Casey Stoner has already showed his prowess in this season of MotoGP (FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix). The Aussie rider claimed seven victories of the 12 races so far aboard his Ducati Desmosedici V4. He aims to score more wins to ensure his championship crown this season. Stoner currently leads the point standings with a total of 246 points, a 60-point lead ahead of his closest rival, the 7-time world champion Valentino Rossi.

Stoner and the rest of Ducati Marboro Team now prepares for the next race in Misano circuit for the 2007 San Marino Grand Prix.

Stoner commented:
"Misano will be a strange race because nobody really knows what it will be like to race a MotoGP bike round there. Loris and I did two display laps at the World Ducati Weekend because the fans wanted to see the Desmosedici race bike. The track isn’t too bad but I feel it needs to be improved because it’s very bumpy, so it’s going to be pretty loose on these bikes. We’ll just have to wait and see how it goes, it could be good for us. I still want to try and win races, if we do good work in practice and we have a good rhythm, we will try and win, if not we will just do the best job we can."

"Every race now I feel less pressure because this season has been unbelievable for us, we’ve proven we’re fast enough, we’ve already won a few races and we’ve got a bigger points advantage. I’m already very happy with the season, so I don’t feel any more pressure. We’re getting the results because we all work really hard: Ducati and the team work hard, Bridgestone works hard, I give them good information and I’ve been training really hard off the track."

Livio Suppo, Ducati MotoGP project director also commeted:
"As an Italian Factory it is always a special event for us to race in Italy and it is a dream for us to be going to Misano leading the World Championship. Although we are having a fantastic season we have yet to win a MotoGP race on home tarmac, so Casey and Loris will be doing their best on Sunday. Casey is doing a fantastic job at the moment, he really is an incredible rider, so talented and so focused, it is a real pleasure to work with him."

I guess the upcoming San Marino GP is really an advantage for Ducati team. It is Ducati’s ground brother!

The FIM Superbike World Championship (SBK) returns in the U.S. after three years. Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) will host a FIM Superbike World Championship race for the 2008 season in June 1st, according to its owner Larry Miller. MMP is one of most popular racing circuits in the United States, located outside Salt Lake City, Utah.

"We are thrilled to bring FIM Superbike World Championship to Miller Motorsports Park." Miller said during the announcement. "This will be the biggest international sporting event in this state since the Olympic Winter Games in 2002. We look forward to welcoming the international motorcycle racing community to Utah, as well as the thousands of new fans from across the United States and the world, who will be visiting Utah and our facility for the first time."

Alan Wilson, General Manager and CEO of MMP also commented: "The FIM Superbike World Championship is a very prestigious event. I would like to thank Maurizio Flammini of FGSPORT for his help in crafting this agreement."

Flammini answered: "We consider Miller Motorsports Park a very interesting circuit, with top facilities compared with the American standard. I am sure that the riders, teams, sponsors and media representatives who currently participate in our events will very much enjoy this circuit and the State of Utah."

Organizers of this upcoming event expect that Superbike fans all over the world will gather at Miller Motorsports Park for next year’s racing event. Unfortunately, fans wont be able to see SBK super star and current point leader James Toseland as he will move to MotoGP (FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix) in 2008.

While waiting for the 2008 season of Superbike World Championship, why not try upgrade your auto parts like Volvo S40 parts?

Whew! My fave bike rider Casey Stoner once again conquered a MotoGP race.

The recent 2007 Czech Grand Prix that took place in Brno was full of excitement as the Aussie rider dominated the other riders and took home his 7th win in the 2007 season of MotoGP (FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix). Stoner still leads the driver’s championship standings with a total of 246 points, a 60-point lead over Valentino Rossi.

Our fellow American riders, John Hopkins (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) and 2006 champion Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda Team) followed Stoner on the podium finishing in the 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Check out what the winner Casey Stoner said after the race in Brno.
 
"We got an awesome start, I started off with six tenths on John, then the gap went up to a second, up to 1.2 seconds, then back down to one second, then up a little bit, down a little bit," reflected Stoner. "I felt like I was close enough to the limit and he was still there and chasing me down, I was surprised and a little worried he could catch me but we just kept our pace until eight laps to go, then we started to pull a small advantage. I just had to keep up my concentration level to try and pull that advantage."

