Rossi: 'I cannot ride this Ducati'

Valentino Rossi

A downbeat Valentino Rossi conceded that at present he simply cannot get to grips with the 2012 Ducati after struggling to 10th place in the Qatar Grand Prix.

The seven-time MotoGP champion was a long way off the pace throughout the Losail weekend, and could not match team-mate Nicky Hayden's pace.

While Rossi said an earlier clash with Hector Barbera was a factor in his Qatar result, he admitted that the biggest problem was that the bike did not suit him at all.

"I had big problems at the beginning of the race: when we are on new tyres I struggle under braking," he told Italian broadcaster Mediaset. "On top of that, I lost four or five seconds after coming together with Barbera. I then managed to improve a bit and on the last lap I even managed to set my quickest lap on worn tyres. But it's useless, we struggle to be competitive.

"I can't ride this bike, I can't make the difference, I can't even keep up with Hayden's pace, who I used to go quick against in comparison. In theory, with new tyres I should go quicker. Nicky managed to do a good race with the other works Ducati, but he still ended up only sixth."

Rossi fears that 2012 could end up being even harder than last year, when he took just one podium finish.

"In Jerez testing it went better, sixth with the quicker tyres," he said. "But that's our pace, it's not an attractive objective to be fighting for sixth place. We are used to better objectives.

"Probably we are going worse than last year because we managed to be seventh back then... What can I say? I want to be frank. I can't ride this bike well, even in comparison with my fellow Ducati riders.

"This Ducati has problems: I gave indications over where to intervene, but we didn't solve our problems. Unfortunately I'm no engineer and can't do anything about it. At least the positive aspect is that I don't crash with this chassis. That's something at least."

The Italian added that he was finding it hard to be optimistic as Ducati had failed to progress from a disappointing start in 2011.

"We ran out of hope last year. More than hope we need a better bike," Rossi said. "But I wouldn't want to expose myself like I did last year, by thinking and hoping that the second chassis development would be an improvement.

"I tried to be a professional. When Barbera pushed me out I even considered returning to the pits, but then I stayed out in order to give our technicians some data to study so as to improve things."

-Eurosport

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Tarikh Akhir Penyertaan Cabaran Ford Ranger Global Malaysia Dilanjutkan kepada 15 April 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 6 April 2012 - Ford Malaysia hari ini mengumumkan pelanjutan tarikh akhir bagi para peserta untuk mengemukakan idea bagi Cabaran Ford Ranger Global kerana sambutan luar biasa yang diterima. Tarikh tutup baru bagi mencadangkan cabaran lasak dunia sebenar untuk ditempuhi oleh Ranger serba baru ialah 15 April 2012.

Pemandu Malaysia yang ingin menjadi salah seorang daripada lima peserta bertuah yang dipilih untuk memandu dan menguji kesahihan dakwaan “Binaan Teguh Ford” harus mengambil kesempatan daripada tempoh yang dilanjutkan ini dan menghantar idea cabaran mereka dalam talian.

Peserta ini bukan sahaja akan menjadi antara pengguna pertama di Malaysia untuk menguji Ford Ranger serba baru dan menjadikan cabaran lasak mereka satu kenyataan, malah cabaran terbaik berasaskan pilihan umum akan memandu pulang sebuah Ranger XLT 2.2L (transmisi manual) serba baru.

Antara idea cabaran unggul yang telah dikemukakan oleh pemandu Malaysia setakat ini termasuk pemanduan lasak lagi mencabar selama 13 jam dari Kuching ke Long Seridan, memandu ke Tanjung Tualang di Perak untuk menangkap ikan peacock bass dan ekpedisi menjelajah muka bumi Kuala Mu yang sungguh mencabar.

Dibina untuk dibawa ke jalan lasak tanpa sebarang keraguan, Ford Ranger serba baru bukan sahaja telah meredah jalan yang diliputi oleh salji dan ais, tetapi juga merentasi hutan hujan tropika dan sungai pedalaman dalam ujian Cabaran Ford Ranger Global yang ditempuhi di tempat lain dunia. Kenderaan ini juga telah mendaki pergunungan berbatu, mengangkut gajah dan diuji sepenuhnya oleh pemandu yang membawanya ke tempat yang tidak boleh ditempuh oleh trak biasa.

“Di merata dunia, pengguna trak menggunakan trak mereka secara lasak, meyakini kesetiaan trak mereka yang bekerja keras setiap hari,” kata David Westerman, Pengurus Serantau, Asia Pasifik, Operasi Eksport & Pertumbuhan Asia. Kini kami memerlukan bantuan pengguna Malaysia untuk membuktikan bahawa Ford Ranger serba baru ialah trak terbaik dengan keupayaan yang boleh diyakini untuk memberikan prestasi terbaik kepada mereka.”

“Malaysia ialah sebuah pasaran yang sangat penting bagi Ford, sebab itulah ia merupakan salah sebuah negara pertama di Asia untuk melancarkan Cabaran Ford Ranger Global. Kami mengalu-alukan seberapa ramai pengguna Malaysia untuk mengambil bahagian dan membentuk sebahagian daripada masyarakat sedunia yang mencuba sendiri keupayaan Ford Ranger serba baru dengan menguji keupayaan trak sehingga ke hadnya,” tambah Westerman.

