2009 GP DATES - PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

2009 GP DATES - PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

released 07/28/2008 - subject to change

April 12, 2009: .qt
- Qatar / Losail (Evening race)

Find hotels in Doha, Qatar

April 26, 2009 .jp Japan / Motegi
Japanese Grand Prix Motegi Japan

Find: Motegi Travel guide . Tokyo Hotels (Tokyo is 50 miles)

May 3, 2009: .es
Spanish GRAND PRIX - Gran Premio de Espana - Jerez Circuit Spain

Find: Jerez de La Frontera Hotels Spain

May 17, 2009: .fr
French Moto GRAND PRIX - Le Mans Circuit, Le Mans France

Find: Le Mans Travel Info . Hotels near Le Mans Circuit France

May 31, 2009: .it
Italian Moto GRAND PRIX - Mugello Circuit, Italy

Find: Hotels near Mugello Circuit Italy and search Hotels in Florence Italy (about 15KM away) - also known as Firenze (in Italian), Florenz (in German)

June 14, 2009: .es
Catalan Moto GRAND PRIX (Gran Premio de Cataluya) - Circuit Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.

Find: Barcelona / Catalunya Circuit Travel Info . Hotels near Catalunya Circuit . Hotels in nearby: Granollers, Montmelo, and Barcelona Spain / Espana

June 27, 2009: .nl (Saturday Race)
Dutch Moto GRAND PRIX, Assen TT, Assen Circuit, the Netherlands

Find: Assen Circuit Travel Guide . Assen Circuit Hotels and Hotels in Assen (and nearby towns) including Groningen Hotels

July 5, 2009: .us
RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX - Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway, California, USA

Featuring MotoGP World Championship & AMA Superbikes
Find: Laguna Seca Travel guide . Laguna Seca Hotels + Laguna Seca Red Bull US GP Tickets from Tickets at Grand Prix Cities USA (when Available)

July 19, 2009: .de
German Moto GRAND PRIX, Sachsenring Circuit, Germany.

Find: Sachsenring Circuit Travel Guide . Hotels near Sachsenring Circuit . Try also hotels in nearby Chemnitz , Zwickau and Hotels in Leipzig Cheminz / Zwickau / Leipzig Hotels

June 26, 2009: .uk
British Moto GRAND PRIX, Donington Park Circuit, Derby, Great Britain / UK

Find: Donington Park Circuit Travel Tips . Hotels near Donington Park Circuit, UK and nearby Nottingham Hotels

August 16, 2009: .cz
Czech Republic MOTO Grand Prix, Brno Circuit, CZ

Find: Brno Travel guide . Hotels near Brno Circuit and Hotels in Brno, CZ

Sunday August 30, 2009 .us

Red Bull USGP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Find Indianapolis Hotels near Speedway . Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tickets . indianapolis travel guide

September 13, 2009: .sm
(San Marino Race) - Saint-Marin

Misano Adriatico Santamonica Circuit . Hotels near Misano Circuit & Rimini, Italy including Catolica Italy accommodations

September 20, 2009: .hu
Hungary Lake Balaton Circuit

Hotels in and near Lake Balaton Hungary Siófok

October 4, 2008: .pt
Portuguese MOTO Grand Prix, Autodromo Fernanda Pires Da Silva - ESTORIL Circuit

Find: Hotels near Estoril Circuit + Portugal Airports and Hotels

October 18, 2009: .jp
Sky Vodka Australian MOTO Grand Prix, Phillip Island International Grand Prix Circuit

Find: Phillip Island Travel guide .Melbourne Hotels (about 80 miles)

October 25, 2009: .my
Malaysian MOTO Grand Prix, Sepang International Circuit (SIC)

Find: 50+ Hotels in Kuala Lumpur) (about 15 miles)

November 8, 2009: .es
Spanish MOTO Grand Prix, Circuito Ricardo Tormo

Find: Valencia Travel Information . valencia Circuit Hotels + Valencia City Hotels

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Find Hotels near every MotoGP Grand Prix Circuit and all major circuit and speedway hotels in the world

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Check back in November for 2010 provisional dates. Dates and destinations subject to change without notice.

