De Puniet falls avoiding team-mate Capirossi

Randy de Puniet has revealed that his late qualifying accident at Brno on Saturday was caused by having to take evasive action to avoid Pramac Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi.

"I was doing a good time on my last lap, when I was behind Simoncelli and Valentino, then Capirossi got in front of me right in the last corner, and to avoid hitting him, I was forced to brake hard, which changed my line and caused me to crash," said de Puniet.

"I'm pretty angry and disappointed by Loris's manoeuvre, because I could have had a time that was good enough for at least tenth place."

The fall left de Puniet 15th on the grid.

Capirossi appeared to accept responsibility.

"I'm sorry for what happened, but I saw him far back and I didn't think I would cause any problem. These things can happen, but I'll definitely be more careful next time," said the Italian veteran, who will start from 16th place.

De Puniet and Capirossi are both riding injured from previous crashes.

source: crash.net

De Puniet thirteenth, Capirossi improving

Using the new frame provided by the Ducati factory, the Frenchman used the afternoon session to lower his time by nearly five tenths compared to that of the morning. Loris Capirossi, still dealing with a painful shoulder, finished the day with the fifteenth best time, just behind factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden.

Loris Capirossi:

“Compared to this morning, we’re more satisfied because we were able to solve some problems with the front. I’m able to ride better, but now we must concentrate on our work on the rear of the bike. I’m a realist. We have some ideas that we’ll try out tomorrow. We could take a nice step forward. We’re very close to the others, and although I’m not in my top form, I can improve upon today.”

Randy De Puniet:

“In the end, it was a bad day if I consider that my physical condition isn’t allowing me to be at 100%. We didn’t change many things between this morning and this afternoon. However, we did decide to see which of the two frames we have available to us could better reward our work. The new one gave us a somewhat better impression considering that with the other one, the one we used for the first part of the season, I lost the front and fell. I think and I hope that with the small changes we’ll try tomorrow, I’ll be able to reduce the gap to the riders who tend to be in the top ten.”

Pramac Racing Team press release

Pramac pair taking injuries to Brno

Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet insist they will race in the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno, despite each suffering with persistent injuries sustained over the last few rounds.

Capirossi is still incurring problems from the shoulder injury he sustained back at Assen, an ailment that ruled him out of races at Misano and the Sachsenring, though he did return last time out at Laguna Seca.

Undergoing therapy every day, Capirossi admits surgery on the shoulder is probable, but only when the season has concluded.

“Unfortunately, the shoulder problem is persisting. The doctor said I should undergo surgery, but I'll only consider that after the championship. For now I'm undergoing therapy every day. For Brno I hope to continue improving my physical condition. 

“I've rested during this two-week break, which I really needed. I want to ride well and to finally have a good result. The Czech track is one of my favorites, so hopefully I'll manage that.”

Frenchman de Puniet, meanwhile, is still feeling pain from the pelvis injury he picked up in the United States, even if further examination revealed he hasn't fractured it.

“Missing the race at Laguna Seca was very difficult for me to accept, especially after the hard work carried out during practice and qualifying. During the past couple of weeks, I visited the doctor to better understand the situation with my pelvis. Fortunately, there are no fractures, but the pain still hasn't gone away. 

“I underwent, and am still undergoing, daily therapy in order to be ready for Brno. The bike had responded well to input in recent races, and it would be a shame not to take full advantage of this positive moment for us with the bike.”

source: crash.net

Pramac Team ready to ride through injuries at Brno

The Frenchman, like his teammate Loris Capirossi, won’t be in top form, but the goal is to take to the track for the race. De Puniet took the 250cc win at this track in 2003, and it’s also one of the favorites of Capirossi, who in 2006 finished first aboard the factory Ducati.

Loris Capirossi:

“Unfortunately, the shoulder problem is persisting. The doctor said I should undergo surgery, but I’ll only consider that after the championship. For now I’m undergoing therapy every day. For Brno I hope to continue improving my physical condition. I’ve rested during this two-week break, which I really needed. I want to ride well and to finally have a good result. The Czech track is one of my favorites, so hopefully I’ll manage that.”

Randy De Puniet:

“Missing the race at Laguna Seca was very difficult for me to accept, especially after the hard work carried out during practice and qualifying. During the past couple of weeks, I visited the doctor to better understand the situation with my pelvis. Fortunately, there are no fractures, but the pain still hasn’t gone away. I underwent, and am still undergoing, daily therapy in order to be ready for Brno. The bike had responded well to input in recent races, and it would be a shame not to take full advantage of this positive moment for us with the bike.”

