Sports

Thursday October 18, 2007

Motor Racing: Rossi loses his aura

By LIM TEIK HUAT

New colours: Valentino Rossi showing off the new graphics on his helmet. His dominance in Sepang will come under threat from the new generation of riders.
SEPANG: Valentino Rossi has been the most successful rider at the Sepang circuit but the younger brigade will be out to put a stop to his dominance in the Polini Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Sunday.

Rossi has been dominating the premier class of motorcycle racing for the last five years after the retirement of Australian legend Mick Doohan.

But the torch has been passed on to the younger generation. Rossi relinquished his MotoGP world title to American Nicky Hayden last season.

This year, Rossi has had another season littered with disappointments on his Yamaha bike and it paved the way for Australian Casey Stoner to secure the world title with three races to spare at the Japan GP in Motegi last month.

The 21-year-old Stoner went on to chalk up his ninth victory of the season in the Australian GP last Sunday.

While Rossi has an impeccable record in Malaysia, having finished on the podium for the last six years, including four victories, American John Hopkins from the Rizla Suzuki team does not think that the Italian can prevail this time.

“It has not been a good year for Rossi. He has a very good record in Sepang but I don't think it will be the Rossi show again,” said the 24-year-old Hopkins.

“The man to beat here is Casey Stoner, who I think has been in superb form. It is all about the young riders doing the job these days and I think what riders like Casey achieved is just good for the sport.”

Hopkins is in fourth spot in the championship standings on 165 points and he still has a shot at overtaking Daniel Pedrosa of Spain for third position if he does well in Sepang and in the season's finale in Valencia next month.

Pedrosa has 201 points – 29 points behind Rossi. Stoner has an unassailable 322 points.

Hopkins, who has finished on the podium three times this year, fancies his chances of emulating what Kenny Roberts did for Suzuki, winning the Malaysian GP in 1999 and 2000.

Fast food: American Suzuki rider John Hopkins (left) and KTM’s Mika Kallio of Finland learning to make roti canai at a Hari Raya open house at Sepang International Circuit Wednesday.
Victory would also be a fitting farewell present from Hopkins, who will ride for Kawasaki next year.

“I would not be racing in MotoGP if I don't think I have a chance to win a race,” he said.

“I have not won a race yet and it will be great if I can do it on what is one of my favourite tracks. If the track stays dry, there is a strong possibility that we (he and Australian team-mate Chris Vermeulen) can do well here.”

The 25-year-old Vermeulen is in fifth spot in the standings – five points behind Hopkins.

In Sepang last year, Hopkins finished fifth in the race won by Rossi.

THE PROGRAMMES

TOMORROW

9.00-9.45am: 125cc free practice I

10.00-11.00am: MotoGP free practice I

11.15am-12.15pm: 250cc free practice I

1.05-1.35pm: 125cc qualifying I

1.50-2.50pm: MotoGP free practice II

3.05-3.50pm: 250cc qualifying I

4.05-4.25pm: Production bikes and Kawasaki free practice

4.30-4.50pm: Aprilia Cup free practice

4.55-5.15pm: National Superbikes and Super Sports free practice

5.20-5.40pm: Production bikes and Kawasaki qualifying

5.45-6.05pm: Aprilia Cup free practice

6.10-6.30pm: National Superbikes and Super Sports qualifying

SATURDAY

9.00-9.45am: 125cc free practice II

10.00-11.00am: MotoGP free practice III

11.15am-12.15pm: 250cc free practice II

12.20-12.50pm: VIP Village pit lane walk

12.20pm: Ducati two-seater bike demo

1.05-1.35pm: 125cc qualifying II

1.50-2.50pm: MotoGP qualifying

3.05-3.50pm: 250cc qualifying II

4.00-4.45pm: Pit Walkabout – public with pit pass

4.45pm: BMW stunt show

5.00pm: Production bikes and Kawasaki race – Heat I (6 laps)

5.30pm: National Superbikes and Super Sports race – Heat I (10 laps)

6.00pm: Aprilia Cup race – Heat I (8 laps)

SUNDAY

9.40-10.00am: 125cc warm-up

10.10-10.30am: 250cc warm-up

10.40-11.05am: MotoGP warm-up

11.00-11.35am: VIP Village pit lane walk

11.10am: Ducati two-seater bike demo

12.00pm: 125cc race (19 laps)

1.15pm: 250cc race (20 laps)

3.00pm: MotoGP race (21 laps)

4.00-4.30pm: BMW stunt show

4.45pm: National Superbikes and Super Sports race – Heat II (10 laps)

5.15pm: Aprilia Cup race – Heat II (8 laps)

6.00pm: Production bikes and Kawasaki race – Heat II (6 laps)

AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS

SATURDAY (Welcome Centre, Sepang F1 Circuit)

12.00-12.15pm: Valentino Rossi, Colin Edwards, Alex Barros, Shinichi Ito, Marco Melandri, Toni Elias, Randy De Puniet, Anthony West, Shinya Nakano, Kurtis Roberts.

12.15-12:30pm: Casey Stoner, Loris Capirossi, Carlos Checa, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, Chris Vermeulen, John Hopkins, Nobuatsu Aoki, Sylvain Guintoli, Makoto Tamada.

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