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2008 MOTOGP RESULTS

Find MotoGP Circuit Hotels & MotoGP Tickets

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March 9, 2008: .qt
Qatari Moto Grand Prix - Losail Circuit Qatar - Under lights!

Find: Doha Hotels Hotels
Results: 1: Stoner (Ducati), 2: Lorenzo, (Yamaha), 3: Pedrosa (Honda)

March 30, 2008: .es
Spanish GRAND PRIX - Gran Premio de Espana - Jerez Circuit Spain

Find: Jerez de La Frontera Hotels Spain
Results: 1: Pedrosa (Honda 2), 2: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46), 3: Lorenzo, (Yamaha 48),

April 13, 2008: .pt
Portuguese MOTO Grand Prix, Autodromo Fernanda Pires Da Silva - ESTORIL Circuit

Find: Hotels near Estoril Circuit
Results: 1: Lorenzo (Yamaha 48) 2: Pedrosa (Honda 2), 3: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46)

May 4, 2008: .cn
Chinese Moto GRAND PRIX - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai China

Find: Shanghai Travel Info . Shanghai China Hotels
Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46), 2: Dani Pedrosa (Honda 2), 3: Casey Stoner (Ducati 1)

May 18, 2008: .fr
French Moto GRAND PRIX - Le Mans Circuit, Le Mans France

Find: Le Mans Travel Info . Hotels near Le Mans Circuit France
French GP Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46); 2: Lorenzo (Yamaha 48) 3: Colin Edwards (Yamaha 6):

June 1, 2008: .it
Italian Moto GRAND PRIX - Mugello Circuit, Italy

Find: Hotels near Mugello Circuit Italy and search Hotels in Florence Italy (about 15KM away) - also known as Firenze (in Italian), Florenz (in German)
Italian Moto GP Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46 - 7 wins in a row in Mugello), 2: Stoner (Ducati 1), 3: Pedrosa (Honda 2)

June 8, 2008: .es
Catalan Moto GRAND PRIX (Gran Premio de Cataluya) - Circuit Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.

Find: Barcelona / Catalunya Circuit Travel Info . Hotels near Catalunya Circuit . Hotels in nearby: Granollers, Montmelo, and Barcelona Spain / Espana
Italian Moto GP Results: 1: Pedrosa (#2 Honda); 2: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46); 3: Stoner (Ducati 1) Attendance Numbers: 130,000 very happy Spanish people.

June 22, 2008: .uk
British Moto GRAND PRIX, Donington Park Circuit, Derby, Great Britain / UK

Find: Donington Park Circuit Travel Tips . Hotels near Donington Park Circuit, UK and nearby Nottingham Hotels
British Moto GP Results: 1: Stoner (Ducati 1) 2: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46) 3: Pedrosa (#2 Honda); ; Attendance: 88,831 British Race Fans.

June 28, 2008: .nl (Saturday Race)
Dutch Moto GRAND PRIX, Assen TT, Assen Circuit, the Netherlands

Find: Assen Circuit Travel Guide . Assen Circuit Hotels and Hotels in Assen (and nearby towns) including Groningen Hotels
Results: 1: Stoner (Ducati) 2: Pedrosa (Honda 2), 3: Edwards, (Yamaha 5), Attendance: 94,978 (Including me!).

July 13, 2008: .de
German Moto GRAND PRIX, Sachsenring Circuit, Germany.

Find: Sachsenring Circuit Travel Guide . Hotels near Sachsenring Circuit . Try also hotels in nearby Chemnitz , Zwickau and Hotels in Leipzig Cheminz / Zwickau / Leipzig Hotels

July 20, 2008: .us
RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX - Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway, California, USA

Featuring MotoGP World Championship & AMA Superbikes
Find: Laguna Seca Travel guide . Laguna Seca Hotels + Laguna Seca Red Bull US GP Tickets
Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46); 2: Stoner (Ducati - He fell off, not a good look, and got back on, absolutely cracking race till then!) 3: Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki 57), Yay Chris!