Pramac Racing Team press release

Randy De Puniet in Superbike 2012?

After the halfway point, it is customary to begin the long period of claims and denials about the Motorbike market. Compared to last year, 2011 proved to be much calmer, with no contracts and premature exit of unexpected, but some reports seem to work are not going at full speed.

Teams in the Pramac there would be dissatisfaction with the performance of Randy De Puniet , who fell again this weekend (with a broken pelvis that has precluded participation in the competition) and probably in crisis bargaining in 2012. Although the performance of Ducati in general are not quite exciting and we can not take all the blame to the French, Randy would be interested in discussing with a landing in Superbikes, with the Kawasaki.

The Frenchman has already had occasion to work with green, MotoGP, World el'approdo the production-based series on the ZX-10R hypothesis does not seem so remote. Do not know yet, if Randy had to go away, which will implement the moves Pramac, but remember that a few weeks ago Andrea Iannone has got to try the D16 white and green. There will be the culmination of another Italian in the top category?

Determined Capirossi finishes Laguna Seca race

It was well known that was going to be a difficult race for Capirossi. After a good start, where the Italian rider gained two places, his shoulder began to hurt too much though with determination, he was able to finish the race. Now with two weeks off, both riders of the Pramac Racing Team, Loris Capirossi and Randy De Puniet, will continue to recover for the next race scheduled for August 14th in Brno, Czech Republic.

Loris Capirossi: 

“This race was a gamble for me. In Germany I only rode for a few laps but my shoulder was too bad to continue. I made the decision to come here, and for me the most important thing was to finish the race. We knew it would be difficult because during the test was very hard to ride. The result is bad, but I'm happy because I achieved the goal to finish the race. Now I will try to get back to full fitness in Brno, one of my favorite tracks, because there I really want to prove that we can fight for better positions.”

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Pramac Racing Technical Director: 

“It has been a very difficult race. We were once again very unfortunate, but we hope that bad luck went away because it would be impossible to go on like this. Loris was very brave; however, until the shoulder acted up he was keeping a good pace. Then, once the pain was too strong, he completed the race without risking further damage to his physical condition. All this shows that he is going the right direction to recovery and we hope to see him in top form at Brno. On the contrary is going for De Puniet after the fractures suffered in yesterday’s crash. He will surely need more time to recover. Fingers crossed and we hope that when we will return from vacation luck will finally be on our side.”

Pramac Racing press release

De Puniet and Capirossi experience differing first days

The Pramac Racing pair’s reactions to the opening day of action at the Red Bull US Grand Prix.

Randy de Puniet set the eighth fastest time of the day at Laguna Seca on Friday, whilst team-mate Loris Capirossi was 16th on the timesheet.

Randy de Puniet, 8th, 1’23.135:

“It’s been a good first day of work. We improved by seventh-tenths of a second compared to this morning and this has given us good expectations for the next couple of days. I really enjoyed the track today, we have tried many solutions but as we kept the same rear tyre during the session we couldn’t make improve more in the last few laps. I am confident.”

Loris Capirossi, 16th, 1’24.566:

"In the afternoon it was probably more difficult because I only took one painkiller to try to understand my real physical condition. I found it more complicated as I couldn’t ride as in the first free practice session. Tomorrow it will not be easy, but I am here to ride and give the maximum to climb the timesheet.”

Pramac Racing press release

Capirossi: This time I’m really returning

Loris Capirossi says he definitely race in the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca having been forced to withdraw from the German Grand Prix less than a week ago.

The Italian planned to return to racing action at the Sachsenring having missed the previous two races at Assen and Mugello, jokingly declaring pre-event that only he can ride his Pramac Racing Desmosedici.

However, Capirossi would subsequently withdraw after just a single practice session, with World Superbike racer Sylvain Guintoli taking his place for the remainder of the weekend.

Nonetheless, despite the proximity to the next event in the United States, Capirossi insists he will return at Laguna Seca, the experienced rider reiterating the 'ownership' of his bike.

“This time I'm really returning to the track. As I said before the Sachsenring weekend, the Desmosedici is mine, and seeing another rider on it bothered me a lot. I'm not in top form, but I've worked over the past few days to be in decent physical condition. 

“The track is very tough, which isn't ideal for my condition, but I'll give 110% to be able to finish the race. I'm expecting a very challenging weekend.”

source: crash

Ninth place start for De Puniet

The starting grid for the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring was determined in this afternoon’s qualifying session. Randy De Puniet registered the ninth-best time (1:22.503), just behind Nicky Hayden, the only Ducati rider to finish the session ahead of the Frenchman, who will start from the fifth row tomorrow. Sylvain Guintoli, who prior to this morning had only ridden Capirossi’s Desmosedici here in yesterday’s afternoon session, ended qualifying in seventeenth place with a time of 1’24.707.

