Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner are set to renew their rivalry as they battle for the 2009 MotoGP championship. Last season saw Rossi take his ninth Grand Prix title, but 2007 champion Stoner will be keen to reclaim the World Championship.
MotoGP Rule Changes
Several new rules come into effect for the 2009 MotoGP season. All bikes will run on Bridgestone tyres, but special qualifying rubber has been banned. Track time has also been reduced, with the loss of the Friday morning practice session during race weekends. Teams have also had their testing opportunities during the season further restricted.
2009 MotoGP Teams and Riders
The FIAT Yamaha line-up remains the same, with defending champion Rossi partnered by Jorge Lorenzo. Although Rossi has not been quickest in testing he remains many people’s title favourite. Lorenzo will be looking to have an injury free season after he proved to be very fast but crash prone in his debut year.
At Ducati Marlboro Stoner is joined by 2006 champion Nicky Hayden. Stoner has been topping the timesheets in testing, while Hayden faces a struggle to get up to speed on his new machine, the Ducati GP9.
Repsol Honda have Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso riding for them. Pedrosa is undoubtedly one of the quickest riders currently in MotoGP, but he will start the 2009 season at less than peak fitness after being injured in a testing accident.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider James Toseland has not had the best preparation for the new MotoGP season, suffering two monumental crashes during testing. He is partnered by veteran American Colin Edwards. The Rizla Suzuki squad head into 2009 full of optimism after setting impressive testing times with their two riders, Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi.
Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis will be looking to score regular points for the San Carlo Honda Gresini team, while Team Scot field a Honda for Yuki Takahashi. The Japanese rider is making his MotoGP debut after stepping up from the 250cc class.
Ducati satellite team Pramac Racing start the 2009 season with the exciting pairing of Mika Kallio and Niccolo Canepa, both making their MotoGP debuts. Kallio has shown impressive speed in 125cc and 250cc racing, while Canepa is a former Ducati test rider.
After a miserable time at Ducati in 2008 Marco Melandri will be hoping for improved fortunes this season, riding a Kawasaki for the Hayate Racing Team. Randy de Puniet will compete for the LCR Honda MotoGP team, while former championship runner-up Sete Gibernau rides a Ducati for Grupo Francisco Hernando.
The MotoGP season begins on April 12th with the Qatar Grand Prix, held under the floodlights of the impressive Losail circuit. Stoner will be out to repeat last year’s result, when the young Australian won the race.
Jock Taylor, Sidecar World Champion
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