August 17, 2008: .cz
Czech Republic MOTO Grand Prix, Brno Circuit, CZ

Find: Brno Travel guide . Hotels near Brno Circuit and Hotels in Brno, CZ
Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) - by like a whole mile. 2: Toni Elias (Ducati), 3: Capirossi, (Suzuki), Attendance: 146,000

August 31, 2008 .sn San Marino MotoGP, Misano Italy (San Marino Race) - Saint-Marin

Misano Adriatico Santamonica Circuit . Hotels near Misano Circuit & Rimini, Italy including Catolica Italy accommodations
Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) - 38th MotoGP victory equalling Agostini's Record. 2: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamamha) 3: Toni Elias (Ducati),

Sunday September 14, 2008 .us Red Bull USGP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Find Indianapolis Hotels near Speedway . Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tickets . indianapolis travel guide & See my special guide Indy MotoGP Hotels and Tickets
Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) - 39th MotoGP victory beating Agostini's Record. What an embarrassing mess this entire event (idea) was. I've got a parking lot near my place would make a better circuit for the world's premier class of motorsport. Waste of money & time

September 28, 2008: .jp
Japanese MOTO Grand Prix, Twin Ring Motegi Circuit

Find: Motegi Travel guide . Tokyo Hotels (Tokyo is 50 miles)
Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) - 40th MotoGP victory. 8th World Championship. 6th MotoGP World Championship. We will speak to our grand children of having seen Rossi race. 2: Casey Stoner (Ducati) 3: Pedrosa (Honda),

October 5, 2008: .au
Sky Vodka Australian MOTO Grand Prix, Phillip Island International Grand Prix Circuit

Find: Phillip Island Travel guide with hotels near the Circuit See also Melbourne Hotels (about 80 miles)
British Moto GP Results: 1: Stoner (Ducati 1) 2: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46) 3: Hayden (#69 Honda); ; Attendance: 50541 Australian Race Fans on raceday.

October 19, 2008: .my
Malaysian MOTO Grand Prix, Sepang International Circuit (SIC)

Find: 50+ Hotels in Kuala Lumpur) (about 15 miles)
British Moto GP Results: 1: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha 46) 2: Dani Pedrosa (#2 Honda); 3: Andrea Davizioso (#4 JiR Team Scot Honda - Maiden MotoGP Podium) ;

MOTOGP 2008 FINALE: October 26, 2008: Comunitat Valenciana .es
Spanish MOTO Grand Prix, Circuito Ricardo Tormo

Final Result MotoGP 2008

Oktober 27, 2008

GP 125cc :

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Points
1	Mike DI MEGLIO	FRA	Ajo Motorsport	264
2	Simone CORSI	ITA	Jack & Jones WRB	225
3	Gabor TALMACSI	HUN	Bancaja Aspar Team	206
4	Stefan BRADL	GER	Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing	187
5	Nicolas TEROL	SPA	Jack & Jones WRB	176
6	Bradley SMITH	GBR	Polaris World	150
7	Joan OLIVE	SPA	Belson Derbi	142
8	Sandro CORTESE	GER	Emmi - Caffe Latte	141
9	Pol ESPARGARO	SPA	Belson Derbi	124
10	Andrea IANNONE	ITA	I.C. Team	106
11	Scott REDDING	GBR	Blusens Aprilia Junior	105
12	Sergio GADEA	SPA	Bancaja Aspar Team	83
13	Marc MARQUEZ	SPA	Repsol KTM 125cc	63
14	Esteve RABAT	SPA	Repsol KTM 125cc	49
15	Stevie BONSEY	USA	Degraaf Grand Prix	46
16	Dominique AEGERTER	SWI	Ajo Motorsport	45
17	Tomoyoshi KOYAMA	JPN	Red Bull KTM 125	41
18	Raffaele DE ROSA	ITA	Onde 2000 KTM	37
19	Danny WEBB	GBR	Degraaf Grand Prix	35
20	Efren VAZQUEZ	SPA	Blusens Aprilia Junior	31
21	Pablo NIETO	SPA	Onde 2000 KTM	25
22	Lorenzo ZANETTI	ITA	ISPA KTM Aran	22
23	Michael RANSEDER	AUT	I.C. Team	22
24	Takaaki NAKAGAMI	JPN	I.C. Team	12
25	Randy KRUMMENACHER	SWI	Red Bull KTM 125	10
26	Pere TUTUSAUS	SPA	Bancaja Aspar Team	9
27	Stefano BIANCO	ITA	WTR San Marino Team	8
28	Alexis MASBOU	FRA	Loncin Racing	4
29	Lorenzo SAVADORI	ITA	I.C. Team	3
30	Marcel SCHROTTER	GER	Toni Mang Team	3
31	Robin LASSER	GER	Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing	2
32	Enrique JEREZ	SPA	ISPA KTM Aran	1
33	Adrian MARTIN	SPA	Bancaja Aspar Team	1
34	Jonas FOLGER	GER	Red Bull MotoGP Academy	1
35	Hugo VAN DEN BERG	NED	Degraaf Grand Prix	1

