New sponsor revealed for Repsol Honda team at Valencia

Friday, 5 November 2010

Factory team riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso will display the “One Heart” logo on both their leathers and the fairings of their respective RC212V bikes this weekend, and in 2011.

The Repsol Honda Team unveiled on Thursday the new logos that will feature on the side of the factory RC212Vs and also on the riders’ leathers at Valencia and in 2011. The “One Heart” logo features prominently on the race suits of Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, and also on the lower fairing of the factory Honda race machines.
“One Heart” is the slogan of Astra Honda, Honda’s subsidiary operating company in Indonesia, where Honda is the market leader and produces 3.3 million motorcycles per year. In Indonesian, One Heart translates to “Satu Hati”, which is also displayed on the machines and the riders’ uniforms. The motto reflects the dreams, passion, and the lifestyle shared by Honda and its young and vibrant customers in Indonesia.

Pedrosa prepared for second place battle

Thursday, 4 November 2010

The Repsol Honda rider arrives at Valencia for the final round of the season looking to secure the runner-up spot in the Championship, and he has a 19-point advantage over Valentino Rossi.

This weekend Dani Pedrosa will be hoping to give his home supporters something to cheer about as he goes all out to defend second place in the World Championship. With a 19-point lead over Valentino Rossi in third place, and after his impressive injury-defying race in Portugal on Sunday where he placed eighth, the 25 year-old is determined to put in another fighting performance at a track he loves.
Following last weekend’s Grand Prix of Portugal, Pedrosa visited the Dexeus Hospital in Barcelona to undergo electromyography scans on his left arm and shoulder, which confirmed that there is no nerve damage as a result of the broken collarbone he suffered a month ago. Pedrosa is now hopeful that the lack of feeling he experienced in his left arm during and after the Portuguese race will be less of a problem this weekend. With five wins to his name at Valencia, one in the 125cc class, two in 250s and two in MotoGP - including victory last year, Pedrosa certainly has the pedigree to make a return to form at Valencia.
“In a couple of days I will get back on the bike again at Valencia and I really hope to feel better than I did on Sunday in Estoril. The last medical checks I had this week have shown that the nerves are not affected and this is positive, even though I’m feeling the same symptoms of numbness. I went to Clinica Dexeus to have an electromyography scan in my left arm from the neck to the hand. It showed that the nerves are OK, so I will continue having physiotherapy and I hope that gradually the lack of feeling passes,” explained Pedrosa.
“Despite the circumstances, I’m going to Valencia in a good mood because this is a track I love and the atmosphere there is always special. Last year we had a great race, so I want to get a good result regardless of my physical condition. We have a new sponsor this weekend from Honda in Indonesia. When I visited Indonesia this year I was really amazed by how many people follow MotoGP there. They are very passionate and knowledgeable about the championship, so it’s good that this new sponsor on the Repsol Honda machine can create a link with this country.”
The RC212V race machines of Pedrosa and his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso will also be displaying an important new sponsor’s logo. The “One Heart” design will appear on the factory Honda team fairings from first MotoGP practice on Friday morning as Pedrosa and Dovizioso begin their preparations for the final race of 2010.
“One Heart” is the slogan of Honda’s joint venture operating company in Indonesia, called Astra Honda. The motto crystalizes the dreams, passion, and the lifestyle shared by Honda and its young and vibrant customers in Indonesia. The Indonesian motorcycle market is a very important one where Honda is the market leader and plans to increase its motorcycle production to four million units by the end of 2011. This valuable new partnership with the “One Heart” brand will also continue through 2011, connecting the Repsol Honda Team with the huge enthusiasm for MotoGP in Indonesia, where TV viewing figures average over one million per race.

Yamaha announce factory team management changes

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

The Japanese factory has confirmed the departure of Davide Brivio from its MotoGP organisation, with the appointment of Massimo Meregalli in a Team Director role.

Yamaha Factory Racing would like to inform the media of a change of management within the Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team.
After the last race of the 2010 season in Valencia on November 7th Davide Brivio will leave the Yamaha MotoGP organisation. Davide has been working with Yamaha in a variety of roles over a 19-year term, including as Team Manager of the Factory Yamaha World Superbike Team and also as Team Director and most recently as Team Manager of Valentino Rossi's crew in the Factory Yamaha MotoGP Team.
Yamaha would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation for the long collaboration and specifically for his involvement in the highly successful partnership with Valentino Rossi over the past seven years. We wish Davide all the best for the future.
At the same time we would also like to inform you of the appointment of Massimo ("Maio") Meregalli, who will join the Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team in the role of Team Director. Maio joins the MotoGP Team as a next step in his successful career to date with Yamaha as Team Manager of the Yamaha Motor Italia Supersport Team and, more recently, as Team Manager of the championship-winning Yamaha World Superbike Team.
Maio will begin his new role from Monday November 8th in preparation for the 2011 MotoGP tests in Valencia and he will work together with Team Manager Wilco Zeelenberg to form an experienced and unified management team for 2011 and beyond.
Further details of the complete 2011 Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team organisation will be issued on Monday November 8th in Valencia.
Yamaha Factory Racing Team Press Release

Rossi all set for “emotional weekend” in Valencia

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

The Fiat Yamaha rider is targeting a victory in his final race with the Japanese factory after seven success-packed years.

The latest chapter of Valentino Rossi’s incredible career will draw to a close this weekend at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana, when the Italian brings to an end a highly successful seven-year partnership with Yamaha.
After 46 wins and four World Championships together the final round of the 2010 MotoGP World Championship will also be the 31 year-old’s last race with Fiat Yamaha, and both he and his team are determined to ensure that what has been a relationship built on accomplishments bears one final victory.
"So here we are, my last race with Yamaha and it will be an emotional weekend for all!” said Rossi, who won at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in his first season with Yamaha in 2004. “Of course I would really like to try to win this final race because it would be a great end to this partnership, which has had so many beautiful moments.”
Rossi comes into the final round off the back of four consecutive podium finishes, the most recent being last weekend’s second place in Portugal, and he is confident of being in a good position to put on a strong display.
“We improved the setting of our bike again in Estoril so I hope we will be in good shape in Valencia, although it hasn't been the best track for me in the last few years,” he said. “Anyway this is a special weekend so we will do everything that we can. I am third in the Championship after Estoril and second is not impossible, although we know Dani is strong in Valencia and he is still 19 points ahead."