MORIWAKI BLOG_ENG

Remy Gardner – one up on his father…

Central Coast Junior Motorcycle Club:  Remy Gardner walked away with his first Australian Dirt Track Championship today after leading all six laps of the 85cc 2-stroke-150cc 4-stroke (standard wheel) race for 11-13 year olds on his Honda CRF150RB.   Remy was elated to have achieved something his World 500cc Motorcycle Champion Dad Wayne Gardner never did.   

Proud Dad Wayne said, “I knew this was the last chance for Remy to take a Junior Dirt Track Championship before we move to Spain, but we didn’t have too many expectations as he’s only done about four Dirt Track events this year, and apart from being out of practice we haven’t had much time to work on the bikes.  As always, I’m very proud of how he’s handled himself this weekend and I think he’s represented Team Gardner racing and all of his sponsors very well.”

The three-day weekend started well on Friday afternoon with practice and testing sessions.  It was a great opportunity for Remy to get back up to speed on his dirt track bikes after a year of concentrating on road racing in Spain and Australia.

He was still fine tuning bike set up on Saturday, and it looked like he would have a stronger showing on his Honda CR85 2-stroke on big wheels, while the CRF150RB on standard

wheels needed a bit of work.  After three heats on Saturday he finished in fifth place overall on the CRF150RB and second overall on the CR85.   

On Sunday morning, with rain threatening, Remy completed the fifth and final heat on both bikes, finishing third on his CRF150RB and first on the CR85.  Although the field of

talented young riders was close, Team Gardner felt confident Remy could do well on the CR85, but weren’t sure how he’d finish up on the CRF150RB.

His first final of the day was on the CRF150RB in the standard wheel class.  He got the hole shot out of the gate and fired into a lead he wasn’t prepared to give up, fighting all the way to the finish line in first place.  Tears flowed in Team Gardner’s pits as it dawned that this was Remy’s last year of Australian Dirt Track competition, before the family relocates to Spain in January 2012.   Remy finished in front of Zaine Kennedy from Queensland in second, and Max Crocker from New South Wales in third.

One more race was to follow in the big wheel class, but an average start put Remy on the back foot, and as he fought his way from sixth to fourth in the first lap, a mistaken touch of the rear tyre on another bike sent him tumbling and finished his race.  It was the class he’d felt most confident with, but in the end things didn’t work out that way.   

“We’ve talked about this weekend for a few weeks now, and didn’t really expect to take home a title after being away from Dirt Track for so long.  But secretly I really wanted to win an Aussie Title before we move to Spain because Dad never won one and I wanted to do something he hasn’t done,” said Remy after the race.

The Honda Tumit Motorcycle Accessories Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships were hugely successful with over 170 riders in 18 different classes.  Whilst the riders had to

contend with unpredictable weather conditions, ranging from hot and humid to rain and mud, the junior competitors took it all in their stride and rode to win.  It was a great example of Australian kids competing hard to take home a national title and something Remy and Luca Gardner will miss when they relocate to Spain in January 2012.

DIOBO' QUANTA GENTE! 
'Super Sic' will have looked down on his funeral today and no doubt said: “Diobò quanta gente!” (“Good lord, that's a lot of people!”). “Did so many people really want to wish me well?” he would have added. The demonstration of affection towards 'Super Sic', tragically killed last Sunday at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, was from another planet. Yesterday around ten thousand people came to say go odbye as he laid at rest in the Municipal Theatre in Coriano whilst today the number of people present in the small town and at the Misano circuit, where the events were shown on a big screen, was simply incalculable. The world of motorcycling flocked to be by his side as he was finally laid to rest. The funeral service was led by the Bishop of Rimini, Francesco Lambiasi, at the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Coriano, where the body of “Super Sic” was carried by his closest friends in the presence of his family, the friends he spent so many happy times with, the team and other dignitaries from the world of motorcycling, World Champions from different disciplines of racing and sport, other personalities and his two most famous motorcycles: the Gilera that he rode to the 250cc World Championship and the Honda he raced this season. Outside the church, which could only hold 450 people, thousands and thousands more watched on two more big screens, with another in t he Coriano town square. The most emotional moment came when the Vasco Rossi song “Siamo solo noi” was played as Marco's coffin was carried out of the the church of Our Lady of the Assumption to make its final journey. Goodbye “Super Sic”, you will always be in our hearts.

Being involved in motorsports ourselves, the news of the tragic death of a hero, Marco Simoncelli, during Malaysian GP, struck Moriwaki with a deep sadness.

Our thoughts are with his family at this tragic time with sincere condolences.

MotoGP 2011 season is almost coming to the end.  It’s penultimate round was held in Malaysia past weekend, was the last round in Asia.
2 MD600s joined as wildcard entry from Petronas Malaysia, Mohamad Zamri Baba and Hafizh Syahrin, total of 6 MORIWAKI MD600s were at Sepang Circuit.
There were quite number of crashes from FP1 and Ricard Cardus of QMMF Racing team had a highside during FP2.  He broke his left wrist and had to be withdrawn from the event.
On Saturday, the Qualifying Practice started with 33 degree air and 52 degree ground condition.  Michele Pirro, Gresini Racing Moto2 timed 3rd fastest earlier in the session.  He crashed from his front end at 32min remaining, quickly returned to his pit for repair, went back to the track but he couldn’t shorten his lap.  2’08.823” that he marked on lap3 in the session became his fastest, and got 3rd in the grid, front-row start.
His teammate followed him, marked 2’8.856” at his last try, Yuki Takahashi starts the race from 4th position in the grid.
Zamri Baba and Syanrin, the wildcard entries finished the session in 20th and 32nd respectively.  And Mashel Al Naimi, QMMF Racing team was 34th.
It was another competitive result, having 12 riders in top 1second.