…

GP 250cc :

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Points
1	Marco SIMONCELLI	ITA	Metis Gilera	281
2	Alvaro BAUTISTA	SPA	Mapfre Aspar Team	244
3	Mika KALLIO	FIN	Red Bull KTM 250	196
4	Alex DEBON	SPA	Lotus Aprilia	176
5	Yuki TAKAHASHI	JPN	JiR Team Scot 250	167
6	Hector BARBERA	SPA	Team Toth Aprilia	142
7	Hiroshi AOYAMA	JPN	Red Bull KTM 250	139
8	Mattia PASINI	ITA	Polaris World	132
9	Roberto LOCATELLI	ITA	Metis Gilera	110
10	Julian SIMON	SPA	Repsol KTM 250cc	109
11	Thomas LUTHI	SWI	Emmi - Caffe Latte	108
12	Aleix ESPARGARO	SPA	Lotus Aprilia	92
13	Ratthapark WILAIROT	THA	Thai Honda PTT SAG	73
14	Hector FAUBEL	SPA	Mapfre Aspar Team	64
15	Lukas PESEK	CZE	Auto Kelly - CP	43
16	Karel ABRAHAM	CZE	Cardion AB Motoracing	40
17	Alex BALDOLINI	ITA	Matteoni Racing	35
18	Fabrizio LAI	ITA	Campetella Racing	33
19	Manuel POGGIALI	RSM	Campetella Racing	16
20	Imre TOTH	HUN	Team Toth Aprilia	9
21	Eugene LAVERTY	IRL	Blusens Aprilia	8
22	Federico SANDI	ITA	Matteoni Racing	6
23	Manuel HERNANDEZ	SPA	Blusens Aprilia	5
24	Simone GROTZKYJ	ITA	Campetella Racing	5
25	Daniel ARCAS	SPA	Blusens Aprilia	2
26	Shoya TOMIZAWA	JPN	Project U FRS	2
27	Toni WIRSING	GER	Racing Team Germany	2
28	Doni Tata PRADITA	INA	Yamaha Pertamina Indonesia	1

…

MotoGP :

Pos.	Rider	Nation	Team	Points
1	Valentino ROSSI	ITA	Fiat Yamaha Team	373
2	Casey STONER	AUS	Ducati Marlboro Team	280
3	Dani PEDROSA	SPA	Repsol Honda Team	249
4	Jorge LORENZO	SPA	Fiat Yamaha Team	190
5	Andrea DOVIZIOSO	ITA	JiR Team Scot MotoGP	174
6	Nicky HAYDEN	USA	Repsol Honda Team	155
7	Colin EDWARDS	USA	Tech 3 Yamaha	144
8	Chris VERMEULEN	AUS	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	128
9	Shinya NAKANO	JPN	San Carlo Honda Gresini	126
10	Loris CAPIROSSI	ITA	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	118
11	James TOSELAND	GBR	Tech 3 Yamaha	105
12	Toni ELIAS	SPA	Alice Team	92
13	Sylvain GUINTOLI	FRA	Alice Team	67
14	Alex DE ANGELIS	RSM	San Carlo Honda Gresini	63
15	Randy DE PUNIET	FRA	LCR Honda MotoGP	61
16	John HOPKINS	USA	Kawasaki Racing Team	57
17	Marco MELANDRI	ITA	Ducati Marlboro Team	51
18	Anthony WEST	AUS	Kawasaki Racing Team	50
19	Ben SPIES	USA	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	20
20	Jamie HACKING	USA	Kawasaki Racing Team	5
21	Tadayuki OKADA	JPN	Repsol Honda Team	2

