FIM reveals provisional 2009 calendar

Motorcycling's governing body, FIM, has announced the provisional calendar for the 2009 season, confirming the absence of China and the inclusion of Hungary.

The 2009 calendar will still be formed by 18 races, starting with Qatar's night event on 12 April and finishing at Valencia on 8 November.

The schedule confirms the Chinese Grand Prix will be absent as expected and that MotoGP will travel to Hungary's new Balatonring circuit.

Provisional 2009 calendar:

April 12 Qatar Doha/Losail April 26 Japan Motegi May 3 Spain Jerez May 17 France Le Mans May 31 Italy Mugello June 14 Catalunya Catalunya June 27 Netherlands Assen July 5 United States Laguna Seca July 19 Germany Sachsenring July 26 Great Britain Donington Park August 16 Czech Rep. Brno August 30 Indianapolis Indianapolis September 13 San Marino Misano September 20 Hungary Lake Balaton October 4 Portugal Estoril October 18 Australia Phillip Island October 25 Malaysia Sepang November 8 Valencia Valencia

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Rossi beats Stoner to Laguna victory

Valentino Rossi extended his points lead and ended Casey Stoner's run of three victories by winning a ferocious battle with the Australian at Laguna Seca.

The pair swapped the lead several times in the first part of the race, running absolutely together and producing the most exciting racing of the year so far.

Rossi never allowed Stoner to stay ahead for long, and their tussle was decided with just over eight laps to go, when Stoner ran wide avoiding Rossi at the final corner and fell in the gravel. Their advantage was so great, however, that the reigning champion was able to rejoin still in second.

Today's win increases the Fiat Yamaha rider's championship advantage over his Ducati Marlboro rival to 25 points, while Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, who had to withdraw from the event, now lags 41 points behind the Italian.

Rossi, who had never won at the California track before, edged ahead of Stoner for the lead on the first lap at the entry of the circuit's legendary Corkscrew.

At the start of lap four Stoner overtook Rossi on front straight, but the latter took it back on the second corner. Stoner got ahead again just before the Corkscrew, but Rossi would have none of it, and grabbed the lead back by putting both wheels in the gravel at the inside of the famous corner and just managing to stay on the bike.

Meanwhile, their lead over the rest of the pack started increasing by about one second every lap. The two exchanged the lead again on lap five, 13, 14, and 24, just before Stoner fell at the last corner of the lap.

Stoner lost almost 14 seconds to Rossi with that fall, but at the beginning of that lap the lead was more than 22 seconds over third-placed Chris Vermeulen.

JiR Honda's Andrea Dovizioso, who ended up fourth eight seconds behind the Rizla Suzuki, beat the factory Honda of Nicky Hayden and the LCR Honda of Randy de Puniet.

Toni Elias got his best result of the year by finishing seventh with his Alice Ducati. The Spaniard finished just ahead of Suzuki's wild card Ben Spies and Tech 3 Yamaha's James Toseland.

American Jamie Hacking, standing in for injured John Hopkins at Kawasaki, ended his MotoGP debut at 37 years of age in eleventh place, soundly beating Anthony West who finished 17th and last with the same machinery.

Marco Melandri had an encouraging early part of the race with his factory Ducati that saw him getting up to ninth place, before having a long run through the gravel that dropped him dead last on lap 10. The Italian eventually classified 16th.

Rossi's teammate Jorge Lorenzo had a major high-side on the first lap right after passing Dovizioso for fifth, with the Spaniard flying high and crashing hard on the asphalt.

The MotoGP rookie was reportedly left with two fractures in his foot that should not require surgery.

Pos Rider Bike Time 1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 44:04.311 2. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) + 13.001 3. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) + 26.609 4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) + 34.901 5. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) + 35.663 6. Randy de Puniet Honda (M) + 37.668 7. Toni Elias Ducati (B) + 41.629 8. Ben Spies Suzuki (B) + 41.927 9. James Toseland Yamaha (M) + 43.019 10. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) + 44.391 11. Jamie Hacking Kawasaki (B) + 46.258 12. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) + 55.273 13. Alex de Angelis Honda (B) + 55.521 14. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) +1:02.380 15. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) +1:08.207 16. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) +1:10.962 17. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) + 1 lap Retirements:Rider Bike Laps Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) 0

MotoGP: Edwards tops Le Mans warm-up

Mustonen takes Rockingham victory

Stoner tops wet warm-up

Hohenthal triumphs in wet race two

Dovizioso tops wet Donington practice

Toseland delighted with second row start

James Toseland was delighted to qualify on the second row for the MotoGP round at Laguna Seca today, his best grid position since the opening round of the season.

The Briton, who qualified second at Qatar on his MotoGP debut, was relieved to end a disappointing run after qualifying outside the top ten for the last three races, following his excellent start to his rookie MotoGP year where he'd started in the top eight at each of the first seven rounds.

His 1:21.848 on his last set of qualifying tyres was good enough for fifth on the grid and was confident that the time would be good enough for the second row.

"I thought that once we got on the qualifiers with a bit more grip I could get up there," said Toseland. "I had to pin it because to do a 21 around here is not easy, but I got the job done.

"I feel we've deserved it after our bad luck over the last rounds, we've all kept plugging away and nobody has dropped their head, and now we're on the second row, which is great.

"I came across the line and saw 21.8 on the dash and I was hoping that would be good enough for the first two rows. I was just hoping that was going to keep me there and it did."

Toseland is eager to make a good start tomorrow to stay with the leaders and hopes to earn his fifth top six finish of the season.

"I've got the softer race tyre which I saved for today and kept one back for the race," he added." I can do mid to low 23s on that, and that could be a possible top six finish. I'd be satisfied with that.

"I just need a decent start to try to get away with the leaders. I'm getting the hang of the starts and I'm not as nervous as before because it's quite a technique to get these bikes off the line. When you're at 14,000 revs you want to dump that clutch as fast as you can, but you really need to know what you're doing."

Toseland determined to end slump

Guintoli delighted with top ten slot

Qualifying rained off at Monza

Hulkenberg thrown out of race one

Toseland hugely disappointed with race

Melandri to keep Ducati ride for Brno

Marco Melandri will race for the Ducati Marlboro team at Brno in three weeks' time, according to team boss Livio Suppo.

The Italian's place had been in doubt after his dismal start to the season, and Sete Gibernau had been touted as a potential replacement after the summer break following his three tests with the factory team.

Ducati admitted that Melandri's performance in the last two races at Sachsenring and Laguna Seca would determine his future. Then Melandri himself revealed that he could be replaced by Gibernau at Brno and expected a decision from the team last week.

But in his blog on the Ducati website, Suppo says Melandri will be back on the bike at the next round.

"Laguna was a positive weekend for Marco, albeit without the final result that he hoped to achieve," said Suppo. "In the warm-up he was very fast, as he had been in free practice. In the race, however, he was unfortunate to touch at the first curve which caused him to run off track.

"But he showed that he was making a constant effort, just as he did at Sachsenring. He was consistently up with the frontrunners during the practices and warm-up and we're convinced that he has understood how to get the best out of the Desmosedici.

"Now we have some holiday time, but we can't wait to see Casey and Marco back on track again at Brno."