The race started at 14:17 local time on Sunday with 34 degree air, 48 degree ground.
Takahashi moved up to 3rd after first 2 corners but Pirro dropped to 7th and both completed the opening lap in that said positions.  3 other MORIWAKI riders, Zamri Baba, Syahrin and Al Naimi completed the lap1 32, 33 and 34 respectively.  As the race moved on to lap2, Takahashi went out of track at turn1, losing his position.  He was running in 15th by the end of the second lap, moved to 11th at lap4 but crashed at following lap.  He managed to ride back to his pit and ended his race.
Pirro moved to 6th at lap4, joined the battle for 3 and finished the race in 7th, with 9 points.  Zamri Baba improved his position to 18th at one stage and finished the race in 20th.  His teammate Syahrin was 22nd and Al Naimi was 25th.

----------------------

MD600 Qualifying practice result:

-- 3rd
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.51 Michele PIRRO
  TIME　/  2'08.823

-- 4th
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.72 Yuki TAKAHASHI
  TIME　/  2'08.856

--20th
  TEAM　/　Petronas Malaysia
  RIDER /　No.87　Mohamad ZAMRI BABA
  TIME　/  2'09.798

--32nd
  TEAM　/　Petronas Malaysia
  RIDER /　No.86　Hafizh SYAHRIN
  TIME　/  2'11.332

--34th
  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.95　Mashel AL NAIMI
  TIME　/  2'11.388

---

MD600 Race result:

-- 7th
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.51 Michele PIRRO

--20th
  TEAM　/　Petronas Malaysia
  RIDER /　No.87　Mohamad ZAMRI BABA

--22nd
  TEAM　/　Petronas Malaysia
  RIDER /　No.86　Hafizh SYAHRIN

--25th
  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.95　Mashel AL NAIMI

Not Classified

　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.72 Yuki TAKAHASHI

RETIRED

  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.88　Ricard CARDUS

------------------------------------

World Championship Classification

----
CONSTRUCTOR CHAMPIONSHIP

MORIWAKI MD600 RANKING  / 6th / 113point

---
RIDER POINT RANKING

-- 10th /　 No.72 Yuki TAKAHASHI  / 77point

-- 16th /　 No.51 Michele PIRRO  / 59point

-- 30th /　 No.88 Ricard CARDUS  /  2point

-----------
MotoGP official website
http://www.motogp.com
http://www.motogp.com/en/Moto2

Result
http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics

The thoughts of QMMF Racing Team and the Qatari Federation are with Marco Simoncelli and his family

Even though Mishal Al-Naimi crashed during today’s Grand Prix of Malaysia, the QMMF Racing Team rider left the Sepang track with confidence for the future, since he had started with a strong pace and stayed ahead of a group of other riders in the opening laps of the race.
Soon after Al-Naimi’s heroic finish despite a loose handlebar, all results became meaningless when Honda factory rider Marco Simoncelli lost his life in a tragic accident at the beginning of the MotoGP race. “We are deeply saddened with these terrible news, and the thoughts of us in the team and in the Motorcycle Federation of Qatar are with Marco Simoncelli, his family and friends”, said team coordinator Luis Solano.

Mashel Al-Naimi – 24th
“I had a good start and passed three to five riders. I felt very good on the bike, especially in the fast corners and I tried to push to stay with the group in front of me. Unfortunately I crashed in a slow corner when being hard on the brakes. But I picked the bike up again and continued riding as I wanted in order to confirm my good feeling. It was a pity that the handlebar was loose and slapped against the tank all the time. Then I saw the red flag and stopped. For me it was a good race - despite the crash - and I will now focus on getting a good result in Valencia!"

CREDITABLE FINISH FOR PIRRO
On a bike that clearly didn't have the pace of his rivals Michele Pirro today did his level best to battle for a top finish at Sepang, eventually settling for a creditable seventh place. Unfortunately for Yuki Takahashi he was unable to finish the race after a crash, having struggled with ongoing set-up difficulties with the Moriwaki MD600.

Michele Pirro (7th) 

“I am pleased I finished the race but not so happy with the performance of th e bike. Unfortunately I couldn't hold my position on the straight and everything I made up in the corners was lost in an instant. I am disappointed because lapping alone I was fast but once again in the race we have suffered from the same problems as always.”

Yuki Takahashi (DNF)

“I had the same problems as Friday – the rear was unstable and I couldn't control the bike. In the end I made a mistake which meant I couldn't finish the race. I don't know what to say, I'm too disappointed.”

Fausto Gresini
“Pirro had a great race and was strong out there. Unfortunately at this circuit his bike was not fast enough down the straights and he paid the price but I want to congratulate him for how he rode. I think Yuki could have stayed more calm because he had the potential to do well here and it's a shame he couldn't manage it.”

