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Welcome to the Official Thread of Motorsports 2009

Official Championship Websites

F1 http://www.formula1.com/
MotoGP http://www.motogp.com/
WSBK http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/index.php
WRC http://www.wrc.com/
A1GP http://www.a1gp.com/
WTCC http://www.fiawtcc.com/
IRL http://www.indycar.com/
American Le mans http://www.americanlemans.com/
Nascar http://www.nascar.com/
Grand Am http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/

Motorsport Websites

Autosport http://www.autosport.com/
Planet f1 http://www.planetf1.com/
GPUpdate http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/
F1Net http://www.forumula1.net/
BBC Motorsport http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/default.stm
Eurosport Motosport http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/motorsport/
Crash http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/home/
Unofficial WRC News http://www.rallye-info.com/
Motorsport http://www.motorsport.com/

Manufacturer Websites

F1

Ferrari http://www.ferrariworld.com/FWorld/fw/index.jsp
McLaren F1http://www.mclaren.co.uk/
BMW F1 http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/en/
Renault F1 http://www.ing-renaultf1.com/en/
Toyota F1 http://www.toyota-f1.com/public/en/index_e.html
Red Bull racing http://www.redbullracing.com/
Toro Rosso http://www.tororosso.com/
Williams http://www.williamsf1.com/
Force India F1 http://www.forceindiaf1.com/

MotoGP

Yamaha http://www.yamahamotogp.com/2009/welcomepage_en.html
Repsol Honda http://world.honda.com/MotoGP/
Ducati http://www.ducati.com/racing/00_home_racing/gp/index.jhtml
Tech 3 Yamaha http://www.teamtech3.fr/
Suzuki http://www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk/
LCR Honda http://www.lcr.mc/home/index.asp

WRC

Citroen http://www.citroen-wrc.com/spip.php?page=homeflash&langue=uk
Ford http://www.bpfordwrc.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=DFY/WRC

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Formula 1

Reigning Champion - Lewis Hamilton After coming agonisingly close in 2007, Lewis won the World Championship by beating Felipe Massa to the title in an enthralling season. Stand out moments include the scintillating end to the race at Spa, and the final moments of the final Grand Prix at Interlagos, where it looked like he might just loose it again. His rivals this year are likely to be Felipe Massa, Kimi Räikkönen, Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso.

Rule changes

The FIA have made a number of changes to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for the 2009 Formula One season, and the results of some have already been seen in testing.

In the case of the Sporting Regulations, the primary aims are increased reliability and further cost reductions. In the case of the technical changes, there are three main objectives - reducing the role of aerodynamics in the cars’ performance; making overtaking easier; and keeping lap times in check...

Tyres
After 10 seasons on grooved tyres, Formula One racing returns to slicks in 2009, as part of moves to increase the emphasis on mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip. With no grooves, grip will increase by around 20 percent, bringing a significant performance gain. However, that gain will be offset by the vastly reduced downforce levels of the revised aerodynamic regulations (see below). The overall effect should be reduced performance through high-speed corners. Drivers will still have the choice of two dry tyre compounds and will still have to use both compounds during a race.

KERS
From 2009 teams have the option of employing a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to boost their car’s performance. As its name implies, a KERS recovers the (normally wasted) kinetic energy generated by the car’s braking process. This energy is stored using a mechanical flywheel or an electrical battery and then made available to the driver, in set amounts per lap, via a ‘boost button’ on the steering wheel. Under the current regulations the power gain equates to around 80 horsepower, available for just under seven seconds per lap. This could be worth several tenths of a second in terms of lap time, but the weight and packaging of the system - and its impact on the car’s weight distribution - also have to be taken into account.

Engines
In a move designed to boost reliability still further, rev limits will be cut from 19,000 to 18,000 rpm and drivers must now use the same engine for three, rather than two, consecutive events. Teams will be limited to eight engines per season - eight for each race driver and an additional four for testing. Just one team - Renault - has been allowed to make performance modifications to their engine for 2009 in order to help equalise power outputs.

Aerodynamics
Along with slick tyres, this is the biggest area of change for 2009. Downforce will be dramatically reduced and the cars’ bodywork will appear much cleaner, thanks to new dimensional regulations that effectively outlaw extraneous items such as barge boards, winglets, turning vanes and chimneys.

As well as reducing overall aero performance, the revisions are also designed to increase overtaking by making the car less susceptible to turbulence when closely following another driver. The most obvious changes are to the front and rear wings.

The front wing becomes lower (75mm from 150mm) and wider (up from 1400 to 1800mm - the same width as the car) with driver-adjustable flaps. Drivers will be allowed to make two wing adjustments per lap, altering the wing angle over a six-degree range.

The rear wing becomes taller (up 150mm to bring it level with the top of the engine cover) and narrower (750mm from 1000mm).

Also at the back of the car, the diffuser has been moved rearwards, its leading edge now level with (rather than ahead of) the rear-wheel axle line. In addition, the diffuser has been made longer and higher, all changes that will reduce its ability to generate downforce.

Testing
Testing restrictions will be even more stringent, with none allowed for the duration of the race season

Other News

Honda quits F1

Honda has confirmed that it is to pull out of Formula One with immediate effect, and that it is placing its team in Brackley up for sale.

The Japanese giant, which endured a disastrous 2008 season as it concentrated on designing and developing a 2009 challenger built to the sport’s new regulations, has been forced to rethink its commitment to F1 in the wake of reduced production at key car plants (including Swindon) and falling US sales.

In a prepared statement issued early this morning, Honda’s president and CEO Takeo Fukui said, “We, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., have come to the conclusion that we will withdraw from all Formula One activities, making 2008 the last season of participation.

“This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the sub-prime problem in the United States, the deepening credit crisis and the sudden contraction of the world economies.

“Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties in the economies around the globe continue to mount. A recovery is expected to take some time.

“Under these circumstances, Honda has taken swift and flexible measures to counter this sudden and expansive weakening of the marketplace in all business areas. However, in recognition of the need to optimise the allocation of management resources, including investment regarding the future, we have decided to withdraw from Formula One participation.

We will enter into consultation with the associates of Honda Racing F1 Team and its engine supplier Honda Racing Development regarding the future of the two companies. This will include offering the team for sale.”

Honda has not issued an official time limit on the sale of its Brackley concern, which employs around 600 people. But sources indicate that if a buyer is not found by the end of December, the team will be closed down.

Given the current economic climate and the scale of development required to build a competitive car for the 2009 rules, finding an investor willing to bankroll such a large operation is likely to prove extremely difficult. There are already rumours that Bernie Ecclestone may step in to try and broker a deal that would keep Honda in the sport.

