IN THE POINTS American MotoGP hopeful racing LeMans Newport Beach, CA Three races into his rookie World Championship debut Cameron Beaubier has already scored in the points, with a 15th place position at the last round (Jerez). After a short break spent in Barcelona, “Sunshine” is now taking his momentum to the historic LeMans circuit this weekend, for the fourth MotoGP round of the season. The will be the first visit to the French track for the sixteen year old. Despite the lack of experience at the track, he is looking forward to race action again, after his promising result at Jerez. “It was nice to go to a track (Jerez) that I know. It was super windy all weekend. I struggled with it in practice but felt a lot more comfortable in qualifying and ended up 17th. In Sunday’s Warmup the conditions were nice, not too windy or anything. But for the race the wind came back. So we decided to lower the bike a little for more stability in the wind. I got a good start, went up to around 11th on the first laps, but then kept falling back through the pack. I finally found a good rhythm and by the end I finished 15th for my first point.” “After Jerez I came back to Barcelona and hung out and trained with my friend (Spanish CEV rider) Johnny Rosell. Thanks to Red Bull we were both able to go to the F1 race in Montmelo (Catalunya). It was awesome! Then we went to the Barca soccer (futbul) game so I’ve had a fun week! I’m becoming a fan of the team and it’s fun to go to the games. They only have a few games left and if they beat Valencia then they are basically Champs and they go to Rome.” Whether it’s taking in a Barcelona soccer game, going to a Formula One race, or playing video games with Casey Stoner, the young rider from Roseville, California is making the most of his big international opportunity and is, at the moment, living a charmed life. Cam is not only blessed with a Casey Stoner-issued nickname, but more importantly with a special friendship that he has developed with both Casey and wife Adriana over the past few years. “The Stoners have been so great to me. They have taken me in and it’s awesome because being in Europe, so far away from home, without your parents is hard at 16! So we’re all so thankful for what the Stoners have done for me and I can’t thank them enough.” “But for now I’m really looking forward to LeMans. The track looks difficult but fun. Wish me luck!” More, from a press release issued by Monster Yamaha Tech 3: Tech 3 celebrates 20th birthday in Le Mans The French MotoGP race at the iconic Le Mans circuit provides a fitting venue for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team to celebrate a special milestone in its history this weekend. Formed by Herve Poncharal and Guy Coulon, 2009 marks the 20th year of Grand Prix world championship competition for the French-based squad. Testament to the passion and devotion of Poncharal and Coulon, the landmark anniversary means Tech 3 has supported the Grand Prix series for almost a third of its history – the premier motorcycle championship commemorating its 60th campaign in 2008. As well as being a mainstay of the Grand Prix arena since 1989, Tech 3 has played an important role in contributing to France’s rich motorsport heritage. The high point for Tech 3 was undoubtedly Olivier Jacque’s success in the 2000 world 250cc championship the last time a French rider has won a world title representing a French team. That memorable season was the second year of a successful collaboration between Tech 3 and Yamaha, which remains stronger than ever today. And under Poncharal’s inspirational leadership the Tech 3 Team has become established as one of the most high profile and respected in world motorcycle racing. To commemorate the 20th anniversary celebrations, the Grand Prix de France organisation will be paying its own tribute to the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in Le Mans. Herve Poncharal – Team Manager “It’s appropriate that Tech 3 celebrates its 20th birthday in our home race in Le Mans this weekend. It’s incredible to think when Guy and I first set out on this amazing adventure that Tech 3 would be going stronger than ever as we eagerly anticipate our third decade of racing at world championship level. We could never have imagined when we started back in 1989 that we would be a leading team in the premier motorcycle racing world championship class. What seemed a distant dream then is now reality, thanks to the hard work and commitment of many people who have shown unbelievable dedication to make the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team what it is today. I thank each and every person who has helped us since 1989 and it has been an honour and a pleasure to manage such a great team. We can look back at the last 20 years with immense pride. We have had some truly unforgettable experiences and we’ve been fortunate to have some of the world’s best talent riding for Tech 3. Olivier’s victory in the 250cc championship in 2000 will be etched in my mind forever. We always had a dream for a French team to win a world title with a French rider. Accomplishing that mission with OJ is something I will always cherish. We can also look forward with great optimism to the future. Racing is our passion and I hope we have made a small contribution to the huge success that MotoGP now is. I hope too that we have been a team fans around the globe have enjoyed following and will continue to do so. Here’s to the next 20!” More, from a press release issued by Playboy LCR Honda: DE PUNIET BOOSTS HIS CONFIDENCE AHEAD LE MANS WEEK END Le Mans, 14 May: After the fantastic 4th place at Jerez race track, Randy de Puniet and LCR Honda MotoGP Team moved to France for the fourth round of the season at Le Mans historic circuit. The 28-year-old is determined to get a good result here riding his Honda RC212V no. 14 ahead thousands of French fans. Le Mans circuit is famous for its “24-hour” car and motorcycle races and it is challenging for its stop-start nature. Randy has got good memories of the 4.185 km track as he obtained the podiums 4 times in 250cc class and, after the last Spanish week end, he is confident to put his machine at the front. Randy: “Last week end was simply perfect for me and the squad but we keep our feet on the ground. The championship is still long and it won’t be easy but it seems we are working in the right direction. I am 7th overall in the provisional standing and will try to get as many points as possible. Racing here in Le Mans is always something special and the fans are very warm with me. But I have to keep my focus and get as consistent as possible. This track is very interesting and like the stop-and-go braking points. My bike is quite competitive now but we ill probably miss some acceleration. However the biggest problem is the weather again: forecast are not good!”