Top of SuperLiga table clash on tap

MotoGP: Ducati rule out Melandri exit before Brno

D.C.’s snake-bitten ride continues

Hartley relieved to be back on track

Ducati confirm 2009 Melandri split

Stoner and Rossi argue over incidents

Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner exchanged words in parc ferme over a number of incidents in Sunday's MotoGP round at Laguna Seca.

The pair battled for the lead for 24 of the 32 laps, passing and re-passing each other several times. Rossi spent the most time in front and was ahead when Stoner ran wide at the last corner and dropped his bike in the gravel.

That granted Rossi an easy run to his maiden victory at Laguna, while Stoner recovered to finish second but complained about Rossi's riding after the race.

A brief conversation in parc ferme when Rossi attempted to shake hands with Stoner was caught on the BBC's live television coverage:

Rossi: "Great race."
Stoner: "No, you can't race this way."
Rossi: "That's racing, Casey."
Stoner: "That's racing? Ok, we'll see."

Stoner explained his complaint, claiming that some of Rossi's overtaking moves crossed the line between aggressive and 'too much'.

"It was about two or three moves, I think everybody will have seen them," he told the BBC. "A couple of other moves were alright, nice and clean, but there were a couple I wasn't happy with.

"I've been in hard racing all my life, some very aggressive racing, but today was a little bit too much. I nearly went in the gravel so many times and I don't think it was necessary. I was so nearly on the floor it wasn't funny."

The Australian later expanded on his view, and also suggested that Rossi braked earlier than usual at the final corner which caused him to run wide before falling in the gravel.

"I was just trying to find a point where I could get past where I knew he wasn't going to come barreling up the inside and wipe us both out," said Stoner. "We're here to try to score points, not to end a race. Even when I ran wide in the corner I could easily have gone into the back of Valentino and both of us gone down.

"He seemed to brake a lot earlier than normal. I nearly stayed on the track and I'd completely let off the brakes just to get it round to the right of him. I'm disappointed with my mistake. I could have caught it, I suppose. He'd done it a few times in the race so I should have been expecting it, but that time I just couldn't stop quick enough. I felt like I was going to plough into the back of him so I just let the brakes off and went around."

When asked whether the outcome of the race makes him think he should be more aggressive in future, Stoner replied: "I don't know whether I should because I've had problems before. I got fined two years ago for getting slightly in the way of Dani Pedrosa on a qualifying lap. I didn't mean to but I got fined for it.

"Dani or Valentino wouldn't get fined for this, but I get fined for it. So I'm worried if I do the same display I'll have punishment put on me, so I prefer to stay away from this and ride clean, aggressive but clean. If everything's kept fair and square it's alright, but I'm wondering sometimes whether they make decisions for certain reasons.

"But, look, Valentino rode a great race and I have nothing against that, just a couple of his overtaking moves, for me, were past the point. But I spoke to him about it on the podium and we'll just get on with the next weekend."

Rossi dismissed the claims of over-aggression, telling Italia1 television: "What a great race. I'm sorry Stoner complained. I understand our fight was very aggressive, but I think he complained most of all because he ended up behind. I'm very sad that he was angry at the beginning but I think after a race like this it's normal when you arrive behind.

"I think the battle was normal, I never touched him, I never ran wide. The overtaking moves were tough but I always passed under braking, which is where I'm stronger. This is racing and every overtake was very clear for me.

"The only time he tried to pass me he touched me with the wheel on the elbow, so I should be more upset than him!"

He was also quick to deny that he braked earlier than usual at the final corner on the lap of Stoner's fall.

"No, no, no. I never make this type of thinking in my career and I become angry if he says this," said Rossi. "I'm good to overtake, not to brake before. I think he made a mistake and you need to admit when you made a mistake. I didn't brake before, for sure. I didn't even know he crashed, I saw the next lap."

Rossi added that he was genuinely quick enough to win the race and warned Stoner that he is fighting hard to win the championship.

"I was going quick and, except on the front straight where the Ducati is a bit quicker than our bike, I don't think I was slowing him down. I wanted to win, Stoner cannot think we're here to play games: we're fighting to win, this is racing.

"I've been racing for a long time and, except for these last few years, I remember races to be like this and no one ever complained. Casey is very strong, but we are fast and we are ready for the battle."

The Italian went on to describe one of the moves that Stoner wasn't happy with, where Rossi squeezed past Stoner into the Corkscrew and bounced wide over the gravel as he dropped down the hill.

"It was fun, like an old style race with some hard overtaking back to back. That move was fantastic, he braked late but I braked even later. We went a bit wide but that's a peculiar corner so it can happen. When I realised I was going on the gravel I worried a bit, but the gravel here has good grip!

"In the end, it was the most important victory this year and I think I deserved it. Anyway, he made his mistake alone."

Stoner complains about Rossi’s overtaking

Lancaster takes maiden F3 victory

Alguersuari on pole for race two

Rapids take command of West

Melandri expects Ducati decision this week

Marco Melandri says he is likely to learn if he will race for Ducati at the Czech Grand Prix this week.

The Italian has endured a dismal season with Ducati following his switch from the Honda Gresini satellite team.

Melandri has scored 32 points in ten races, while teammate Casey Stoner has managed 187, including four victories.

Ducati said Melandri's performance in the last two races in Germany and Laguna Seca would be crucial when deciding on the rider's future. The Italian fell in Germany and finished in 16th position in the USA.

Melandri says he would like to complete the season, but he is aware that he could lose his ride, with Sete Gibernau tipped as the favourite to replace him after having tested for the team twice.

"This week will be decisive to understand whether I'll be able to complete the season on the saddle of my Ducati, or if Gibernau will take my place," Melandri wrote on his website.

"Well, I'd like to complete it: I think in these last two races a step forward was taken, and more could be forthcoming. In any case, I must really thank all the guys in my team, because this first part of the season has been hard for me as it's been for them.

"I can say that we've all been good at always staying clear-minded, even when things were disastrous: no one ever lost control and the relationships have remained very balanced. I'd truly like to get on the podium at least once for their satisfaction."

Melandri to keep Ducati ride for Brno

Coletti replaces Kimball at Prema

Ducati confirm 2009 Melandri split

Nicol hails ‘complete performance’

MotoGP: Ducati rule out Melandri exit before Brno

Vermeulen: Third shows Suzuki progress

Chris Vermeulen believes that scoring a podium in dry conditions underlines the progress the Rizla Suzuki team are making the with their GSV-R.

He finished third in the wet at Sachsenring last weekend and added another podium, behind distant leaders Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, in dry conditions at Laguna Seca today.

He started from the third row but made his way up the order and passed the Hondas of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden to secure third.

"The first two guys were in another world," said Vermeulen. "They got away a bit early and were too quick for us, but I had a bit of a battle with Nicky and Dovizioso in the first few laps and once I got past them we had more pace than everyone else.

"It's hard starting from the third row and I had to pass some fast people, but I think being back on the podium in the dry proves that Suzuki are improving and the bike is getting faster.

"We had a good set-up for the weekend and the team did a great job. I'm looking forward to Brno now."