Al-Naimi lacks straightline speed in qualifying
Ricky Cardús heads home to Barcelona

QMMF Racing Team rider Mishal Al-Naimi improved consistently throughout all three free practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix, but when it counted in qualifying, the 28-year-old rider from Doha, Qatar, wasn’t able to repeat his previous best lap time and had to settle for the 35th position on the grid. Even though his team only made small adjustments to the rear suspension set-up, Al-Naimi suffered from a mysterious lack of speed and couldn’t even catch up with other riders in the slipstream on the long straights of the Sepang track.
Teammate Ricky Cardús was sidelined after a practice crash on Friday in which he broke his left forearm, but watched practice from his QMMF Racing Team garage before flying home to Barcelona on Saturday night in order to consult his doctors and to make a decision about the further treatment of his injuries. “We all wish him the very best for a quick recovery”, said team coordinator Luis Solano.

Mashel Al-Naimi – 34th in 2.11,970
“We worked very well in all free practice sessions and we improved consistently, so I was really looking forward to qualifying where I was determined to climb higher up in the rankings. But when it counted this afternoon, my bike wasn’t as fast any more. I lost speed compared to the other sessions and I couldn’t even catch up with other riders in the slipstream any more. I don’t know if the problem starts on the corner exits or if the engine lost some power. It’s strange, because our only modification was a slight change on the rear suspension set-up. I didn’t improve my lap times and we will now check what we can do for tomorrow’s race!”

Ricky Cardús
“At first, it all happened very quickly. But as soon as I was high up in the air, time seemed to come to a standstill. I had time to think and I imagined myself getting hurt. And once I hit the ground with such force, I really thought that the diagnosis would be grim. Looking now at the x-ray images, luckily there is less damage than I initially expected to see. I will now try to recover, to put our bad experience here at Sepang behind us and then focus on the next season, which I want to start in perfect shape. It’s still unclear whether I will need an operation to get the bone fragment out of my wrist that came off when I fractured the radius, but my doctors at home will carefully re-assess the injury when I return to Barcelona and then we will take a decision!”

GP of MALAYSIA - Qualifying - 22/10/2011

FANTASTIC DAY FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTO2 AT SEPANG WITH PIRRO ON FRONT ROW AND TAKAHASHI ON SECOND ROW
Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi lapped third and fourth fastest respectively to qualify on the first and second rows for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang this afternoon. Despite crashing twice Pirro manage to seal a front row start and could have even fought for pole position. Takahashi was also able to show that the latest updates to the Moriwaki MD600 are bearing fruit and that t here could be more to celebrate before the season is

Michele Pirro (3rd 2’08” 004)

“I am delighted. It is a shame about the two crashes because I could have done even better without them but I am satisfied anyway with my race pace and with a good start tomorrow I should be able to fight at the front. I really want to finish the season on a high and could not be more motivated for tomorrow.”

Yuki Takahashi (4th 2’ 08” 069)

“It has been a great day for the team. Michele produced a great performance and I was fast too. Now the bike is starting to give the right feedback and with a good start tomorrow we can be fighting at the front. We will try and make some more little improvements in the warm-up and see if we can be even more competitive for the race. We are all confident we can do a good job.”

Fausto Gresini
“It has been a splendid day for us. Michele did an extraordinary job to qualify third, on the front row, and with a good consistent pace throughout. It was a shame about the two crashes but the main thing is he was competitive and should be again tomorrow. With his fourth place Yuki also confirmed that the Moriwaki MD600 has made progress and we can be proud of the job we have done. I am confident about tomorrow.”

MOTO2 GP of MALAYSIA - Free Practice - 21/10/2011

FOURTH PLACE FOR PIRRO ON DAY ONE SEPANG

Michele Pirro lapped amongst the Moto2 pacesetters today, eventually ending the day fourth fastest despite having never visited this circuit before. Yuki Takahashi suffered a crash that prevented him from joining his team-mate near the top of the timesheets and he will be looking to make up for that when practice resumes tomorrow.

Michele Pirro (4th 2’08.594) 
“I am happy with the result today. I ti a nice feeling to be up near the top but especially to have the pace. The layout of the Sepang circuit helps to alleviate the problems we have with our bike and tomorrow we will try to take another step forward with it tomorrow.”

Yuki Takahashi (10th 2’09.007)
“I continued to have a strange feeling with the rear today and I tried to ride around it but it made things worse.In the end I crashed and I am disappointed about that. It hasn't been a good day and tomorrow we will do all we can to make up for it.”

Fausto Gresini
“I am very satisfied with Michele Pirro's performance at a circuit he didn't know. He set a fast pace and was able to comfortably run with Bradl. Overall it has been a positive day for him although I can't say the same about Yuki Takahashi. I am quite disappointed because an experienced rider like him shouldn't be making that kind of mistake. He needs to be out on track making the most of his potential, not wasting time in the garage. Hopefully things change for him tomorrow. Pirro just has to continue in the same way.”