Randy De Puniet:

“I’m pretty pleased with the work carried out over these two days, and as I said yesterday, it’s been a long time since I last left the garage happy. At the moment, everything is going according to our plans. I’m able to go fast with both the hard and soft tyres. We’ll try some things tomorrow morning, specifically with the front. I’m pleased with my ninth place, which a good start going into the race.”

Sylvain Guintoli:

“We’re a little far from the other riders, but anyway my feeling with the bike has improved compared to this morning. My tyres were ruined when I came back to the garage, and that could present a problem for the race. I did my best, and tomorrow I’ll have to try to have a good race.”

Pramac Racing Team press release

Guintoli 'happy to be here'

After testing the Pramac Ducati at Mugello Sylvain Guintoli admitted it would be tough to re-adapt to MotoGP at such short notice - and he now has one less track session in which to do so.

The injured Loris Capirossi got back on his Desmosedici during Friday's first practice at the Sachsenring, but the pain proved too much and he handed his GP11 to Guintoli for the rest of the weekend.

World Superbike rider Guintoli, whose last MotoGP start was at Valencia 2008, finished the afternoon session 17th and last, 3.739sec behind Simoncelli and 1.660sec from 16th placed Elias.

But the Frenchman maintained his usual positive attitude: 

"Apart from my lap time, I can't complain. The goal for this weekend is to improve session by session in order to find the right feeling with the bike heading into the race. 

"I had some difficulties, of course, but I'm happy to be here and to be racing in MotoGP. It was fun, and I'm sure that tomorrow I'll improve my time and position."”

Countryman and regular Pramac rider Randy de Puniet was a morale-boosting eighth fastest, at a track where he broke his leg last year.

"I'm pretty satisfied with this first day, as it's been since Jerez that we haven't had such a good position in the results," he said. "In the afternoon, we worked even better than we did in the morning. 

"The feeling with the bike has improved, and we also finally had some good weather. Tomorrow we'll work on other areas, and we hope that the whole weekend will be positive. For me, it's a pleasure to be in the group of riders who are currently going faster than the rest."

source : crash.net

Changes in personnel and fortunes in Pramac garage

There was plenty happening in the Pramac Racing garage on Friday at Sachsenring where the eni Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland got underway. Having missed the previous two races at Assen and Mugello following a heavy crash in qualifying at the Dutch track, Loris Capirossi attempted to make a return to action as he rode in FP1 in the morning.

Unfortunately for the Italian his recovering shoulder proved too painful to allow him to ride properly, forcing him to withdraw from Round Nine with Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli stepping in as a substitute at the Sachsenring.

“I tried to ride but my condition is not enough to be able to, and this is why I decided to stop and give my bike to Sylvain,” Capirossi told motogp.com. “The situation is strange because the ribs are not too bad but the collarbone is the big problem, I don’t have power in the arm and I can’t change direction on the bike. Anyway, it’s a good chance to do physiotherapy for the next three days and make a decision for Laguna Seca.”

He added: “I really hope to be in better condition and ride there, I like the track. I’d like to train a little bit during the break and come back really fit at Brno. We have time before then to be 100%.”

Guintoli, who tested at Mugello almost two weeks ago in preparation for the eventuality he would step in for Capirossi, said of the afternoon practice session: “It was good fun, definitely. We’re still very slow and I have some catching up to do, but it’s been an interesting session. This track is very small for this bike so it’s hard work but we’re going to work hard and try to enjoy it. I must admit I never thought I would enjoy going so slow! It’s a great feeling.”

The Frenchman’s best lap of the 45-minute run was a 1’25.964, a full 3.739s off fastest rider Marco Simoncelli, and he continued: “I don’t know if there are any realistic targets because these guys are so fast and I’m just jumping on the bike in the middle of a race and in the middle of the season. I’ve also been doing three years of superbikes now so everything is different – I feel like I have to re-learn everything. For me I need to enjoy myself, progress and it’s a completely different experience!”

Guintoli will share the Pramac garage with compatriot Randy de Puniet this weekend, who himself enjoyed a positive start to the ninth round having experienced a difficult start to 2011. De Puniet was eighth fastest of the day with a time of 1'23.037, just over eight-tenths of a second off Simoncelli, and was very satisfied with the feeling he established on the GP11.