Vermeulen confident of Suzuki race pace

Mustonen takes Rockingham victory

Mygale drivers eye Monza victory

Michelin to ramp up testing efforts

Michelin will ramp up its testing efforts and make sure it improves communication with teams about tyre choice to ensure there is no repeat of the troubles it suffered at Laguna Seca last weekend.

The French tyre manufacturer was caught out by a less aggressive track surface and lower than expected temperatures in the United States Grand Prix - meaning the hard rubber it brought to the race was too conservative for conditions.

And after openly admitting it got it wrong in America, Michelin has promised to react in the most constructive way possible for the next round of the championship in Brno.

Michelin's competitions director Frederic Henry-Biabaud said: "Looking at the race result, we can say that we weren't ambitious enough because of what happened last year at this track.

"We didn't want the same problem this time, so we recommended a very conservative direction to our teams. It was a mistake from which we have learned.

"Over the next three weeks we will therefore work in two directions. First, we will organise tests at several tracks. Second, we will continue developing some new solutions that we already have under development and which we will recommend to our teams for the next races, representing a more ambitious direction.

"We will also evolve the way we recommend tyre solutions to our teams, because this way we can deliver better performance. The season is far from over and we look forward to the last seven races after some very positive races already this year."

Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing, added: "From now on we have to share more our tyre strategy and allocation strategy with the teams.

"For example, Colin Edwards requested some fronts for this race, which he had already used this year at less demanding tracks. He could have used those tyres here, so he was right."

Perez eyeing title after first win

Hartley to join Euro Series race

Michelin concerned about race

Toseland devastated by crashes

Hartley relieved to be back on track

Dovizioso thrilled to be top Honda

Michelin concerned about race

Michelin is bracing itself for a 'tough' race in the United States Grand Prix, after admitting that it has been caught out by the track conditions this year.

The French tyre manufacturer brought a harder specification of rubber after the troubles it had last year with an aggressive track surface and very hot conditions.

However, the cooler ambient temperatures and the track surface being different have left Michelin's teams with tyres that are far from ideal.

At one point, as our exclusive photograph shows, their riders even ventured onto the track with intermediates - which are much softer than the available slicks.

Although set-up and tyre pressure variations meant the tyres were suitable for one-off quick qualifying laps, there are concerns about how they will fare over the course of the race.

Michelin's director of motorcycle racing Jean-Philippe Weber said: "The qualifying session was very important because we had to continue the work we had already done with our race tyres.

"The conditions here are very different to those at last year's US GP when we struggled with high temperatures and a new and aggressive surface. This year the surface is much less aggressive and the conditions aren't so hot.

"We brought some hard constructions and hard compounds to prevent a repeat of the problems we had last year, so our riders have had to work on the settings of their bikes to get good warm-up from the tyres and to use the tyres' maximum potential.

"Casey Stoner is once again very fast, but we are happy that five of our riders are in the top seven positions on the grid. Tomorrow's race is very long - 32 laps – and it seems that it may be cloudy, which will mean a different track temperature, so during morning warm-up some further adjustments may be necessary. It will be tough but we hope for a nice race."

There is a chance Michelin's riders will again use the intermediate tyres in the warm-up to evaluate their potential.

Michelin to ramp up testing efforts

Hayden: Tyre issues a learning experience

Jakes relieved after securing pole

Team Scot and JiR to part company

Scot Racing Team and JiR will part company at the end of this season, it was announced at Laguna Seca today.

The two teams joined forces at the beginning of this season to run customer Hondas for Andrea Dovizioso in MotoGP and Yuki Takahashi in the 250cc class, after JiR's deal with their previous sponsor ended.

Dovizioso has enjoyed a successful rookie season in the top class this year after racing with Team Scot in both the 250 and 125cc categories in his early career. The Italian is sixth in the championship and has been tipped as a potential replacement for Nicky Hayden at the Repsol Honda team, should Hayden move to Ducati.

Takahashi is currently ninth in the 250 standings with his best finish this year a third place at Jerez.

The Scot Racing Team plan to continue in MotoGP next season and expect to announce details of their restructured squad at the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi at the end of September.

Ericsson tops Rockingham test

Pedrosa tops first practice in France

MotoGP: Edwards tops Le Mans warm-up

Chinosi grabs pole on guest outing

MotoGP: Hayden confident of strong result

Nakano to get factory Honda from Brno

Honda Gresini rider Shinya Nakano will get a factory HRC 800cc prototype from the Czech Grand Prix next month.

The Japanese, tenth in the championship, will be assisting HRC with the development of their 2009 satellite bike.

The bike will be same as used by the Repsol Honda team.

"Shinya will have a new bike in Brno, which will basically be the base for developing the satellite version of 2009 Honda," team boss Fausto Gresini told the official MotoGP website.

"HRC will rely on our team and Shinya, as it's much easier in terms of communication with the Japanese engineers.

"For us this is obviously a privilege and the fruit of the close collaboration that has been going on for years between the Honda Gresini team and HRC."

The decision has not been welcomed by JiR Scot rider Andrea Dovizioso, who has been the quickest non-factory rider this season and who currently lies in fifth position in the standings.

"I let you draw your conclusions on this decision. It's better for me not to say what I think," Dovizioso was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

Perez eyeing title after first win

Hohenthal triumphs in wet race two

MotoGP: Edwards tops Le Mans warm-up

Mustonen takes Rockingham victory

Stoner takes another pole at Laguna

Pedrosa tops first practice in France

Rossi hails emotional maiden Laguna win

Valentino Rossi says it was emotional to take his first ever victory at Laguna Seca and thoroughly enjoyed the dice for the lead with Casey Stoner in the first half of the race.

The multiple champion had the speed to fight with Stoner from the start and the pair swapped the lead several times in what was the best battle of the season so far.

Rossi eventually triumphed when Stoner made a costly mistake at the final corner with eight laps to go and dropped his Ducati in the gravel.

The Italian was delighted to end Stoner's run of three consecutive victories.

"For me, this race was fantastic," said Rossi. "It's my first victory at Laguna Seca and the race was unbelievable. We made some modifications with the team before the race and I was able to get a better race pace. I was very fast and, after a good start, I had a great battle with Casey with a lot of overtaking. It was fun, a lot of fun.

"I started well, I got rid of Hayden immediately, and set my sights on Stoner. There were some corners where I was quicker than him and I was stronger under braking.

"I had to try to stay in front because it's difficult to overtake," he told Italia1 television. "I had to stay in the high 1:21s, I had the rhythm and tried to stay in front the whole race. It was very difficult but my bike worked very well and it was a great battle. To beat Stoner today we had to do a fantastic weekend.

"I don't know how many times we changed the lead but it was a lot and it was great, great racing for me and I think also for the fans, because it's been a while since we've been like this."

The result gives Rossi a 25-point lead in the championship heading into the four-week summer break, even though Stoner recovered to finish second.

"It's an important victory for sure," added Rossi. "It's emotional to win for the first time at Laguna. Now we have the summer break and we'll take some holidays and relax because this championship is so long."

Pedrosa will attempt to race at Laguna

Top of SuperLiga table clash on tap

Struggling Edwards expects tough race

Colin Edwards expects a tough race at Laguna Seca tomorrow after qualifying in a disappointing seventh place ahead of his home motorcycling Grand Prix.

