Yamaha Sterilgarda rider Cal Crutchlow has said he is "speaking closely" with MotoGP teams, including his Italian employers, about a move to the top flight next season.
His first World Superbike Championship race wins at Silverstone - and pole position - have put him fifth in the standings, a rise of five places.

"I am an honest guy. I won’t say I’m not talking to a couple of the MotoGP teams because then I’d be lying," he told Crash.

"I’m speaking closely with Yamaha to go there next year. They know what I can do on the bike, they have the data every week.

"They see what happens with the bike in World Superbike racing and I won a World Superpsort title for them too, the first one in quite a few years.

"The Supersport guys were struggling for a few years, so when I came in and did well for them throughout the whole championship, they were happy and moved me up to the Superbike team, so the natural progression is to move me up again.

"They are aware of what’s happening with this bike and aware that I shouldn’t be where I am in the championship, so if I continue doing what I’m doing, then maybe there is a possibility of me being there."

He has struggled at times over race distance this season on the 2009 championship-winning R1, something he puts down to a lack of updates on the bike rather than his outright pace.

He has taken five pole positions from 10 attempts in 2010.

"Where I am in the championship doesn’t reflect that (my pace) at all," he added. "Luckily for me, most people in this paddock know that and Yamaha also know that.

"I have no problem doing the fast pace and laps, but they (Yamaha) can see how difficult it is - they can see it on the data. They aren’t stupid.

"We’ve had no updates with the bike, other than 12 extra horsepower, but that just made things worse. Yamaha coming to the table with nothing new all year is disappointing but everyone is battling the economy because development costs are horrendous.

"The only teams that have test teams are Aprilia and BMW and they are the ones making big strides every weekend. You can’t have a development or test team organised within two days. You need people out in Japan riding the bike, but it costs millions and it is not the economy for Yamaha to be able to do it.

"So we have to do it at a race circuit instead. But we will keep plugging away and all I can do is my best. I am trying my hardest and I think it shows."

The Coventry rider has been earmarked for a potential Tech 3 Yamaha spot - particularly if Yamaha WSB predecessor Ben Spies is signed up for the factory squad.

Valentino Rossi is expected to move to Ducati with Spies joining MotoGP standings leader Jorge Lorenzo in the main line-up.
Crash.Net / Eurosport

The third event of the 2010 Mondello Superbike Championship moves the new series on to the County Kildare circuits’ International track layout for the first time, with two day’s of Action this coming weekend (August 7th & 8th).

Over the previous three rounds the main battle has been in the Superbike Class where Waterford’s Brian McCormick and Portadown’s Marshall Neil have traded victories to sit locked together at the head of the championship standings. Just one point separates them with third placed David Haire more than thirty points in arrears. The two front runners will have some additional competition this weekend with the first Mondello appearance of the year by ISB front runners Kirk Jamison and Denver Robb along with a number of other ISB racers. The Cup class for less experienced riders continues to be led by Martin K Murphy from Balyfoyle who also sits fifth in the overall championship.

The Supersport class has been dominated by Glenn Irwin who has taken five wins from five races so far. Next best is Gary Jeffers who is forty points adrift. Irwin’s closest challenger from the first event of the year Jonny Buckley returns this weekend having missed an event and with Brian McCormick also competing in Supersport this time around, Irwin will really have to prove his worth to retain his 100% record. The Cup class battle is much closer with Jordan Bonner, Dermot Deegan and Austen Wilson the top three.

All of the classes will race three times over the weekend with qualifying and the first race taking place on Saturday. Sunday’s programme will see the remaining two races per class run off, with the third race for Superbikes and Supersport and the Grand Final as the features. The headline acts will race between 14:00 and 16:00 with pre race grid interviews and podium presentations as part of the show.

Alongside the Superbikes and Supersport the remaining races will be made up of a combined grid of 125cc and 250cc two-strokes, Sidecars, Lightweight Supersport, the combined Pre ’97 and Supertwin machines and the ‘B’ races for Superbike and Supersport Cup riders. Admission for each day is €15.00 but information on ticket discounts can be found on www.mondellopark.ie/specials.