Strong start for Al-Naimi in tropical heat

Cardús to miss Malaysian Grand Prix after crash

QMMF Racing Team rider Mishal Al-Naimi had a strong and promising start into the Malaysian Grand Prix. In tropical heat, which suits the 28-year-old rider from Doha, Qatar, much more than the windy and relatively cool conditions in Australia one week ago, Al-Naimi rode to 34th place and has much more under his sleeve to improve further in qualifying on Saturday.

But it was also an unlucky day for the QMMF Racing Team. Just before the end of the second free practice session on Friday, Al-Naimi’s team-mate Ricky Cardús suffered a heavy crash at the exit of turn two, a low-speed left-hand corner. Landing heavily after his highsider, the 23-year-old from Barcelona, Spain, not only dislocated a toe but, more seriously, broke his left radius. Since a small bone fragment came off and was floating in the wrist, rider, team and the doctors were still considering the right treatment on Friday afternoon and it was unclear if Cardús needed to undergo surgery. “It was a strange situation. The session was almost finished and Ricky was on his last lap when he suffered this highsider in turn two”, said team coordinator Luis Solano. “We could see on the monitors that he flew two meters high above the ground before coming down hard. He dislocated the big toe of his left foot, which is not a big problem. Worse is his wrist injury with a small fracture of the left radius and a bone fragment that came off. Initially, the doctors said that Ricky wouldn’t need surgery, but we will assess the situation again and then decide with Ricky and his manager what to do. The only certain thing at this stage is that he won’t start in practice tomorrow and that he will miss the race on Sunday as well!”

Mashel Al-Naimi – 34th in 2.11,970

“Of course it’s hot here, but I still feel much more comfortable than at Phillip Island last week! We started with the settings we had from the Australian Grand Prix, but the bike was low and I had to battle it through the direction changes here at Sepang, which is not my riding style. I didn’t feel comfortable. For the second session, we changed many things and made the bike higher which makes the direction changes much easier, in turn one and two, but also in the other slower corners of the track. I improved my lap time by 1.5 seconds and I was faster than last year. I really felt that I had the speed to stay with the other riders and to be competitive. I followed some other riders and made a good lap time. My goal is to make the same sort of progress again tomorrow and to get good lap times consistently!”

“Towards the end of the session, I saw Ricky behind me and I pushed to stay with him. I was right behind him down the main straight and through the first corner, and in the second corner, I saw his rear tyre chatter and at the same moment he was flying high through the air. Fast corner crashes are no problem most of the times because you just slide to a standstill, but highsiders in slow corners are painful and dangerous because you fly high and come down hard. I feel really sorry for him and I hope that he will recover soon!”

RON: LET’S WORK TOGETHER

For the very first time, team PETRONAS Malaysia showed off the livery it will display on the Moriwaki Moto2 machines that will be used by our very own local riders, Mohd Zamri Baba and Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) during the bike unveiling at Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC) today.

PETRONAS is the title sponsor but the team is also supported by Moriwaki Engineering, Boon Siew Honda and Hong Leong Yamaha Motor, Two Wheels Motor Racing (TWMR), Astro Arena, Sepang International Circuit, Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), Racing Boy, Uma Racing, Shoei, MotoDotMania and Dunlop.

28-year-old Zamri will be riding bike number 87 while 17-year-old Hafizh takes number 86 on his bike. Both of their riding skills were groomed through the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship as well as the PETRONAS Asia Road Racing Championship.   

Even though, 2011 marks the second year Malaysian gets to witness another wildcard entry in Moto2, Ron Hogg, the Promotions Director if TWMR said that it can only happen with everyone in the motorcycling industry involved.

He said, “Let’s work together as it’s not a one man show programme. It’s the entire industry from different manufactures, sponsors, teams and riders coming together to achieve a common goal  which is to provide the necessary exposure for the riders and teams before they move on to the next level.”

“With the experience we gain racing at the MotoGP level, it will help us to improve the standards of racing in Malaysia not only the riders but it also include teams, race engineers, crews, sponsors and other. From there we hope we can start producing more talented riders for the future.

Asking him on his target for both the riders and how he sees the programme will develop further, he said, “Given the competitive nature of the Moto2 class, we hope to see both Zamri and Hafizh to keep on improving their lap time throughout the MotoGP weekend.”

“As for the future, I hope we will be able to scale greater heights and get more sponsors flooding in to support the motor racing industry as it would be great to see more Malaysian riders making the grade at international level without thinking of how long they have a career in it!  PETRONAS has changed the motorcycling industry, now we need more support from other to help make it the best!,” concluded Ron who urge all Malaysian to head to Sepang this weekend and give our support to our very own riders.

PREVIEW MOTO2: GP of Malaysia, Sepang, 21 - 23 October 2011

TEAM GRESINI SEEK COMPETITIVE WEEKEND AT SEPANG
Improvements over the course of the weekend at Phillip Island failed to materialise in the race, meaning Team Gresini Moto2 head to the next round in Malaysia with added determination to succeed. Yuki Takahashi made a good start to the race in Australia but quickly lost positions over the opening laps before eventually demonstrating the pace to suggest he could have run with the guys at the front. Michele Pirro's race was conditioned by an unusual problem – he bent his footpeg on a kerb – and it was all he could do to finish the race in the points. Sepang represents another opportunity for the riders to fulfil their undoubted potential and the goal is to be competitive again before the season ends.