"The bike, the team and the tyres have been performing faultlessly at the past few races and it’s just nice to top things up with another win," stated Stoner after today’s victory. "It was a great race!"

"I’m still going out there trying to win races, that’s what we’re here for, we’re all out there fighting for every point. We knew we had a better package than everybody else today, so I just had to push through. That’s the way I look at it - if you concentrate on it race by race it makes things a little easier. We’ve got a few things and a lot of tyres to test here tomorrow," Stoner said. "I’m looking forward to the tests because although we’ve got a really good package it’ll be great if we can improve it. Also these tests will help the machine for next year when hopefully we can come out a bit stronger."

Meanwhile, here is the complete result of the 2007 Czech Grand Prix.

1.     Casey Stoner     Ducati Marlboro Team               
2.     John Hopkins     Rizla Suzuki MotoGP          
3.     Nicky Hayden     Repsol Honda Team          
4.     Dani Pedrosa     Repsol Honda Team          
5.     Chris Vermeulen         Rizla Suzuki MotoGP     
6.     Loris Capirossi     Ducati Marlboro Team          
7.     Valentino Rossi     Fiat Yamaha Team          
8.     Randy De Puniet     Kawasaki Racing Team          
9.     Alex Barros     Pramac D’Antin MotoGP          
10.     Carlos Checa     Honda LCR          
11.     Toni Elias     Gresini Honda          
12.     Anthony West     Kawasaki Racing Team          
13.     Sylvain Guintoli     Tech 3 Yamaha          
14.     Shinya Nakano     Konica Minolta Honda          
15.     Kurtis Roberts     Team Roberts          
16.     Ivan Silva     Pramac d’Antin          
17.     Makoto Tamada     Tech 3 Yamaha          
DNF     Colin Edwards     Fiat Yamaha Team     

I wonder when will BMW (maker of BMW 530 parts) compete in MotoGP racing. Hmmm.

The 2008 model year of Yamaha’s YZ250F bike now comes with numerous upgrades and other new features. This bike is ready to take the dirt tracks and of course, the air. Check out the technical specs and main highlights of the 2008 YZ250F below.

SPECS
Engine
Type    250cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 5 titanium valves
Bore x Stroke    77.0mm x 53.6mm
Compression Ratio    13.5:1
Carburetion    FCR-MX37 x 1
Ignition    CDI
Transmission    Constant-mesh 5-speed; multiplate wet clutch
Final Drive    Chain Drive
Chassis
Suspension/Front    Speed-Sensitive System inverted fork; fully adjustable, 11.8-in travel
Suspension/Rear    Fully adjustable single shock; 12.0-in travel
Brakes/Front    Hydraulic single disc brake, 250mm
Brakes/Rear    Hydraulic single disc brake, 245mm
Tires/Front    80/100-21-51M
Tires/Rear    100/90-19-57M
Dimensions
Length    85.1 in
Width    32.5 in
Height    51.2 in
Seat Height    38.8 in
Wheelbase    57.8 in
Ground Clearance    14.6 in
Dry Weight    204 lb
Fuel Capacity    1.8 gal    

KEY FEATURES
* A redesigned piston bumps compression ratio from 12.5:1 to 13.5:1, further exploiting the inherent efficiency of the five-valve combustion chamber. Carburetion and ignition revisions complement the increased compression.
* Adjustment of gear backlash between clutch primary gears and balancer gears reduces mechanical noise.
* Changes to the clutch boss and primary driven gear improve clutch oiling for excellent durability.
* Matte black crankcase covers: light and cool-looking.
* Changes to the shape of the outer fork tubes and lower triple clamp, and revised fork internals, result in excellent handling, great damping and a smooth ride.
* Optimized linkage ratio provides a smoother ride and enhanced rear wheel traction.
* 55mm stainless steel footpegs replace 45mm ones for great grip and comfort, and a new brake pedal eases operation.
* Grippy new Bridgestone knobbies front and rear.* A ProTaper aluminum handlebar in adjustable clamps, Excel rims and a titanium shock spring are just a few tricks up the YZ250F’s sleeve.
* “Gripper” style seat cover offers excellent feel and control.
* ProTaper handlebar with durable, comfortable grips.

After the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP riders now prepare for the upcoming 2007 Czech Grand Prix that will take place at the Masaryk circuit in Brno this coming August 19th. The race track is quite challenging for the riders because of numerous up hills and down hills, as well as abrasive areas.