Dengan tahap kecekapan prestasi tinggi dan keselesaan dalaman untuk menyokong binaan yang teguh dan tahan lasak, Ford Ranger serba baru ialah pilihan sempurna bagi pemandu bandar dan juga pemandu lasak. Cabaran Global Ford Ranger yang dilancarkan dengan jayanya di Australia tahun lepas baru-baru ini mendapat sambutan hangat di Thailand dan Afrika Selatan. Cabaran tersebut turut menguji pesaing Ranger serba baru di seluruh Eropah dan Amerika Selatan.

Bagaimana Cabaran Ranger Global Dilaksanakan

Mulai hari ini, peserta boleh menghantar permohonan di laman web rasmi Cabaran Ford Ranger Global Malaysia – www.fordrangerchallenge.com.my atau www.ford.net.my – menjelaskan mengapa cabaran unik mereka ialah cara terbaik untuk menguji keupayaan Ford Ranger serba baru.

Cabaran ini juga boleh disertai melalui laman Facebook Ford Malaysia – www.facebook.com/FordRangerMY.

Penyertaan akan diterima sehingga tengah malam pada 15 April 2012.

Daripada penyertaan yang diterima, lima peserta pertandingan akhir akan dipilih oleh panel hakim. Pemilihan adalah berasaskan kualiti dan kreativiti penyertaan, dan peserta akhir akan diumumkan oleh Ford pada 1 Mei 2012.

Sebuah Ford Ranger serba baru akan dipinjamkan kepada setiap satu daripada lima peserta pertandingan akhir untuk menjalani cabaran yang terpilih dengan bantuan kakitangan filem profesional yang disediakan oleh Ford.

Sedutan cabaran yang dilalui oleh setiap peserta akan dimuat masuk ke laman web Cabaran Global Ford Ranger untuk membolehkan orang ramai melihat dan mengundi cabaran kegemaran mereka.

Pemenang akan dipilih berasaskan undian yang diterima dan keputusan akhir pengadil, dan akan diumumkan di majlis pelancaran Ranger serba baru di Malaysia. Pemenang bertuah ini akan memandu pulang hadiah tiada tandingan iaitu sebuah Ford Ranger XLT 2.2L (transmisi manual) serba baru.

Di samping itu, mereka yang mengundi di dalam talian akan dimasukkan di dalam cabutan bertuah untuk memenangi pelbagai hadiah.

Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila kunjungi laman web rasmi Cabaran Ford Ranger Global Malaysia www.fordrangerchallenge.com.my

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MOTOGP » 'Realist' Rossi 'a long way off' heading to Qatar

“I'm a realist, and I know well that our times are still a long way off and 

that there are still some things to fix” – Valentino Rossi.

A lot has changed in the year since Valentino Rossi made his Ducati debut at Qatar in 2011.

But despite multiple frame incarnations - leading up to the full twin-spar chassis on the final version of this year's GP12 - and MotoGP's switch from 800 to 1000cc engines, the Italian finds himself in a similar position to last year heading into Sunday's season-opening night race.

A strong debut test at Sepang with the GP12 was followed by a wrong turn with set-up at the second Malaysian visit, which took until the final day of the Jerez test to correct. 

Rossi, seventh in the championship with one podium last year, concluded the pre-season with the sixth fastest lap time, 0.953sec behind Casey Stoner (Honda) in Spain.

At Qatar 2011, Rossi took the chequered flag in seventh place, 16 seconds from winner Stoner after 22 laps. 

Although optimistic that he and Ducati are back on track in terms of set-up, The Doctor doesn't expect any miracles when it comes to taking on the pace-setting factory Hondas and Yamahas this weekend.

“We worked hard over the winter, and although we went the wrong direction at one point, we once again managed to find the good feeling with the GP12 that we'd had in the first test,” said Rossi.

“With those settings, which we'll start with in Qatar, I was able to get good feedback from the bike. 

“At Losail it will be very important to work well during the sessions leading up to qualifying so that we can increase our confidence step by step as we approach Saturday, always trying to maximize our potential. 

“I'm a realist, and I know well that our times are still a long way off and that there are still some things to fix. 

“We won't be able to address some of them right away, but it's also true that both we at the track and the guys back home now have a direction to work in, and we must try to do as well as we can. 

“We won't completely redo the bike during the season, but we'll try to progress little by little,” concluded the 79-time 500cc/MotoGP race winner.

Upgrades for the GP12 are already in the pipeline, but are not expected to be race ready for at least several rounds.

“We know that other steps await and we've planned for them, and as always, the races will give us more accurate answers than the tests,” said team manager Vittoriano Guareschi. 

“Although our priority will be to work toward putting Vale and Nicky [Hayden] in the best conditions possible for Sunday, I'm sure that we'll also gather important information to help us continue improving our bike.”

Opening practice at Losail takes place on Thursday evening.

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Your hottest paddock babe for March revealed!