Yuki Takahashi
“After qualifying on the front row in Australia I was very optimistic for the race but we were only able to manage tenth place, which was a disappointment. I got a good start but didn't manage to stay up there with the lead group, then lap after lap I got my confidence together and made up positions but it was too late. My lap times were as good as the guys at the front so that leaves a bittersweet taste. Now we go to Sepang where I hope to have more confidence in myself and in my bike.”

Michele Pirro 
“We have had a nightmare recently and I haven't been able to push the bike as I would like. Then in Australia we had problems in the race because of a stupid little thing like a bent footpeg which didn't allow me to ride properly. We have two races left and we will do our best to be competitive in them.”

Fausto Gresini 
“In Australia things went slightly better in practice but we are really struggling to realise our potential at the moment. It is a real shame that there are two races of the season to go and we are not looking likely to be competitive in them. Having said that we won't give up because there have been some positive signs and with the help of the riders we still have a chance of fulfilling our potential in these races.”

Only 3 to go, the Grand Prix went to Australia.
It was relatively warm until Saturday morning, but it changed completely just before the start of qualifying practice sessions.  It started raining just after all Moto2 riders went out to the track for qualifying.  They all came back to their pits and waited for the weather to improve.  That gave only 25min to everyone to battle to get their positions in the starting grid.  Riders were swapping their positions in that short period of time and Yuki Takahashi timed 1’34.689 to secure his fifth front-row start with 3rd fastest time in the session.
Other MD600 riders: Michele Pirro 12th, Ricard Cardus 27th and Mashel Al Naimi 37th.

The temperature dropped on Sunday morning. By the time the Moto2 race started, it went up only to 16 degree air and 32 degree ground.  All MD600 riders completed the opening lap safely, Takahashi 8th, Pirro 12th, Cardus 18th and Al Naimi 32 respectively.
Takahashi came to 14th position at one stage but regained later to finish the race in 10th.  His teammate was battling within and out of point-getting position and finished in 14th with 2 points.  Cardus just missed a point, finishing in 16th and Al Naimi 28th.

----------------------

MD600 Qualifying Practice result

-- 3rd
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.72 Yuki TAKAHASHI
  TIME　/  1'34.689

--12th
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.51 Michele PIRRO
  TIME　/  1'35.281

--27th
  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.88　Ricard CARDUS
  TIME　/  1'36.695

--37th
  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.95　Mashel AL NAIMI
  TIME　/  1'39.658

---

MD600 Race result:

--10th
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.72 Yuki TAKAHASHI

--14th
　TEAM　/　Gresini Racing Moto2
　RIDER /　No.51 Michele PIRRO

--17th
  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.88　Ricard CARDUS

--28th
  TEAM　/　QMMF Racing Team
  RIDER /　No.95　Mashel AL NAIMI

------------------------------------

World Championship Classification

----
CONSTRUCTOR CHAMPIONSHIP

MORIWAKI MD600 RANKING  / 6th / 104point

---
RIDER POINT RANKING

--  8th /　 No.72 Yuki TAKAHASHI      / 77point

-- 17th /　 No.51 Michele PIRRO  / 50point

-- 30th /　 No.88 Ricard CARDUS  /  2point

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Event sights

Pits


“POLIZIA” on Michele’s helmet???
Apparently he was appointed in athletes supporting program by Italian police.



Gresini is giving traditional technique, holes on upper cowling, to fight against Philip Island wind.

The Moto2 goes to Malaysia for its penultimate round of the season, on October 23.
Thank you for your continuous support to MORIWAKI riders!!

-----------
MotoGP official website
http://www.motogp.com
http://www.motogp.com/en/Moto2

Result
http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics

Cardús battles his way to 17th – Al-Naimi starts well but drops back with tyre problems

QMMF Racing Team riders Ricky Cardús and Mashel Al-Naimi had a great start at the Australian Grand Prix and passed several riders in the first few corners of the magnificent Phillip Island track.
Cardús, who was 27th on the grid and in 18th place after the opening lap, was able to maintain his speed and momentum. He gained more ground and positions and battled very close to the point rankings throughout the race to eventually finish in 17th position.
Team-mate Al-Naimi on the other hand lost a lot of the ground that he had gained with his superb start. After a trouble-free warm-up practice session in the morning, he suffered from a strange and unexpected lack of stability on his Moriwaki prototype and lost his confidence to ride at the very limit. In the end, he preferred to play it safe in very windy and cool conditions, to take 28th place.
„We are happy today because Ricky rode a very strong race. He started from the 27th position and almost finished 15th. Only on the last few meters, he lost two places again“, said team coordinator Luis Solano. „This is a good result for us even though we still need to keep improving and to get closer to the top. In the last two races of the season, we are aiming for better results.“
„The conditions with the cooler temperatures and the strong wind were difficult for Mashel today. This is a very, very fast track and he doesn't have any experience with wind gushes like that. He learns more and more and we are confident to get a better result in the heat of Malaysia!“
 

Mashel Al-Naimi – 28th
“I had a good start and passed many riders, but then all the others were able to fight back and pass me again. Maybe I chose the wrong tyre as I had a stability problem on the rear. The bike was moving and sliding in every corner. I am now focusing on Malaysia and I hope to do a good race there because I really want to finish the season on a high note. I am pushing as hard as I can all the time. I now have to bring home some results for QMMF Racing Team!”