The decision is bad news for British driver Jenson Button; all of F1’s top teams have already finalised their driver plans for 2009, and most have settled line-ups for 2010 as well.

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MotoGP

Reigning Champion - Valentino Rossi After two frustrating seasons and being beaten by both Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner respectively, Valentino fought back this season winning the title in style. His decision to opt for Bridgestone tyres seemed dubious at first but paid off in the end. Highlight of the season was his epic battle with Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca. His rivals are likely to be Casey stoner, Dani Pedrosa, and Jorge Lorenzo, dark horses Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso might also feature.

Rule changes

New MotoGP regulations regarding tires and the event schedule will be the most noticeable rules changes to Red Bull Indianapolis GP fans this August at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The FIM, the world governing body of motorcycle racing, recently issued a variety of rules changes for the 2009 season. The second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP takes place Aug. 28-30 at IMS.

Bridgestone is the exclusive tire supplier this season for the MotoGP class, as Michelin left the sport after last season. To ensure fairness, Bridgestone will provide the tire specifications and quantities to race officials the day before each event starts. Race officials then will randomly allocate tires to each entered rider, with no input from teams, riders or Bridgestone.

If there is a rider change after tires are allocated, the replacement rider must use the tires intended for the original rider.

A maximum of 20 slick tires will be provided to each rider per event, eight fronts and 12 rears. Two specifications of each tire will be available, in equal amounts. Four front wet tires and four rear wet tires will be available in a standard specification.

Tires will be individually identified to prevent exchange between riders, including teammates.

The schedule change will create an exciting day of qualifying Saturday, Aug. 29, as all three World Championship classes - 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP - will have one qualifying session to determine the starting grid for their respective races. Riders in the 125cc and 250cc classes in 2008 had qualifying sessions Friday and Saturday, with their best overall time used to determine their starting spot.

Other news

Kawasaki quit MotoGP

Kawasaki Heavy Industries became Japan's latest motorsport casualty after a trio of the country's carmakers announced similar plans last month.

The worldwide economic downturn was blamed for Honda's withdrawal from Formula One and the exit of Subaru and Suzuki from the World Rally Championship.

"We have taken the final decision not to continue in MotoGP," Kawasaki's Katsuhiro Sato told Reuters. "It is something we have been considering since mid-December.

"In the current economic climate and unless the situation improves it is difficult to say if we will return."

Kawasaki had competed in motorcycling's premier class since the 2003 season with annual costs of around £29 million.

Slumping car sales due to the credit crunch ended the F1 ambitions of Honda, who scored just 20 points in the last two seasons despite an estimated annual budget of over £197 million.

Suzuki and former winners Subaru then left the WRC, leaving Citroen and cash-strapped Ford as the only manufacturers in next year's title race.

Toyota, who have yet to win an F1 grand prix since their debut in 2002, are the last Japanese manufacturer standing in the two main FIA-backed World Championships.

Kawasaki have felt the bite with sales of bikes in the United States and Europe badly hit by the economic slump, but they have also struggled on the track.

Dutch-based Kawasaki Motors Racing failed to win any races in MotoGP, their best result being French rider Randy de Puniet's second place in Japan in 2007.

Rivals Yamaha, who won last year's MotoGP championship with Italian Valentino Rossi, told Reuters they would compete in the 2009 season and have no plans to leave the sport.

Honda and Suzuki will also continue to participate in MotoGP despite their recent troubles, Honda providing six bikes and Suzuki two.

Kawasaki's 2009 line-up would have been American John Hopkins and Italian Marco Melandri, who had just switched from Ducati.

"Everything is up in the air and people want answers," Hopkins said before the announcement.

Kawasaki's departure, assuming their two bikes are not taken on by an independent team, leaves the MotoGP grid with 17 riders. Points are awarded down to 15th place.

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WRC

Reigning champion - Sebastian Loeb Winning his fifth championship in a row, Loeb dominated the 2008 season with little resistance, going for his sixth in a row this season can anyone stop the Frenchman?

News

Subaru pull out of WRC

Subaru have become the latest team to withdraw from next year's World Rally Championship as the economic downturn continues to hit motorsport hard.

It comes a day after Suzuki also quit the WRC and less than a fortnight after Honda withdrew from Formula One.

Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Petter Solberg all won titles with the Japanese team in its 20-year history.

"This sudden decision is a response to the widespread downturn affecting the industry," Subaru said in a statement.

The team was established in 1989, when the manufacturer teamed up with Prodrive, a motorsport and automotive engineering group with dealings in the UK, Thailand and Australia.

"Subaru's departure from the World Rally Championship is a great loss as it is one of the sport's icons," added Prodrive chairman David Richards.

"Although this closes a significant chapter in Prodrive's history, our focus now turns to the future."

Richards, who also owns the commercial and media rights to the World Rally Championships, said the decision had been taken over the course of the weekend as the economic downturn claimed another victim in the world of sport.

"We had an urgent call for a meeting over the weekend," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Despite the fact that we have entered the championship for next year and were actually testing last week in Spain, Subaru just felt the sudden downturn in their business was so dramatic that they had to make some quick decisions."

Among his previous roles were stints as team principal at Formula One teams BAR and Benetton, and Prodrive may now look at a move into motorsport's highest tier.

The 56-year-old Richards admitted he would now have more time to think about such a step and said radical cost-cutting measures, which were announced by the sport's governing body last week, made a move into F1 more "realistic".

In the meantime, Prodrive has said it will be looking to redeploy staff assigned to the WRC programme, which accounts for around 20% of the company's turnover.

Subaru won six world titles in all, with the last coming with Solberg's victory in 2003. But recent years have been harder going for Subaru, with their last rally win coming in Mexico back in 2005.

Subaru's exit leaves just two manufacturers in next year's championship in the shape of Citroen and Ford.

Suzuki Pull Out of WRC

Suzuki have pulled out of the World Rally Championship after only one season because of the current global economic crisis.

The Japanese manufacturer started racing in the junior WRC in 2002 and moved to the senior field in 2007.

However, in a statement Suzuki said they had "decided to focus on the core business functions".

Their withdrawal follows Honda's decision earlier this month not to race in Formula One next season.

They, too, blamed the world's economic crisis for their decision and have set a January deadline to find a buyer or the team will close.

Rallying does not have anything like the budgets of F1, where a team like Honda can burn through £300m a year, and the sport also has a long-standing tradition of private entrants.

However, Suzuki's exit leaves just world champions Citroen, Subaru and Ford chasing the manufacturers' title next year.

Ford are one of the Detroit Big Three seeking a bailout from the US government while Citroen have announced job cuts in France.

Suzuki finished fifth in their debut season as drivers Per-Gunnar Andersson and Toni Gardemeister helped the team accumulate a total of 34 points.

