Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing

With history going back to its first FIM organized event in 1949, Grand Prix motorcycle racing is an international series which has gathered a loyal following of fans who turn out in droves to watch driver and machine become as one as they compete for the checkered flag. As the main championship of motorcycle road racing, the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is divided into three categories: 125cc, Moto2, and MotoGP. Setting the Grand Prix series apart from other motorcycle racing series, such as the Superbike World Championship, is the fact that the motorcycles competing in the Grand Prix are built specifically for racing and therefore cannot be bought at a dealership and are not licensed to ride on public roads.

The MotoGP series consists of eighteen races, held in fourteen countries, on four continents, with global television coverage ensuring that fans all over the world can share in the excitement. Currently seven nationalities are represented among the riders who line the starting grid, with four manufacturers – Ducati, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki – providing the latest in motorcycle technology.

Now in its 62nd year, MotoGP is not only the premier motorcycle racing world championship, but it is also the longest running championship series. Under the supervision of the FIM, the series is managed by Dorna Sports and has been since 1992. With more than 2.2 million people attending races in 2009, there is no doubt that spectators appreciate the effort put into the organization of each of the eighteen events, which feature races in each of the three categories.

The 125cc category is the stepping stone into this exciting sport. The minimum age for riders is 15 years, with the maximum set at 28 years – the exception being for wild-card riders, or riders who are newly contracted and competing in a 125 cc event for the first time, where the minimum age will be 25 years. Maximum engine displacement in this category is 125cc single-cylinder units. As announced in December 2008, from 2010 the 250cc category has been replaced by Moto2 – a 4-stroke class aimed at being a cost-effective, but prestigious, class to accompany the star of the show, the MotoGP.

Recognized as the ultimate test for motorcycle racing’s finest talents, MotoGP allows a maximum engine capacity of 800cc (4-stroke engines) and the motorcycle must be a prototype. The minimum age for riders competing in the MotoGP class is 18 years. Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi is the current MotoGP World Champion, having claimed his seventh premier class title in 2009.

Red Bull Leads the Pack

Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel found themselves at the top of the Formula One drivers’ standings following Sunday’s Monaco F1 Grand Prix event in which the talented duo took first and second place respectively. As the sixth race of the season, the Monaco victory puts Webber and Vettel at the top of the standings, each with 78 points, however the Australian’s two-race victory puts him in the lead, with the German having claimed first place once this season. Webber started off the race in pole position maintaining his determination to stay ahead of the pack, following up on the success he had enjoyed in Spain just a week previously, where he claimed fastest lap, pole position and first place. He is also the first Australian to win at Monaco since Jack Brabham took the checkered flag in 1959. Driving for Ferrari, Spaniard Fernando Alonso fought his way from the pits to claim seventh place in the iconic street race, putting him at third place in the season.

This is Mark Webber’s fourth season with Red Bull and it appears that he is on a long-awaited winning streak. In his inaugural season with the team he scored just 10 points, finishing the 2007 season in twelfth place. The following year saw somewhat of an improved performance by Webber, with 2009 being his most successful F1 season – finishing fourth in the drivers’ championship with a total of 69.5 points. Certainly, 2010 has started out well for the Red Bull team, with both its drivers delivering superb performances.

Prior to joining Red Bull, Webber had spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons driving for Williams, but with limited success. So it may have come as a surprise to many that Frank Williams has been quoted as saying: “When we had him, our car was a disappointment, and we felt that he was part of the problem, but he probably wasn’t actually – with hindsight.”

There are many variables with auto racing and those who participate in it will readily agree that it truly is a team sport, with every member of the team contributing to success. The Red Bull team is on a roll right now and fans are no doubt eager to see how the season progresses.

2010 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix

The Formula 1 season kicks off in Bahrain. The race consists of 57 laps around a 5.412 km circuit, totaling 308.238 km. Practice sessions begin on Friday 12 March, with qualifying taking place on Saturday afternoon. Bahrain Grand Prix will then begin at 15h00 on Sunday 14 March 2010.

Date: 14 March 2010
Venue: Bahrain International Circuit
City: Sakhir
Country: Bahrain

American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix 2009

On 17 and 18 July 2009 the Limerock Park Circuit will come alive with spectacular racing action as world class drivers put magnificent cars such as Acuras, Vettes and Ferraris through their paces. Do not miss out on the greenest event in auto racing.

Tickets vary between $25 to $75 and for information regarding this racing event, the website http://www.limerock.com/ will be able to answer any queries or contact the racetrack on 860.435.5000.

