Moto GP 2008 Pre-Season Review Pt2
Only a few more sleeps until the 2008 Moto GP season kicks off in Qatar. Last time at Gadget Freaks we looked at the Ducati factory squad and today we’ll take a look at their main challenger- the Fiat Yamaha team and the satellite Tech 3 Yamaha team.
What a line up both Yamaha teams have this year. Desperate to reclaim the Moto GP crown they have a line-up which is like a who’s who of World Motorcycle Champions. In the Fiat garage of course Valentino Rossi will head the team with reigning 2 time 250cc World Champ Jorge Lorenzo making the move up from the quarter litre class this year. Over in the Tech 3 pit are Superbike legends ColinEdwards and James Toseland. Mr. Toseland is of course 2 time (and reigning) WorldSuperbike champion and Edwards won it in 2000. All in all the four Yamaha riders for 2008 have 12 World Championships between them. Not a bad team eh?
Never far from controversy and the media spotlight, Valentino Rossi( 7 time World Champion) has managed to get himself a deal to run Bridgestone tyres this season whilst all the other Yamaha campaigners are on Michelins. Rossi lost his crown for the second year running in 2007 and has elected to jump ship from the French tyre maufacturer causing somewhat of a split in the Yamaha camp as they must run different garages this year as to protect their tyre technology. Time will tell if ‘The Doctor’ (Valentino Rossi) has made the right choice as Michelin have dominated GP motorcycle racing for a decade or more only losing to Casey Stoner and Ducati last year.
Now let’s take a peek at what the Yamaha camp has chosen as their weapon of choice for 2008.
Valentino Rossi 46 & Jorge Lorenzo 48- Note the differing Tyre logos!
Engine:Liquid cooled inline four-cylinder, four stroke, six speed gearbox.
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