! There are some really good British riders in WSB at the moment but what Spies did last year – basically dominating in his first season – was something extremely special and demonstrated a very rare talent, the kind that could make him MotoGP World Champion. I’m not saying they can’t do it but my feeling is that the likes of Leon Haslam and Leon Camier would have had a much better chance of making it in MotoGP had they been given the right opportunities in the smaller Grand Prix classes, which never happened. The longer they stay in WSB the more difficult it will get, which is why I think Cal Crutchlow should have taken a Moto2 ride last year. I would love to see one of them come over and do it but I think our next MotoGP star will come through 125 and Moto2, like Scott Redding and Bradley Smith are doing now. I’d love to see Eugene Laverty win the World Supersport title and move to Moto2 because he has a big future too, having also had limited opportunities in Grand Prix.

Is Casey Stoner crashing when leading races due to Valentino Rossi having one over him mentally, or are there other factors?
Daniel George, England

To be honest Daniel I think there is a case to say Stoner’s crashes at Laguna, Brno and Misano in 2008 were down to the pressure being put on him by Valentino and if there was a different number on the bike chasing him down then maybe he wouldn’t have folded. However, Casey’s crash in Qatar was his first in a race since then and it was down to entirely different reasons so no, I don’t think Rossi has one over him anymore. I also think he will prove that this season.

606: DEBATE
Valentino Rossi’s injured shoulder could mean a fairly open GP in Spain.

Wiggie (U14382416)
Matt, what can the country do to support our riders more. We were very lucky that Scott got a late ride with a good team but Bradley didn’t get any real offers in MotoGP after a great season. How can we raise their profiles to get more sponsors to help our riders and maybe get British teams back in the paddock and taking young riders, such as Danny Kent, with them
Rich Fenwick, England

Hi Rich, that is a good question and one that we’ve been debating in the paddock for the last 10 years that I’ve been involved in MotoGP. The short answer is that it’s a bit of a vicious circle because without a successful British rider winning races and championships it is difficult to promote the sport and convince sponsors that it is worth spending their pennies on it. I guess we have needed somebody with the sheer talent to break through and thankfully, with support from Dorna, we now have Bradley, Scott and Danny Webb. Hopefully, their rise through the ranks can coincide with an economical upturn back home and convince British sponsors to put their hands in their pockets.

Matt, we always hear how MotoGP demands so much rider fitness and how riders from other classes have to train very hard to adapt. Given that the best MotoGP riders appear to have a jockey-like physique yet can race for 45 minutes at full effort, can you give any insight into how they actually get so strong and fit to cope with the demands of the racing? And how they maintain that when they’re carrying injuries so often?
Roddy Proudfoot, Glasgow, Scotland

Hi Roddy. The main goal for the riders in their physical training is building muscle endurance without gaining bulk and also achieving outstanding cardiovascular fitness. Alex Hofmann once told me that because of the sheer adrenalin his heart rate would be up to around 180bpm on the grid, and that was before the race even started! The main way they prepare for this is cycling – I would say that forms the basis for all of their training, as well as low-weight, high-rep weights, abdominal training etc. In the winter some of them mix it up with things like cross-country skiing, whilst guys like Jorge Lorenzo are also embracing new low-intensity activities such as yoga and pilates, which also allow them to train when injured.

Hi Matt, do any of the MotoGP racers ride motorcycles on public roads, or is it considered too risky by their team bosses?
Conrad, UK

Hi Conrad. Team bosses don’t have anything against it and I know, for example, that Valentino Rossi was riding a Yamaha V-Max scooter around at home last week but the majority don’t ride motorcycles on public roads simply because they can’t trust themselves to stay within the speed limits!

Hello Matt. The news Rossi hurt his shoulder in motocross incident seems to be a familiar story. I know some sportsmen are contractually prohibited from engaging in certain dangerous activities. Motocross in particular is very high-risk, especially on critical body parts for bike racers, like wrists and ankles. Is it really necessary for these guys to ride motocross in their spare time? If they crash in testing, qualifying or racing then this I would consider collateral damage but all too often it seems to be motocross in their spare time. Perhaps you can help us understand better what and why these guys are doing for training and fun? Your insight would be very interesting. Jonathan Buss, Kuala Lumpur

Pedrosa has never finished outside the top two at Jerez
Jonathan, I guess it does seem strange to do something so dangerous in your spare time when you’re a professional athlete but at the end of the day motorcycle racing is a dangerous sport and they have to do something to prepare. MotoGP is not like tennis or football, where you can spend all week on the court or training pitch practising. The riders go for long spells between races without testing and it is important for them to work on their balance, reactions and concentration on two wheels – as well as building muscle endurance in the right areas. Motocross and Supermoto are important to their preparation and I suppose they just accept the risks, as they do on the track.