They added they will continue to support participants in the JWRC and also local motorsport events such as Swift Cup in Europe and the rest of the world.

"In responding to the contraction of the automotive sales caused by recent global economic turmoil, Suzuki has been promptly taking possible countermeasures, including the reassessment of its global production output," read a Suzuki statement.

"To secure its own business environment for tomorrow, the organisation reviews every aspect of the operations and decided to focus on the core business functions such as the manufacturing system, environment technologies and development of new-generation powertrains. As a result, Suzuki concluded to suspend the WRC activities from 2009."

According to former world rally supremo David Richards, Citroen, Ford and Subaru, his own team, are all assessing their participation in the championship on an ongoing basis.

"It is beholden to motorsport to get its own house in order and make sure that motorsport programmes are cost effective and give good value for money so manufacturers see it as a positive way of investing their marketing spend," he said.

"All forms of motorsport, and not just the world rally championship, have to be concerned about the manufacturer involvement currently.

"Whilst manufacturers are under such financial pressures in the normal marketplace, any discretionary spend is going to be avoided if at all possible."
Frenchman Sebastien Loeb has dominated the WRC
Sebastien Loeb has dominated the WRC for five straight seasons

However, he said the WRC would survive Suzuki's demise.

"When I was competing there were two manufacturers," said Richards, who was a world championship-winning co-driver with Finland's Ari Vatanen in 1981. "It was Ford against Fiat in those days and it was still great competition.

"The rallies themselves are populated by numerous private competitors, we (his Prodrive company) ourselves support hundreds of private Subarus around the world and in fact participating in the world championship this year will be a number of them.

"So it's not purely about the manufacturers and it should never be considered as that," he added. "It (Suzuki's departure) is disappointing for the short term for the championship whilst it restructures itself for 2010 onwards."

Rallying also has a problem that F1 experienced not so long ago, that of one dominant driver and team making the outcome of races so predictable that spectator interest starts to wane.

F1 had it with now-retired Michael Schumacher, who won five titles in a row with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004. Rallying has Citroen's Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, who ended this year with his fifth successive championship and a record 11 wins from 15 starts.

"You can't complain about Sebastien," said Richards. "He's one of the best drivers that we have ever seen. He's extraordinary but that's something else we have to face up to."

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WSBK

Reigning champion - Troy Bayliss At the season opener at the Losail circuit in Qatar, Troy won the race one to give Ducati their first win with the new 1098 model. He also won both races at Philip Island on what was his final appearance at his home round. He came within three corners of clinching the title at Vallelunga, but crashed out at a low-speed corner to ensure that Troy Corser and Noriyuki Haga retained a mathematical hope. He then clinched it by finishing 3rd at Magny Cours, and put the seal on it by winning race 2 - his 50th WSBK win in his 150th start. He took a double victory in his final WSBK meeting at Portimão. Winning his third World Championship. Retires as reigning champion

News

Troy retires

Australian motorbike rider Troy Bayliss has announced his retirement and he called his double victory at Portimao in Portugal the "perfect way to end" his career.

39-year-old Bayliss, who was riding for Ducati Xerox brought a wonderful end to his career as a Superbike rider and he had to admit he was at a loss for words.

Bayliss had started race one on pole position and quickly pushed forward and never let up on his lead as he went on to beat Carlos Checa (Honda) by just over two seconds.

Troy Corser came third and British rider Jonathan Rea (Honda) was fourth.

In the second race of the day Bayliss was able to claim his 11th victory of the season, although he had to battle for his second win unlike in the first race where he had held the lead all through.

BMW join WSBK

In a press conference held in Munich today, the new General Director of BMW Motorrad, Hendrick von Kuenheim outlined the company's future goals and unveiled the prototype of the much anticipated racing superbike, the S 1000 RR.

BMW aims to enter the Superbike World Championship at the start of next year with a brand-new 1000cc four-cylinder model, adding its weight and prestige to a series that can already boast machines from the Big 4 Japanese manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha) plus Ducati of Italy.

"Today I can confirm that our preparations are proceeding according to plan in every respect" declared von Kuenheim. "In compliance with the rules of the series, the new motorcycle, called S 1000 RR, will be available to customers in 2009 and we will build 1000 production models by the end of next year".

"We naturally realize that we are taking on a great challenge" , he continued. "Particularly the Japanese are 20 years ahead of us in this class and have lots of experience. We are confident that we will be able to start the Superbike World Championship next year with a convincing all-round package".

BMW's racing activities are being implemented in close cooperation with their partner Alpha-Racing, based near Munich, a structure which combines specialists from BMW and members of the Alpha-Technik racing crew.

"We will have to go through a certain process of learning" he added. "In our first year in the Superbike World Championship we seek to bring home several places in the Top 10 and consistently close the gap to the top teams. In year 2 we plan to catch up with the top teams and win our first places on the podium. And the medium-term objective, obviously, is to win the World Championship!".

The S 1000 RR

 

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WTCC

Reigning Champion - Yvan Muller Frenchman Yvan Muller is the current series champion, winning a first major title for Spanish manufacturer SEAT, breaking the dominance BMW has held over the title since its inception. Also it was the first FIA sanctioned world championship, in any category, won by a diesel powered racing car in the SEAT León TDI. He opened 2008 win a victory at Curitiba, Brazil.[3] Yvan Muller was battling for the championship, primarily with team-mate Gabriele Tarquini during the season, and finally won the championship at the final round in Macau.

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Nascar

Reigning champion - Jimmie Johnson Johnson is the three-time reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. He is one of only two drivers (the other: Cale Yarborough in 1976, '77, and '78) to win three consecutive Sprint Cup Series Championships.

Nascar year in review 2008 and looking forward to 2009

1. Jimmie Johnson's third-straight Sprint Cup championship. Johnson equaled a feat only Cale Yarborough had accomplished (1976-78), winning three-straight titles in NASCAR's top division. The leader of Johnson's No. 48 team, Chad Knaus, became the first crew chief to win three championships in a row. Together, they'll try for a fourth-straight in 2009.

2. Busch's torrid start in a Toyota. Still smarting from his forced exit from Hendrick Motorsports, Busch had much to prove with his new Joe Gibbs Racing team in 2008 -- and did so. Busch won eight of the first 26 races to garner top seeding in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He also tied Sam Ard's Nationwide Series record of 10 victories in a single season and added three Craftsman Truck Series wins to his portfolio. Busch helped elevate Toyota to a contender for the manufacturer's championship in the car maker's second year in the series.

3. The COT is the full-time car. After appearing in 16 races in 2007, the racecar previously known as the Car of Tomorrow became the only racecar in the Sprint Cup Series in 2008. Though there are still bugs to be worked out, the new car proved it can provide scintillating racing, as it did during the second Chase race at Dover. Now, if drivers can figure out how to race side-by-side with some degree of comfort on intermediate speedways ...