. More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: The MotoGP paddock in Le Mans on Thursday bore stark contrast to the Sunday of the Spanish round at Jerez two weeks previous, with a quiet, relaxed atmosphere and clouds hovering above the historic French track. Early in the day a Paris press conference for reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi was preceded by the Italian riding a Yamaha R1 street bike through the country’s capital, doing a burnout underneath the Eiffel Tower. The event saw the Fiat Yamaha rider make his way down to Champs-Élysées, also passing the Arc de Triomphe, and was put on by one of Rossi’s personal sponsors, Monster. After a speedy helicopter trip to the Le Mans circuit, Rossi joined up with Casey Stoner, Colin Edwards, Randy de Puniet and Marco Melandri for the Official Pre-Event press conference. Already there had been some confident claims from the men looking to take the victory this weekend, with Ducati rider Stoner a prime candidate despite his lack of visits to the top step of the podium in France. “You can change things around anytime,” said the 2007 MotoGP World Champion. “This is quite a difficult track for me, and maybe that’s something to do with me not being able to get my head around the circuit. We’ve had lot of podium opportunities at this track, but never managed the result that we want. I seem to flow well here, but come race day we haven’t got it together. This year we’re confident of being competitive the result in Jerez proved that.” Besides the expected battle between Stoner and Rossi -who described the Le Mans track as “always very good for Yamaha, and especially last year with the Bridgestone tyres”- special interest will be given to home rider De Puniet when he lines up on the grid on Sunday. The LCR Honda man has been building up his confidence over the opening three races, and placed fourth at the previous round. “The race in Spain was an important boost for my home Grand Prix,” said De Puniet. “However, we have to start from zero here. We’ve been getting better with the tyres and are looking to improve our setup with every race.” Marco Melandri rounded off proceedings with a review of his stunning resurgence in form since moving to Hayate Racing, topped off by his own phenomenal fifth place last time out. The Italian won the 2006 Grand Prix de France, and finished on the podium in 2007. Practice sessions for the French round of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship begin at 1.55pm local time for the premier class, returning to a one hour duration. Riders had pushed for the move over the past few weeks, but the notoriously no-frills Edwards had the last word and a different take on the switch. “Just tell everybody to come on Sunday. We’ll warm-up, qualify and race. With the Yamaha we have things pretty good right off the bat, so it would work to our advantage!” More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing Team: Canepa celebrates 21 years in Le Mans The weekend of racing begins for the Pramac Racing Team with the celebration of Niccolò Canepa twenty-first birthday. In Le Mans, France, the Italian rider celebrates his first birthday in the MotoGP paddock: an extra motivation for the rider who will ride on this track for the first time in his career. His teammate, Mika Kallio, knows well the French track and will try to forget the unlucky performance in Jerez de la Frontera where he was obligated to retire due to some problems with the rear brake. The Finnish rider didn’t make it to step on the podium in the last two years in the quarter liter class in Le Mans. He has stepped on the French podium in the 125 class when he finished respectively third and second in 2005 and 2006. Fabiano Sterlacchini – Pramac Racing Technical Director “It starts for us another hard weekend. We absolutely have to forget Jerez race, where due to various things we didn’t make it to conquer any points with any of our riders. The weather forecast doesn’t give us great hopes as on Saturday, when we have most of the time to practice, it should rain all day long. I want to wish happy birthday to Niccolò who turns 21 today. I hope this will be for him a good motivation to obtain a good result.” Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing rider “Finally back on track after the unlucky Jerez weekend. Sunday after the race I was really disappointed. I knew that I could have been again in the top ten but all of us know how it went. Now I will try to conquer a good result here on this fun and unpredictable track due to its weather conditions. I hope to enjoy the weekend and take home as many world championship points as possible for me and for the Pramac Racing Team.” Niccolò Canepa – Pramac Racing rider “It’s nice to celebrate my twenty-first birthday in the MotoGP Paddock. My Team has organized a surprised party in the box preparing an amazing chocolate cake. I am very happy to be part of this Team and I hope to be able to give them many satisfactions in the shortest time possible. I have never ridden here in Le Mans and I know it will be another hard weekend, but for what I have seen on TV and going around the circuit with my scooter it seems like a nice and fun track. I have everything I need to do well.”