After recovering from the neck pain he had yesterday, the Tech 3 Yamaha rider struggled to find the right set-up to absorb the California circuit's bumps and ended up recording his worst qualifying position of the year.

"It wasn't great to be honest given how well I've qualified all year, but considering I thought I was going to be on the plane home last night, I can't complain too much," he said.

"My neck was really bad yesterday but today it was unbelievable. I had some injections and also a couple of sessions of massage at the Clinica Mobile and I feel great.

"But it has been a tough weekend so far and I'm expecting a tough race tomorrow. I don't remember the track being this bumpy but on the qualifiers when you need to go so much faster, I could barely see where I was going. My head was bouncing around all over the place on the bumps.

"We have been working hard to change the bike to try and find some more grip but everything just feels really rigid. I'm just hanging on in some places and in the last two sections I'm terrible.

"It is not through a lack of trying because my guys have been working incredibly hard as usual. But we've taken weight off the front, put more weight on the front and put weight on the rear, but nothing has really improved the situation.

"Hopefully I can get a good start to try get away with the leading bunch, because I really want to get a good result for my home fans. I will be giving it everything I've got that's for sure."

Hulkenberg thrown out of race one

Edwards content despite falling to fifth

Qualifying rained off at Monza

Edwards rues ’strange’ tyre problems

Stoner takes another pole at Laguna

Casey Stoner took a commanding pole position at Laguna Seca, his fifth consecutive this season, ahead of tomorrow's US MotoGP.

The Ducati Marlboro rider, who utterly dominated all free practice runs this weekend, shot to the top of the timesheets just six minutes into the one-hour session and never relinquished the position after improving on his own best lap six more times to finish with a 1:20.700.

In the end, the rider getting closest to the reigning world champion was championship leader Valentino Rossi, who sneaked in a lap within half a second of pole just as time ran out, to fend off the challenge from teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Repsol Honda rival Nicky Hayden.

The American rider will start the race from the front row, having qualified almost three tenths slower than Rossi, while the Spaniard, who is the only other rider to stay within one second of Stoner's time, will head row two, ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha's James Toseland and LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet.

Toseland's teammate Colin Edwards could qualify no better than seventh, followed by Chris Vermeulen's Rizla Suzuki and Andrea Dovizioso's JiR Honda.

Despite sliding off in his last lap, Alice Ducati's Toni Elias enjoyed his best qualifying performance of the year with his tenth-fastest time, while Marco Melandri had a disappointing session that saw him end up 15th on the other factory Ducati, after having shown promising pace in practice.

The two Kawasakis will start last in 17th and 18th spot, with John Hopkins's stand-in Jamie Hacking beating regular rider Anthony West by 1.2 seconds, despite the American crashing and running back to the pits for the final 15 minutes after a couple of early off-track excursions.

Both Honda Gresini riders also suffered crashes, with Shinya Nakano sliding through the gravel and into the air fence, and Alex de Angelis crashing hard on the asphalt after a high-side and hurting his left forearm and thumb.

Despite looking to be in a lot of pain, the rider from San Marino was back on the bike ten minutes after the accident, but could qualify only 16th.

Pos Rider Bike Time 1. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) 1:20.700 2. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 1:21.147 + 0.447 3. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) 1:21.430 + 0.730 4. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) 1:21.864 + 0.936 5. James Toseland Yamaha (M) 1:21.848 + 1.148 6. Randy de Puniet Honda (M) 1:21.921 + 1.221 7. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) 1:21.947 + 1.247 8. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 1:21.971 + 1.271 9. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) 1:21.974 + 1.274 10. Toni Elias Ducati (B) 1:21.999 + 1.299 11. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) 1:22.039 + 1.339 12. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) 1:22.092 + 1.392 13. Ben Spies Suzuki (B) 1:22.147 + 1.427 14. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) 1:22.719 + 2.019 15. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) 1:22.957 + 2.257 16. Alex de Angelis Honda (B) 1:23.035 + 2.335 17. Jamie Hacking Kawasaki (B) 1:23.309 + 2.609 18. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) 1:24.525 + 3.825

Ericsson takes pole at Brands Hatch

Stoner tops wet warm-up

Stoner delighted with fifth pole in a row

Casey Stoner was delighted to score his fifth consecutive MotoGP pole position but says it wasn't all plain sailing.

The reigning champion continued his domination of the weekend, although his advantage over the rest of the field was less than half a second for the first time this season as he struggled to get the best out of his tyres.

"We used quite a soft front tyre because we didn't want to use the allocation for the race," said Stoner. "Unfortunately with more grip in the rear I was pushing a lot in the front so I messed up the first two tyres and just couldn't get a good feeling with it.

"I was a little bit nervous because I basically had one tyre to do the lap. But I changed the style a little bit and tried not to push the front so hard and keep more corner speed.

"We definitely found a much better solution, on the brakes it's much more stable and I'm able to get on the gas a bit earlier because it's a bit more stable in the middle of the corner.

"I managed to put a nice lap together and we got the pole position. I think that's five on the trot now, so we're very, very happy."

Stoner surprised to take pole

Ericsson stripped of pole at Brands

Hartley leads second Carlin front row

Ericsson takes pole at Brands Hatch

Stoner expects to improve on Italy ‘07

Stoner happy after reverting to ‘08 engine

Dovizioso thrilled to be top Honda

Andrea Dovizioso was thrilled to finish as the top Michelin and top Honda rider with fourth place on his Laguna Seca debut.

The MotoGP rookie, who had never riden at Laguna in any category before, started just ninth, but charged up the order on the first lap and eventually triumphed over Nicky Hayden in their race-long battle for fourth.

"I'm extremely happy because after practice we knew the race would be very tough for all the Michelin riders," Dovizioso told Italia1 television.

"But we started in high spirits, I raced against Hayden then noticed that (Randy) de Puniet was coming, so I tried to do the last ten laps at the maximum in order to try to open a gap on them.

"To be the top Michelin and Honda runner here makes me extremely happy."

Dovizioso tops wet Donington practice

Perez eyeing title after first win

Hohenthal triumphs in wet race two

Hayden: Tyre issues a learning experience

Former MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden believes that Michelin's tyre woes in the United States Grand Prix have at least helped him to understand more about the behaviour of his bike.

French tyre manufacturer Michelin's tyre selection for Laguna Seca was too hard for conditions, leaving its runners struggling to generate enough heat and grip over the weekend.

And although Hayden's chances of challenging at the front on home soil were dashed by Michelin's troubles, the American is at least thankful for the lessons it taught him about the handling of his Repsol Honda machine.

"Obviously at my home race I'd hoped to be able to put up a better fight than that," he said. "It was certainly a tough weekend, we struggled a bit with the tyres we had available.

"We really had only two race tyres. The one I used in practice I kept using again and again. I used it Friday, Saturday and again on race morning. By the end it had 35 laps on it.

"I think I learned a good lesson, as we set up the bike on quite old tyres. In the race when we put on a grippy new race tyre, the balance of the bike changed a lot. It was pushing the front in a lot of places.

"I would've liked to have been closer to the front but I think we learned a good lesson. Now we've got a few weeks off, so we'll regroup and try to finish the year strong."