For full timetable and championship information see the Mondello Park web site

The HM Plant Honda team had a valuable weekend at the World Superbike Championship round at Silverstone, working hard on various settings ahead of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship event later in the season, with Josh Brookes scoring championship points in a hard-fought twelfth place in the second race at the Northamptonshire circuit.

The team used the event to adjust various settings ahead of the penultimate round of BSB later in the season, when the championship reaches the final stages, as both riders continued to improve their pace throughout the weekend.

Josh finished the opening race in sixteenth place, but having made some setting changes ahead of the second race he was able to steadily move up the order, passing Noriyuki Haga in the closing stages to finish twelfth. Kiyo also improved his pace and after finishing 21st in race one he moved to 16th in the final race of the day.

Brookes said: “The weekend didn’t get off to the best start for me, as we had an engine problem on Friday in the first practice session and that cost me time on track. In the second session we continued working on the set-up and our times continued to improve but we were playing catch-up as what worked at Snetterton for the BSB round wasn’t working here. We worked really hard with different shock and fork settings as this track is so different from any other we have raced on this season so we had to really get our heads down and make changes to see how they would affect us. We did continually improve though each time we were out on circuit and then the second race with twelfth was better than the first, so we were making steps forward. It gives us a better idea of what to expect later in the season when we are back for BSB and we have to look towards the podium again at Brands Hatch next weekend.”

Kiyonari said: “This weekend has been useful for us as we are now in a better position ahead of the BSB round at the circuit later in the year. We have worked very hard here, every day, trying different settings and it has taken time but I think in the end we will benefit – not just here but also at the next BSB rounds at Brands Hatch and Cadwell Park. I need to thank the HM Plant Honda team as they worked to change the settings and make me faster and improve. I am disappointed that we couldn’t be nearer the front, but it has been a good test and now I am looking forward to Brands Hatch next weekend.”

Team Manager Havier Beltran concluded: “This weekend has been a very positive test for the whole HM Plant Honda team. We came here with the intention of gaining as much knowledge as possible in order to be in a stronger position when we return for the penultimate round of the BSB championship. We have had a few chassis issues, however the track time has been invaluable and we have made steady progress with both riders throughout the weekend. We now have a good basis to start with when we return in September which will prove vital as the championship will be reaching a critical stage.”

BARSTOW • Criminal suspects who flee into the Barstow desert may not be able to elude capture much longer, as the Barstow Police Department has recently purchased motorcycles capable of driving on and off-road.

“People are aware they can’t be caught,” said Barstow Police Chief Dianne Burns. “(Currently) officers have to walk in the desert.”

The police department purchased two Suzuki Enduro motorcycles at a cost of $12,294.

Burns said that the motorcycles, helmets, communication equipment, and other related gear were all purchased locally and funded by a grant, costing the city no money.

Officers who want to be eligible to ride the motorcycles must obtain a motorcycle license and complete a 40 hour on road/off road training course, and no pay incentive will be offered to those who want to be trained to ride the bikes.

Burns said that there are many opportunities where the off-road motorcycles would be an invaluable resource.

“Just last week we had a suspect who stole a vehicle from a home and fled into the desert,” said Burns. “There are residential burglaries where people drive up to a house on a quad and take off.”

Burns also said that the motorcycles would be used to control a homeless “snowbird” camp that forms every winter by the Flying J truck stop near the intersection of Lenwood Road and Interstate Highway 15.

“(People from the camp) break into cars, panhandle, and start ‘hubcap fires’ using hubcaps they have stolen,” said Burns. “We just didn’t know it was there.”

The police department decided to purchase motorcycles instead of four-wheel off-road vehicles because the motorcycles can be driven on the street, while four-wheel vehicle would need to be brought to the site on a truck or trailer.

