/19461908/article-detail.xml 19461908 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/motogp-jerez_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/motogp-jerez.jpg <![CDATA[Stoner crashes, Rossi wins: MotoGP 2010 is officially out of the chutes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/stoner-crashes-rossi-wins-motogp-2010-is-officially-out-of-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/stoner-crashes-rossi-wins-motogp-2010-is-officially-out-of-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/stoner-crashes-rossi-wins-motogp-2010-is-officially-out-of-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Yes, we can officially get, not just a little, but very excited by the first taste of Grand Prix action from the opening round of MotoGP, which happened over the weekend at Losail Raceway in Doha, Qatar. The Doctor, Valentino Rossi, continues to prove that his winning ways are no mere fluke, as he topped the podium at Losail followed by Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.

On to the 64 thousand dollar question, where was Casey Stoner? After a marginal start that left him caught in traffic, he had successfully picked his way to the front of the pack by the start of lap three. By lap six however, the blazing fast Aussie would be victim to a turn four get-off that would have him finishing outside the top ten... or twenty, for that matter. This cleared the way for the Doctor to claim victory with the precision of a seasoned champ. Although Rossi saw some challenges before the checkers waived, in typical fashion, he was just as fast as need-be to emerge victorious.

One other highlight worth mentioning was the performance of that other Ducati guy, Nicky Hayden, who showed the speed to be a front-running contender this season after several years of mediocrity. Good to see you back in it Nicky! Yamaha's Ben Spies rounded out the top five, offering up the first glimpse of the season that he'll be a contender before too long.

And there you have it folks, The 2010 MotoGP season is officially out of the chutes, and "backing it in" to steal a position at the front of our limited attention span, so far looks like it could be one of the best seasons ever. Hit the break to see the full top ten results.

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

Continue reading Stoner crashes, Rossi wins: MotoGP 2010 is officially out of the chutes

Stoner crashes, Rossi wins: MotoGP 2010 is officially out of the chutes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 motoGP2010MotogpBen SpiesBenSpiesCasey StonerCasey Stoner y DucatiCaseyStonerCaseyStonerYDucatiducatilosailLosail International CircuitLosailInternationalCircuitmotorcyclemotorcycle racingMotorcycleRacingNicky HaydenNickyHaydenOpening round GPOpeningRoundGpqatarQatarGpsuperbikesuperbikesThe DoctorTheDoctorvalentino rossiValentino-RossiValentinoRossiwheeliewheeliesMon, 12 Apr 2010 08:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19436726/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/12/stoner-crashes-rossi-wins-motogp-2010-is-officially-out-of-the/19436726/article-detail.xml 19436726 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/v-rossi-motogp-getty-water-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/v-rossi-motogp-getty-water-630.jpg <![CDATA[Ducati unveils Desmosedici GP10 MotoGP bike in Italy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/15/ducati-unveils-desmosedici-gp10-motogp-bike-in-italy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/15/ducati-unveils-desmosedici-gp10-motogp-bike-in-italy/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/15/ducati-unveils-desmosedici-gp10-motogp-bike-in-italy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ducati GP10 MotoGP motorcycle - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the big switch back to a full liter of displacement for MotoGP racing motorcycles won't go into effect until the 2012 racing season, there are still major performance gains to be had with the current 800cc powerplants. Evidence of such can be seen in the new Ducati Desmosedici GP10 racer, which was just unveiled at an exclusive event in the Italian Dolomite mountains.

The biggest change to the bike's outward appearance is its new tail-mounted exhaust location, which does a lot to clean up the side view of the bike and looks absolutely amazing in execution. It's under the carbon fiber skin, though, where the most important changes take place, starting with a heavily revised cooling system designed to allow each engine to last longer - a nod to new rules stipulating that each team can only use six engines per rider for the entire season.

Besides the expected updates to the pistons, rods and crankshaft, the major news is that Ducati has switched back to a so-called big-bang firing order for its V4 engine, which the manufacturer claims will make the powerful bike easier to ride with improved grip and traction. In addition, the rear half of the bike was made stiffer in an effort to keep the machine from squatting under hard acceleration. Check out our high-res gallery of images below and be sure to click past the break to see the live unveiling captured on video.


Gallery: Ducati GP10 MotoGP motorcycle


[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Ducati unveils Desmosedici GP10 MotoGP bike in Italy

Ducati unveils Desmosedici GP10 MotoGP bike in Italy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casey stonerCaseyStonerducatiducati gp10DucatiGp10gp10motogpnicky haydenNickyHaydenFri, 15 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19317636/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/15/ducati-unveils-desmosedici-gp10-motogp-bike-in-italy/19317636/article-detail.xml 19317636 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/ducati-desmosedici-gp10_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/ducati-desmosedici-gp10.jpg <![CDATA[Ducati launches 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition at U.S. Grand Prix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/ducati-launches-848-nicky-hayden-special-edition-at-u-s-grand-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/ducati-launches-848-nicky-hayden-special-edition-at-u-s-grand-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/04/ducati-launches-848-nicky-hayden-special-edition-at-u-s-grand-p/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ducati is using this weekend's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California as the backdrop to launch its new 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition sportbike. The new machine, which will only be available here in the States, features the same 134-horsepower L-twin Evoluzione powerplant, wet-clutch and six-speed gearbox as the rest of the 848 line.

As the first of the 2010 848s introduced, the new Special Edition ushers in a revised LED dash cluster, optional 30mm mirror extensions for those with long-torsos and improved aluminum cam belt tensioner pulleys to go along with its new patriotic livery.

The 848 Nicky Hayden SE will carry a $14,495 sticker price - a reasonable $500 over the asking price for last year's 848 - and will hit Ducati dealerships in America on July 7th after being on display throughout the U.S. GP festivities starting on the 4th. Click past the break for the official press release.


Gallery: Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition

Continue reading Ducati launches 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition at U.S. Grand Prix

Ducati launches 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition at U.S. Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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