BatiFans.com Announces RACECARD '09 Competition

Okay - a quick, cheeky bit of pimping if you don't mind... A sure sign that the fun's about to begin in MotoGP is the announcement of the annual BatiFans.com RACECARD Competition...
It's dead simple - for every 250cc race in 2009 you can enter your qualifying and race predictions for how Alvaro Bautista is going to do. You get 5 points for a correct qualy prediction and 10 points for a correct race result.
We keep an eye on the scores, and at the end of the season one lucky winner walks off with some great prizes, like a rare Alvaro Bautista photo-biography, a diecast model of his 2005 Seedorf Honda, and a superb documentary about Alvaro on DVD.
It's free to enter and open to all members of the BatiFans Forum and adds an extra bit of fun and excitement to each race weekend.

Just get clicking on the link to find out more about the RACECARD 2009 Competition...
Sign up, join in, and bag yourself a bunch of fun across the season - and possibly a great prize at the end of it.

Alvaro Bautista 2009 Calendar Now Online

Okay - a slightly off-topic plug for my 2009 BatiCal, which is now online for download.
As per last year, it's a special BatiFans.com design, completely chocca with great pics, and fully marked up with all MotoGP dates and the Batster's birthday.
All the info and pics you should need to go on your Mac/PC desktop or to print out onto some nice glossy stock for your walls or *real* desktop
I’ve done two versions; one high resolution top print quality, and the other screen quality (although it has to be said this will print out very well indeed anyway).
Just wanted to give you the option of a seriously quality version if you plan on outputting it onto some costly paper/stock.

Full information and downloads are here at the BatiFan.com Fan Forum...

Hope you enjoy it, and I hope you'll pass the links around so that other fans and friends can enjoy it too. As well as a nice piece of Bati fanart and a useful calendar it also helps pimp BatiFans.com so anything you can do to spread the word in that respect is *always* appreciated... :)

MotoGP, Czech Grand Prix, Brno - Schedule

Friday August 15th

125cc :: Free Practice 1 :: 09:00-09:45
MotoGP :: Free Practice 1 :: 10:00-11:00
250cc :: Free Practice 1 :: 11:15-12:15
125cc :: Qualifying 1 :: 13:05-13:35
MotoGP :: Free Practice 2 :: 13:55-14:55
250cc :: Qualifying 1 :: 15:05-15:50


Saturday August 16th

125cc :: Free Practice 2 :: 09:00-09:45
MotoGP :: Free Practice 3 :: 10:00-11:00
250cc :: Free Practice 2 :: 11:15-12:15
125cc :: Qualifying 2 :: 13:05-13:35
MotoGP :: Qualifying 1 :: 13:55-14:55
250cc :: Qualifying 2 :: 15:05-15:50


Sunday August 17th

125cc :: Warm-Up :: 08:30-08:55
250cc :: Warm-Up :: 09:05-09:30
MotoGP :: Warm-Up :: 09:40-10:05
125cc :: Race :: 11:00-11:45
250cc :: Race :: 12:15-13:00
MotoGP :: Race :: 14:00-15:00


(*All times local - CEDT, GMT+2)

British Grand Prix - Donington - Event Schedule

FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2008
09:00-09:45 125cc Free Practice 1
10:00-11:00 MotoGP Free Practice 1
11:15-12:15 250cc Free Practice 1
12:20-12:50 MotoGP2
13:10-13:40 125cc Qualifying Practice 1
13:55-14:55 MotoGP Free Practice 2
15:10-15:55 250cc Qualifying Practice 1
16:05-16:35 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Free Practice
16:40-16:55 Thundersport GB2 Cup Qualifying Practice 1
17:05-17:35 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Qualifying Practice 1
17:40-17:55 Aprilia Superteen Challenge Qualifying Practice 1
18:05-18:35 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Qualifying Practice 2
18:40-19:05 Suzuki & Yamaha Cup Qualifying Practice

SATURDAY, 21 JUNE 2008
09:00-09:45 125cc Free Practice 2
10:00-11:00 MotoGP Free Practice 3
11:15-12:15 250cc Free Practice 2
13:10-13:40 125cc Qualifying Practice 2
13:55-14:55 MotoGP Qualifying Practice
15:10-15:55 250cc Qualifying Practice 2
16:20 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race (17 laps)
17:00-17:10 Aprilia Superteen Challenge Qualifying Practice 2
17:15-17:25 Thundersport GB2 Cup Qualifying Practice 2
17:30 Henderson R1 Cup Race 1 (10 laps)
17:55 ACU Suzuki GSXR Cup Race 1 (10 laps)
18:20 Thundersport GB2 Cup Race 1 (10 laps)
18:45 Aprilia Superteen Challenge Race 1 (10 laps)
19:10 Henderson R1 Cup Race 2 (10 laps)
19:35 ACU Suzuki GSXR Cup Race 2 (10 laps)

