MOTOGP: Cardion AB Extends MotoGP Activity with Brno Title Sponsorship


Written by: Dorna Communications 5/11/2007

After having lent its support to two riders in 2006, Czech healthcare company Cardion AB has extended its activity in the MotoGP World Championships in a significant way in 2007.

Firstly, the company reached an agreement with commercial rights-holders Dorna Sports which grant the exclusive rights to broadcast live all the races of all MotoGP World Championship categories in the Czech Republic in 2007 and 2008. Cardion AB have subsequently provided these rights to Czech Television (CT2), and there has already been a positive response from Czech motorsport fans.

Cardion AB has also signed an agreement to become the new title sponsor of the Czech Grand Prix. “From 2007 to 2011 the Czech Grand Prix will therefore be named Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske republiky”, confirmed Mr. Karel Abraham, manager of the Cardion AB Motoracing Team. The team itself is supporting a single rider this year, with Karel Abraham Jr. having switched from 125cc to the 250cc class this year.

Confirmation of the new title sponsor also helped the Brno Circuit management in their negotiations on the future of MotoGP in the Czech Republic, “Brno Circuit had a valid Promoter’s agreement until 2009, but thanks to the new title sponsor the agreement was extended to 2011, which is the date for all circuits at this moment in time,” stated Mrs. Ivana Ulmanova, CEO of the Brno Circuit, who signed a renewal of the agreement with Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, S.L. at the beginning of this year.

Aspar looking to enter MotoGP in 2008

By Pablo Elizalde
Wednesday, May 9th 2007, 15:25 GMT

Team Aspar are looking to enter MotoGP next season, according to team boss Jorge Martinez "Aspar", who says he is looking at jumping to the top category with a one-bike operation.
The team are currently competing in 125 and 250, and were already linked with a move to MotoGP last year, but a lack of sponsors was rumoured as the reason why the switch was delayed.
Now Aspar says everything is nearly in place for his team to make the jump, although he is still unsure about the bike they would use.
The most likely candidate seems to be Suzuki, as the Hamamatsu-based manufacturer is believed to be looking at fielding a third bike in the future.
"The goal is to have one rider next year and two in 2009," Aspar told Motociclismo magazine. "We have everything needed in terms of sponsors and, apart from the current ones, we would have a few new ones.
"The clear options are Suzuki and Kawasaki, but we have also talked to other manufacturers. It would be a project of at least three years and always with the same tyre supplier used by the works team."
Aspar made it clear, however, that he would continue with the 125 and 250 teams.
"It would be a completely new structure, and the 125 and 250 teams would continue unaltered with the same components," he added.

Doohan: Rossi battle has helped Stoner

By Jonathan Noble
Tuesday, May 8th 2007, 11:17 GMT

Five-time 500cc champion Mick Doohan believes that the challenge of going head-to-head against Valentino Rossi is bringing out the best in MotoGP championship leader Casey Stoner.
After winning three of the first four races of the season, Stoner has silenced all the doubters who criticised him for crashing too much during his junior career and his debut MotoGP campaign in 2006.
And Doohan has praised the job the young Australian is doing, thinking that his accidents were just part of a learning process that has resulted in him becoming such a strong competitor now
"His profile has increased because he's won some races, but he has served a long apprenticeship and people who follow our sport closely know this," Doohan was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun newspaper.
"Some people criticised Casey for crashing too much when he came into Grand Prix racing in the 125s and 250s. In reality, he was learning the limits of the bikes he was racing. Crashes are part of racing. I had my share of them, especially in my first season in 500s (1989).
"The challenge of going head-to-head with Valentino for the championship will bring out the best in Casey because there is a target for him to aim at."