Jerry Burgess bemoans single tyre rule approval

MotoGP

Legendary crew chief of Valentino Rossi, Jerry Burgess, has criticised the decision to introduce a single tyre rule for the 2009 MotoGP world championship.

The Aussie believes multi-brand competition is a fundamental part of MotoGP and that a vital element of racing will now be sacrificed.

Burgess, who helped guide Rossi to his sixth MotoGP crown in Japan last weekend, told MCN: “I very strongly feel that motorsport is all about competition and every company wants to prove its product. That’s why we went racing in the first place to show what we have is better than what anybody else has got.

"I can accept the show side of it, but when you start making rules that dictate just one thing and you ban something else, why ban anything that you are not scared of?

"I’m sure most of the manufacturers have the ability to strike a contract with the tyre company of their choice and that should be the way it is.”

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta insists he introduced the single tyre rule on safety grounds, with concerns being raised about the big increase in corner speeds generated by the new 800cc machines.

But Burgess said: “If you want to slow them down you can give them five speed gearboxes or throw another 20 kilos on them. At the end of the day racing is about going faster than when you went last week. Racing is about improvement.

"My feeling was that we needed to leave the sport very much as it is for a stable period so that those that are behind can catch up in terms of development.”

One of the main reasons the single tyre rule was introduced was to help improve the spectacle of MotoGP, with races much more strung out than at the end of the 990cc era in 2006.

But Burgess said the single tyre rule would still see the like of Rossi and Casey Stoner dominating at the front.

“I can see certain riders believing because they are not performing well they want to change to suit them, but it doesn’t mean they are going to win. Everybody has got the same chances now and the good guys are still winning.

"Carmelo is just worried about the show on TV. But if anybody has mucked up the racing it is Casey and Valentino because they clear off by so much. A few years ago Valentino was ahead of rivals but he managed the race and made it look like a race.

Carmelo got used to that but he forgets that Mick Doohan used to clear off by a country mile. The show has got so big with Valentino that they can’t accept any backward step, which happens in all sports.

"I understand the panicking of that but you don’t jack with the rules of tennis when Roger Federer wins all the games.”

Burgess reckons that MotoGP needs a stable period with its rules now, and has urged bosses not to make any more changes.

It has been rumoured for a while that Dorna has been considering a reduction in electronics, or introducing a controlled ECU like in Formula One.

But Burgess said: “It is not about the electronics otherwise Marco Melandri would be as quick as Casey. Electronics are what its all about for the future. The whole world is electronic now. My fridge is electronic and we have had electronic ignition since 1969.

"What I believe is that we are getting very close to where we want to be and once we reach a certain level the platform will be very even. I defy anybody to tell the difference between a 500GP bike in 1992 and a 500GP bike in 2002. They didn’t change. If we leave the rules alone we will all end up at the same point.

"Another change means somebody is going to get a handle on it first and there will be the same disparity for another two years. Electronics are very cheap, because you can make changes with your guy who writes a little program and makes it better. Software is cheap as chips.

"We are closer than we were last year and Honda will be better next year. If we leave it alone Carmelo won’t have any worries in another year.”

One-make tyre rule in doubt

Significant resistance is being encountered by Dorna in the organisation’s attempts to introduce a single-make tyre rule in the MotoGP class in 2009. The grounds for the proposal this year are to limit corner speeds and increase rider safety, without circuit owners incurring large costs year on year for further improvements, run off areas, air fences and so on. In other words, the aim is to slow down the bikes.