SUNDAY, 22 JUNE 2008
09:40-10:00 125cc Warm Up
10:10-10:30 250cc Warm Up
10:40-11:05 MotoGP Warm Up
12:00 125cc Race (25 laps)
13:15 250cc Race (27 laps)
15:00 MotoGP Race (30 laps)


*All times local - BST (GMT +1)

French Grand Prix - Le Mans - Event Schedule

Friday May 16
125cc :: Free Practice 1 :: 09:00-09:45
MotoGP :: Free Practice 1 :: 10:00-11:00
250cc :: Free Practice 1 :: 11:15-12:15
125cc :: Qualifying 1 :: 13:10-13:40
MotoGP :: Free Practice 2 :: 13:55-14:55
250cc :: Qualifying 1 :: 15:10-15:55

Saturday May 17
125cc :: Free Practice 2 :: 09:00-09:45
MotoGP :: Free Practice 3 :: 10:00-11:00
250cc :: Free Practice 2 :: 11:15-12:15
125cc :: Qualifying 2 :: 13:10-13:40
MotoGP :: Qualifying 1 :: 13:55-14:55
250cc :: Qualifying 2 :: 15:10-15:55

Sunday May 18
125cc :: Warm-Up :: 08:40-09:00
250cc :: Warm-Up :: 09:10-09:30
MotoGP :: Warm-Up :: 09:40-10:05
125cc :: Race :: 11:00-11:45
250cc :: Race :: 12:15-13:00
MotoGP :: Race :: 14:00-15:00


(*All times local)

Random Pic: Pere at TVE Presentation

Pere Tutusaus - over at the left in front of Alvaro Bautista - at TVE's presentation of its enhanced MotoGP digital TV & online coverage this week, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
16 of Spain's 19 riders attended the presentation.

Bancaja Aspar Team Presentation Photo: Madrid, 25th February

Possible Date For Aspar Presentation?

Did you wonder what was going on when the 125 squad was a no-show at the Mapfre Master Aspar launch the other week?
I did... Last year the 250 and 125 squads were presented in one light-n-sound extravaganza.
Well, hopefully what we saw was really just to introduce the Mapfre company above all and to show their importance in the new red 250cc livery for Alvaro Bautista and Hector Faubel.

Still - I was wondering when we might see Pere...?!
Well if I've read/understood it correctly then I have seen mention (or rumour) on the web of a further Aspar presentation in Madrid on February 25th.
Whether this is just the 125s or both squads in a more 'team' event I don't know.
But hopefully it means we'll get to see Pere in his new colours ahead of the season start, which of course isn't too far away itself...

Anybody else know anything about this?

MotoGP 2008 Riders & Teams (January update)

Okay, so with the announcement that there's apparently no Team Roberts in the MotoGP class this season (great shame, I *hate* small grids...) this is how the classes should stack up for March...


125cc

No-Rider-Nation-Team-Machine
5-EFREN VAZQUEZ-SPA-BLUSENS APRILIA JUNIOR-APRILIA
6-JOAN OLIVE-SPA-BELSON DERBI-DERBI
7-ALEXIS MASBOU-FRA-LONCIN RACING-LONCIN
8-LORENZO ZANETTI-ITA-SEEDORF KTM 125-KTM
11-SANDRO CORTESE-GER-EMMI - CAFFE LATTE-APRILIA
12-ESTEVE RABAT-SPA-REPSOL KTM 125cc-KTM
14-GABOR TALMACSI-HUN-BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM-APRILIA
16-JULES CLUZEL-FRA-LONCIN RACING-LONCIN
17-STEFAN BRADL-GER-GRIZZLY GAS KIEFER RACING-APRILIA
18-NICOLAS TEROL-SPA-WRB FONTANA RACING-APRILIA
21-ROBIN LASSER-GER-GRIZZLY GAS KIEFER RACING-APRILIA
22-PABLO NIETO-SPA-SCOT RACING TEAM 125cc-KTM
24-SIMONE CORSI-ITA-WRB FONTANA RACING-APRILIA
27-STEFANO BIANCO-ITA-WTR NO ALCOL TEAM-APRILIA
29-ANDREA IANNONE-ITA-I.C. TEAM-APRILIA
30-PERE TUTUSAUS-SPA-BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM-APRILIA
33-SERGIO GADEA-SPA-BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM-APRILIA
34-RANDY KRUMMENACHER-SUI-RED BULL KTM 125-KTM
35-RAFFAELE DE ROSA-ITA-SCOT RACING TEAM 125cc-KTM
38-BRADLEY SMITH-GBR-POLARIS WORLD-APRILIA
44-POL ESPARGARO-SPA-BELSON DERBI-DERBI
45-SCOTT REDDING-GBR-BLUSENS APRILIA JUNIOR-APRILIA
51-STEVIE BONSEY-USA-ARIE MOLENAAR RACING-APRILIA
55-HUGO VAN DEN BERG-NED-ARIE MOLENAAR RACING-APRILIA
60-MICHAEL RANSEDER-AUT-I.C. TEAM-APRILIA
63-MIKE DI MEGLIO-FRA-AJO MOTOSPORT-DERBI
69-LOUIS ROSSI-FRA-FFM HONDA GP 125-HONDA
71-TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA-JPN-SEEDORF KTM 125-KTM
73-TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI-JPN-I.C. TEAM-APRILIA
77-DOMINIQUE AEGERTER-SUI-AJO MOTOSPORT-DERBI
87-ROBERTO LACALENDOLA-ITA-MATTEONI RACING-APRILIA
93-MARC MARQUEZ-SPA-REPSOL KTM 125cc-KTM
95-ROBERT MURESAN-ROM-GRIZZLY GAS KIEFER RACING-APRILIA
99-DANNY WEBB-GBR-ARIE MOLENAAR RACING-APRILIA