“I’m happy with today after a lot of difficult races for us,” he said. “We are feeling quite good. I received a new frame from Ducati and it looks a little bit better than the previous one. It’s a small step but we need to continue working, and the base is quite good. It’s a step two bike, similar to Nicky’s (Hayden). It’s hard to compare the differences because this track is tight and corner speed is slow. Overall the frame is better, and we’ll continue to work on it this weekend.”

This GP also sees a return to the track where De Puniet broke his leg last season. He concluded by adding: “Last year’s race was a turning point in my season, and I hope it can be this year but in the opposite way.”

Capirossi to make retirement decision soon

Loris Capirossi intends to make an announcement regarding his MotoGP future at the Brno round in mid-August.

The former 125 and 250cc world champion hasn't taken a podium finish since 2008 and, like Pramac Ducati team-mate Randy de Puniet, has struggled to be competitive this season.

Capirossi took Ducati's first MotoGP win as a factory rider in 2003, with the most recent of his nine premier-class victories being a wet/dry victory at Motegi 2007.

An unsuccessful switch to Suzuki followed, before the 38-year-old returned to a Desmosedici, for the satellite Pramac team, at the start of this year.

Capirossi's best finish on the struggling GP11 is a ninth at Catalunya and he missed two races, including his home grand prix, after sustaining rib and shoulder injuries during qualifying at Assen.

The #65 is attempting a return to action this weekend in Germany, where he was asked about his 2012 plans.

"Sure I am close to saying bye-bye to everybody, because this is my 22nd consecutive season," began Capirossi.

"But the feeling is still really good, when I am fit, and I really enjoy riding.

"I don't know about my future for next year yet. 

"I think when I come back after my holiday, for the Brno race, I will say something."

Capirossi, who holds the all time record for grand prix starts, has claimed 99 podiums over all three grand prix classes. Trying to claim number 100 has been his main goal for the past few seasons.

source: crash

Capirossi: Only I ride my Desmosedici

After the heartache of missing his home Italian Grand Prix, through injury, Loris Capirossi is determined to compete in this weekend's German Grand Prix.

Capirossi suffered rib fractures and a 'distorted' AC joint in his shoulder during a big qualifying crash at Assen on June 24.

After fielding one rider at Assen and Mugello, Pramac Ducati had lined-up Sylvain Guintoli to ride Capirossi's bike this weekend - something that seems to have spurred the Italian into an early return.

"I'm still not completely well, but I have a couple more days of physical therapy to recover a little more," said the grand prix veteran. "Getting back on track will be positive, but my goal is to be back to 100% for Laguna Seca. 

"Missing the race at Mugello was very difficult for me, and it affected me a lot. Now I want to turn the page and return to the track. Only I ride my Desmosedici," he declared.

While Capirossi will be nursing injuries this weekend, team-mate Randy de Puniet will be returning to the scene of his leg breaking accident in last year's race.

"I like the Sachsenring circuit, despite the fact that I still have a bad memory from last year, when I fractured my tibia and fibula," said the Frenchman, who has only scored points in three of the eight rounds this season.

"I think that the track's characteristics might match well with those of our bike, so I'm confident that I can do well. We worked hard at last week's test. I hope that the results will be positive."

Loris Capirossi Brake Honda Domination

Loris Capirossi strikes on the 3rd free practice GP Estoril. This Italian rider took this  best time 1'44.515 in faster than Jorge Lorenzo and Nicky Hayden on 2nd and 3rd place. Other Ducati's Valentino Rossi on 4th. Marco Simoncelli the first two free practice leader was on 9th behind four Honda riders, Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso, Dani Pedrosa and Toni Elias. Toni Elias for the first time on 2011 took his 8th place.

This is not wet practice, but the temperature was drop after night rain on Estoril track. This condition make result unpredictable. 

Here's the final result of Estoril 3rd free practice session

1 Loris CAPIROSSI Pramac Racing Team 1'44.515
2 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha Factory Racing 1'45.079
3 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Team 1'45.955
4 Valentino ROSSI Ducati Team 1'46.481
5 Casey STONER Repsol Honda Team 1'47.676
6 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Repsol Honda Team 1'47.849
7 Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1'48.102
8 Toni ELIAS LCR Honda MotoGP 1'48.140
9 Marco SIMONCELLI San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'49.117
10 Randy DE PUNIET Pramac Racing Team 1'50.896
11 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1'51.497
12 Colin EDWARDS Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'51.611
Ben SPIES Yamaha Factory Racing 1'52.111
Hector BARBERA Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP 1'52.704
Hiroshi AOYAMA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'53.670
Cal CRUTCHLOW Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'53.872
Alvaro BAUTISTA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP

Randy De Puniet For Pramac Racing 2011

Randy De Puniet has confirmed to join Pramac Racing Ducati for next 2011 MOtoGP race.So this speculation about this rumors was answered. Pramac Racing Ducati will have 2 riders for 2011 line-up after Loris Capirossi and Randy De Puniet signed. This Frenchman and Ducati has announced this agreement on Saturday at Valencia. 

