FX Nytro Fourth in Winter X Games Snocross

In a historic first, Steve Taylor put his four-stroke Yamaha FX Nytro into the Snocross final at the 2008 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado on Saturday, January 26. He very nearly made the podium too, finishing in fourth place by just a fraction of a second at the end of 25 grueling laps. Even so, with its huge acceleration and dialed-in handling, the modified FX Nytro proved that Yamaha four-stroke snowmobiles are competitive at the highest levels of the sport.



With starts a critical factor due to flying snow, Taylor knew he needed to charge hard. The combination of Yamaha’s massive torque and taking a broad line through the first turn slotted Taylor immediately into third behind Tucker Hibbert and D.J. Eckstrom. However Brett Turcotte quickly muscled his way into third and Taylor spent the whole race chasing the top three, using the Yamaha’s acceleration and stability to best advantage. He closed to within striking range in the final laps as other riders faded, but needed just a few more laps to make the pass.



“I could see the guys ahead of me getting tired so I pushed extra hard, but it was really hard to pass on that track,” Taylor said after the event. “But we are getting killer starts because the motor is so strong, and that’s half the battle in snocross. I’m really thankful to the whole team for working so hard to make this happen.” Yamaha Snowmobile Racing team manager Greg Marier added, “Yamaha is bringing our four-stroke technology to the snocross world, and what better place to showcase it than at the Winter X Games? Steve's strong run proved our competitiveness at the most visible race of the year and we plan to continue to improve during the rest of the season.”

Nakazawa, FX Nytro Win Eagle River Snocross

Aboard his Yamaha FX Nytro snowmobile, All-Japan Snocross champion Yuji Nakazawa won his first US professional sno-cross final at the Eagle River World Championship in Eagle River, WI on Sunday, January 20. And he did so in convincing style by placing first and second in Saturday’s heat races, then grabbing the holeshot and leading every lap of Sunday’s final.

Racing conditions were beautiful in Wisconsin with crisp snow, blue skies – and wind chill well below zero on both days. Nakazawa’s heat-race performances earned him first gate pick for Sunday’s 16-lap final and he staged his modified FX Nytro on the inside of the Supercross-like track. When the flag dropped he used the Yamaha’s four-stroke torque to grab the holeshot and quickly opened an advantage over the field. But one competitor broke away and managed to catch Nakazawa on lap 13, and the pair raced nose-to-tail for two thrilling laps until they encountered slower traffic. Nakazawa quickly seized an opportunity to get past the lappers and rebuilt his lead at the finish.

Yuji’s first US victory for the Yamaha Minocqua Sno-X Team came on the 45th running of Wisconsin’s annual World Championship snowmobile event, which attracted riders from America, Canada and Japan. “The Yamaha four-stroke engine was strong and the suspension handled the track conditions very well” commented Nakazawa after the event. “I was very motivated by the challenge and by all the Yamaha fans watching. Also the sno-cross track was very fun, so I rode as hard as I could and am very happy I could take the win.”

Rossi plays down Yamaha exit talk

Rossi plays down Yamaha exit talk
Former MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has played down speculation he is close to leaving Yamaha and insists he will be more competitive this year.
The Italian finished third last season behind champion Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa and had hinted of a possible move to rivals Ducati.

"My dream is to end my career with Yamaha," the 28-year-old said.

"If we've a competitive bike it's possible to continue to the end. I hope I'll be riding for many years to come."

Rossi's finish outside the top two for the first time in since his rookie season in 1996 led him to hint at a move to Ducati last year.

But Rossi insists he is focusing on the new season with Yamaha.

"This is a very important year as we've got to try to be competitive again. I think we have great potential. We should've learnt from last year's mistakes."

Rossi will be fit for the first race in Qatar on 9 March despite breaking bones in his right hand in a crash in qualifying for November's season-ending Valencia Grand Prix.

He added: "My hand is not too bad, I had it X-rayed as the little finger still hurts. There is a ligament that is not quite right, but it shouldn't bother me riding the bike."

Q & A with Valentino Rossi

Q & A with Valentino Rossi
Conducted and provided by Fiat Yamaha's press office.
Q. Valentino, firstly can you tell us how your hand is following your injury in Valencia?

Valentino Rossi: It's much better than it was! I took some time off after Valencia and missed the Sepang test, but in Jerez at the end of November I was able to ride. It still wasn't perfect and I had some pain, especially on the last day when I finished early so as not to overdo it, but it was okay. After some more treatment over Christmas I think I will be back to 100% for the first test of 2008.