Hayden blames faulty wheel sensor

Pedrosa blames tyres for race slump

Hayden laments set-up problems

McCarty returns to field with Hoops

Melandri optimistic of breakthrough

Marco Melandri hinted at a breakthrough in his confidence on the Ducati GP8 bike after an encouraging first day of practice for the United States Grand Prix.

The Italian, whose future at Ducati Marlboro is in doubt after a torrid time this season, was fifth quickest in Friday's first free practice session. And although he dropped to 12th in the afternoon session, he feels he is close to finding a suitable set-up for himself.

"Finally we've had a 'proper' free practice - I'm pleased," said Melandri. "This morning the circuit was tricky but that was probably because of the fact it was cool, because suddenly the grip came in.

"I had a good feeling from the start with the bike, I was getting decent feedback from the tyres and that is something I've been missing a lot this year. I was able to ride well and stay on the good line. From then on we made constant progress, refining the base set-up that we used at Sachsenring. Now we need to try and continue like this over the next two days because I want a good race here."

Teammate Casey Stoner had an almost perfect day, comfortably heading the timesheets - and ominously setting his best time on the harder compound of tyre.

"This morning the track surface was a little cool but grip wasn't bad and after a few laps it was back to a normal level," said the Australian. "It took a few laps to get used to the new bumps that have emerged since last season though.

"In general the track is in good shape and I enjoyed riding because it's a fun layout and we found a good set-up pretty quickly, using the base from last year.

"In the afternoon when the track temperatures rose further we put a harder tyre on and managed to improve a little bit more, so I'm really satisfied with the first day's work."

Melandri upbeat after breakthrough

Perez quickest in practice at Croft

Practice starts on time as Pedrosa sits out

The third free practice session at Laguna Seca got under way at its normal 10.00am slot as fog cleared just enough on the California circuit.

Meanwhile, Dani Pedrosa has chosen not to ride in this morning's session in an effort to save himself for this afternoon's hour of qualifying.

The Repsol Honda rider is still recovering after injurying his hand in a crash at Sachsenring last Sunday.

Jakes takes pole at Pau

Abay dominates second Croft practice

Perez quickest in practice at Croft

Pedrosa will attempt to race at Laguna

Pedrosa hindered by practice crash

Yamaha boss defends Rossi's riding

Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio says he saw nothing wrong with Valentino Rossi's actions in the United States Grand Prix - despite Casey Stoner's complaints.

Rossi fought hard with Stoner for the lead at Laguna Seca on Sunday – and triumphed after his Ducati Marlboro rival missed his braking point at the final corner several laps from home and fell off his bike.

And although Stoner refused to shake Rossi's hand in parc ferme after the race, and complained that the Italian had gone too far in his riding, Brivio has praised the efforts of his rider and team.

"There were no alternatives: during the whole weekend Stoner dominated with eight tenths to one second gap over everyone else, so Rossi knew that allowing Stoner to take the lead might have meant losing touch with him," he told the Italia1 television station.

"So the only chance was staying in front and trying not to let him through. I'd say he reacted at every move. In my opinion it was a fantastic race that demonstrated once again what you can do when you race with your heart."

Although Rossi now holds a 25-point advantage in the points standings over Stoner, Brivio believes Yamaha must keep working hard to fend off their Ducati rivals.

"We know the Ducati's electronics are more sophisticated. In fact, since they've introduced their latest updates Stoner has become very strong, while up to Barcelona he was normal and we had beaten him more than once," he said.

"So we must work in that same direction while also trying to have a more powerful engine, because on long straights it's difficult to keep him at bay. In fact the straight here is not very long, so we managed to defend ourselves."

Rossi ends Le Mans test on top

Mercedes threaten to pull out of F3

Rossi takes victory in China

Hulkenberg thrown out of race one

Stoner complains about Rossi's overtaking

Casey Stoner complained about Valentino Rossi's aggressive riding at Laguna Seca today, but admitted the crash that cost him a chance of victory was his own fault.

The reigning champion, who was on a three-race winning streak coming into the US Grand Prix, was fighting wheel-to-wheel with Rossi for the majority of the race.

The pair passed and re-passed each other several times before Stoner slid wide while following Rossi under braking for the last corner with eight laps to go, and dropped the bike as he ran wide on the exit.

He got back on in plenty of time to finish second, but felt that Rossi's overtaking moves throughout the first half of the race were 'too much'.

"For me, some of the overtaking manouvres were not correct," he told Italia1 television. "I'm a little disappointed because if I do something like this then for sure I get a penalty. I've had some very hard racing in my career, some very aggressive racing, but not dirty. For me, today was a little bit too much.

"Valentino rode a fantastic race, there's no taking that away from him," he added. "But, for me, some of the moves, not all of them, but some of them, were too much. I was very close to crashing and this is the point where it goes past aggressive and fair racing.

"Up until today I've been very happy with the way everybody rides at the front of the MotoGP field. Everybody's passes are very clean, sometimes aggressive, but this is ok. For me, today was a little bit past this point and a few times I was fearing crashing."

But Stoner admitted that the mistake that led to his fall was his own doing.

"When I ran off the track it was completely my fault, nothing else," he added. "I made a mistake when I was trying to come back on. I don't know what happened, I didn't touch the front brake. The sand was very thick and I just made a small mistake.

"It's a shame because the race was good, the bike felt quite good and the conditions were getting warmer, although the rear was sliding around quite a lot.

"But we got second place, and also second in the championship. We have a lot of races left and we're very happy with the performances since Mugello. We've been consistently on the podium so we have to be happy with this. It didn't work out perfectly today but we'll come back next time and see what we can do."

Hulkenberg thrown out of race one

Rossi thrilled to reach second place

Rossi prepared for wet race

Yamaha boss defends Rossi’s riding

Edwards signs new Tech 3 deal

Colin Edwards will remain with the Tech 3 Yamaha team in 2009 after announcing a one-year extension to his contract at his home race at Laguna Seca this weekend.

The 34-year-old American had planned to retire from MotoGP at the end of this season and return to race in America with Yamaha, but he is enjoying what he calls his best MotoGP season yet with the Tech 3 team and has signed up for another year.

"I'm very happy to renew my contract with Tech 3 and Yamaha for 2009," he said. "It's extra special for me to be able to announce it at my home race because I've always had a fantastic rapport with the American fans and a great relationship with Yamaha US.

"It's no secret that I had agreed with Yamaha to finish my MotoGP career at the end of 2008 and continue my racing with them in America, but as soon as I began working with the Tech 3 team I instantly formed a great relationship with my guys. A big part of me wanting to stay is down to them and I knew I wasn't ready to leave MotoGP before the season had even started.

"The fact that I've been able to produce the best form of my MotoGP career this season speaks volumes for the effort they've put in, and I'm happy to be staying. Everything seems to be going right and I can't complain."

Tech 3 boss Herve Ponchanal added: "Although he has only been with us for ten races, the relationship is so great that it feels like he has been part of the team for many years. With his unique personality, Colin has brought a great atmosphere to the garage, it has been a privilege to work with him and I am delighted that he has decided to stay for at least one more season."

Edwards close to new Tech 3 deal

Pedrosa tops first practice in France

Sealy trade gives K.C. options

Hayden says he is in talks with Ducati

Nicky Hayden says he is in talks with the Ducati team over a possible switch to the Italian squad next season.

