Red Bull One Two

"What a day! At the start, I realised that I had a good start past Nico. I was then able to gain on Mark; it's a long sprint down to Turn 1 and I had an advantage, so I took the chance into Turn 1 and made it through!"

Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel, wins the 2010 Formula One PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix here in Sepang after starting from third on the grid with his teammate, Mark Webber coming in Second. Nico Rosberg of the PETRONAS Mercedes GP team completes the top three finishers while Michael Schumacher, his teammate, retired early after 10 laps of the race, due to a loose wheelnut.

It was a wet qualifying on Saturday, seeing none of the Ferraris and McLarens making it to Q3. Webber starts from pole position with Nico Rosberg alongside him. Michael Schumacher only manages to set the 8th fastest while Vitantonio Liuzzi, of Team Force India completes the top 10 starters on the grid.

With the Ferrari and McLaren drivers starting low from the grid, the race in Malaysia was heated up and more exciting as they provided plenty of thrills and overtaking to recover. Felipe Massa finished 7th in the 56 laps of the Malaysian Grand Prix while Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button of the McLaren Mercedes team finishing 6th and 8th respectively.

Fernando Alonso did not managed to the chequered flag when his car's engine blew forcing him to retire on lap 55. More retirements seen at the Malaysian GP, with both drivers of Team BMW-Sauber Ferrari did not finish the race, seeing Pedro De La Rosa, did not start, while Kobayashi retired due to engine problems.

Robert Kubica yet again finished the race and scoring points both for himself and his Renault team, keeps the championship battle more competitive. He finished fourth earning himself and for the team, 12 championship points.

Jaime Alguersuari again drove an excellent race for Toro Rosso and emerged ninth rewarding him 2 points for it, with Nico Hulkenberg taking the final point for Williams, thanks to Fernando Alonso's misfortune.

The race in Malaysia dramatically closes the championship points battle. Massa now leads with 39 points, 2 points clear off teammate Alonso and rival Vettel, with button trailing at 35 points together with Rosberg and Hamilton with 31 points. The constructors' stakes Ferrari still leading with 76 points, but McLaren, now have 66 points, Red Bull 61, Mercedes 44 and Renault 30.

Click here for the Malaysian Grand Prix's selected team and driver quotes.

Unveilling of the Malaysian GP Trophy

Sepang International Circuit finally unveils the 2010 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix's trophy here today, with only less than a week left to the major motorsports event to be held in Malaysia.

The trophy was designed and sculptured by Royal Selangor inspired by the checkered flag and the curved shape gives a sense of acceleration and movement. The trophy will be the first sculptured F1 trophy for Malaysia.

"This year, unlike previous editions where we have the drivers' parade, we decided to organise the Student's interview with Formula One drivers, which will be held before the drivers presentation on the starting grid.", SIC CEO, Razlan Razali.

"The drivers will be introduced to the students by the emcee and each student will have the opportunity to ask them one team a question. The ballot draw will decide which student will get which driver or team for the interview session.", he added.

There are also the Formula One classic cars on display here specially flown down by MAS Kargo at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and KLIA. The opening ceremony of the 2010 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix itself will be an exhilarating event, with a spectacular air show display by the RMAF and Malaysia's own break-dancers performing to entertain the crowd at the circuit.

Some changes to the access of the events held includes the Children's Pit Walk, enabling any parent or guardian with children gain free access to the pit area, an opportunity to see where the teams prepare for the race, autograph session on Sunday at the General Mall Area and the post race concert featuring Wyclef Jean and Fatboy Slim, sponsored by Digi.

Fiat-Yamaha MotoGP Test at Qatar

The Fiat Yamaha Team riders, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, concludes their pre-season preparation with another strong performance in the humid Qatar night, both coming in second and sixth fastest. This will be the last time the riders will be on track before the first race, back here, in three weeks time.

Rossi has been concentrating largely on finalising his race preparation today, also finding time to try a new tyre compound for Bridgestone. He completed 20 laps in a long run late in the evening with the aim of gathering more information for the race, which will help the team during the practice sessions when they return here.

"This has been another good day. We've concentrated mostly on the race preparation and it feels like we're now ready for the first race.", Valentino Rossi, setting it 2nd fastest with 1'55.860" at the Losail Circuit, Qatar.

He added that he feels the M1 is great and looking forward to racing it.