The current MotoGP point leader, and my fave MotoGP rider Casey Stoner is ready for the Czech GP. Stoner aims to continue his winning streak this season at Brno. The 2nd placer Valentino Rossi also wants to take home the trophy. The Italian rider, which is considered as the "Michael Schumacher of MotoGP" is looking forward to win another race in Czech Republic. Meanwhile, although the current MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden is quite unlucky this season, he is still positive and aims to win other races.

Check out what the three drivers has to say about the upcoming race in Brno.

Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro):
"It’s good to be going racing again after getting back to Australia for a bit during the summer break. I want to keep pushing and win more races, that’s my plan," commented Stoner. "I like the circuit a lot. It’s another of those fast, flowing circuits, a little bit like Mugello and Phillip Island, so it’s always been one of my favorites."

Valentino Rossi (FIAT Yahama)
"I’m really looking forward to getting back onto the bike and doing the best we can to get back into the fight. Laguna made many things quite clear about the situation that we’re in this season and I know that many people at Yamaha and Michelin have been working very hard during this break in order to help us to be in better shape. Of course we know that the championship is going to be difficult, but we were in a worse situation at this time last year, with less races remaining, and we still managed to come back to lead the fight. This time it will be very, very hard because Stoner is very strong and is not making mistakes, but we won’t give up. I know my team, Yamaha and Michelin will continue to give 100% and we will fight at every one of the final seven races."

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda)
"It’s been a nice few weeks off and maybe just what I needed, but the truth is I’m glad the holidays are over because I’m definitely ready to get back on the bike. I can’t really say I’ve been doing anything too exciting during the break - really just chilling out a bit and getting ready to make a start fresh and salvage what we can from the season. I have spent some time down in Florida with my trainer Aldon Baker and his other riders, Ricky Carmichael and Ben Townley, doing some fitness work, but not much else too exciting to report."

AMA Motocross and Supercross super star Ricky Carmichael is on the brink of landing his 150th victory in AMA Toyota Motocross Championship racing. Carmichael said that the round 9 of this racing event that will take place at the Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota will be his final appearance. So this means that Carmichael will be moving on other motocross series?

Ricky Carmichael said he is looking forward and preparing to bag the trophy during the upcoming race and record a combined 150 wins for AMA Motocross and Supercross.

“Getting 150 total wins would be icing on the cake for me. I never dreamed that one day I would win 100 races. It was almost too hard to believe. Now to have a chance to get to 150, it would be really sweet. Not only would it be an amazing accomplishment for me personally, but a tribute to all the people who have helped me along the way in my career.”  said Carmichael.
 
After the race in Millville, Ricky Carmichael, along with his teammate James Stewart and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto will participate in the in the Motocross of Nations that will take place at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Maryland on Sept. 22-23. The three riders will represent the United States and will be named Monster Energy AMA Team USA. Well, good luck guys! In addition, according to some sources, Carmichael will also enter car racing. Well, maybe Carmichael will be joining ALMS and ride a Porsche race car equipped with Porsche oxygen sensor. But then again, maybe not.

Anyway, just check out some below for Ricky Carmichaels’ major titles in his entire motocross career.

    * 1997 AMA 125 National Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 1998 AMA 125 East Coast SX Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 1998 AMA 125 National Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 1999 AMA 125 National Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 2000 AMA 250 National Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 2000 U.S. Open of Supercross (Kawasaki)
    * 2000 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA) (Kawasaki)
    * 2001 AMA 250 Supercross Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 2001 AMA 250 National Champion (Kawasaki)
    * 2001 U.S. Open of Supercross (Honda)
    * 2002 AMA 250 Supercross Champion (Honda)
    * 2002 AMA 250 National Champion (Honda)
    * 2003 AMA 250 Supercross Champion (Honda)
    * 2003 AMA 250 National Champion (Honda)
    * 2004 AMA 250 National Champion (Honda)
    * 2005 AMA 250 Supercross Champion (Suzuki)
    * 2005 AMA 250 National Champion (Suzuki)
    * 2005 WSXGP 250 Supercross Champion (Suzuki)
    * 2005 Motocross des Nations Champion (Team USA) (Suzuki)
    * 2005 U.S. Open of Supercross (Suzuki)
    * 2006 AMA Supercross Champion (Suzuki)
    * 2006 AMA Motocross Champion (Suzuki)
    * 2006 Racer Of The Year
    * 2007 X Games 13 MotoX Gold
    * Only Rider to score perfect season(2002 and 2004 AMA national)

Dirt Rider (www.dirtrider.com), one of the leading publication and online source of off-road motorcycle and motocross information provided some tips on how to start a motocross career or get into motocross racing.

