Valentino Rossi will take on former tyre supplier Michelin in the French company's home event this weekend, as Le Mans opens a critical period of seven races in nine weeks.

Ok.. Who voted for Dani!!!!

Wasn't me, i voted for Valentino  

I can't wait for the race, but I have to work all day. At least it will go quickly.

I can't wait either ...

Will be interesting to see how bridgestone go on this track..

Any of the big four - Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner - could secure their second win of the season at the French Grand Prix, but the 2.597 mile circuit and its uncertain weather can provide surprises.

Last year Chris Vermeulen took full advantage of the soaking wet conditions to secure his first and so far only grand prix victory for Rizla Suzuki. The year before Italian Marco Melandri won for Honda Gresini while the likes of Loris Capirossi, Andrea Dovizioso and Tony Elias have won smaller class races at the legendary circuit.

Nevertheless, it will be a real upset if one of the championship top four doesn't win on Sunday.

Rossi and Lorenzo show moves on to Le Mans
Le Mans  




Fiat Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo travel to the legendary Le Mans circuit this weekend looking to continue their trailblazing start to the 2008 MotoGP World Championship after dominating the headlines over the opening four rounds. The pair have three pole positions, seven podiums and two wins to their credit so far - securing leadership of the Teams’ and Constructors’ World Championships and delighting their army of fans around the world.
The last round in Shanghai was their most impressive yet, with Rossi reaping the fruit of a blossoming relationship with Bridgestone tyres to take a dominant first victory of the season and Lorenzo producing a heroic charge to fourth place on his Michelin-shod YZR-M1 despite fracturing both of his ankles during free practice.

The Spaniard, who lies second in the championship, faces another huge test of his mental and physical resistance this weekend after being confined to a wheelchair ever since his return home from China. The damage to his ankles will take months to fully heal but Lorenzo has no more time to put his feet up, with seven races coming thick and fast over the next ten weeks as the season enters its busiest phase. The 21-year-old at least has fond memories of Le Mans, having taken victory there from pole position last season.

Rossi has had five podium finishes in the premier-class at Le Mans, including two victories. The Italian’s success in China was his 89th in all classes of Grand Prix racing, taking him to within just one of Angel Nieto, who lies second in the all-time winners’ list behind Giacomo Agostini.

Le Mans is one of the least technical circuits on the calendar, with the main complication being the first turn - one of the fastest in MotoGP – which is followed by the first of a number of tight chicanes. The rest of the track is made up of short straights and hairpins, calling not just for balance and control under hard and repeated braking, but a neat and swift transfer from full braking to full acceleration on the exit of the corners.

Valentino Rossi; “Last year Le Mans was incredibly disappointing for us - we were hoping for a good result in the dry but the rain came and things didn’t go as planned. This year however we’re going there on a real high after the fantastic result in China and I am confident that we can have a good weekend. China was a very important boost for everyone and a great result for all the hard work that everyone has put in so far this season to get us to this point, and now we have to make the most of this moment and keep pushing like this. Yamaha usually goes very well at Le Mans and, although it’s obviously the first time we’ve been there with Bridgestone, I am confident that we will be strong there. We are nine points from the top of the championship but our rivals are very motivated too so there is no let-up and we must go for the maximum points again. This is the start of the busiest phase of the championship and it’s always hard work but also great fun. Let’s hope we can get this run of races off to the best possible start in France

Davide Brivio - Team Manager; “Le Mans is the start to a very busy period for the championship but on the evidence of the race in China we are ready! Shanghai was a very important race for us because it showed how much progress we have made since Qatar. The engineers did a great job, Valentino was incredible and that has given us all a big boost in confidence and motivation. With seven races over the next ten weeks this is the core of the championship so the timing of Valentino’s first win of the season couldn’t have been better. Four different winners from the first four races is fantastic so now let’s see who can be the first to repeat. We all feel positive it can be us and we can’t wait to fight for it. In 2006 we almost won at Le Mans but for a technical problem and last year we were denied by the rain so we feel we have unfinished business there and we look forward to fighting again.”

Jorge Lorenzo; “I was lucky in China! If I’d have landed differently it could have ruled me out until the middle of the season and certainly prevented me from enjoying myself as much as I am in this early part of the season. In China I realised the risks in this sport; as riders we have to take a lot of risks and that Sunday in Shanghai, with my emotions and my feelings, I knew I had to go through it and take risks again because my team were depending on me in the box. I won’t be at 100% for Le Mans but my mental condition should make me strong at one of my favourite circuits and I am really looking forward to the race just the same. I know my team will help me all that they can and hopefully I will be in good enough shape to challenge strongly, as I have at the first four races. China was unfortunate but now I have to move on!”

Danielle Romagnoli - Team manager; “Obviously Jorge is a little more injured than we first realised in China and the broken astragalus in his right ankle is a problem but we’re hopeful he can be fit enough to fight again in France. At the moment there is not much we can do but wait for the most recent updates from Doctor Mir and see how he feels when he gets on the bike on Friday. As far as learning the track with this bike is concerned we have seen in the previous two races that this is not an issue for Jorge, particularly at Shanghai, where he effectively only had only one free practice session. Le Mans is traditionally a ‘friendly’ track for Yamaha, who have had a lot of good results there in the past. We’re at the start of an intense period of GP activity and the next few months will be interesting. For us the most important thing is to stay concentrated.”


Valentino Rossi Information
Age: 29
Lives: Tavullia, Italy
Bike: Yamaha
GP victories: 89 (62 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 196 (135 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 49
World Championships: 7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP)

Jorge Lorenzo Information
Age: 21
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Yamaha
GP victories: 22 (1 x MotoGP, 17 x 250cc, 4 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Brazil, 2003 (125cc)
First GP: Jerez, Spain, 2002 (125cc)
GP starts: 98 (4 x MotoGP, 48 x 250cc, 46 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 29 (3 x MotoGP, 23 x 250cc, 3 x 125cc)
World Championships: 2 x 250cc

Le Mans: Record Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1′35.087

Le Mans: Best Lap
C. Edwards (Yamaha) 2007, 1′33.616

Grand Prix Le Mans 2007 results
1. C.Vermeulen (Suzuki) 50′58.713
2. M.Melandri (Honda) +12.599
3. C.Stoner (Ducati) +27.347
6. V. Rossi (ITA) Yamaha +53.563

Jorge Lorenzo Le Mans 2007 result
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Aprilia 43′12.237 (250cc)

FP1

1. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 34.227 secs
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 34.276 secs
3. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 34.287 secs
4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 34.487 secs
5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 34.630 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 34.886 secs *
7. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 35.047 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 35.073 secs
9. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 35.133 secs
10. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 35.239 secs
11. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 35.256 secs
12. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 35.378 secs
13. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 35.450 secs
14. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 35.678 secs
15. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 35.848 secs
16. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 35.877 secs
17. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 36.039 secs
18. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 36.414 secs

Uccio looks worried, and the 2nd pic Valentino looks terrible !

Poor Lorenzo, gotta feel sorry for the poor bugger....





Jorge Lorenzo suffered a second practice crash on Saturday morning at Le Mans, but is still expected to take part in qualifying this afternoon.

2007 poleman Colin Edwards is the quickest MotoGP rider so far in Le Mans, recording the fastest time in the third Free Practice session.

Poor Jorge his confidence is shot that the moment, but a reality check is always good at his age.

It's hard to be disappointed with fourth on the grid when you see Vale waving at you from his bike and in the garage.


Vale Spirit!  

Jackie, I feel comfortable in voicing my opinion that there will be no full-page dissertation, analyzation, or psychoanalysis of you HERE for voting