Q. After the disappointing end to the season, were you able to take some time to relax completely and fully recover before starting afresh?

VR: Yes, it was important to take some time to put the bad result of 2007 behind me and of course I thought about the year a lot. But after spending the winter relaxing and recharging the batteries, I am no longer dwelling on it and now I am just looking forward to the new season.

Q. You have a made a big change to Bridgestone tyres for this season. Can you tell us about your initial impressions of your new tyres and their development so far? Are you happy with your decision?

VR: It was very exciting to try the new tyres for the first time, and I was eager to see how they were and to meet the new people I will be working with. The first test was just about seeing the level and adjusting the bike to the new tyres, but from the start I was happy with our decision and I am looking forward to working more with Bridgestone and understanding more about their tyres. It's a big change, but I am positive about the challenge.

Q. You have had some experience riding the new 2008 prototype M1. Are you happy with it so far?

VR: We introduced a few pieces of the new bike during the end of season, such as a new cowling, some suspension setting, and others. Let's say that in Jerez I rode the latest spec, including some new electronic mapping, and my first impressions were quite positive, although of course we still have a long way to go.

I was able to give my feedback to Yamaha and over the winter they will have been using my data, and the data of the other Yamaha riders, to develop the bike further. From the first test in January we will begin to work exclusively on the latest new bike and I am looking forward to this.

Q. What specific areas do you need to concentrate on improving before the first race in Qatar?

VR: We need a lot of time to find out as much as possible about the Bridgestone tyres and to make sure our bike is working at the maximum with them. We also need a lot of time to develop the new engine and make sure we're in a better position with regards to top speed.

Luckily we have four tests before the first race and I am confident that we will be in good shape at the start of the season. Motivation is high and everyone is working at 100%.

Q. Are you looking forward to the night race in Qatar? As a member of the safety commission, are you happy with how they've prepared the circuit for this event?

VR: I'm honestly quite excited about this event, I think it's a fun way to start the season; fun for the fans and something different for the riders! Last year we, the safety commission, made a test on a small part of the track with road bikes and gave our feedback to the circuit about the changes they needed to make before a race could go ahead.

Our main worry was the shadow - it needs to be very, very bright in order for the shadows not to be a problem. I wasn't able to go to the test there in November because of my hand but it seems that the circuit have made a very good job. It will be strange for sure but I think it will be very funny.

Q. What is your aim for this season?

VR: My aim is to win, just like every other year. I haven't won now for two year, the longest period of my Grand Prix career, and I am aiming to win this year.

Q. Do you expect Stoner to be your chief rival again? Which other riders are you expecting to be strong?

VR: Without a doubt I expect Stoner to be as strong, or stronger than last year, and I know we will have to make a great, great fight to beat him. This year I will be on the same tyres as him and I am looking forward to having some great battles with him.

Pedrosa of course will also be at the front again as well as many of the others Quite a lot of riders have changed bikes this year and I think it will be very interesting but I am expecting everyone to be competitive from the start; Melandri, Hopkins, Capirossi, Vermeulen etc. I think it will be a very exciting season.

Q. What do you think about your new teammate, Jorge Lorenzo?

VR: He is a great 250cc rider and I am sure that he will be a very good MotoGP rider. Already after just a few tests he has shown a great level of improvement and he is undoubtedly fast. I am sure he will be a good rival in the future.

Q. The tyre regulations have been slightly altered this season. Do you think it's enough or would you like to see the limitations removed entirely?

VR: I'm not too concerned about the tyre regulations. We're accustomed to the situation now and although I think it's good that it's changed slightly, I don't think it will make much difference. I am starting afresh with regards to tyres and I am not thinking about the limitations, just on developing my new relationship with Bridgestone.

Q. Did you take part in any other racing activities during the winter, such as rally driving?

VR: I had planned to compete in the Rally of Great Britain but in the end I was testing in Jerez the new Bridgestones, which was of course more important! As usual I did the rally of Monza which I won for the second time in a row! It is always great fun for me to compete in that race and a win is always great!

Q. Finally, after two years without a championship, do you think the motivation for you and for the team stronger than ever?

VR: We have a new and difficult challenge in front of us, which is to win after two years, but with new tyres. It's all very exciting and the motivation for me is greater than ever and for the team it's the same; I know that all my guys are as hungry to win again as I am.

credit : www.autosport.com

Yamaha boss fears Rossi could walk away

Yamaha boss fears Rossi could walk away
By Michele Lostia and Jonathan Noble


Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio fears Valentino Rossi could walk out on his team at the end of this year if they do not improve on their 2007 form.