Date: July 17, 2009
Venue: Limerock Park Circuit
City: Lakeville, Connecticut
Country: United States of America

Button makes history

Sunday, 29 March 2009, was a very important day for the Brawn GP racing team, as it was to be their debut as a Formula One racing team, and the stakes were high. After Honda decided that they no longer wanted to be a part of F1, Ross Brawn, the team principle took the chance to take over the team and see how far they could go. It is obvious that the change is exactly what the team needed, as they exploded on the Melbourne track for the Australian Grand Prix.

In 1950, the Alfa Romeo F1 team won their debut race, followed by the Mercedes team in 1954, who managed to pull of the same feat. And on Sunday, the Brawn GP team became the first team since 1977, to win their debut

It seems that the other teams were constantly running into trouble, with Felipe Massa (Ferarri) losing his steering and an unfortunate Kimi Raikkonen spinning out on the 48th lap. Two crashes also sent drivers out of contention, with Robert Kubica (BMW) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) crashing into each other a mere four laps before the end of the race and the collision between Nick Heidfeld (BMW) and Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) also effecting Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Mark Webber (Red Bull). Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) finished in fourth position, followed by Timo Glock (Toyota), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Nico Rosberg (Williams) and Sebastien Buemi (Red Bull).

But the day undoubtedly belonged to Brawn GP, with Button commenting after the race: “This is where we deserve to be, after the difficult times we have had. Roll on the season, I am so excited about this year.” When asked about the finish, Jenson Button had this to say, “This is a fairytale ending for the first race. Some people may say it’s a pity the race finished under the safety car but I don’t care, I won the race and that’s all I care about.”

Abu Dhabi hosting 2009 F1 Grand Prix

The management of Formula 1, announced to a excited and large gathering of supporters and drivers, that Adu Dhabi will be included into the 2009 Formula One racing schedule. The chairman and CEO of the Formula 1 management, Bernie Ecclestone, said that he was pleased to have Abu Dhabi as part of the Formula 1 family, and went on to express his confidence in the new member of the racing schedule. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates that offers a beautiful location surrounded by islands and spectacular beaches.

The crown price, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said that hosting this amazing race should increase recognition of Adu Dhabi across the world and have a positive influence on the economy.

The new Formula 1 circuit that is to be built for the big event will be constructed in the Yas Island. Yas Island is situated east of Abu Dabi, is a natural island and is 2 550 hectares in size. This location was chosen due to its close proximity to the newly constructed international airport. Respected and famous track designer and architect, Herman Tilke, will be responsible for the design while the building and properties will be overseen by ALDAR Property Development Company.

The development of Yas Island, apart from the circuit, will include a Ferrari Theme Park for visitors to enjoy, world-class hotels, a water park, golf course, lagoon hotels, polo clubs, marinas, permanents residence such as apartments and villas and a 300 000 square meter retail area with shops, banks, restaurants, fast food outlets and stores.

The Formula 1 Grand Prix Circuit is planned to be one of the most demanding and exciting circuits in the world. The track is estimated to be 309 kilometers in circuit length, which will break the race down to approximately 56 laps. The outlay of the circuit should have an estimated lap time of 1 minute and 38 seconds, with twenty corners of various difficulty and will allow speeds of between 200 to 320 kilometers an hour. Spectators will be able to view the race from strategically placed grandstands, and will allow both the drivers and supporters to enjoy the most exciting sport in the world.

Auto Racing in Italy

Sleek, red race cars that zip around hair pin turns. The Italian Grand Prix is a nerve-racking test of speed and endurance at Monza in Lake Como, Italy is truly unrivaled by any other stop on the Formula One trail. The locals call it “la pista magica” — the magic race track. You may opt for a simpler term: awesome.

These days in Italy at Lake Como may be better as a hang out for George Clooney, but each September everyone’s attention is focused on this 3.585-mile road course – where drivers attack the Grand Prix and spit in face of the grim reaper.

There may be no other sport in history where the unspoken desire is to see if the drivers will make it through the course in one piece. They’ll be jubilation if they escape death and hushed tones of despair if the worst occurs. And believe me, there have been some tremendous accidents during the Monza weekend.

Up until the mid 1950′s, Monza is the place where racing’s worst accident had occurred, Emilio Materassi crashed his Talbot opposite the pits in 1928, killing himself and 27 spectators. In 1961, Wolfgang von Trips cart wheeled into the crowd after a brush with Jim Clark killing himself and 13 others. In 1933, top drivers Giuseppe Campari, his protege Baconin Borzacchini and the Czech aristocrat Stanislas Czaykowski all died on the same weekend.

And each year the stories grow.

The Monza track has been rebuilt on several occasions, but the basic design is much as it was in the course’s heyday in the 1920′s. The original flat banking has replaced by the not-to-be-believed high banking that can still be seen today. While standing on that banking you will know why some of the most fearless drivers in the world lost their nerve.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The cars, the drivers, and their ever-present dance-with-death.