So if you want to be a motocross racer or you just want it to be one of your hobbies, check out these 12 tips from Dirt Rider staff to help you out. I gotta leave you first coz I’ll be looking for Merkur oxygen sensor on the web. Chill out!

What About A Bike
"Motocross is definitely model-specific when it comes to bikes. Every major manufacturer commits a large portion of its time and money to developing its best machines for the motocross market."
 
Leave Your Bike At Home
When viewed from the outside, motocross can be overwhelming. Especially since everyone doing it seems to have secret schedules and rituals they’re not telling you about."
 
Go Shopping
"We can guarantee at least one person at your local motorcycle dealer races or has raced motocross. That is, of course, if your local shop sells motocross bikes and/or accessories."
 
Do Some Research
"Does the race event you’re entering have a club affiliation? Is membership required? If not, is there a discount or some other benefit that might make it worth joining anyway? Will this race be part of a series of races?"

Practice
"If you’ve never ridden on a motocross track or your track time is very limited, you’re going to want to bust out some laps before tackling a race. First, this is going to give your arms, legs and back an idea of the complete flogging you’ll put it through. "

Include Friends And Family
"One of the best reasons to race motocross is so you can talk about your race immediately after racing it. It’s called benchracing, and once you’ve done it you’ll be hooked."

Get There Early
"Nothing is worse for racing than showing up late. You can miss a lot of things by rushing around and trying to catch up."
 
Eat And Drink
"Motocross is physically difficult. In fact, it’s just plain hard. As with all endurance activities, your body needs a pile of fuel to burn to avoid the dreadful bonk."

Stretch
"Next to eating right and practicing, stretching is the best way to prepare your body for the physical punishment you’re going to put it through. "

Bring Your Cash
"The cost of motocross begins when you buy a bike and start dumping cash into helmets, boots, gear, goggles and gas. But it definitely doesn’t stop there. As soon as you get to the motocross track the day of a race, you’ll likely be hit with a gate fee. "
 
Go Slower To Go Fast
"You can’t win your first race, so don’t even try. OK, I suppose you could win, but in the long run you’ll be a much better racer if you take it easy and develop skills and speed slowly."

I already made several blog posts here about the winners of each and every MotoGP (FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix) series this season. This time, let me bring you the latest driver standings as of the 2007 United States Grand Prix.

The list indicates position, driver’s name, team, and current points.

1.     Casey Stoner          Ducati Marlboro Team         221
2.     Valentino Rossi      Fiat Yamaha Team         177
3.     Daniel Pedrosa         Repsol Honda Team         155
4.     Chris Vermeulen     Rizla Suzuki MotoGP         113
5.     Marco Melandri         Gresini Honda     Honda         113
6.     John Hopkins         Rizla Suzuki MotoGP         104
7.     Colin Edwards         Fiat Yamaha Team         93
8.     Loris Capirossi         Ducati Marlboro Team         77
9.     Alexandre Barros     Pramac D’Antin MotoGP        76
10.     Nicky Hayden         Repsol Honda Team         73
11.     Alexander Hofmann     Pramac D’Antin MotoGP        60
12.     Randy De Puniet     Kawasaki Racing Team         50
13.     Antonio Elias         Gresini Honda             49
14.     Makoto Tamada     Tech 3 Yamaha         31
15.     Carlos Checa         Honda LCR     Honda         29
16.     Anthony West         Kawasaki Racing Team         29
17.     Shinya Nakano         Konica Minolta Honda         29
18.     Sylvain Guintoli     Tech 3 Yamaha         21
19.     Kurtis Roberts         Team Roberts     Kr212v         8
20.     Roger Lee Hayden     Kawasaki Racing Team        6
21.     Michel Fabrizio         Gresini Honda     Honda         6
22.     Fonsi Nieto          Kawasaki Racing Team         5
23.     Olivier Jacque         Kawasaki Racing Team        4
24.     Kenny Roberts         Team Roberts             4

Well, you can see that the Aussie rider Casey Stoner still leads the pack leaving reigning MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi  behind by 44 points. But I think Rossi can still catch up in the league. There are lots of upcoming races and we cant predict who will win the MotoGp championship this season.