Lorenzo continued to make progress and to push as hard as his injured hand would allow, the Spaniard managing to test some new electronic settings amongst other things and improve on his time from Test 1 in Qatar, yesterday. He still felt some pain in the hard braking areas and needed to take a painkilling pill, but he was happy to finish sixth in the circumstances and is confident that he will be back to full form in time for the race.

Lorenzo highlighted, "Today, my hand felt okay, maybe a bit worse than yesterday. Our bike is great, Yamaha have done a fantastic job and you can see this from the strong performance of all the Yamaha riders."

The MotoGP season's opener will take place at Losail, Qatar, on the 9th-11th April 2010.

source: The Fiat Yamaha Team Press Release

Rossi tops the time-sheets at Sepang Test 2

Alvaro Bautista of The Rizla Suzuki Team

Track temperature's up to 37^oC, putting the bikes and riders to a real test before the 2010 MotoGP starts in Qatar on 11^th April 2010.

Valentino Rossi signed off the 2010 MotoGP's Second official pre-season test at Sepang today topping the time sheets yet again, with a fastest lap time of 2'00.271" on 25th February and 2'01.068" on the 26th, smashing Sepang's lap record.

"I'm really happy to have beaten my pole record, it's a good feeling to be first in testing. I did this with an old tyre but we also got the chance to try a very good new tyre from Bridgestone today, which, I hope we will use from the first race.", Valentino Rossi.

Valentino Rossi of the Fiat-Yamaha Racing Team

Rossi looks forward to the next and final pre-season test to be held in Qatar, by which time Rossi's injured team-mate, Jorge Lorenzo hopes to have made full recovery and to be back in action due to an injured wrist obtained during training.

"Now, we go to Qatar and then we will see our level because it is not one of mine or Yamaha's best tracks! But, we're in great shape and this is very important at this stage of the season. I'm really looking forward to it.", Rossi added.

Casey Stoner came in second fastest in the second official pre-season test here in Sepang setting it at 2'00.512" with his team-mate Nicky Hayden of the Ducati Marlboro Team setting it third fastest with 2'00.703".

Ben Spies of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3

Colin Edwards and Ben Spies of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team shines in Malaysia when they managed to come in fourth and fifth fastest respectively completing the top five for the two day test in Sepang International Circuit. Ben Spies proved himself, once again, what a phenomenally fast learner he is, after posting a series of consistently competitive lap times round the circuit.

Marco Simoncelli ended his test early here in Sepang, after a crash at turn 7 at the Sepang International Circuit. The 2008 250cc World Champion suffered a mild concussion following from the crash, was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Alvaro Bautista making his exit from the Pit Garage

Capirossi manages to complete the test in Sepang with the new promising Rizla Suzuki GSV-R engine, happy, after an encouraging result. Both Capirossi and rookie in the premier class, Alvaro Bautista, are both happy with the progress that they have achieved during the test in Sepang.

Dani Pedrosa at Sepang International Circuit

Press release courtesy from The Fiat Yamaha Team. Reference from www.motogp.com and www.sepangcircuit.com.my

Rossi sets the Pace at Sepang Test

shot taken with nikkor 300mm f2.8 mounted on nikon d2x at 1/640s f/7.6 iso:200

After the first official two day test for the 2010 MotoGP season at the Sepang International Circuit, Valentino Rossi of the Fiat Yamaha Racing team, tops the time sheets setting the fastest pace round the track at 2'00.925 with his teammate Jorge Lorenzo setting the third fastest at 2'01.680. The Fiat Yamaha team is off to a flying start in Malaysia.

Ben Spies of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 and teammate Colin Edwards both managed to clock in 5th and 7th fastest respectively completing day 2 of the test at Sepang.

Ben Spies in yesterday's press conference, "I am feeling a little jet lagged, and it is my first time riding on this track with a whole new bike character. Edwards have been helpful by sharing some tips with me about the bike and the track. Hopefully, I'll be able to improve in tomorrow's session."

shot taken with nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 mounted on nikon d2x at 1/1000s f/3.3 iso:100

Stoner is quite happy with his team performance and managed to set 2nd fastest completing day 2 of the test in Sepang coming in 2'01.320, just 0.395s off of Rossi's pace.

shot taken with nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR mounted on nikon d2x at 1/500s f/2.8 iso:100

Dani Pedrosa, 3rd runner-up in the 2009 MotoGP Championship managed to complete the two day test at Sepang setting it 4th Fastest with his teammate Andrea Dovizioso coming in 6th fastest. The Repsol Honda Team riders leaves Sepang happy, looking forward to the next official test.