There is a meeting of the Grand Prix commission (see previous post on the 600cc class war for the details of the make-up of the GPC) to make the call this weekend. MotoGPBlog understands the following:
- IRTA (the teams) want a single tyre rule to cut costs and save money.
- Dorna want a single tyre rule to cut costs for circuit owners. The IRTA and Dorna will therefore vote the same way, as per usual.
- MSMA (the manufacturers) do not want the single tyre rule as this reduces competition and differentiators between the teams. All the factory teams have tyres made specifically for their chassis and suspension set-ups. If all have the same tyre, that is one less factor to make the difference. Provided the MSMA vote unanimously, they hold a veto over the proposal, in the same way as they did last year.

This impasse has led to some interesting proposals. Ducati have offered to run their three satellite bikes on Michelins, and have not ruled out switching all five to Michelin. This is the same approach they used when Bridgestone arrived on the scene: take advantage of having something different to Rossi to beat him, as beating him on the same equipment is harder.

There is, according to Eurosport, a gentleman’s agreement between the tyre companies that the field be split no more widely than 60/40 between the tyre companies. With five Ducatis on Michelins, this would mean a further three Michelin runners would need to be found. Where might these come from?

Repsol Honda are likely to keep Bridgestones for Pedrosa, but it is not impossible that Dovizioso stays on Michelins on the other side of the garage. Yamaha will almost certainly be all-Bridgestone next year. If the Gresini Hondas also took Michelins, and LCR and Scott take Bridgestones, the deal is done. Also potential Michelin runners are all three Kawasakis, after their less than brilliant showing this season.

And so it is not impossible that the tyre situation is resolved in a way that allows Michelin and Bridgestone to continue to compete. It is also still very possible that the single-make tyre rule will still be introduced. With luck we will know this weekend.

Phillips Island result

MotoGP » Phillip Island - Race results. Sunday, 5th October 2008 Full race results from the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, round 16 of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. 1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 40min 56.643 secs 2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 41min 3.147 secs 3. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 41min 3.848 secs 4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 41min 8.143 secs 5. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 41min 8.557 secs 6. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 41min 8.886 secs 7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 41min 9.423 secs 8. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 41min 22.563 secs 9. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 41min 22.680 secs 10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 41min 23.442 secs 11. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 41min 23.670 secs 12. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 41min 44.451 secs 13. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 41min 44.976 secs 14. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 41min 45.542 secs 15. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 41min 45.578 secs 16. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 42min 8.410 secs DNF: Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (B) Lap 1 Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) Lap 1

photo qualification

Second MotoGP test of 2008 - Phillip Island

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MotoGP » 250: Simoncelli extends lead at Motegi. Sunday, 28th September 2008 Marco Simoncelli wins Sunday's 250cc Japanese Grand Prix.

Marco Simoncelli has extended his 250cc World Championship lead by winning Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The Italian lost out to Alex Debon into turn one, but was back in front by the end of the first lap - where he ultimately remained at the chequered flag. Nevertheless, Mapfre Aspar Aprilia's Alvaro Bautista made his way steadily forwards and took second position just after the halfway stage of the 23 laps. Advertisement The Spaniard looked set to mount a serious victory attack as he closed to within 0.3secs of Simoncelli's Metis Gilera with three laps to go - but was held up by a backmarker, allowing Simoncelli the breathing room he needed to secure his fourth victory of the season and Dunlop's 200th. Simoncelli, who began the race 26 points clear of Mika Kallio, will start the final three rounds of the championship 32 points in front of new nearest rival Bautista, after Kallio finished a lonely fifth on his factory KTM. Race results - Motegi: 1. Simoncelli (Gilera) 2. Bautista (Aprilia) +0.348secs 3. Debon (Aprilia) +8.414secs 4. Simon (KTM) +9.151secs 5. Kallio (KTM) +17.041secs 6. Takahashi (Honda) +19.632secs 7. Espargaro (Aprilia) +19.892secs 8. Pasini (Aprilia) +20.442secs 9. Aoyama (KTM) +22.303secs 10. Locatelli (Gilera) +22.387secs