The 2004 World Superbike champion James Toseland is preparing to ride against the racing stars of MotoGP (FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix). The 23 year old British motorcycle rider will go aboard a Yamaha bike for the 2007 season of MotoGP. Toseland is currently racing under Winston Ten Kate Honda team at the FIM World Superbike Championship series.

Tech 3 Yamaha team of MotoGP has recently announced that they already signed Toseland and will start his MotoGP career by 2008.

According to Herve Poncharal, Team Principal of Tech 3 Yamaha:
"I am delighted to have secured a rider of James’ calibre and am looking forward to working with him. Procuring James is a major coup for Tech 3 Yamaha and for the MotoGP championship in extending our reach into Northern Europe. It is an exciting time for us all and I am certain that he will be an integral part of the team’s future."

James Toseland is not only a motorcycle rider. He is also famous as a singer and pianist in his UK-based band called Crash. Toseland now prepares for the upcoming Superbike race at Brands Hatch circuit in England. He said that he is really looking forward for a MotoGP career.

"I would like to thank the team for all of their help and support. I have enjoyed two of the best years of my racing career with Ten Kate and Honda, and HANNspree has been a fantastic sponsor this year. I could not have achieved as much as I have without the team’s assistance and expertise and I remain 100 per cent committed to securing the title for them this year. I would like to wish them the best of luck for the future." said James Toseland.

Well, as a MotoGP fan, I also look forward in seeing Toseland push his Yamaha bike on the race track.

Meanwhile, the staff of Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is preparing the track for the upcoming series event in 2008. According to Joie Chitwood, IMS president and chief operating officer: "Our motorcycle event is Sept. 14, 2008, and we have a little event called the Indy 500 in May and you really can’t work on anything in May. So the goal is to get it done as soon as possible so that we’re prepared for May for the Indy 500 and our other events."

Check out this blog for other MotoGP and motocross updates. I’ll look for some quality Lexus air filter on the web and catch you guys soon.

Here is another Ducati model that will freak you out… or rather make you drool.

The 2007 Ducati Sport Touring ST3 S ABS is one of the most exciting models from the Italian motorcycle maker. Along with its high quality components and materials, the ST3 S ABS comes with Ducati anti lock braking system (ABS) that detects the wheel speed and prevents tire lock up. This model also features Desmo engine that is similar to the one used in SBK and MotoGP racing, as well as Superbike suspension. Other features include Electronic instrument panel using CAN communication protocol with CPU, multifunctional digital display, analog rev counter, and immobilizer system.

The overall package of the Ducati Sport Touring ST3 S ABS expresses four things: power, performance, riding comfort, and safety.

Check out the technical specs of this vehicle below.

POWERTRAIN
Engine Type      L-twin cylinder, 3 valves per cylinder Desmodromic; liquid cooled
Displacement     992 cc
Compression Ratio     11.3:1
Bore x Stroke     94 x 71.5 mm
Ignition     N/A
Transmission     6 speed
Final Drive     Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 42

DIMENSIONS
Seat Height      820 mm / 32.3 in
Dry Weight     204 kg / 449.3 lbs
Wheelbase     1430 mm / 56.3 in
Fuel Capacity     21 L (of which 6 L reserve)/ 5.5 US gal (of which 1,5 US gal reserve)
Rake     24

CHASSIS
Front Suspension      Showa 43 mm fully adjustable upside-down fork with TiN
Rear Suspension     Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Öhlins monoshock with remote control preload adjustement. Aluminium swingarm
Front Brakes     2 x 320 mm semi-floating discs, 4-piston caliper, ABS controlled
Rear Brakes     245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper, ABS controlled
Front Tire     120/70 ZR 17
Rear Tire     180/55 ZR 17
Front Wheel     5-spoke light alloy 3.50 x 17
Rear Wheel     5-spoke light alloy 5.50 x 17

Watch out for other updates in this blog. Maybe next time I’ll feature Honda bike models equipped with Honda thermostat.