Rossi added, "Sepang is always a good track for the Yamaha so we will have to wait until Qatar to get a better understanding of our level, but we have made a great start."

Sepang will see the teams return for the third final official test later this month before the season's opener at Losail Circuit, Qatar on April 14th, 2010.

shot taken with nikkor 300mm f2.8 mounted on nikon d2x at 1/800s f/6.7 iso:100

The first day's test was very positive, we tried the new bike for 2010, with a different chassis and a new engine, which can do more kilometers, and it is quite fast. Yamaha has worked very well over the winter., Rossi added.

More pictures at my flickr site.

2010 Fiat-Yamaha Team Livery Unveiled

shot taken with nikkor 17-35mm f2.8 mounted on nikon d80 at 1/100s f/14 iso:100

The morning dew starts to evaporate as the morning sun shines at the Sepang International Circuit. Rays of light shining through the edges and openings of the pit garage shutter, catching a glimpse of the MotoGP bikes parked in the garage. All the teams get ready for a hot official test with the MotoGP riders riding their bikes for the first time after a long winter break of development and factory testing.

As all the teams are prepping up their mean machines, all eyes are focused at the Fiat-Yamaha pit garage. The garage shutter is still securely shut down as media and distinguished guests from all around the world waited with anxiety. The Yamaha Factory Racing Team Press release on 20 January 2010 acknowledged that the unveiling of the new 2010 livery will be unveiled on the morning of the first MotoGP test day in Sepang.

shot taken with nikkor 17-35mm f2.8 mounted on nikon d80 at 1/100s f/14 iso:100


shot taken with nikkor 17-35mm f2.8 mounted on nikon d80 at 1/100s f/16 iso:100

The Fiat-Yamaha unveils its final 2010 livery with new sponsors namely iveco and Yamaha-Indonesia, of the many few, to be on the bike. Media, distinguished guests and fans snap away as the blue cloth covering the bikes are undone by Rossi & Lorenzo with team staff and yamaha staffs watch the unveil. On the same day, the studio photos of the bike and interviews with Lin Jarvis and both the riders are made available for download at the yamahamotogp.com site.

A press conference was then held the the Media Centre at Sepang. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director for the Yamaha Motor Racing, expressed his joy and experience with the media jointly with Team Director, Masahiko Nakajima.

2009 was the most successful year for Yamaha's racing activities for many years. It will be difficult to follow such a performance but we are certainly intending to try! We are lucky to have the same fantastic rider line-up with Vale and Jorge...

Lin Jarvis also extended his welcome to all of the team members and staff of the Yamaha Motor Racing being back on track, and also a warm welcome to the two new team members; Wilco Zeelenberg and new Data Technician, Davide Marelli.

MotoGP Winter Testing 2010

The 2010 FIM World Motorcycle Championship is back! Its the first day of the 3-day pre-season testing at Sepang International Circuit with teams set to unveil their latest bike with their sponsor decals and colour scheme on their bikes.

The Fiat-Yamaha Team is set to unveil its bike at the Sepang International Circuit on February 04, 2010, with riders, Valentino Rossi with his no 46 bike and rival teammate, No 99, Jorge Lorenzo, both 2009 World MotoGP Champion and Runner-up respectively. They are set to continue working on their latest M1 bike which they first experienced during the post-season Valencia test last year.

Stoner and Hayden will also be in Malaysia for this years' pre-season 2010 winter testing at the Sepang International Circuit riding for the Marlboro Ducati Team's Ducati Desmosedici GP10.

As the track heats up, the first official MotoGP test of the year starts its session today as it is scheduled only for factory riders. The official riders will be on track on Thursday and Friday. The track started off cool this morning and expected to heat up to a low of 40 degrees by noon as the sun rises high up. There will be expected showers towards the end of the day.

MotoGP veteran, Loris Capirosi, with rookie rider Alvaro Bautista, alongside him, will definitely set a challenge this year as they have been working hard throughout the winter to make more of the Suzuki's GSV-R, competitive, this year.

This year's race is set to be a challenge with Marco Simoncelli being intoduced to the MotoGP after a great season last year in the 250cc category. Participation from an all-american team, Ben Spies and Colin Edwards, riding for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team, will definitely set the pace this year.

Raceday is set to flag-off at Qatar as the seasons' opener on April 11, 2010, with Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia, to be held on October 10 later this year, as the 15th of the total 18 race circuits.