MotoGP The spectacular setting of Phillip Island hosts Round 16 of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship this weekend, as Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) heads for his home race aiming to replicate his form of recent years at the track. Stoner, who currently leads the Championship standings by 40 points ahead of defending World Champion Jorge [...]
2.15pm local time was the moment of truth for the 250cc riders in Australia, beginning the 2009 installment of the Phillip Island race. A group affair in which slipstreaming played a key part, the outing saw attempts at escapes from eventual racewiner Marco Simoncelli and Héctor Barberá, but nobody was able to fully break free. [...]
With Australia nine hours ahead and the 125cc race atypically kicking off at 1pm local time, Spain awoke to a new 125cc World Champion on Sunday morning. Julián Simón clinched the accolade in a race that strongly resembled the previous run-out in Portugal, with all the close group fighting and lightning fast lap times seen [...]
The opening free practice for the 250cc Australian Grand Prix was affected by low track temperatures and strong winds, which made life difficult for the quarter-litre riders at Phillip Island. Héctor Barberá was comfortably ahead of the chasing pack on his Aprilia, supposedly more suited to the fast corners at this circuit than the Hondas, [...]
Pos | Nº | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap | Laps | km/h 1 40 Héctor Barberá Aprilia 1’34.338 17 169.738 2 35 Raffaele De Rosa Honda 1’34.911 0.573 24 168.713 3 16 Jules Cluzel Aprilia 1’34.927 0.589 24 168.685 4 63 Mike Di Meglio Aprilia 1’35.013 0.675 23 168.532 5 55 Hector [...]
Pos | Nº | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap | Laps | km/h 1 44 Pol Espargaró Derbi 1’38.435 27 162.673 2 38 Bradley Smith Aprilia 1’38.690 0.255 26 162.253 3 18 Nicolas Terol Aprilia 1’38.717 0.282 25 162.209 4 60 Julian Simon Aprilia 1’38.816 0.381 24 162.046 5 93 Marc Márquez KTM [...]
The pessimists amongst the weather forecasters were defied this afternoon as the rain showers steered clear of Phillip Island and, despite the strong winds that made riding conditions difficult, the 125cc riders were able to make the most of a dry track surface. Lap times were some two seconds off the record pace set here [...]
Julián Simón’s crash at Estoril has done little to decrease his chances of claiming the 125cc world title with three races remaining, and the Spanish rider is well placed to claim that crown in Australia. A win at Phillip Island for Simón would deliver him the title regardless of where his title rivals finish, but [...]