Want to see a selection of some of the sexiest grid girls to have graced the world of motorsport over the past month? Then you're in the right place and this month we have a 'Monster' line-up...

It's that time again, when we reveal who you voted as the sexiest paddock babes for the month of March.

To see the top ten, and who was rated as the hottest, simply CLICK HERE - you won't be disappointed. Also don't forget to keep voting and to check back next month to see who comes out on top in the April vote!

Enjoy...

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Burgess: 360km/h 1000cc MotoGP bikes 'folly'

"A rider slip-streaming another with just a breath of a tail wind will top
360km/h" - Jeremy Burgess.

Valentino Rossi's crew chief, Jeremy Burgess, believes that MotoGP's switch to 1000cc engines for the 2012 season is 'folly'.

The premier-class has increased its engine capacity back to 1-litre after five seasons of dull 800cc racing, but Australian Burgess - the most successful crew chief in the history of MotoGP - believes it is a mistake in terms of top speed and manufacturer relevance.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Adelaide Advertiser, Burgess said: "It was a folly to return to the 1000cc limit... On the fastest circuits, a rider slip-streaming another with just a breath of a tail wind will top 360km/h."

Those top speed concerns echo similar comments from Yamaha's former world champion Jorge Lorenzo. The present MotoGP top speed record is 349.3km/h (217.1mph) set by Honda's Dani Pedrosa at Mugello in 2009.

In terms of the technical challenge, Burgess added: "They [the manufacturers] have already developed 1000cc bikes.

"Rules that require them to make more power out of a smaller engine give manufacturers a reason to be there."

Burgess, who would prefer a MotoGP engine limit of 600cc and had some harsh words for Dorna's involvement in rule making, believes that Rossi should be able to challenge Pedrosa (Honda) and Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha) for the podium during his second season at Ducati.

Burgess presumably expects Honda's reigning champion Casey Stoner and 2011 runner-up Lorenzo to fill the top two places.

-crash.net

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Chevrolet Colorado kini di Malaysia

Naza Quest Sdn Bhd, selaku pengedar rasmi kenderaan Chevrolet di Malaysia melancarkan model baru segmen pikap trak, Chevrolet Colorado.

Menerusi pelancaran itu, Naza Quest optimis menyasarkan jualan Colorado di Malaysia secara kumulatif akan melebihi jumlah jualan kenderaan Chevrolet tahun lalu.

Menurut Ketua Pegawai Operasi Naza Quest Sdn Bhd, Datuk Maruan Mohd Said jumlah jualan Chevrolet 2011 mencatatkan jualan sebanyak 1272 bagi dua model Chevrolet Cruze dan Captiva.

“Menerusi pengenalan model ketiga Chevrolet Colorado ini, syarikat telah mengukuhkan lagi barisan kenderaan Chevrolet di Malaysia dan melepasi sasaran jualan tahun lalu kerana harganya yang kompetitif.

“Kumpulan pertama Colorado yang tiba sudahpun ditempah sepenuhnya dan penghantarannya bermula April ini,” katanya pada Majlis Pelancaran di Kuala Lumpur.

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MAA sees flat or lower Q1 vehicle sales

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) expects total vehicle sales in the first quarter of this year to be either flat or lower than the 158,432 units registered in the same period a year earlier, mainly due to the impact of Bank Negara's responsible lending guidelines that were implemented this year.

“It (vehicle sales) could be slightly lower or the same level as it was last year due to the more stringent hire purchase loan rules,” president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said at a press conference following the association AGM yesterday.

Following the new lending guidelines that came into effect on Jan 1, loans are now approved based on net income compared with gross income previously, in addition to which is the need for more documentation.

Aishah

Aishah said the impact was more profound on the lower capacity passenger car segment.

“Customers within this segment will find it harder to get their loans approved.”

She however said that the MAA's members were starting to adapt and familiarise themselves with the new submission procedure for loan approvals.

“Our members are now more in-tune with what is being offered by the banks,” said Aishah.

Total vehicle sales fell 25% to 40,948 units in January 2012 from 54,781 units in the same month last year. This was not only attributed to tighter hire purchase loan approvals, but also to the shorter working month as a result of the Chinese New Year holidays and impact from Thailand's flood disaster, which had yet to recover fully.

Sales of vehicles, however, rebounded in February to rise 9% to 44,013 units from 40,387 units a year earlier, boosted by a return of consumers' buying interest, a longer working month and improved performance by the commercial vehicles segment.

Year-to-date February vehicles slipped to 84,961 units from 95,168 units in the previous corresponding period.

According to the MAA, sales volume for March is expected to improve further as the local market adjusts to the stricter requirements of hire purchase application process.

Despite the impact from the new loan approval guidelines, Aishah said the MAA was still maintaining its total industry volume forecast of 615,000 units for this year.

On a separate note, when asked about the status of the National Automotive Policy, Aishah said that it was “more or less finalised.”

“The Government intends to drive exports for Malaysia and make the country a hybrid and electric vehicle hub,” she said, hinting that there could be further liberalisation within the manufacturing sector of the local automotive industry.

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