Burns said that the police department will begin using the motorcycles as soon as officers complete the training. Half of Barstow police officers already possess motorcycle licenses.

Nearly every day after work, Chantelle Bykerk hops on her KTM 200XC motorbike and takes off riding up into the hills around her Silver Creek home.

Bykerk, 18, has qualified to go to the eastern rounds of the 2010 Canadian National Enduro Championships. Currently, Bykerk is second in the national standings in the women’s off-road racing division.

Though the 2009 Salmon Arm Secondary grad was fundraising to pay for getting herself and her motorbike to Ontario and Quebec in September, Bykerk has now decided to forego the second rounds of competition.

“It really sucks, but when we looked at it, it’s just too expensive. I had a pretty good chance at winning it this year, but I’ll try for next year. I can still finish the local series here.”

The Canadian National race has eastern and western rounds, explained Bykerk. The western rounds were held in Alberta and Penticton. Not all competitors manage to get to both segments of the race, held at opposite ends of the country. Those riders that do make both rounds, vie for the championship title.

“The girl who was in first place isn’t going out east,” explained Bykerk. “So, I had a good chance at finishing first.”

Bykerk hopes to win the championships next year.

Off-road racing, explained Bykerk, is extremely challenging and is different than most motorbike racing.

“It’s in the bush, like on a deer trail. It’s not a wide and open track. The trail is really tight and technical. It’s really hard. At the end of the day, you’re tired.”

Off-road racers, she explained, might go over logs, roots, rocks and take sharp corners.

The Canadian nationals are unique said Bykerk, in that riders compete in three short timed tests: extreme, motocross and enduro.

“The nationals are way different than what we normally do. It’s very spectator friendly. We’re not doing a big 60-kilometre loop that takes two hours. The tests are quite short.”

In the Penticton extreme section, Bykerk lost her front brakes, causing her to finish in third place.

Bykerk also races on the Okanagan series circuit as well as a Pacific Northwest circuit that includes races all over B.C. and into the U.S. When asked how many races she’s attended this year, Bykerk laughingly admits she’s lost count.

“I’m gone almost every weekend. It’s been really busy.”

Bykerk travels to races with her two brothers Kody and Bernie who, along with her Dad, taught her how to ride a motorbike. Her brothers, however, were tough teachers.

“The boys always took me riding but I had to learn how to get over things on my own. If I got stuck, I had no help. They’d leave me so I had to keep up.”

Bykerk began riding in 2004 and racing in 2005. Now, she has several sponsors including Fox Racing and Vernon Motorsports. She plans to get a larger bike next year.

“It’s time. They get worn out. This is my second year on this bike. I’d like to get a 250 either in the spring or fall.”

With the championships on hold, Bykerk is hoping to place in the top five in the Interior circuit men’s division that she sometimes competes in along with her brothers.

Bykerk has had some crashes but said she’s been very lucky.

“There’s been nothing serious.”

The motorbike racer plans to continue racing, doing more advanced races and seeking increased sponsorship.

Bykerk, who is a barber at Martina’s Classic Barber Shop in Salmon Arm, encourages other women interested in motorbike racing to give the sport a try.

“It gets better the more you ride. You become more confident.”

First, they announced that they're finishing up a "radical new motorcycle" (cruiser?), and today they dangled carrot in the form of a bike with "class-leading performance" that will be unveiled at the Red Bull US Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The reveal will occur on Ducati Island on July 24th at 1:00 PM, and it's safe to say they won't be unveiling their alleged cruiser... that is, unless Ducati enjoys being pelted by airborne tomatoes from rabid race fans.

I won't be making it up to Monterey this year, but I'll let y'all know about the new bike as soon as info becomes available.

Ultimate MotorCycling (UMC) and Pole Position Travel are teaming up with a very special offer around this year's Laguna Seca MotoGP race.

We've got one very special hospitality package available: the Ultimate MotorCycling Pole Position Club. Located right next to the start finish line, this special package includes breakfast and lunch plus beverages on Saturday & Sunday, paddock pass, closed circuit TV in hospitality, and a three day general admission ticket.