4. The impact of a weakening economy. NASCAR racing depends on outside sponsorship to ensure the healthy operation of its teams. The effects of a shrinking global economy manifested themselves in a pullback of corporate support for the racing organizations, forcing second-tier teams to consolidate and join forces in an attempt to survive.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move to Hendrick Motorsports. Junior's heralded move to the top organization in the Cup garage started auspiciously with a victory in the Budweiser Shootout, but Earnhardt won only one points race during the season -- a fuel-mileage affair at Michigan. Though he ran strong at the beginning of the season and qualified for the Chase, Earnhardt wasn't a contender for the championship as the Chase wound down.

Biggest surprises of 2008

1. No Dodge drivers in the Chase. After claiming three of the top five positions in the season-opening Daytona 500, including Ryan Newman as the winner, the Dodge boys were a study in mediocrity for most of the 2008 season. Kasey Kahne got hot in May and June with wins at Lowe's and Michigan, and Kurt Busch won a rain-shortened race at New Hampshire, but the Chase was without a Dodge driver for the first time in its five-year history.

2. Kyle Busch vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Most observers predicted a windfall year for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Hendrick equipment, but it was Busch who made the most of a change of scenery after his move to Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch won eight times in the Cup series to Earnhardt's once. Busch didn't exactly endear himself to Earnhardt fans, either; in the closing laps of the May race at Richmond, Busch drove too hard into the third turn and wrecked Junior, perhaps costing Earnhardt his first win for Hendrick in a Cup points race.

3. Tony Stewart leaves Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart dominated the news when he announced at Talladega in April that he would leave Joe Gibbs Racing and longtime crew chief Greg Zipadelli after 10 years and two Cup championships. The lure of ownership in a Cup team enticed Smoke to remake Haas CNC Racing into Stewart-Haas Racing, where he'll compete as an owner/driver in 2009.

4. Open-wheel flops. For a variety of reasons -- lack of performance, injury and the economy -- the Sprint Cup's rookie class, laden with open-wheel stars, was largely a bust. A broken ankle and the demise of his team for lack of sponsorship KO'd Dario Franchitti, Patrick Carpentier distinguished himself in time trials, but neither he nor Michael McDowell nor AJ Allmendinger (the best of the open-wheel drivers in 2008) completed the season in a full-time ride. That left former Indy 500 champ Sam Hornish Jr. and Regan Smith, a product of the stock car ranks, to battle for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title that Smith won.

5. No first-time winners. In a sport typically dominated by the top drivers and teams, a first-time winner or two usually sneaks into the mix. Not in 2008, when power was consolidated in the hands of the very few. For a fleeting moment, Regan Smith looked like a winner at Talladega, until NASCAR demoted him to 18th place for passing Tony Stewart below the yellow line.

Stories to watch in 2009

1. Johnson goes for No. 4. Can Jimmie Johnson win a fourth-straight Cup title? Based on performance over the past three seasons, he'll be the favorite entering the 2009 season. The odds against him, however, are extremely long, given the quality of competition in the Cup garage. Carl Edwards was a close second in 2008 and should be Johnson's primary challenger again in 2009.

2. Survivor, NASCAR style. With sponsor dollars in short supply, and U.S. automakers cutting back their support for motorsports programs, economic Darwinism will play a part in who survives the season and who doesn't. Attrition will take its toll on several of the weaker Cup teams.

3. NASCAR's ban on testing. Will it really save money, or will teams continue to test at tracks that don't host events in NASCAR's top four touring series? And will a lack of testing at NASCAR tracks widen the gap between the powerhouses of the sport and the second-tier operations?

4. Tony Stewart as owner/driver. Can Smoke succeed where most others have failed or struggled in the past? He'll have Hendrick engines and chassis and plenty of technical support to go along with new crew chief Darian Grubb, who won two races with Jimmie Johnson -- including the Daytona 500 -- while subbing for suspended Chad Knaus in early 2006. The tribulations of running a two-car Cup team could take their toll on Stewart.

5. Can Jeff Gordon rebound? As he approaches retirement age, can Gordon, 37, make another run at the championship that narrowly eluded him in 2007. In Gordon terms, 2008 was mediocre, as the four-time champ failed to keep pace with his three-time champion teammate, Jimmie Johnson. Gordon's overriding goal is to win at least one title under the Chase format, and he's running out of time.

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IndyCar Series

Reigning champion - Scott Dixon This was a highly successful season for Dixon who won the series championship for the second time, and won his first Indianapolis 500, from the pole, to give car owner Chip Ganassi his second win in the race. He also won this season at Homestead, Texas, Nashville, Edmonton and Kentucky, a record equalling six wins for a season in the series. In the final points scoring race of the series, at Chicagoland Speedway, Dixon needed to finish no worse than eighth if Castroneves won the race. He placed second to Castroneves in a tight photo finish.

News

PEAK will be the official oil product of the Indy Racing League.
DirecTV will be the IndyCar Series presenting sponsor.
Coca-Cola will be the official soft drink sponsor of the IndyCar Series through 2010.
Raybestos will be the preferred competition brake friction through 2009, and sponsor the Raybestos Road and Street Course Challenge, awarding $5,000 to the winner of each road/street course race and $25,000 to the driver with the highest average finish on road and street courses at the end of the season
Izod has signed a multi-year deal to be the official clothing supplier of the IndyCar Series.

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Calenders

F1

2009 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar (provisional)
29 March Australia
5 April Malaysia
19 April Bahrain
10 May Spain
24 May Monaco
7 June Canada
21 June Great Britain
28 June France
12 July Germany
26 July Hungary
9 August Turkey
23 August Europe (Valencia)
6 September Italy
13 September Belgium
27 September Singapore
11 October Japan
18 October China
1 November Brazil
15 November Abu Dhabi

MotoGP

2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar (provisional):
Date - Grand Prix - Circuit
April 12th* - Qatar - Losail
April 26th - Japan - Motegi
May 3rd - Spain - Jerez
May 17th - France - Le Mans
May 31st - Italy - Mugello
June 14th - Catalunya - Catalunya
June 27th** - Netherlands - Assen

July 5th*** - United States - Laguna Seca
July 19th - Germany - Sachsenring
July 26th - Great Britain - Donington Park
August 16th - Czech Republic - Brno
August 30th - Indianapolis - Indianapolis
September 6th - San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano
September 20th - Hungary - Balaton
October 4th - Portugal - Estoril
October 18th - Australia - Phillip Island
October 25th - Malaysia - Sepang
November 8th - Valencia Ricardo Tormo - Valencia

