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Among MotoGP’s two main characters so far this year on their books it's no shock to see the Fiat Yamaha staff
placing 140 points ahead of the Teams’ World Championship standings.
Certainly last weekend’s ending
visit to Donington Park for the British Grand Prix was the initial time that either Valentino Rossi or Jorge Lorenzo have
placed on the stage this season, although the talented duo have stepped onto the rostrum side by side on seven occasions already.
Yamaha have a superior chance of replicating 2008’s triple crown of Rider, Team and Constructors’ World
awards and with Rossi ahead 25 points clear of colleague Lorenzo at Donington, the Italian superstar has the edge over his
Spanish team mate. For now the image is cosy for Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis and the Fiat Yamaha team.
The existing Yamaha M1 has been the best bike on the MotoGP network this season in terms of overall competitiveness
and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 staff have used it well as the best performing satellite team in the championship overall in
fourth place. Colin Edwards received the first season's stage in England for Herve Poncharal’s staff, as the American
competitor repeatedly outperformed his British colleague James Toseland.
Second in the Teams’ World Championship
ratings are Repsol Honda who have had an up and down year so far with both their competitors, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso,
each have been victorious once this year. Pedrosa began the year with an injury, however came back strong to eventually complete
the staff’s long win drought by round eight at Laguna Seca on the every changing RC212V, but placed ninth at Donington.
The person taking over the headlines in the UK was Dovizioso, who came back from three consecutive DNFs to end in
a brilliant first premier class victory. Honda will long for extra consistency from their two competitors as the year ends
and they try to close the gap on Yamaha.
Ducati's challenge is to get Casey Stoner 100% strong and work for
continued improvement from the Aussie’s fellow former World Champion and new colleague this season Nicky Hayden. Stoner’s
two victories and five stage spots have ensured the Ducati Marlboro staff to third in the ranks and the Italian factory sitting
third in the Constructors’ classification.
Rizla Suzuki’s efforts to come forward this year with Loris
Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen have disappointed, even though the introduction of a fresh and re-designed GSV-R prototype at
the start of year. They place fifth in the Teams’ ranks and fourth in the Constructors’ championship, having seen
Capirossi experience a duo of costly DNFs and Vermeulen so far unable to repeat either of his 2008 stage visits.
Following San Carlo Honda Gresini in the Teams’ table, as the best performing single-competitor outfit in seventh
place, an extra mention to the Kawasaki-equipped Hayate Racing staff who have done a magnificent job in assisting Marco Melandri
to consistent top ten placings and a surprise rostrum achievement at Le Mans.
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