The 2006 world champion has a contract with Repsol Honda until the end of the current year, and speculation has increased over recent weeks about a possible move to Ducati.

The Italian team only have Casey Stoner contracted following the news that they will not continue with Marco Melandri in 2009.

That has left the door open for Hayden to join the team next year, although the American says he is still waiting to hear from Honda.

"I haven't signed anything, but we're talking. We'll have to see what Honda want to do," Hayden was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We are talking with the Japanese, but I don't want to reveal details," added Hayden, who has failed to match the results of teammate Dani Pedrosa this season.

Although only Stoner has managed to be competitive with Ducati's Desmosedici bike, Hayden claims he would not be afraid to ride the Italian bike alongside the world champion.

"I'm not afraid at all, even though he's really phenomenal at the moment," he added. "With Casey I could work better than I do now with Pedrosa, because our riding styles are more similar.

"It would be a nice challenge, if I go there or they decide to hire me. Today everyone but Stoner struggle or can't even ride it. But I'm not afraid, the bike is good."

Perez eyeing title after first win

Hohenthal triumphs in wet race two

Mustonen takes Rockingham victory

MotoGP: Edwards tops Le Mans warm-up

Stoner tops testing with new Ducati

Vermeulen confident of Suzuki race pace

Chris Vermeulen remains confident about his race pace despite qualifying eighth for Sunday's race at Laguna Seca.

The Rizla Suzuki rider was inside the top five in all three practice sessions for this weekend's US Grand Prix, but slipped back to eighth when he couldn't extract the same pace from his qualifying tyres.

But he believes he's still in a strong position to fight for a podium in the race.

"The qualifiers just didn't seem to work for me today and I couldn't go any quicker on them than I did on the race rubber," he said.

"But we did some longer runs on race tyres and produced some good lap times. They were a lot closer to Casey (Stoner) today and hopefully we can do that again tomorrow.

"It sucks to be starting from eighth position, but if I can get a good first couple of laps I know we can still fight for a podium."

Vermeulen targets Le Mans resurgence

Alguersuari on pole for race two

Capirossi says he is still recovering

Loris Capirossi says he's still riding in pain from his injuries but is eager for a strong result at Laguna Seca this weekend.

The Italian veteran is still recovering from the arm injury he sustained in practice at Assen.

He returned to action at Sachsenring last weekend, when he finished seventh, but he admits he's not 100 per cent fit yet.

"My arm is still quite sort and I'm fed up with feeling in pain like this," he said. "I will still give it everything I've got at Laguna, I know it will be tough but that's what MotoGP is about.

"I need to start getting some good results to make up for the races I didn't score in, and here is a good place to start.

"I'm sure I will be 100 per cent by Brno but I want to be at my best in America and I will certainly be trying my hardest."

MotoGP: Capirossi adamant Suzuki will win soon

Capirossi set to stay with Suzuki in 2009

Capirossi to return at Sachsenring

Mortara, Volkswagen savour first win

Lorenzo relieved to suffer no injuries

Jorge Lorenzo was relieved to sustain no injuries after crashing once again his Fiat Yamaha this year in today's German Grand Prix.

After making an excellent impression in his first three races this season, the MotoGP rookie had two very serious shunts - one of them forcing him to miss the Barcelona race - among various smaller ones, and has since struggled to fully regain his confidence.

In this afternoon's rainy race at the Sachsenring, the Spaniard crashed on lap three while running in sixth place after starting from the fifth spot on the grid.

"I felt good this morning because I though that I would have a chance to do a good race in the rain," said Lorenzo.

"On the warm-up lap however I felt that something wasn't quite right; I didn't have enough grip and I lost some confidence then. I made a good start and passed two riders in the first corner, but then I ran too deep and lost the places so I had to push to try to make them up again.

"The crash happened when I opened the gas coming out of turn four and I lost the rear. It was a pity but I didn't hurt myself this time and I am not feeling sad for myself tonight, I just feel very bad for the team because they worked too hard all weekend for a result like this.

"The positive thing about today is that at each race I am feeling better in myself, even though we're having some problems getting our package work correctly, and now I am just looking forward to racing for the very first time at Laguna."

The United States Grand Prix will be held in Laguna Seca in one week's time.

Hartley relieved to be back on track

Lorenzo diagnosed with further injuries

Revs start SuperLiga with win

FCD players relieved with hiring of new coach

Hayden aiming for turnaround at home

Nicky Hayden is hoping that his home grand prix at Laguna Seca will bring about a change in his fortunes after a disastrous race at Sachsenring last weekend.

The Repsol Honda rider finished last in Germany after making an early pit stop with electrical and tyre problems, and is looking for a good result on home soil to reward the progress he and the team have made with the pneumatic-valve engine.

"Laguna couldn't come at a better time," he said. "We've had a lot of problems in the last few weeks even though we've had good speed - just silly little problems, some cruel stuff.

"But that's just the way it goes sometimes and the bottom line is that we haven't got the results we want, so hopefully things will be better at Laguna.

"This place is really special to me, I love it, and the atmosphere, for me, is about as good as it gets. Hopefully we can come out tomorrow morning and put a couple of good days together and be in a good position for a result on Sunday because we're desperate for one."

Top of SuperLiga table clash on tap

Hayden hoping to turn things around

MotoGP: Hayden confident of strong result

Hayden laments set-up problems

Melandri and Ducati to split before 2009

Marco Melandri and his Ducati Marlboro team have agreed to part ways by the end of this year, said the Italian rider's manager.

Melandri's deal with Ducati Corse was set to run for two years until the end of 2009, but the former 250cc champion has never felt comfortable with the Italian bike, with the best result so far being a fifth place in the Chinese MotoGP.

"The contract binding us to Ducati for 2009 has been resolved by mutual agreement, so no penalty will be applied," Melandri's manager Alberto Vergani told ANSA.

Vergani also confirmed that Melandri may be replaced at Ducati before the end of the season, after team boss Livio Suppo said that the rider was only '99% certain' to race for them at next week's US GP.

"Melandri might remain on hold while waiting for 2009," said Vergani.

Retired rider Sete Gibernau is rumoured to replace Melandri in a return to the Bologna-based team after testing successfully for the outfit at Mugello.

MotoGP: Ducati rule out Melandri exit before Brno

Oakes to miss Monza race

Ducati confirm 2009 Melandri split

Coletti replaces Kimball at Prema

Pedrosa will attempt to race at Laguna

Dani Pedrosa will attempt to race in the MotoGP round at Laguna Seca this weekend, despite the injuries he sustained in a crash at Sachsenring on Sunday.

The Spaniard was leading strongly in heavy rain when he fell and injured his left hand and right ankle as he clattered into the crash barriers.

He was treated for a fractured finger, fractured wrist, and sprained ankle at Barcelona's Instituto Universitari Dexeus hospital earlier this week and is flying to the USA today.

"We have decided that I will do my best to ride this weekend," said Pedrosa. "But we know it will not be easy and that we won't know my exact situation until I get on the bike on Friday morning.

"This is a difficult time for me but my will is strong and if it's possible for me to ride the bike properly then I really want to ride. Laguna is a physically demanding track when you are 100 per cent so it will be tough with my injuries, but I know I can count on the support of the people around me to get me in the best possible shape.