* Evening race
** Saturday race
*** Only MotoGP class

WRC

2009 FIA World Rally Championship:

Ireland 01-Feb
Norway 15-Feb
Cyprus 15-Mar
Portugal 05-Apr
Argentina 26-Apr
Italy 24-May
Greece 14-Jun
Poland 28-Jun
Finland 02-Aug
Australia 06-Sep
Spain 04-Oct
GB 25-Oct

WSBK

The 2009 provisional calendar of the FIM Superbike and Supersport World Championships and Superstock 1000cc FIM Cup is the following:

March 1: Australia (Phillip Island) - SBK SSP

March 14: Qatar (Doha/Losail) - SBK SSP *

April 5: Spain (Valencia) - SBK SSP STK

April 26: Netherlands (Assen) - SBK SSP STK

May 10: Italy (Monza) - SBK SSP STK **

May 17: South Africa (Kyalami) - SBK SSP

May 31: United States (Salt Lake City) - SBK SSP

June 21: San Marino (Misano) - SBK SSP STK

June 28: Great-Britain (Donington Park) - SBK SSP STK

July 26: Czech Republic (Brno) - SBK SSP STK

September 6: Germany (Nürburgring) - SBK SSP STK

September 27: Italy (tba) - SBK SSP

October 4: France (Magny-Cours) - SBK SSP STK

October 25: Portugal (Portimão) - SBK SSP STK



* : Saturday

** : subject to contract

tba : to be announced

Nascar

2009 Sprint Cup calendar

Date Venue
Feb. 7 Budweiser Shootout, Daytona International Speedway*
Feb. 15 Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 22 Auto Club Speedway
March 1 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 8 Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 22 Bristol Motor Speedway
March 29 Martinsville Speedway
April 5 Texas Motor Speedway
April 18 Phoenix International Raceway
April 26 Talladega Superspeedway
May 2 Richmond International Raceway
May 9 Darlington Raceway
May 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Lowe's Motor Speedway*
May 24 Lowe's Motor Speedway
May 31 Dover International Speedway
June 7 Pocono Raceway
June 14 Michigan International Speedway
June 21 Infineon Raceway
June 28 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
July 4 Daytona International Speedway
July 11 Chicagoland Speedway
July 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 2 Pocono Raceway
Aug. 9 Watkins Glen International
Aug. 16 Michigan International Speedway
Aug. 22 Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 6 Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sept. 12 Richmond International Raceway
Sept. 20 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sept. 27 Dover International Speedway
Oct. 4 Kansas Speedway
Oct. 11 Auto Club Speedway
Oct. 17 Lowe's Motor Speedway
Oct. 25 Martinsville Speedway
Nov. 1 Talladega Superspeedway
Nov. 8 Texas Motor Speedway
Nov. 15 Phoenix International Raceway
Nov. 22 Homestead-Miami Speedway

FIA WTCC

Provisional WTCC 2009 Calendar

8 March – Curitiba - Brazil
22 March – Puebla - Mexico
3 May – Marrakech - Morocco
17 May – Valencia - Spain
31 May – Pau - France
21 June – Brno - Czech Republic
5 July – Porto - Portugal
19 July – Brands Hatch - UK
30 August – Oschersleben - Germany
4 October – Monza - Italy
25 October – Okayama - Japan
15 November – TBA

Grand Am

Jan 24-25 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TBC AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ TBC
Apr 26 VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
May 3 NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
May 17 MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
Jun 6 WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL 6 HOURS
Jun 20 MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
Jul 2 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Jul 19 BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
Aug 7 WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
Aug 29 CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE
Sept 20 MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK
Oct 10 HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

Le Mans 24 Hour

Jun 13-14 LE MANS 24 HOURS

Le Mans series 2009

Mar 8-9 PAUL RICARD (GROUP TEST) FRANCE
Apr 3-5 CATALUNYA SPAIN
May 8-10 SPA BELGIUM
Jul 31-Aug 2 ALGARVE PORTUGAL
Aug 28-30 NURBURGRING GERMANY
Sept 11-13 SILVERSTONE BRITAIN

 

[subzero9285]

Phew, hope you guys like it. Its still a work in progress and I'll keep adding to it, but feel free to post.

 

[mrklaw]

Nice, and just in time for the new F1 cars unveiling season

 

[jey_16]

excellent thread....especially since Hamilton looks like a wanker in that pic :lol

 

[The Spacepope]

Nice. Good job dude.

Really looking forward to the new F1 season. Go Kimi!

 

[clemenx]

Great OP.

I much prefer Moto GP but i enjoy F1 as well.

Looking forward to this season!

 

[subzero9285]

Formula 1 car launches so far,

Scuderia Ferrari F1

Official press release

The F60 is the fifty fifth single-seater built by Ferrari specifically to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship. The name of the car was chosen to celebrate the Scuderia's participation in all 60 editions of the Formula 1 World Championship since 1950 to date. The project, which goes by the internal code name of 660, represents the Scuderia's interpretation of the regualtions that come into force this year, which includes very many new elements.

CHASSIS
- Carbon-fibre and honycomb composite structure
- Ferrari longitudinal gearbox Limited-slip differential
- Semiautomatic sequential electronically controlled gearbox -quick shift
- Number of gears 7 + Reverse
- Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes
- Independent suspension, push-rod activated torsion springs front and rear
- Weight (which water, lubricant and drive) 605 kg
- BBS Wheels (front and rear) 13"
- Kinetic energy recovery system by Ferrari in cooperation with Magneti Marelli
- The bodywork can no longer carry the slotted apertures that had characterised the Ferrari cars over the past few years

FRONT WING
The front wing, which has a neutral central profile, common to all, is developed mainly on its side elements and is much wider than in the past: the bodywork can no longer carry the slotted apertures that had characterised the Ferrari cars over the past few years. The combination of changes naturally led the inital design phase down radically different routes when it came to the side pods and protection components: the apertures have been reduced in size and moved rearward, while the upper and rear elements are larger to aid the exit of air.

REAR WING
The rear wing is higher and narrower than in the past; the diffuser has been moved rearward. The combination of changes naturally led the inital design phase down radically different routes when it came to the side pods and protection components: the apertures have been reduced in size and moved rearward, while the upper and rear elements are larger to aid the exit of air.