Rossi was no match for Casey Stoner last year, finishing only third in the MotoGP riders' championship, and Brivio believes that the Japanese bike manufacturer cannot afford another campaign like that.

"Vale must decide what to do in 2009," Brivio said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. "In my opinion, if we do as we did in 2007, he may even quit or do something else. We must recover, all together.

"That's why 2008 will be an extremely important year. For us at Yamaha, but also for the entire motorcycling world."

Brivio believes that as well as facing the continued threat from reigning champions Ducati in 2008, rivals Honda will join the title battle thanks to a renewed effort by Rossi's former tyre supplier Michelin.

"Because besides Pedrosa and Honda, there's Michelin," he said. "The French did not like the switch so they will multiply the efforts to beat us."

Brivio also denied speculation that he was poised to become Rossi's manager in the wake of the Italian's split with Gibo Badioli last year.

"Now Vale is doing that himself," Brivio said when asked about Rossi's management situation. "We at Yamaha are supporting him for logistics, travelling and communication.

"In 2008 I'm a Yamaha team manager and, at the moment, I'm busy and focused on this role."

Fiat Yamaha are unveiling their new bike at the Giovanni Agnelli Auditorium in Turin today, with Brivio confirming that once again in 2008 the bikes will run with special liveries in certain races.

credit : www.autosport.com

Yamaha reveal 2008 YZF-R125 learner sports motorcycle

Yamaha reveal 2008 YZF-R125 learner sports motorcycle

By Chris Newbigging

This is the all-new 2008 Yamaha YZF-R125 motorcycle which will go head to head with the top-selling Honda CBR125R.

The Yamaha YZF-R125 uses an all-new liquid-cooled 124cc, four-valve, short-stroke single cylinder engine, which is claimed to be the most powerful 125cc four-stroke motorcycle available. It has a six-speed gearbox and fuel injection, and a Yamaha YZF-R6 style stubby exhaust with twin catalysts is fitted.

A full size Deltabox beam frame is used to make the Yamaha YZF-R125 feel and ride closer to a full size bike than the Honda CBR125R, and an aluminium ‘banana’ style swingarm, 33mm diameter forks and a 292mm brake disc/Brembo caliper and wide tyres complete the mini-sportsbike chassis.

The styling is close to the new 2008 Yamaha YZF-R6 – the short tail and aggressive looking twin headlight fairing are almost indistinguishable from the 600 at distance. Colours are blue/black, red/white, grey/black or yellow/black.

MotoGP 2008 entry list: Stoner number one

The provisional entry list for the 2008 MotoGP World Championship has confirmed that Casey Stoner intends to ride with the #1 plate next season.

The 22-year-old Australian claimed his and Ducati’s first premier-class crown wearing the #27, but will - like Nicky Hayden before him - defend his title with the world champion’s digit.

The #1 was absent from MotoGP from 2001-2005, when champion Valentino Rossi chose to retain his famous #46. As expected, Hayden will return to the #69 for 2008.

Stoner’s fellow Australian, Chris Vermeulen, will also change his racing number next year - the Rizla Suzuki star switching to a Barry Sheene inspired #7, which was previously taken by Carlos Checa.

Of the four class rookies, double World Superbike champion James Toseland will stick with his familiar #52, while double 250cc champion Jorge Lorenzo will revert to his old #48. Alex de Angelis will run the #3, last used in the class by Max Biaggi, while Andrea Dovizioso has inherited the #4 previously used by Alex Barros.

The entry list also confirms that Team Roberts is yet to secure its MotoGP future, while Ilmor - which disappeared from the grid after the opening round of 2007 - shows no signs of attempting a return. There are thus currently only 18 confirmed riders.

The only new title sponsor to appear on the list is Alice, which has acquired the naming rights for d’Antin Ducati.

The full provisional 2008 MotoGP entry list can be seen below:

#1 Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team

#3 Alex de Angelis RSM Honda Gresini

#4 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Jir Scot Team

#5 Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3

#7 Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki Motogp

#13 Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team

#14 Randy de Puniet FRA Honda LCR

#21 John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team

#24 Toni Elias SPA Team Alice

#26 Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team

#33 Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team

#46 Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team

#48 Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team

#50 Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Alice

#52 James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3

#56 Shinya Nakano JPN Honda Gresini

#65 Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki Motogp

#69 Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team

#TBA To Be Advised TBA Team Roberts

#TBA To Be Advised TBA Team Roberts

credit : http://www.rossifiles.com/