AGV Dainese riders score podium finish at Qatar MotoGP

AGV Dainese rider, and reigning World Champ, Valentino Rossi finishes a very good second at the CommercialBank Grand Prix of Qatar, ahead of his Dainese and Yamaha team mate Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.

Dainese and MotoGP legends Nieto and Rossi in Qatar

From MotoGP.com

Angel Nieto (look for a Nieto replica AGV helmet to be released in 2010)

“Stoner is very strong, but Rossi is very close and Lorenzo could get there,” analysed the Spaniard from inside the Losail International Circuit paddock, before indicating that a ‘Laguna Seca-esque’ strategy from Rossi would be needed to tame Stoner and prevent an Australian victory.

”Rossi needs to use a tactic to stop Stoner from escaping, because if he goes away from the start it will be hard to stop him. For the podium I think they will both be there, and also Lorenzo if he pushes very hard.”

Marco Simoncelli out of Qatar race

After riding through pain in practice reigning World Champ and AGV Dainese rider Marco Simoncelli had to pull out of the opening race on the 2009 FIM 250cc World Championship at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar.

Marco Simoncelli is in Qatar

Marco's weekly shcedule: Break scaphoid Sunday, surgery Tuesday, practice Friday!!

For the 2009 FIM 250cc World Championship, Simoncelli switched helmet, wearing a GP-Tech instead of the Ti-Tech he has been sporting for the last few seasons.

Photo by Scott Jones at Motogpmatters.com

Max Biaggi in the running

From Dainese.com here's a small news report on the WSBK Qatar round (it's a bit Italenglish but good photos):

"A Ben Spies from another planet and two identical winner’s stand placings defined Race 1 and Race 2 of the Qatar GP race, the second test in this year’s international SBK championship.
Max Biaggi, the Dainese flag-bearer in the modified standard-series bike racing world, proved capable of getting the absolute most out of his Aprilia RSV4 and snagged two third-place finishes that raised his place in the standings and now make him one of the season’s contenders for the title.
Now Aprilia is smiling, and its new bike is starting to tear up the track.
As we wait for the next race on the circuit in Valencia, Spain, we’ll keep our hopes pinned on the Corsair!"

WSBK: After Round 2 in Qatar Biaggi is holding 4th

After bad results at the opening round, Max Biaggi recovered in Qatar scoring two 3rd place finish and getting to 4th in the overall series standing. Great to see Dainese back on the podium in WSBK.