ENGINE and TRANSMISSIONS
One of the most significant changes in the 2009 regulations is the possibility of using a kinetic engery recovery system (KERS). The KERS on the F60 was designed by Ferrari in collaboration with Magneti Marelli and is centrally mounted ont he engine under the rear part of the chassis; its management has involved all departments of the Gestione Sportiva. The transmission has been redesigned to optimise the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. The gearbox casing is again made in carbon and is still positioned longitudinally. The gearbox iss fitted with a speed shifter. There is also a new breaking system, with callipers designed by Brembo. Other important rule changes for this years stem form the work of FIA and FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) aimed at producing a signifact reduction int he teams' operational costs. As far as the engine is concerned, which retains its longitudinal mounting in the F60 and continue as as a load bearing structure, the rules now state that a total of eight engines may be used over the 17 Grand Prix race weekends on the calendar. Accordingly, the maximum permitted engine speed has been reduced to 18,000 rpm and the distance target for each unit is now around 2,500 kilometres. Furthermore, modifications have been made to the inlet trumpets, the position of the injectors and the configuration of the exhausts. The changes to the regulations mean that, ont he reliability front, Shell has played a fundamental role in defining the lubricants for both the engine and gearbox.

A video

http://sport.sky.it/sport/formula1/2009/01/12/svelata_nuova_ferrari_F60.html

 

[Leonsito]

Nice OP, this year rooting for Kimi and Rosberg in F1, Rossi in MotoGP and Loeb - Sordo in WRC. Safe bets

Don't care too much about the rest of series, except for the Le-Mans 24 hours, one year I will be there

 

[subzero9285]

For MotoGP fans.

Ducati Marlboro team makes official 2009 debut

The Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2009 got underway in the best manner possible on Monday 12th January with a welcome cocktail party for the world’s media at the Hotel Spinale, before the focus turned to both work and play in the opening Wrooom press conference at Madonna di Campiglio this morning. Both Casey Stoner and his new team-mate Nicky Hayden, making his official debut in Ducati Marlboro Team colours, were under the spotlight before spending a relaxing afternoon on the stunning slopes of the Italian Dolomites.

There were plenty of talking points for the media, who have flocked from all corners of the globe, not least in seeing an American rider in the Italian factory’s Grand Prix uniform for the very first time.

Nicky Hayden:
On Sunday I tried on my Ducati leathers for the first time in an official photo session and I felt very proud. I know what a huge opportunity I’ve been given and I’m very grateful to Ducati, Marlboro and everybody who has shown faith in me in this new chapter of my career. I was immediately struck by the dedication and passion that the team is famous for and by how hard everybody is trying to make me feel comfortable in these new surroundings, as they have done helping me adapt to the bike and get the most out of it. So far everything has gone really well. Obviously I need to get faster in order to be truly competitive but I already love the bike. I can’t say it’s easy to ride, it gets pretty loose on corner exit sometimes but the engine is powerful and that is important, especially in a race situation. The chassis is nice and stiff so you get plenty of feedback and I like the feeling with the front, which is really stable in the fast corners. So far we have only had two test sessions at Valencia and Jerez, which are tight and twisty tracks, and I think that at places like Malaysia and Qatar it will be even better. I’m happy to be working with Casey – we’ve known each other for a few years now, you could say we’ve got similar backgrounds having not come up through European competition and having started out racing in dirt-track. We’re both competitive and we’re going to want to beat one another but we’ll also work together to make a strong team. As far as my expectations for the season are concerned, I still have a lot of faith in myself and in what I’m capable of. The first objective is to get back to the same level I was at in 2006, challenging consistently for the podium and trying to start winning races again.

Answering about the recovery of his left wrist, which was operated on late last year, Casey Stoner responded:
I’m reasonably happy. I would like to have a little more movement but the check-up went well yesterday, the bone graft has healed well and that is very positive. It means I can start to work my hand and arm a little harder now and start to recover some muscle mass and get in the best possible shape for the next test. So far I’ve only ridden the GP9 twice, at Barcelona during the season and for a day at Valencia in November. It wasn’t much but it was enough to understand that we’re not a long way off and that the new chassis is an improvement. We need to work on improving the set-up and refining a couple of areas on the bike. Last year we were perhaps a little too confident and overlooked some of the work we needed to do, leading to a few highs and lows at the start of the season that end up costing us dear. In any case, despite a breakdown and two crashes we still won six races and finished second in the championship, which means we can look forward to next year really positively. I’m really happy with the addition of Nicky to the team. He has always been kind to me, even when I was racing in the smaller classes, and I think we can work well together. The communication between us is great and I think we can work together on fixing certain situations and getting the most out of the GP9 so that we can both be competitive. From my side I also plan to be a little more aggressive this season and maybe be a bit more decisive in races where nobody seems to want to take the initiative.

Desmosedici GP9

Casey Stoner

Nicky Hayden

Teamates in 2009

 

[subzero9285]

F1 car launches coming in the next few days.

January 15, 2009 - Toyota
January 16, 2009 - McLaren
January 19, 2009 - Renault
January 19, 2009 - Williams
January 20, 2009 - BMW Sauber
February 9, 2009 - Red Bull

Toro Rosso and Force India are yet to confirm their official launch dates, at the moment they expect to run their new cars for the first time sometime in March. It is expected that the Toro Rosso car will be an almost identical clone of the RB5.

Toyota F1 car launch countdown.
http://www.tf109-premiere.com/

 

[Burai]

Penske have confirmed that Will Power will stand in for Helio Castoneves for as long as he is unavailable due to his court case over tax evasion.

 

[DrM]

Toyota TF109 - Click!

 

[subzero9285]

Toyota are the second team to launch their 2009 challenger.

The TF109

Pretty much looks like a typical Toyota F1 car.



The official launch trailer http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ptOGDp443kU

 

[subzero9285]

Hi-res pics of the Toyota TF109.

Comparison with F60

Launch Report

Toyota commits to F1

Toyota reiterated their commitment to Formula One as their 2009 car made its debut in an online launch ceremony.

In keeping with Ferrari's model, the first to be unveiled earlier this week, the Toyota TF109 incorporates a host of modifications to meet new rules.

"We have to win a race, that's clear," said team president John Howett. "This organisation only exists to win."

Driver Jarno Trulli said Toyota were "better prepared than ever" and "ready to face the fight for 2009".

The Toyota Motor Corporation, which backs the team, forecast an annual loss of £1.1bn in December, prompting speculation that the Japanese manufacturer could follow the lead of compatriots Honda and quit the sport.

But the team once again underlined their determination to remain in F1 as the TF109 was presented to the public.

"We know what's going on with the economy, especially the automotive section, and Formula One is part of that even if it's a high-profile sport," Trulli told BBC Sport.

"F1 has been increasing development and cost for many years, and now it's time to step back. I agree with what they're doing.

"For the first time I can see all the teams working together with common sense to survive. The teams more than anyone else understand what's going on in F1, and today the message we are giving is that we are committed to Formula One."

Trulli finished ninth in the 2008 drivers' championship, with team-mate Timo Glock 10th, leaving Toyota fifth in the race for the constructors' title - a position on which the team will want to improve this year

New 2009 regulations have forced modifications which lower and widen the front wing, with a tall, narrow rear wing.