"The fans at Laguna are great, very respectful of all the riders, so I would like to do my best for them. We'll see what we can do, but I would like to thank everyone around me and also my fans for their support over the last few days."

Top of SuperLiga table clash on tap

D.C.’s snake-bitten ride continues

Pedrosa could miss US GP after crash

Revs start SuperLiga with win

Edwards looks ahead to home race

Colin Edwards is relieved to be heading into his home race at Laguna Seca next weekend uninjured, after emerging unscathed from a crash in this afternoon's German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.

The American was fighting hard in fifth position in torrential wet conditions when he uncharacteristically fell at Turn Seven on lap 21.

The crash brought to an end a run six-straight top-five finishes.

"Fifth was going to be the best result I could have managed today and that's a bit disappointing because in the dry I think I could have been fighting for a podium," said Edwards. "I'm just grateful I didn't get hurt in the crash because I've got my home race coming up and I desperately want to put on a good performance for the American fans at Laguna Seca."

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider qualified third for the race, but knew he was in for a difficult afternoon as soon as it began to rain.

"All I can is it was a very tough race right from the start," he said. "The conditions were not easy but I got a reasonable start and just wanted to get into a steady pace.

"But it was obvious from quite early on that it was going to be difficult. I didn’t have a lot of feel from the rear tyre and I tried everything I could to hang in there and keep a top five finish. It would have also kept my own personal good run going.

"But as the race wore on it wasn’t getting any better and I lost the rear at the downhill left-hander," he explained about the accident. "I had no warning at all and I didn't feel I was particularly pushing too hard because by that stage a podium had already gone.

"I was trying to keep Andrea Dovizioso behind me to at least finish top Michelin rider. I'd tried to follow Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi but I just didn't have anything for them."

Hulkenberg thrown out of race one

Edwards close to new Tech 3 deal

Jakes wins chaotic race at Pau

Rossi: Qualifying crucial to beat Stoner

Valentino Rossi says he can't afford any more poor qualifying performances if he wants to stop Casey Stoner's winning streak.

Ducati rider Stoner has won the last three races from pole position to put himself right back in the title fight after a slow start to the season.

The Australian is now 20 points behind Rossi in the standings after his dominant performances in the last three events.

Rossi finished second to Stoner in yesterday's German Grand Prix, where the Italian started from seventh place on the grid.

And ahead of the US GP next weekend, Rossi says he must start from the front row if he is to beat his Ducati rival.

"Laguna hasn't been one of my favourite tracks in the three years since we've been going there and it's one of the only ones on the calendar where I haven't won," said Rossi. "We're aiming to win this week, that's for sure.

"It's been a hard track for our bike but it's been a very good track for Bridgestone and I am confident that our package will work very well there.

"The last two years I've had serious disappointments in the race and it's been one of the low points of both seasons, I hope I have had all the bad luck I'm going to have there and that this year I can enjoy myself.

"We are going there with the same package that we had in Germany and so we're going to have to work very hard to close the gap in performance to Stoner; we can't afford to start from anywhere except the front because, with him in this form, it is then very hard to catch him."

Stoner surprised to take pole

Qualifying rained off at Monza

Capirossi set to stay with Suzuki in 2009

Loris Capirossi says he is on the verge of announcing that he will remain with Suzuki for the 2009 season.

The former Ducati rider has impressed the Suzuki team since joining them this year, and had previously indicated that he would stay on with the squad if he was convinced of their long-term potential.

After today's Sachsenring race, Capirossi told Italia1 television that a contract extension was all but confirmed.

"We are sorted, and we'll definitely make it official at Laguna," he said.

His season has been disrupted by injuries in recent weeks, with a broken hand sustained at Catalunya forcing him to miss the British Grand Prix, and then an arm injury from a practice crash sidelining him at Assen and causing discomfort throughout the Sachsenring weekend.

Capirossi said he was looking forward to being able to ride at full fitness again after taking seventh today.

"I can say I'm happy: today I've managed to get to the end of the race, even though I struggled a bit," he said.

"It will still be tough for me at Laguna, maybe I'll feel a bit better there, but I'll be 100 percent at Brno.

"I'm really fed up with suffering, I want to feel well and enjoy myself a bit more."

Meanwhile Capirossi's teammate Chris Vermeulen refused to be drawn on his future, amid rumours of a return to World Superbikes.

When asked by BBC television if he felt his Sachsenring podium proved he belonged in MotoGP, Vermeulen replied: "I hope so. Right now we might not have the machine to do that, but when things level out we can be competitive."

Capirossi pledges future to Suzuki

Maki wins second Mugello race

Revs start SuperLiga with win

Oakes to miss Monza race

Capirossi to return at Sachsenring

Hayden blames faulty wheel sensor

Nicky Hayden blamed a faulty wheel sensor for qualifying down in eighth place ahead of the German MotoGP at the Sachsenring.

The Repsol Honda rider, whose best laptime was almost half a second slower than his teammate Dani Pedrosa's in second, said changing the sensor during the session made him lose time and rhythm with the qualifying tyres.

"The qualifiers didn't go as we wanted," explained the American. "We had an issue with a front wheel sensor when I went out on my third qualifier, so we had to come in and change the sensor, which lost us some time and some rhythm. Basically we didn't get it done.

"On qualifiers my T1 and T2 times were really good but T3 and T4 weren't so good. It seems like maybe we were a little soft on the front suspension or we've improved the rear so much that maybe it's overworking the front tyre."

Hayden, however, reckons his race pace should be good enough and his Michelin tyres consistent throughout the race.

"At the start of qualifying I was going decent on some pretty used tyres that by the end had race distance on them, so I felt pretty good.

"Looking at tomorrow, I've gotten some good starts this year, we're right in the middle of the third row, so I'm sure there's going to be plenty of drama, plenty of action. I feel like we've got a decent pace, so the race should be okay."

Hartley takes Snetterton pole

Pedrosa blames tyres for race slump

MotoGP: Hayden confident of strong result

Qualifying rained off at Monza

Hartley leads second Carlin front row

Ducati confirm 2009 Melandri split

Ducati team boss Livio Suppo has confirmed that Marco Melandri will not be with the squad next year, but played down suggestions that he will be dropped from the line-up within the next two races.

Melandri's manager Alberto Vergani announced yesterday that his client and Ducati had agreed not to continue with the second year of their contract in 2009 because the Italian rider had struggled so badly this season.

Suppo said Ducati were grateful to Vergani and Melandri for their co-operation.

"I think we have to thank both of them - it's been a very easy negotiation, there was no conflict like some people said," he told BBC television.

"It's clear that if Marco cannot have a good feeling with this bike it would be unusual to think about one more year."

Melandri has been unable to get the Ducati Desmosedici GP8 to his liking, and has been significantly slower than teammate Casey Stoner all season - falling even further behind in the last two races despite Stoner taking dominant victories.

The pressure on Melandri increased when Sete Gibernau set promising times on the bike in testing, and there have been strong rumours that Melandri will be dropped in favour of Gibernau at the earliest opportunity.

But Suppo said Ducati would give Melandri the chance to show better form at the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca before considering any changes.