Ricky Cardús – 17th
“We arrived here in Australia on a track that was completely new to me and we now leave with lots of experience, in terms of setting up the bike as much as my riding is concerned. We are improving and I think we will be able to show in the last remaining races of the season that we have become stronger and more confident. The team made a big step forward with my new bike and even though I have improved as well, there are still areas left for me to work on as a rider, which could be seen on the last lap of today’s race when I missed out on a possible world championship point. But we are not so far away now, there are only details missing to be fully competitive!”

GP of AUSTRALIA - Race - 16/10/2011

POINTS FOR YUKI TAKAHASHI AND MICHELE PIRRO AT PHILLIP ISLAND
It proved to be another disappointing day for Team Gresini Moto2 at Phillip Island, with Yuki Takahashi limited to tenth place and Michele Pirro fourteenth, although both riders at least scored points. Takahashi got a good start from the front row but quickly lost positions before finally getting back on to the pace of a lead group that he had unfortunately already lost touch with. A problem with his footrest made life extra difficult for Michele Pirro, who finished fifteenth.

Yuki Takahashi (10th)
“After my start I was sure I could have a good race but I suddenly lost precious positions. I couldn't get into a rhythm over the opening laps and when I did so it was too late, even though I was setting the same lap times as the guys at the front. We have taken a step forward with the handling of the bike so I am confident about the next race at Sepang.”

Michele Pirro (14th)
“I don't know how I managed to bend the footrest but it certainly made life difficult. I tried my best to make up positions but it was all I could do to finish the race in a decent position.”

Cardús caught out in weather lottery
- A-Naimi still lacks confidence

Everything seemed to go according to plan for QMMF Racing Team rider Ricky Cardús on the second day of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. With improved track knowledge and quicker cornering lines, the 23-year-old Spaniard was clearly on his way up with 22nd place in the third free practice session on Saturday morning. For qualifying in the afternoon, he fine-tuned the set-up of his Moriwaki prototype and was ready to attack, but was caught out when it started to rain. With ever-changing track conditions, the rest of the qualifying session turned into a lottery in which Cardús lost his chance to win when he missed the right moment for a fast lap toward the end of the session. He ended up in 27th spot on the grid but is confident to turn things around in the race.
Whereas Cardús felt comfortable on his bike, team-mate Mashel Al-Naimi had a difficult day altogether. In the morning he was disturbed by strong winds. And with the tricky track and weather conditions in the afternoon, he only managed to mount a late attack to qualify in 37th position.

Mashel Al-Naimi – 37th in 1.39,658
“Today was really difficult for me. This morning, it was way too windy. And this afternoon, I had a good set-up, but then it started to rain and for the rest of the session, the weather changed every five minutes. My last lap was my fastest one, but I am clearly not fast enough. This track is especially difficult for me because I don’t have a lot of experience here and I lack the confidence with the bike to go fast in the corners. But even though, I am positive about my perspective for the race tomorrow. I will use the hard tyre compound because it gives me more stability and I will try to push for a good result in the race!”


Ricky Cardús – 27th in 1.36,695
“I am starting to get to know the circuit a bit better and my team has put in 200 per cent in order to get the maximum out of the bike, so we are on our way up. We were in 22nd place this morning and there was still a big margin for improvement. The bike felt much better again this afternoon and in dry conditions, I am sure I could have scored a good lap time and a decent position on the starting grid. But due to the weather, it all went a little bit crazy. I did my fastest time on the third lap, then it started to rain. I rode again for a few laps when the track was still damp, but when it dried up again in the end, everybody else was improving whereas I went out too late and missed my chance. All I needed was one good lap when the conditions were alright, but I wasn’t able to do it and I am not looking for excuses because there are none. The good thing is the bike has improved, which gives me the chance to prove something tomorrow in the race that I haven’t been able to demonstrate today!”

GP of AUSTRALIA - Qualifying - 15/10/2011

FRONT ROW AT LAST!
The Phillip Island circuit was the scene of a pleasant surprise today as Yuki Takahashi qualified on the front row of the grid for the Australian Grand Prix. It was a difficult session due to several dramatic changes in weather during qualifying practice but Team Gresini Moto2 used their experience and intuition to give Takahashi the chance to set the third fastest time right at the end of the session. Michele Pirro was also on course to set a perfectly-timed fas t lap at the end but paid the price for a series of small mistakes.

Yuki Takahashi (3rd 1’34”689)
“I am happy because we made the right choice at the right time and managed a front row start, which is important for me and the team. The conditions today were particularly tricky and we spent most of the session in the box until the rain ceased, then we went out and gave it everything. It is a nice feeling and starting from this position should give me the chance to have a good race tomorrow.”

Michele Pirro (12th 1’35” 281)
“It is a shame because without a couple of small mistakes I could have been starting from a really good position on the grid tomorrow. I was pushing hard but on every lap there was something that spoiled my lap time. I will try to make up for it tomorrow by making a good start and running with the guys at the front.”