250cc

No-Rider-Nation-Team-Machine
4-HIROSHI AOYAMA-JPN-RED BULL KTM 250-KTM
5-HECTOR FAUBEL-SPA-MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM-APRILIA
6-ALEX DEBON-SPA-LOTUS APRILIA-APRLIA
7-RUSSEL GOMEZ-SPA-BLUSENS APRILIA-APRILIA
10-IMRE TOTH-HUN-TEAM TOTH APRILIA-APRILIA
12-THOMAS LUTHI-SUI-EMMI - CAFFE LATTE-APRILIA
14-RATTHAPARK WILAIROT-THA-THAI HONDA PTT SAG-HONDA
15-ROBERTO LOCATELLI-ITA-SQUADRA CORSE METIS GILERA-GILERA
17-KAREL ABRAHAM-CZE-CARDION AB MOTORACING-APRILIA
19-ALVARO BAUTISTA-SPA-MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM-APRILIA
21-HECTOR BARBERA-SPA-TEAM TOTH APRILIA-APRILIA
25-ALEX BALDOLINI-ITA-MATTEONI RACING-APRILIA
32-FABRIZIO LAI-ITA-CAMPETELLA RACING-APRILIA
36-MIKA KALLIO-FIN-RED BULL KTM 250-KTM
41-ALEIX ESPARGARO-SPA-LOTUS APRILIA-APRLIA
45-DONI TATA PRADITA-INA-YAMAHA PERTAMINA INDONESIA-YAMAHA
50-EUGENE LAVERTY-IRL-BLUSENS APRILIA-APRILIA
52-LUKAS PESEK-CZE-AUTO KELLY - CP-APRILIA
54-MANUEL POGGIALI-RSM-CAMPETELLA RACING-APRILIA
55-YUKI TAKAHASHI-JPN-SCOT RACING TEAM 250cc-HONDA
58-MARCO SIMONCELLI-ITA-SQUADRA CORSE METIS GILERA-GILERA
60-JULIAN SIMON-SPA-REPSOL KTM 250cc-KTM
75-MATTIA PASINI-ITA-POLARIS WORLD-APRILIA


MotoGP

No-Rider-Nation-Team-Machine
1-CASEY STONER-AUS-DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM-DUCATI
3-ALEX DE ANGELIS-RSM-HONDA GRESINI-HONDA
4-ANDREA DOVIZIOSO-ITA-JIR SCOT TEAM-HONDA
5-COLIN EDWARDS-USA-YAMAHA TECH 3-YAMAHA
7-CHRIS VERMEULEN-AUS-RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP-SUZUKI
13-ANTHONY WEST-AUS-KAWASAKI RACING TEAM-KAWASAKI
14-RANDY DE PUNIET-FRA-HONDA LCR-HONDA
21-JOHN HOPKINS-USA-KAWASAKI RACING TEAM-KAWASAKI
24-TONI ELIAS-SPA-TEAM ALICE-DUCATI
26-DANI PEDROSA-SPA-REPSOL HONDA TEAM-HONDA
33-MARCO MELANDRI-ITA-DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM-DUCATI
46-VALENTINO ROSSI-ITA-FIAT YAMAHA TEAM-YAMAHA
48-JORGE LORENZO-SPA-FIAT YAMAHA TEAM-YAMAHA
50-SYLVAIN GUINTOLI-FRA-TEAM ALICE-DUCATI
52-JAMES TOSELAND-GBR-YAMAHA TECH 3-YAMAHA
56-SHINYA NAKANO-JPN-HONDA GRESINI-HONDA
65-LORIS CAPIROSSI-ITA-RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP-SUZUKI
69-NICKY HAYDEN-USA-REPSOL HONDA TEAM-HONDA