“Randy is a really good talent and I believe his experience will be very helpful in developing the bike,” said Pramac Technical Director, Fabiano Sterlacchini. “I’m quite sure his riding style will suit our bike so I’m really optimistic that we’ll have a really good season.”

He continued: “I’m very optimistic about next season because we have two experienced and talented riders in Loris and Randy, and with this bike you do have to change your riding style a lot from a 250cc bike. We saw this year with Mika (Kallio) and Aleix (Espargaró) that their experience was only in 250cc and their first MotoGP bike was the Ducati. They struggled to find the right tuning and it was difficult sometimes to find a compromise.”

“With Loris I think it will be easier because he rode this bike in 2007. The bike has developed since then but it is more or less the same,” he concluded.

Official: Loris Capirossi To Pramac Ducati 2011

It's officially announced, Loris Capirossi will ride for Pramac Ducati next year. This Italian rider will starting test at Valencia next November. Capirossi last rode Ducati machine at 2007 with 800cc machine.

Paolo Campinoti - Pramac Racing Team Principal

"We are very pleased to have closed an agreement with one of the most experienced riders and one of the most titled of the current MotoGP World Championship. The deal between us was very simple because Pramac Racing Team, and him, always aim to try to fight for important results. We do not need to talk about Loris, we all know him, we know his value and we are sure that thanks to his quality, we'll have fun next year on all the tracks, taking also some satisfaction. With Loris we will celebrate our tenth anniversary in the World Championship and this is a real honor for us. We know that Loris had conquer in his career 99 podiums and we hope to achieve together the triple digits. I would like to thank our partners who have welcomed our choice and we hope that Loris's and Pramac Racing Team fans will follow us with passion during next season. "

Loris Capirossi

"This return on a Ducati bike make me feel like a child. I do not feel my 37 years! I have a great desire to start this new adventure, I'm enormously pleased about this new agreement that was reached with the Pramac Racing Team, this will allow me to ride and be part of an Italian Team. I would like to thank the Team Principal of the Pramac Racing Team, Paolo Campinoti, for giving me this great opportunity and for the confidence placed in me. I'll find again the Ducati, with whom I had very good results over the past years and that I was able to develop in the 2007, this is an unique sensation for me. I thank Suzuki for the years we spent together and thanks also to the excellent relationship maintained with them, they had give me the possibility to race with my new Team since Valencia's test of next month."

Carlos Checa Set To Replace Mika Kallio

Carlos Checa will back to MotoGP to replace Mika Kallio on Pramac Ducati. Checa will race for Pramac Ducati on the last 2 races of 2010 season at Estoril and Valencia. Mika Kallio now sits at the bottom of the MotoGP 2010 leaderboard.

Carlos Checa was posted a video on his official Twitter account. He already testing the official Ducati GP19 machine at Mugello. The Spaniard, who has 220 grand prix starts to his name, would be an ideal replacement for Kallio, bringing necessary experience to a Pramac team that has persevered with two fairly novice riders in 2010. However, Checa already committed to a two-year deal with Althea Ducati in World Superbikes. So we only can see him at last 2 races of this season.

Welcome back Carlos!

Only 1 Rider For Pramac Ducati 2011

Pramac Ducati will not use 2 riders on next 2011 MotoGP. After rumors that Max Neukirchner, superbikes rider will join Pramac next season, now there's a new rumors said that Pramac will only use 1 rider. And the name of the rider is Loris Capirossi. 

Although it was not official, but Capirossi's manager, Carlo Pernat insisting that the contract has been signed. It also underlined by Rizla Suzuki's Francis Batta that next season, Rizla Suzuki only use 1 rider. And the strong candidate for this position is Alvaro Bautista. Alvaro Bautista had a good progress in a view 2010 races.

So if this rumors is correct, we will not see Aleix Espargaro and Mika Kallio again at the MotoGP race next season. Poor performance from Mika Kallio maybe is the main point why this Finland rider moved to Moto2  with Ajo Motorsport next season. Also Aleix Espargaro that joined his brother Pol on Moto2.

In the next season MotoGP, there are only 15 bikes, after Interwetten Honda will pulling out due to budget and sponsorship problem.