Hi Matt. How do you rate Honda’s chances for the title this year with Pedrosa? Surely they must be hurting after winning so few races these last few seasons?
Daniel, England

Not very good, Daniel.They are definitely hurting and it can only be a matter of time before such a prestigious and powerful factory hits the nail on the head again and produces a title-winning bike. The new RC212V clearly isn’t it and I think it could take a new top-level rider to help take them in a new direction next year. Having said that Dani Pedrosa has never finished outside the top two at Jerez in MotoGP so I could be eating my words by Sunday!

Hi Matt, VR is the king of cool and everyone knows it, who will try and take the crown when he eventually retires?
David Robinson, UK

David, how could anybody ever be as cool as Valentino Rossi?

Matt, do you think the experience of James Toseland in Motogp could “scare” other WSB riders from making the switch. Also, if one of them does move do you think they’d be better off spending a year in Moto2 first?
Jared Jedynowicz, England

Hi Jared, I think any WSB rider would take a MotoGP ride providing it was on competitive machinery, but those opportunities rarely come up. Teams are looking to Moto2 for the riders so yes, unless they have a season like Spies did last year (which is unlikely!) they may be better coming to Moto2 first, learning the circuits and adapting to a prototype chassis.

Smith has improved since joining Aspar Aprilla
Bradley Smith insists he will not give up on the 125cc world title until it is mathematically impossible.

The 18-year-old from Oxfordshire currently trails championship leader Julian Simon by 30.5 points after failing to finish in Germany.

“In racing things can change in a lap, the championship can turn on its head,” Smith told BBC Oxford.

“I have to keep putting myself in the position. Now the focus has got to be win as many races as possible.”

He added: “That’s 30 and a half points that I have now got myself in trouble, and now really I have to put that straight and starting the ball rolling for catch-up.”

Despite disappointment at the Sachsenring, Smith has sparkled this season, winning two grands prix – a feat he is eager to repeat at his home race at Donington.

“It means so much. It always produces a great show, and is close to our hearts when we get to go to our home grand prix,” he said.

“It will be a fantastic Sunday just being here in front of everybody.”

The Yamaha duo were involved in a cat-and-mouse duel but Rossi pounced with two laps left to win at Sachsenring by nine-hundredths of a second.

Lorenzo had to settle for second, with Dani Pedrosa third ahead of Casey Stoner, who had tyre problems.

Britain’s James Toseland came home in 10th place.

Rossi, who claimed his 101st victory, was thrilled to have held on for such an important victory over his closest rival, which also saw him equal Giacomo Agostini’s record of 159 podium finishes.

“It was a great race. I made a good start and had to fight at the beginning with Casey which was funny,” he told BBC Sport.

“But our two Yamahas worked very well and it was another great battle with Jorge. It was fantastic, we enjoyed it, and it was perfect for me.

“I braked so deep on that corner [to overtake Lorenzo]. I didn’t make a mistake at a crucial point and it was an important victory for the championship.”

606: DEBATE
This is turning into a brilliant battle!!

Bugatti Veyron
Rossi led from pole position on an eventful first lap which saw Randy de Puniet crash out of third position following a fine start.

Stoner had worked his way past Pedrosa before taking over the lead from Rossi on lap six as the four main riders in the championship pulled clear of the field.

Rossi delighted after German win
Stoner, who has been suffering recently with anaemia and gastritis, seemed a rider rejuvenated but it soon became clear he was holding up the Yamaha duo, allowing Pedrosa to keep in touch.

Rossi and Lorenzo both got past the Australian and that left the team-mates with a third of the 30 laps remaining to battle it out.

With five laps to go, Lorenzo took over the lead into turn one but Rossi managed to return the compliment with two laps remaining, and held off the Spaniard’s attempts at a late challenge.

Afterwards, Lorenzo admitted he had mistimed his overtake.

“I made a bit of a mistake because I thought there were a few more laps left when I passed him,” he said.

“I hoped to overtake him and then try to pull away but it didn’t work out.

“Of course I’m disappointed to lose another very close race, it is always sad but I know that we are capable of fighting with him and considering his experience this is something I must be proud of.”

In the 125cc race, championship leader Julian Simon headed an all-Spanish top five, coming home ahead of Sergio Gadea and Joan Olive.

Briton Bradley Smith’s 100% points-scoring record for the season ended after he crashed twice early on, but Danny Webb finished in eighth place.

And a rain-shortened 250cc race was won by Italy’s Marco Simoncelli, ahead of Spanish duo Alex Debon and Alvaro Bautista.

——————————————————————————–

German MotoGP result:

1 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 41:21.769
2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 41:21.868
3 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 41:24.668
4 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 41:31.995
5 A de Angelis (SMR) Honda 41:43.291
6 T Elias (Spn) San Carlo Honda 41:52.621
7 M Melandri (It) Kawasaki 41:53.070
8 N Hayden (US) Ducati 41:53.495
9 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 41:54.634
10 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 42:05.695
11 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki 42:19.144
12 N Canepa (Ita) Pramac Racing 42:22.308
13 C Vermeuluen (Aus) Suzuki 42:25.414
14 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 42:25.924
15 G Talmacsi (Hng) Scot Racing + 1 lap

Championship standings: