| Article 245-1 - MotoGP |
MotoGP
This week, the MotoGP teams re-convene at Sepang in Malaysia, for "Sepang2" with pre-season testing over three days, 22nd to 24th February, and all eyes on Valentino Rossi, as he and his medical team assess his post-operative fitness, following surgery to his shoulder, and he continues to come to terms with the 2011 Ducati, with which he has not always appeared completely comfortable, during testing so far.
The 2011 MotoGP World Championship commences in Qatar, at Losail Circuit, 17th to 20th March.
Meanwhile, Repsol Honda rider, and second placed competitor in the 2010 MotoGP standings, Dani Pedrosa, has been looking forward to the New Year's racing, with Casey Stoner joining the HRC squad, alongside Andrea Dovizioso.
"Ours is a strong team, with Stoner and Dovizioso," said the # 26 rider. "There are also riders who've been very good in the first test, such as Simoncelli and Aoyama. Anybody can give you a surprise."
And on Valentino ......"The great unknown quantity will perhaps be Rossi. It's his first year with Ducati and in Malaysia he wasn't amongst the fastest riders. But Rossi is Rossi, and you can never rely on anything."
One thing seems likely. In 2011 Dani Pedrosa "needs" the MotoGP Championship Title more than ever before, so he will be pulling out all the stops, for the number one position, and to stay ahead of team-mate Stoner.
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