"Of course the results of Assen and Donington were really totally unexpected," he said. "I believe Marco will be much better here and in Laguna, so there will not be this possibility. I'm positive and I think he will improve."

He even suggested that Ducati could reconsider their 2009 decision if Melandri improved his performances.

"You never know, if from now on he's on the podium always then maybe we'll renegotiate again," said Suppo.

All-Star races head down to the wire

MotoGP: Ducati rule out Melandri exit before Brno

Pedrosa could miss US GP after crash

MotoGP doctor Claudio Costa has confirmed that Dani Pedrosa could miss next week's Laguna Seca race if the hand injury he sustained in Germany requires surgery.

Pedrosa sustained several injuries to his left hand when he crashed heavily while leading today's extremely wet Sachsenring race.

"It's very delicate matter, because his left hand suffered the fracture of the index with a damage to his extensor tendon. Still on the left hand he also had a capsular lesion and damage to the extensor of his middle finger. He also sprained his ring finger," Dr Costa told Italia1 television.

"An important lesion was blocked and fixed here in the Clinica Mobile, and now he'll go back to Spain and if he gets operated on, then we'll have to talk about Brno (the race after Laguna Seca).

"He also sprained his right ankle, with a detachment of the peroneal malleolus, but that's a very light thing compared to this serious damage to his left hand."

Although Dr Costa did not rule out the possibility of Pedrosa racing in America, he suspected that undergoing surgery and then resting the hand prior to Brno in mid-August might be a better option.

"Risking his left hand at Laguna Seca is possible, but I think this time the doctors will try to fix in the best possible way the delicate lesions to his hand, so he should be back for the Czech Grand Prix, because there's a break in between," he said.

A statement from the Repsol Honda team said that Pedrosa had definitely fractured the top bone in the little finger on his left hand, and that it was possible that his ankle injury was also a fracture. He will see his surgeon Dr Xavier Mir in Barcelona this week.

Dr Costa added that most of the damage occurred when Pedrosa hit the kerb while sliding off the track having already fallen from his Honda, and suggested that the incident could be the cue to examine the run-off facilities at MotoGP venues.

"I think Pedrosa's hand got massacred at that point," said Dr Costa. "In the fall he had a small detachment of the peroneal malleolus. Then he might have come to me with a bruised hand, but not with all these complex lesions.

"I think that's what happened, and this must be pointed out, because when a rider slides, he must have some run-off space, and that's the most important thing. But this run-off space must allow him to slide a long way, without interrupting the course of the fall."

Hopkins out until at least Brno

Oakes to miss Monza race

Revs’ Joseph represents country, club

Ericsson completes double pole

Lorenzo to have skin graft on hand

MotoGP: Hopkins ruled out for next two races

Di Meglio wins at Sachsenring

Mike di Meglio won the 125cc German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, his third win this year, to further increase the lead in the championship.

The Ajo Derbi rider had a bad start from sixth on the grid and by the end of the first lap was only eighth, but he then started making steady progress.

By lap 14 of the 27-lap race he was up to third, closing in just one lap a 0.6-second gap to second-placed Aprilia's Simone Corsi, who is now 25 points behind the Frenchman on the championship table after finishing today's race in fifth place.

Di Meglio then set off after race leader Bradley Smith, whose Polaris Aprilia was 1.7 seconds up the road. But within three laps that gap was nullified and the Briton was overtaken on lap 18 and eventually classified fourth.

Aprilia's Stefan Bradl ended up best of the rest in his home Grand Prix, however he was over two seconds behind the winner at the flag, with the Aspar Aprilia of Gabor Talmacsi taking the last podium place.

The reigning champion had a good race after a terrible start, when he released the clutch too abruptly from his pole position spot and dropped outside the top ten by the first corner.

Derbi's Joan Olive and Aprilia's Sergio Gadea suffered engine failures mid-way through the race, forcing them to retire from their ninth and eleventh positions respectively.

Raffaele de Rosa crashed his eighth-placed KTM with five laps of the race to go.

The race was deemed dry by the stewards, even though a light drizzle hit the German track during proceedings.

CLASSIFIED: Pos Rider Bike Time 1. Mike Di Meglio Derbi 40:03.710 2. Stefan Bradl Aprilia + 2.010 3. Gabor Talmacsi Aprilia + 2.733 4. Bradley Smith Aprilia + 2.847 5. Simone Corsi Aprilia + 9.117 6. Sandro Cortese Aprilia + 9.249 7. Nicolas Terol Aprilia + 9.257 8. Scott Redding Aprilia + 30.778 9. Esteve Rabat KTM + 32.311 10. Marc Marquez KTM + 33.034 11. D.Agerter Derbi + 33.121 12. Andrea Iannone Aprilia + 33.134 13. Pere Tutusaus Aprilia + 33.171 14. Marcel Schrotter Aprilia + 33.208 15. Pablo Nieto KTM + 33.755 16. Efren Vazquez Aprilia + 34.554 17. Pol Espargaro Derbi + 37.776 18. Steve Bonsey Aprilia + 37.872 19. Takaaki Nakagami Aprilia + 54.240 20. Marvin Fritz Seel + 58.249 21. Alexis Masbou Loncin +1:14.202 22. Louis Rossi Honda +1:15.255 23. Robert Muresan Aprilia +1:16.356 24. Marco Ravaioli Aprilia +1:16.854 25. Tobias Siegert Aprilia + 1 Lap NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS: Rider Bike Laps Lorenzo Zanetti KTM 25 Tomoyoshi Koyama KTM 24 Raffaele De Rosa KTM 22 Jules Cluzel Loncin 19 Sergio Gadea Aprilia 15 Robin Lasser Aprilia 15 Joan Olive Derbi 14 S.Kreuziger Honda 14 Michael Ranseder Aprilia 12 Bastien Chesaux Aprilia 9 Daniel Webb Aprilia 5 H.van den Berg Aprilia 4 R.Krummenacher KTM 3 Eric Hubsch Aprilia 2 FASTEST LAP: Di Meglio, 1:27.584 on lap 16

Talmacsi dominates first qualifying

125cc: Talmacsi wins shortened race

Maki wins second Mugello race

Edwards close to new Tech 3 deal

Colin Edwards says he wants to stay at the Tech 3 Yamaha team following a strong first half of the season with the French squad.

The American joined Tech 3 this year following his exit from the works Yamaha team and has scored 98 points in the first nine races of the season.

Last year he scored 124 in total.

Edwards admits he is delighted at Tech 3 and says a new deal is close.

"I'm extremely happy. Hopefully we can sort something out," Edwards told a news conference ahead of the German Grand Prix. "I think Herve (Poncharal, team boss) and Yamaha as well are keen to keep me.

"We have some terms that we need to discuss. I think it's looking good. This is what I want to do. I want to stay here. I have a good crew and a good crew chief."

He added: "It's been a good year. I think everybody's really happy at the moment in our team."

The Texan arrives in Sachsenring fresh from a podium finish in the last race in Assen, and he is in confident mood for the German event.

"Last year we ended up fourth. We had a good race two weeks ago and I come here and I know we have the bike sorted out, so I'm looking forward to it."

Edwards content despite falling to fifth

Crew look to reassert dominance

Stoic Moreno providing Crew big lift