Slick, untreaded tyres will also be reintroduced after 11 years on grooved tyres, and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

The Kers system stores energy that would otherwise be wasted as heat during braking, then reapplies it during acceleration to provide a boost in power, controlled from the cockpit by the driver.

"We've got Kers developed and in the car," said Trulli. "Soon we'll run it but we don't know if we will start the season with it or not.

"Kers is very complicated and has no application at all with road cars, it's not like the one Toyota use on road cars.

"It might cause a lot of trouble in an F1 car in terms of reliability, and that might cause a question mark. But that's a problem for everyone."

The Italian veteran, who will turn 35 midway through the season, added: "I am passionate about this car and convinced I still have a lot to achieve. More than anything else, I'm still very quick."

Glock, 26, said the new car looked "pretty strange" with its wide front wing and high rear wing.

But he forecast a strong season ahead for himself and the team, and the former GP2 champion reserved a special welcome for the return of slick tyres to the sport.

"All the race categories I've driven before were on slick tyres," he said. "When you look around there is not one series without slicks, except F1, and now F1 is back on that.

"When you see young drivers coming up, they learn to drive with slick tyres, and when you come to F1 you have to adapt in a completely different way.

"This year it's nearly a new start for everybody - maybe the fans will see better racing, more overtaking and a better show."

Glock hit out at F1 fans in his home country of Germany for abuse he had received after the final race of the 2008 season.

He was passed by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton on the final lap at Brazil's Interlagos circuit, which promoted Hamilton to fifth, enough for the Englishman to claim the drivers' championship.

"A lot of German people came up with negative things out of Brazil, it was surprising and disappointing, but that's how it is.

"At the end, the people behind the TV screen don't see what's going on on the track, they don't understand how it is when you drive with dry tyres in wet conditions.

"A lot of journalists and TV commentators didn't understand the situation, and it doesn't help when they ask why Timo is letting Lewis by. That doesn't make life easy for me."

Toyota also announced on Thursday that engine supremo Luca Marmorini had left the company, with Kazuo Takeuchi taking the Italian's place.

McLaren will become the third team to roll out their 2009 car at a launch ceremony on Friday, with Renault, Williams and BMW Sauber due to follow suit next week.

While the various launches give an initial impression of each team's work in winter testing, all the cars can expect further modifications before the 2009 F1 season begins on 29 March in Melbourne, Australia.

 

[Dave Long]

The Toyota is a nice looking car, too!

 

[clemenx]

I'm liking the new cars so far, i definitely love the slick tires.

 

[scarybore]

Still hate the front and rear wings for this year but barring that, I like the look of the new cars. Ferrari seem to be bending the rules with those mirrors though, I'll be surprised if no one complains about them.

 

[gutterboy44]

Who turned down the polygon count on the F1 cars this year So sad seeing F1 slowly turn into NASCAR. The racing better be fucking incredibly close this year with tons of overtaking to justify these abominations they are calling Formula One cars.

 

[Threi]

I don't mind any of the top F1 drivers (At least Alonso kept his mouth shut so I can't complain) but i will say GO HAMILTON just because his haters piss me off.

Spoiler

Go Massa!

 

[subzero9285]

Post your favourite moments of the 2008 season.

These two stand out for me,

1. Vale and Stoners battle at Laguna Seca

Link


2. Last few laps at Spa, where the rain came tumbling down.

Link

 

[Fonds]

Still hate the front and rear wings for this year but barring that, I like the look of the new cars. Ferrari seem to be bending the rules with those mirrors though, I'll be surprised if no one complains about them.

I won't be... FIA is still the Ferrari Improvement Association.

 

[avaya]

The Toyota is a nice looking car in the same way that cancer is a nice disease.

 

[Zhuk]

Any news on the new McClaren out yet?? the countdown on the website is finished for me

 

[subzero9285]

Any news on the new McClaren out yet?? the countdown on the website is finished for me

11:00am GMT, so in 20 minutes time we should start seeing pictures from the launch event

 

[subzero9285]

McLaren Mercedes are the third team to unveil their 2009 challenger.

The MP4-24

First pics

 

[DrM]

More pics here

 

[subzero9285]

First press shots of the MP4-24.

Very small air intake.

Probably the best looking car of the year so far along with the F60.

 

[subzero9285]

Old and New compared the MP4-24 and MP4-23

Side views of the three released cars

 

[subzero9285]

Ron Dennis quits as McLaren Boss

Ron Dennis is to step down as team principal of McLaren and hand over to current number two Martin Whitmarsh ahead of the new Formula One season.

Dennis, who has run McLaren since 1981, will stay on as chief executive of the McLaren Group of companies.

Whitmarsh will take over the running of McLaren's F1 operation on 1 March.

"It's time for Martin to take over. It is 100% my decision - this is a job he will embrace and from now most race-day decisions will be his," said Dennis.

"This is the right time for this decision. But don't see this as some sort of retirement because it is the exact opposite.

"The first thing I must do is raise my own game because everybody realises this is a tough period in which to work.

"We are a very diverse organisation and we have a number of other projects ongoing, including the development of our road car, and that is going to be a real challenge.

"I will still be full executive chairman. But it's time, and it's absolutely 100% my decision. It's what I want to do." added the 61-year-old.

Whitmarsh, 51, has been at McLaren since 1989, when he took over as head of operations.

And he said: "It doesn't feel like a bombshell to me - Ron has reached this point and I was keen for him to dictate a timeframe - but I certainly didn't push him.

"I've worked with Ron for 20 years and he has had an incredible career, but Formula One is changing and evolving and so is this business."

The 2009 Formula One season opens with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 29 March.

Sources
BBC
Autosport

 

[Pimpwerx]

Cheers on the thread, subzero9285. This will be a more than fitting thread to carry us gearheads through the 2009 seasons.

That said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO @ Denis stepping down. That guy must really like Lewis. I honestly think he stuck around to see Lewis win the WDC. Now his work is done and he can sit back and earn a percentage. He'll be missed IMO. Not many outside liked him, but he was important to the sport. Hopefully things run smoothly under Whitmarsh. PEACE.

 

[dalin80]

Now his work is done and he can sit back and earn a percentage. PEACE.

or go run mclarens fledgling road car division.

 

[subzero9285]

The two likely championship contenders compared, using the wheels as a baseline.

Note the length of the F60s nose, in comparison to the MP4-24s nose. The dramatic differences in the rear wing, and the slimmer monocoque of the F60.

 

[subzero9285]

An update on Kawasakis situation from MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta himself.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta says he expects a Kawasaki team to race in 2009, having confirmed that he has agreed to let the company withdraw from its commitment to stay in MotoGP until 2011 provided it participates this season.