The Ultimate MotorCycling Pole Position Club also includes a pass to a Friday night party with Mark Neale, Director of Faster!, a selection of Ultimate Motorcycling swag, and access to Pole Position guides.

Normally this hospitality package would go for over $700 per person, but through this special promotion, you'll get TWO Ultimate Motorcycling Pole Position Club tickets for only $595. That's right, a $1400 package for two, for less than the price of one.

Only one of these special 2 for 1 packages is available, so if you're interested, email usa@polepositiontravel.com right away.

There are a limited amount of other packages available for Laguna from Pole Position Travel, and Ultmate MotorCycling readers can enjoy a 5% discount off any booking between the Laguna and Indy MotoGP races by using the code UMX10 when ordering online.

Check out Pole Position Travel's website at http://www.polepositiontravel.com/

American MotoGP riders Nicky Hayden from Owensboro, KY (Ducati GP10), Ben Spies from Longview, Texas (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Colin Edwards from Houston TX (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) will compete in the Sachsenring MotoGP race.

Hayden is tied for fourth in the MotoGP World Championship standings, with Spies eighth and Edwards tied for 10th. Kenny Noyes (Borrego Springs, Calif., Jack&Jones by Antonio Banderas) will compete in the Moto2 race. Noyes is 17th in the Moto2 World Championship standings.

The Sachsenring is the sixth track out of the first eight races that Spies has had to learn from scratch and the reigning World Superbike champion spent most of the session learning the tight and twisty layout using a hard compound Bridgestone rear tyre.

But once he switched to the softer option he is likely to select for Sunday's 30-lap race as track temperature hit a sizzling 55 degrees, he was immediately able to surge up the leaderboard and catapult himself into contention for a top five.

Just five minutes remained when Spies clocked his best time and it was only a late attack from fellow American Nicky Hayden that denied the 25-year-old a stunning top three position.

Colin Edwards started round eight of the 2010 MotoGP world championship opting to run a radically different set-up on his YZR-M1 machine.

The experienced Texan's new dire ction saw his crew move more weight to the rear of his bike, while Edwards also modified his own style to change his body position to help turning performance.

Edwards was immediately able to ride at a comfortable and consistently fast pace with the revised setting and found himself in third place at one stage in a closely fought session.

Edwards declared himself satisfied with the outcome of the changes and he's confident with more time to fine-tune the new set-up that he has the potential to be much higher up the timesheets during tomorrow's qualifying session.

Nicky Hayden battled hard to overcome the intense heat and tortuously tight layout of the Sachsenring circuit today, setting the second and third fastest times in the opening free practice for the German Grand Prix.

Hayden, meanwhile, put the best aspects of the base set-up of his two machines together for a final run that saw him improve by 0.8 seconds and charge up to third place.

Nicky Hayden (after practice July 16) says: "All in all, not a bad first day for us. It was really important to get as much information as we could today, to try all the tires and a couple of different setups because it looks like there's a good chance of rain tomorrow. We started out struggling quite a bit - right in the beginning it wasn't too good, but I switched bikes and immediately got a better feeling."

"There are a couple of parts on the track where I am quite fast but a few sections where I'm losing a lot, and every tenth counts around here. I mean, a lot of tracks you look for tenths, but around here literally half-a-tenth can make a big difference. But it's a cool track; I like it. That fast corner out the back is a lot of fun."

Ben Spies (after practice July 16) says: "I'm really happy to be so high up after the first session, and I think I figured out this track pretty quickly. It is good to start the weekend in the top five, and that gives us a platform to build on. This circuit is pretty tight and twisty and there are a lot of left-hand corners, but I like it because there is quite a lot of elevation that makes it fun. It felt like being out on a dirt track bike, and I see Nicky is right up there, too. It's a positive start, and that's all I can ask for."