Cardús adapts to fast and thrilling Phillip Island
Al-Naimi chasing better set-up for the bumps

QMMF Racing Team rider Ricky Cardús rode his first ever laps on the spectacular Phillip Island track on the Southern tip of the Australian continent. Whereas the fans flock to the unique venue not only because of the Grand Prix action but also because of the magnificent scenery right at the shorelines of the Southern ocean, Cardús enjoyed the thrill of one of the fastest circuits of this year’s calendar. Since Phillip Island is also one of the most difficult and challenging tracks in the world, one day was not enough to find the best lines and the ideal braking points for Cardús. The 23-year-old from Barcelona, Spain, currently holds 32nd position in the time sheets, but is confident to improve and conquer a good grid position in qualifying on Saturday.
Team-mate Mashel Al-Naimi also had a very busy first day of practice, trying various set-up solutions in order to improve his bike’s behavior over the bumps of the track. The Phillip Island circuit, that also hosts numerous other events like V8 Supercar racing, has become significantly bumpier in comparison to previous years. Al-Naimi still went about one second quicker than during the last Grand Prix of Australia, which was encouraging but not good enough to climb higher than to 38th position in the first day’s combined practice times.

Mashel Al-Naimi – 38th in 1.39,068
“This track is difficult. I like fast corners, because they suit my style, but I am not sure yet about how to get the best out my bike on this circuit. The track has become very bumpy and it seems to have become more difficult to hit the best lines. I still managed to improve by one second compared to last year, but this is not enough, I have to be much faster in order to be competitive. I need more corner speed but I don't know why I lose so much through the bends. Today we tried both tyre options and I did two good laps at the end on the softer option. Tomorrow we will try more set-up solutions and see how we go!”

Ricky Cardús – 32nd in 1.37,278
“We did a lot of work in preparation for qualifying tomorrow. We’ve had a few races recently where we weren’t quite there on Friday, but today we packed lots into the two first practice sessions that should help us to get the confidence we need, to get a decent spot on the starting grid and to do a good race on Sunday. This circuit is a lot of fun to ride and a real thrill because it is so fast, but it is also one of the most difficult ones in the calendar and I am still missing the reference points that I need. There is still a lot of work to be done, on my riding as well as on the set-up of the machine, but I am confident that we can solve our problems and that we’ll be ready to put up a fight on Sunday!”

GP of AUSTRALIA - Free Practice - 14/10/2011

ENCOURAGING SIGNS AT PHILLIP ISLAND
Whilst rear grip remains an issue for Team Gresini Moto2 pair Yuki Takahashi and Michele Pirro they were at least able to make a better start to life at Phillip Island than they managed throughout the recent Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi. Confidence is high and if they can find a set-up solution that gives them more traction in corner exit tomorrow they could both make significant progress.

Yuki Takahashi (10th 1’35”655)
"Not bad. Maybe we have found the right direction at last. Our confidence is a little higher, we just need a bit more grip in corner exit now. Tomorrow we will work to try and improve this situation and hopefully become competitive with the Moriwaki MD600."

Michele Pirro (14th 1’35” 380)
"We are losing a lot of time in the fourth sector, where you need a lot of rear traction in the exit of the final corner. Anyway, we are much more satisfied than we were at Motegi and if we can find a solution tomorrow I am sure it won't be difficult to be fighting with the lead guys for a good position on the grid. "

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Al Naimi battles to 29th - Cardús falls on the first lap

QMMF Racing Team riders Mashel al Naimi and Ricky Cardús started with high ambitions into the Grand Prix of Japan, but their hopes of a strong team result didn’t come true. Cardús got caught up in a first-lap incident with Raffaele de Rosa and Jordi Torres and crashed. The 24-year-old Spaniard didn't get injured, but was not able to re-join the race, either, which stopped him from showing the potential of the new Moriwaki chassis which he was using for the first time this weekend. Teammate Al Naimi battled to 29th place and struggled with a mysterious loss of acceleration and straight-line speed of his bike.

"First of all we have to say a big “thank you” to Moriwaki for their effort with the new bike", said team coordinator Luis Solano. "Unfortunatey, we weren’t able to finish the weekend on a high note and demonstrate the potential of the new bike. We can't say it was bad luck, because Ricky made a mistake. Mashel was fighting with Koyama until the finish line, which was good, but we expect more. All in all, we can't be happy!"

Mashel Al Naimi - 29th:
"I felt good on the bike and at the beginning of the race I tried to stay with the last group, but unfortunately they were able to come past me on the long straight after the slow hairpin. I don't know why, I pushed as hard as I could, but I couldn't close the gap on the straights. I just kept losing time and speed. But I know that this was a problem with the bike and not with myself, so I’m not worried. My team worked perfectly this weekend and I want to thank them very much!"

Ricky Cardús – did not finish:
“It was a short race for me. We had a bit of a problem with the brakes in the warm-up session this morning, but apart from that, we had a good set-up for the race and I really wanted to do well. But the race start was hectic, I was surrounded by lots of other riders, and then I found myself in a funnel. I got somehow caught up with Jordi Torres and Raffaele de Rosa and I crashed. It’s a real pity because even though we weren’t in a good position on the starting grid, I still knew that I had a good rhythm for the race and that I had enough speed to catch up. Now I look forward to racing at Phillip Island which is another new circuit for me!”