Kawasaki has ended its factory involvement in MotoGP due to the global economic downturn, but Ezpeleta is working on a deal for the firm's racing team to continue running for a further year in a semi-private capacity, with existing team manager Michael Bartholemy set to remain at the helm.

In exchange for proceeding with the 2009 programme, Kawasaki would not have to honour the MotoGP manufacturers' previous agreement to all support the championship through 2011.

"It's an agreement until 2011 that Dorna has with the manufacturers' association: in September each of them told us how many bikes they would race with. Kawasaki included," Ezpeleta explained to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There's no penalty, but an agreement can't be broken.

"I reaffirmed that I wouldn't accept the contract being broken. And, since they told us all expenses were covered, I proposed to them to race in 2009. In exchange, I would let them off for 2010 and 2011.

"The problem, they said, is that they have engines only for 25 per cent of the season, and that they didn't want to develop the rest. So I've looked for a structure, in France, able to do this job. The final obstacle is for the Japanese to meet these people and accept their work programme.

"I think everything can be solved. Besides, (test rider) Olivier Jacque is testing in Eastern Creek today. The team will be managed once again by Michael Bartholemy and it's important to safeguard (Kawasaki's contracted 2009 riders) John Hopkins and Marco Melandri.

"In any case it's Kawasaki's problem: if they don't race, I'll take them to court."

Although this deal simply postpones Kawasaki's exit, Ezpeleta is confident that the cost-cutting discussions currently being held will ensure a full grid in 2010 even without Kawasaki.

He believes that if the manufacturers cut back to one spare bike per team rather than the present one spare per rider arrangement, they will be able to expand their line-ups.

"Before the start of the season I want the 2010 rules, which I think will increase the field to 20 bikes," said Ezpeleta.

"I'll be back in Japan to meet the Honda and Yamaha bosses and ask a bigger effort of them. By abolishing the spare bike, we'll just need each manufacturer to make one bike more than today to have a full grid."

Source

 

[PjotrStroganov]

I like the sleekness of the cars. It gives them purer appearance.

 

[Tenacious-V]

So does anyone think Ferrari are gonna get any beef over their "winglet" mirrors? They're blatantly winglets.

 

[DarkJediKnight]

I think the Mclaren is the best looking one so far. The Front wing actually looks good.

 

[subzero9285]

So does anyone think Ferrari are gonna get any beef over their "winglet" mirrors? They're blatantly winglets.

Would wait until the other teams haved launched their cars, because other teams might implement similar winglet/mirrors. If Ferrari are the only team with said winglets, then yes I can see one of their rivals questioning the validity of those winglets.

 

[Flo_Evans]

SBK fans, has anyone been following Motoczysz? They had a special on discovery channel about him called "Birth of a Racer"

Really cool. Looks like they are starting their initial (pre?)production run of 50 bikes.

It's a complete from scratch bike with some pretty neat ideas. The biggest one being a dual crankshaft inline V engine with conter-rotating shafts that is said to be perfectly balanced and a revelation to ride.

 

[cilonen]

SBK fans, has anyone been following Motoczysz? They had a special on discovery channel about him called "Birth of a Racer"

Really cool. Looks like they are starting their initial (pre?)production run of 50 bikes.

It's a complete from scratch bike with some pretty neat ideas. The biggest one being a dual crankshaft inline V engine with conter-rotating shafts that is said to be perfectly balanced and a revelation to ride.

After they got screwed out of Moto GP by a rule change I hope they rule in World Superbikes. I saw the Discovery show and what they've done is stunning. The kind of groundbreaking engineering in that bike is one of the reasons I love motorsport.

Also, safest call in sports: Loeb for WRC Driver's Championship '09

Another thought - the new Ferrari looks like a toy you get for free when you buy lots of Shell fuel, even in the on-track photos. I can't really figure out why it looks like a toy so much... too shiny I think, it's really odd.

 

[subzero9285]

SBK fans, has anyone been following Motoczysz? They had a special on discovery channel about him called "Birth of a Racer"

Really cool. Looks like they are starting their initial (pre?)production run of 50 bikes.
It's a complete from scratch bike with some pretty neat ideas. The biggest one being a dual crankshaft inline V engine with conter-rotating shafts that is said to be perfectly balanced and a revelation to ride.

They originally wanted to enter that beauty in to MotoGP around 2007, but the regulation changes meant they had to scrap that idea. They'd be welcome in WSB, the more the merrier especially with BMW joining this season.

 

[Flo_Evans]

They originally wanted to enter that beauty in to MotoGP around 2007, but the regulation changes meant they had to scrap that idea. They'd be welcome in WSB, the more the merrier especially with BMW joining this season.

Yeah it should be a good season. I don't know who to cheer for though as I am a long time ducati fan but my current bike is a BMW dual-sport. :lol

 

[subzero9285]

Another thought - the new Ferrari looks like a toy you get for free when you buy lots of Shell fuel, even in the on-track photos. I can't really figure out why it looks like a toy so much... too shiny I think, it's really odd.

I think it's the new paintjob, they've dropped the metallic look from the past two seasons.

 

[navanman]

Autosport seem very impressed with the MP24 design. They say its appears to be the most refined and complex concept of the new regulation cars.

 

[subzero9285]

Autosport seem very impressed with the MP24 design. They say its appears to be the most refined and complex concept of the new regulation cars.

Bodes well for them, I see them taking their 2008 momentum into the new season, they and BMW also seemingly have the most developed KERS system so Ferrari and Renault have a lot of competition, especially at the opening rounds.

 

[Dilly]

The 2009 F1 cars look brilliant imo, they look much faster than the cars of 2008.

Love the front shot of the F60.

 

[cilonen]

Autosport seem very impressed with the MP24 design. They say its appears to be the most refined and complex concept of the new regulation cars.

The new Red Bull should do well, Newey loves ultra minimalist packaging of car elements and the new regs seem to have swung right back into his comfort zone.

 

[Pimpwerx]

I hadn't noticed those Ferrari mirrors at all. I don't see any teams complaining. If it's allowed, everyone will just mount their mirrors on pylons, and then everyone will have an excuse for pushing the next driver wide b/c they can't see shit on their winglets. :lol

The new Red Bull should do well, Newey loves ultra minimalist packaging of car elements and the new regs seem to have swung right back into his comfort zone.

Meh. IMO, the aura and mystique of Newey was blown right out of the water once he left the McLaren's comfort zone. No coincidence that massive budgeting and strict professionalism translates into a good design program. I think we can forget about Newey saving anyone anymore. PEACE.

 

[navanman]

I can sort of agree with you there. This year will be the big test for him and supposed reputation. McLaren certainly haven't suffered from his leaving.