Colin Edwards (after practice July 16) says: "The nature of this track means the times are always close, and I'm not even a second off the best time, but I'm down in 13th. I'm only around three-tenths behind Ben, but he's nine places further up than me. I've completely changed the setting of the bike here, and that's meant putting way more weight on the rear than I've ever done."

"My riding style is typically all over the front end but with the results not being what I've wanted or expected so far this season, it was time to change something. So I've just got to trust the front and work on the rear. I'm putting more of my body weight on the rear and with the setting of the bike. We've shifted a lot of weight back on the rear, and it works really good so far and it feels easier to make the lap time."

Quote of the Event: "Immediately after the crash, the doctors said it could be five months before I was fit to return. Maybe five months to play football, but I just need to ride the bike." - Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi, talking about his return to racing just six weeks after suffering a compound fracture of his lower right leg

MotoGP PREVIEW: GRAND PRIX OF GERMANY

EVENT: Grand Prix of Germany

WHERE: Sachsenring Circuit, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany. Circuit is 2.281 miles (3.671 km), with 13 turns. Race is 30 laps.

WHEN: Sunday, July 18. It is the eighth of 18 events this season.

2009 RACE WINNER: Valentino Rossi, by .099 of a second over Jorge Lorenzo

2009 POLE WINNER: Jorge Lorenzo, 1 minute, 32.520 seconds

U.S. TV: 8-9 a.m. (ET), Sunday, July 18, SPEED (live). Moto2: 1-2 p.m. (ET), Tuesday, July 20, SPEED. 125cc: Noon-1 p.m. (ET), Tuesday, July 20, SPEED.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company is pleased to announce that it has joined the list of exhibitors at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 2010 MotoGP Red Bull Indianapolis GP August 27-29.

Harley-Davidson activities and events at the Speedway will include:
• New 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycles display
• New technology and customization displays from H-D’s Genuine Parts & Accessories and MotorClothes departments
• XR1200 Racing Dyno Experience

In addition to these events free to all race ticket holders, members of the Harley Owners Group will have the opportunity to purchase a special event ticket package

including a choice of reserved grandstand seating in Southwest Vista or Stand H. These three-day tickets – normally priced at $100 – will be available exclusively to H.O.G. members for $85. Additionally, each participating H.O.G. member will also receive:

• An official Red Bull Indianapolis GP Event Program
• An Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Era Cinch Bag
• A 10-percent discount coupon valid at participating IMS Retail locations
• Backstretch parking for personal motorcycle
• A parade lap on personal motorcycle around the GP course (Aug 27, 8-10 a.m.; or Aug 30, 8-9 a.m.)
• H.O.G. ticket packages may be purchased by calling 1-866-221-8775

Motorcycle racing fans also won’t want to miss the Indy Mile round of the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com. This race will be held Saturday evening, August 28, at the nearby Indiana State Fairgrounds. Experience the thrill of AMA Flat Track racing when stars like Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth and others take on the historic Indy Mile circuit.

Full Saturday free practice times from the German MotoGP, round eight of the 2010 world championship.

Reigning seven time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi is making his return to MotoGP action this weekend, after missing the last four races due to a broken right leg.

Alex de Angelis also returns to MotoGP, in place of the injured Hiroshi Aoyama at Interwetten Honda.

The track was damp at the start of the session, then dried. Marco Simoncelli escaped injury in a fast lowside fall.

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 22.253s

2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 22.393s

3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 22.686s

4. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 1m 22.753s

5. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1m 22.859s

6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 22.988s

7. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 23.062s

8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 23.202s

9. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 1m 23.262s

10. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 23.392s

11. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 23.395s

12. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1m 23.674s

13. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 23.703s

14. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 1m 23.709s

15. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 23.751s

16. Alex de Angelis RSM Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1m 23.839s

17. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 23.844s

Fastest Friday time:

Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 22.521s

2009 German Grand Prix - 19/07/2009:

Pole position:

Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha 1m 32.520s (wet)

Fastest race lap:

Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 22.126s