Burgess impressed by Stoner's approach

By Jonathan Noble
Monday, May 7th 2007, 11:22 GMT

Fiat Yamaha may be struggling to beat Ducati's Casey Stoner this year, but their crew chief Jeremy Burgess has praised the championship leader's approach to the job in hand.
And Burgess, who has most recently helped guide Valentino Rossi to world titles at Honda and Yamaha, says he sees echoes of five-time 500cc champion Mick Doohan's personality in Stoner.
"Casey's got a bit of arrogance about him and Mick had a lot of that," Burgess told the Times newspaper.
"Wayne Gardner [the 1987 champion] was a worrier and you'd have to remind him that he'd already beaten everyone he was racing against.
"Do that to Mick and he'd look at you with burning eyes and say, 'So don't you think I can do it, JB?' That's the thing with people like Mick and Valentino - they never doubt themselves."
Despite Stoner winning three of the first four races, and Rossi admitting that his rival has a 'psychological advantage' thanks to Ducati's incredible straight-line speed advantage, Burgess denied any suggestion that Rossi's place as MotoGP's benchmark rider is under threat.
And he is adamant that Rossi should take none of the blame for losing last year's title to Nicky Hayden.
"There is no show without Punch," said Burgess. "I don't think he lost his title in 2006. Yamaha didn't give him what he needed and a little bit more at any one race would have been enough.
"We had a chatter problem all year, he got knocked off in the first race, he broke an engine in Le Mans, a wrist in Assen.
"I think Yamaha took their finger off the pulse, but Valentino never stopped trying and we would not have been as close as we were if it wasn't for him."

Jeremy Burgess said

And he is adamant that Rossi should take none of the blame for losing last year's title to Nicky Hayden.
"There is no show without Punch," said Burgess. "I don't think he lost his title in 2006. Yamaha didn't give him what he needed and a little bit more at any one race would have been enough.
"We had a chatter problem all year, he got knocked off in the first race, he broke an engine in Le Mans, a wrist in Assen.
"I think Yamaha took their finger off the pulse, but Valentino never stopped trying and we would not have been as close as we were if it wasn't for him."


Well said JB!! Let's hope that Yamaha listen this year!!

Well thats fine cuz Yama can take the credit for Rossi lost last year....
Still with the crap of bike he can be in race for title.
He is God.

What they like Stoner???

Is MotoGP Pole Irrelevant Now?
no one has won from pole this year
by evan williams
Monday, July 02, 2007 Stoner has won five MotoGP races this year, none from polePole position is considered to be a big advantage in racing. The guy who's fastest before the race starts should have an advantage, right? If he gets a good start, he has no one in front to slow him down. He can pick his own pace and ride his own lines.


Surprisingly, no MotoGP polesitter has won a race this year.
Maybe it's the difference between qualifying tires and race rubber. Maybe it's the length of the races negating one quick lap. Maybe it's traction control. Or perhaps it is just plain luck. The end result is who wins pole seems less relevant than ever.


On the surface, the organizers have made qualifying even more important in recent years by going to the three-rider rows on the grid.
But there's a disconnect somewhere. Rossi and Fiat Yamaha won the last race at Assen from the fourth row.


One thing that must be considered: MotoGP grids are usually covered by a thin margin. Maybe it is beyond stating for the World Championship, but there are quite a few men capable of uncorking a quick one in qualifying. A fast rider and a good Q tire can cover up the sins of a bike that might not be able to compete over a full race distance.
Another factor: Rossi has three victories this year, and qualifying matters less to him than anyone else.


Yet a third possibility is rain. It rained on race day at Le Mans and Donington. It also rained in qualifying at Mugello and Assen.
Whatever the reasons, it makes the racing more interesting. We don't expect this trend to last, though.

Pole Jinx!

Yeap! I think that it makes the season more interesting, unpredictable, spectacular...
But I think that is something in rider`s mentality since all Mass Media started talking about it, and you just can`t start normally from the pole after all that murming

It will be better if someone brakes this jinx (espessially Vale), `cos it really damage a rider`s confidence!

It just adds to the excitement doesn't it. Number 1: see who wins the race, Number 2: see who can be the first rider to win from pole position.
Valentino will have to brush up on his starting technique if he wants to compete for that particular honour.