Yamaha video: Valentino Rossi answers fans' questions

Besides signing autographs, hugging babies, making pizza and a holding a press conference at Yamaha headquarters in Cypress, Californina Valentino Rossi’s day at Yamaha USA also included answering twelve very different questions sent in by fans, including one on the Mile High Club.

If you are a hardcore Rossi fan, then you definitely have to check out the above video, as BFF Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci picks out the questions from the rider’s AGV Pista GP helmet and laughingly suggests a couple of answers.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Moto GP : Cal Crutchlow edges out Rossi in FP1 at Laguna Seca

Both Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo were passed fit to race at Laguna Seca by Dr. Rossi (not Valentino, but Raymond), however the Repsol Honda rider did not take part in the first practice session to “avoid over stressing his shoulder.”

Lorenzo did take to track but when the session reached the halfway mark. He managed to complete seven full laps and not take any unecessary risks before he decided to pull in and he finished in 11th.

The morning weather for the first free practice the Mazda Speedway was a usual misty, and cold, but that didn’t stop several riders from going all out in the finale.

Cal Crutchlow who has yet to announce where he’s going in 2014, was the fastest rider of the session posting a best lap in 1′22.757 which was enough to edge out Valentino Rossi by 0.091s from the top spot.

Marc Marquez was simply magical during his first ever practice on the California circuit. The MotoGP rookie immediately learned the difficult track and with no hesitation posted the third fastest time, and would have been on top of the timesheets if he didn’t lose all his advantage in the final sector and end up just a little more than two tenths from Crutchlow! Marquez is gunning to become the first rookie to ever win at Laguna Seca.

Stefan Bradl was fourth and he more or less posted the same time as Marquez, while another satellite Honda rider, Alvaro Bautista was fifth fastest.

Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso - who is again trying to test a new frame (the same one he bent at Sachsenring) was 6th and not far from the top, just a little more than six tenths.

Seeing Aleix Espargaro’s name in the top ten is no longer a suprise as he was 7th, but more than one second adrift and followed by the now ex-Ducati rider Nicky Hayden.

Bradley Smith was 9th fastest in his official debut at Laguna Seca - but he tested here with a street bike and Randy de Puniet on the other Aspar ART machine was 10th.

2013 MotoGP Laguna Seca FP1 results:

1 Cal CRUTCHLOW 1′22.757
2 Valentino ROSSI 1′22.848 0.091 / 0.091
3 Marc MARQUEZ 1′22.980 0.223 / 0.132
4 Stefan BRADL 1′23.033 0.276 / 0.053
5 Alvaro BAUTISTA 1′23.255 0.498 / 0.222
6 Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1′23.380 0.623 / 0.125
7 Aleix ESPARGARO 1′23.905 1.148 / 0.525
8 Nicky HAYDEN 1′23.927 1.170 / 0.022
9 Bradley SMITH 1′24.287 1.530 / 0.360
10 Randy DE PUNIET 1′24.363 1.606 / 0.076
11 Jorge LORENZO 1′24.441 1.684 / 0.078

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Nicky Hayden confirms he will not be riding for Ducati in 2014

During today’s pre-event press conference at Laguna Seca and after weeks of speculation, Nicky Hayden personally confirmed that he will not be riding for Ducati in MotoGP in 2014.

With very few options available in premier class, the former 2006 World champion may decide to ride in World Superbikes - and apparently has had offers from Ducati and BMW.

“I’m not coming back to Ducati in MotoGP next year – I’m not really sure what I’m going to do. I’ve got some options that are interesting,” said Hayden. “I’m not sure Repsol Honda’s going to come and knock on my door. Of course MotoGP is where my heart is, but I’ve got to weigh up the options. Unfortunately results haven’t gone as planned over the years, but it is what it is.”

With Hayden’s ride now officially available, we expect to hear by the end of the weekend who will be replacing Hayden on the Desmosedici in 2014.

Who thinks that Cal Crutchlow will be joining his former Yamaha Tech3 team mate and will look good in red?

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Moto GP :Cal Crutchlow denies he has signed with any team

Cal Crutchlow is usually a straight shooter, but following Nicky Hayden’s announcement that he will no longer riding for Ducati next season during yesterday’s pre-event press conference at the Mazda Speedway at Laguna Seca, the British rider stated that he still hasn’t signed with anyone.

“My situation hasn’t changed since last week, at the moment we are speaking to all manufacturers and seeing if there is a possibility. But at the moment, I have no job,”Crutchlow said. “I can only ride the bike and go as fast as possible. The situation in every manufacturer is difficult, but anything that has happened this week hasn’t changed my situation at all.”

With Crutchlow currently fourth in the standings with four podiums so far (two 2nd places and two third places) and he is on every manufacturers wishlist: from Yamaha, wanting to keep him, but can’t guarantee a factory ride in 2015 - which the Briton rightly believes he deserves - to Honda who wants him in on a satellite spec machine - preferably Bradl’s and could offer him a factory ride after 2014.

Ducati is offering a factory bike and also a substantial pay hike, but has the drawback of still very far from being up to par with the two Japanese manufacturers and is known as a career killer.

from Twowheelsblog