Photo of the Day – Nicky Hayden at Jerez

When a Grand Prix champion makes the move to World Superbikes it always generates interest and Nicky Hayden’s switch for 2016 is certainly capturing the imagination of fans. The American has had six days on his Honda before the bikes are sent to Australia and while the former AMA Superbike champ has readopted well to the production based machinery he faces a stern test in 2016 to challenge at the front on his Honda.

For a full gallery of photos from the Jerez test click here

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Photo of the day – Wheelie Wednesday

For the first time in his career Chaz Davies has plenty of stability. The Welshman stays with Ducati for a third consecutive season and after a superb 2015 campaign he’ll start the season as a firm title favourite.

For a full gallery of photos from the Jerez test click here

Photo of the day – Leon Haslam Jerez testing

Winter testing is a time to iron out the kinks and learn about your new machinery. For Leon Haslam this winter is also a time to understand the differences between a World Superbike and a British Superbike. With limited electronics and a move to the GB Moto squad Haslam was busy at Jerez spinning laps and getting back up to BSB speed after spending the last six seasons back on the world stage.

For a full gallery of photos from the Jerez test click here

Miller fractures leg in Motocross accident

Double fracture in right leg for Jack Miller following training accident
Training to ride a MotoGP machine is a task filled with risk. Getting your body and mind in tune for the task of taming the 260+ bhp of a MotoGP bike is a major challenge for any rider and finding the balance between gym work and bike work is a constant issue.

Jack Miller is the latest rider who has fallen afoul of the training conundrum with the Australian fracturing the tibia and fibula of his right leg following a Motocross accident in Belgium on Saturday.

Miller posted an explanation for the accident on his Instragram account, “long story short someone lost control on the up ramp of a triple I had to close my throttle didn’t crash but the impact of the landing did this to my hobbit leg.”

Miller, who will join the Marc VDS squad this year, has already underwent surgery in Barcelona with Dr Eugenio Gimeno.

“Jack was unfortunate to sustain an injury so close to the start of pre-season testing, but riders need to train and there is always some risk when you train on the MX bike,” explained team boss Michael Bartholemy. “The good news is that the injury is not quite as severe as we first thought and that the surgery was successful.

“For a normal person the recovery period after such an injury would be long, but racers aren’t normal people and I’m sure Jack is keen to get back on a bike as soon as possible. What is important now is that we monitor his recovery and that he rides again only when he is fit enough to do so, even if that means him missing the first of the MotoGP pre-season tests in Sepang.”

While the team has refused to rule Miller out of testing at Sepang next month with only 12 days remaining until the teams will arrive in Malaysia it’s almost certain that Miller will not be on track. With Michelin tyres and new electronics to learn time on track will be key over the winter and losing three days could prove costly for any rider.

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Lorenzo answers back 2015 critics

The reigning champion’s focus has now shifted to retaining his title but once again stressed why he deserved to beat Rossi to the crown.

Jorge Lorenzo claimed last year’s world title at the last minute by coming from behind to beat Valentino Rossi to the crown. While the 2015 campaign was an instant classic the champion has been forced to consistently answer critics who have decried his championship.

The final rounds of the season will be remembered for the manner in which Rossi ceded his advantage in the championship chase but for the Spaniard the 18 races of the season showed that he was the deserving champion. Lorenzo said that “I don’t have to demonstrate anything to anybody” when asked about his title.

“For me and for the people who really know about motorbikes and who see all the championship-not only the races, but also the practice sessions-and who see not only the statistics and how everyone rides on the track I deserved the title,” said Lorenzo. “The thing is that Sepang happened. It involved Márquez and Rossi and I was not involved, never on the track [with it]. It’s not my game, it’s something they have to solve all together.

“I will strive to do my best. The statistics speak for themselves: I am the one with more victories, more pole positions, more laps leading, a lot of podiums. I’ve been the fastest one, and the one who deserved the world title.

“Finally, for some circumstances, some conditions, sometimes some bad luck, I lost a lot of points that would have helped me a lot to win the championship easier. Finally the important thing is we won the world title, and this is the thing that we will remember and will stay on the books.”

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“Special effort” needed in 21st season for Rossi

There’s never been a career quite like Valentino Rossi’s and the nine time world champion is doing all he can to compete for another title in his 21st season.

As a nine times world champion Valentino Rossi expects to win every time he lines up on the grid. After he failed to win the title in 2015 however there was a clear sentiment hanging in the Valencia air that the Italian may have lost his last chance to win a tenth title.

Having seen his younger rivals dominate the final third of the season and the manner in which the pressure of the title fight affected Rossi the challenge of once again mounting a title fight should not be underestimated. Entering his 21st season at Grand Prix level the task ahead of Rossi is huge.

It’s often said that for older athletes the task on game day doesn’t change but rather the ancillary tasks become more difficult. Race day is something to enjoy but the slog of training becomes more and more of a test of endurance. Last year Rossi somehow managed to turn back the clock and the manner in which he trained in the gym and used his Ranch showed how unique a rider he is in the history of the sport.

Rossi says that the feeling on the bike, working with his team and how he approaches the season is the same as ever and finding the right motivation is the key for him. His resurgence over the last two years has been incredible and the challenge now is maintaining that level for another season.

Speaking at the launch of the 2016 YZR-M1 the Italian admitted that it will take a “special effort” in the coming season to do so again.

“I think I have to give a special effort to try and stay at the same level of the last two years,” said the Italian. “This is the target because in the last two years, especially in 2015, I was competitive more or less everywhere. Whether we’ll be able to fight to win the championship I don’t know. Last year the start was fantastic; in the first part of the season I was ready to be very fast but you never know.

“This year it is like you start from another point because of the new tyres, everyone needs to understand what will happen in a race weekend and also in the race so it will be different and difficult but we will try to be ready from the beginning. When you become older you try to use your experience to bridge the gap.”

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