Ricky Cardús confident despite lack of grip / Breakthrough for Mashel Al-Naimi

QMMF Racing Team riders Ricky Cardús and Mashel Al-Naimi qualified in 22nd and 35th place for the Grand Prix of Japan, with an overall performance that was much more encouraging as their grid positions reflect.
24-year-old Cardús, who once again rode most of the time in both practice sessions on Saturday by himself without chasing the slipstream of other riders, further deepened his understanding of the new Moriwaki chassis and confirmed a big step forward in the bike’s technology in comparison to the previous version. His biggest remaining issue before the race is finding additional grip on the rear, since his competitors still pull away at the corner exits of the 4.8 kilometre Motegi track.
Team-mate Al-Naimi shared the air of confidence. After a string of difficult races, the 28-year-old from Qatar managed to cut the gap to the fastest man on the track to 2.6 seconds and to match the performances of a whole group of rivals, which was a break-through in his quest for competitiveness in this category. His biggest remaining problem at this stage is a lack of acceleration at the corner exits.

"Mashel managed a small improvement so he now is into the last group which is good. He is working well and gained some confidence. He also found better braking points and can brake now more aggressively. We found a good overall setting and he feels comfortable with the bike, but of course we need to improve even more”, said team coordinator Luis Solano. "Ricky needed just another 0.3 seconds to break into the top positions and to jump from 21st to 12th, so he is not so far away. He just needs to concentrate a little more on that one fast lap in qualifying. At the beginning he is doing well, but at the end everybody pushes much harder and he will have to do the same. But nevertheless, he did a good job."
"We want to thank the Moriwaki family for their great job and the big effort they’ve put in to have the bike ready for Ricky this weekend. The bike is an improvement, but we still have to understand it a bit better!”
 

Mashel Al-Naimi – 35th in 1.54,744
“We had a good start into this weekend and we managed to improve steadily from that point onwards. Starting from the first practice session, I improved quicker than ever before and I am happy now because the gap to pole position is down to only 2.6 seconds. We made a lot of changes to the bike today, trying different suspension settings and tyre pressures on the rear, because I had lots of slides and needed to know the best settings to gain more traction. When I made my best lap time, I followed some other riders. It helps me to have some slipstream because for some reason, I don’t have enough speed on the corner exits. But it also felt good to ride with the others because I felt close and competitive for the first time. This boosts my motivation and I hope to make a good result tomorrow!”

Ricky Cardús – 22nd in 1.53,638
“Moriwaki made a big step forward with the new chassis and it’s up to us now to make the best out this opportunity. We worked well on the set-up of the bike and sorted through a few little things, with the main focus of finding a good pace and rhythm for the race. I now feel I’ve got this rhythm. I rode most of the time by myself and the gap to the front group of riders in terms of lap times isn’t too big. But there is still room for improvement, on my side as much as on the bike. Our biggest problem is a lack of grip. We all have issues with grip, but whereas the others pull away out of the corners, my bike feels as if it had 200 horsepower, it is sliding and moving so much. But nevertheless, I am aiming high for tomorrow. We can’t settle for just taking a point or two. We do have some problems still, but I am confident that we can solve them for tomorrow so I can fight to get as close to the front as possible!”

Ricky Cardús tests new Moriwaki bike / Al-Naimi in search for more corner speed

QMMF Racing Team rider Ricky Cardús had an exciting first day at the Japanese Grand Prix, testing the new 2012 version of his Moriwaki chassis. The 24-year-old from Barcelona, Spain, made the best use of the first two free practice sessions, riding most of the time all by himself and collecting valuable impressions and data for the race set-up. On his final lap in the afternoon, he suffered a small crash with worn tyres under brakes, but walked away unhurt.

Team-mate Mashel Al-Naimi also rode most of the two sessions without a tyre change and felt very comfortable with his bike, especially in the braking zones, but still looks for ways to get more confidence and more speed through the corners. Whereas Cardús holds 25th position, Al-Naimi is in 38th place so far.

“At the last race in Aragón, Ricky tried an updated version of the 2011 frame and swingarm, but the bike he rides here at Motegi features the all-new chassis for 2012, even though it hasn’t been finalized in all the details”, said team coordinator Luis Solano. “Our philosophy is to have a new approach at each Grand Prix, and having this new bike is definitely a boost to his motivation and confidence!”

Mashel Al-Naimi – 38th in 1.57,167
“I did 36 laps with the soft tyre compound and didn’t come in for a tyre change at all. Despite the worn tyres, I felt good in the hard-braking zones, but I still need more confidence to flick the bike quickly and deeply into the corners. We changed a few things on the set-up, but I didn’t feel a big difference on the bike. Tomorrow we will try to do more things on the set-up side in order to improve my cornering. I hope to be able to make a good qualifying!”

Ricky Cardús – 25th in 1.54,602
“I was riding by myself most of the time, this morning and this afternoon, getting a feel for the new bike. We continued with a used tyre in the second session and I ended up doing 30 laps so it was quite worn. It’s for this reason that I am 25th in the classification – if we had mounted new tyres, I could definitely have gone faster at the end of the session. But what’s more important is that I found a good rhythm with the new bike. On the last lap, I lost the front under brakes and had a little crash. It was my fault, because I kept pushing. Luckily, there was not too much damage!”