Formula one needs to accept the steady move away from its traditional European homeland.
That is the claim of Spanish test driver Pedro de la Rosa, whose employer McLaren is based in the UK close to seven other formula one teams.

The other four teams are based elsewhere in Europe but, next year for example, no fewer than 12 of the 20 scheduled races will take place on other continents.

De la Rosa wrote in his latest formulasantander.com column that F1 is moving with the times of the world.

“We all know that the grands prix are usually contested in those countries which can permit it, and nowadays, the majority of countries which can permit it are now in the Near East or on the same continent, Asia,” he said.

The next traditional host in danger of losing its F1 races is Germany.

“I find it hard to imagine a season of formula one without Germany,” the Nurburgring’s Karl-Josef Schmidt is quoted by the DPA news agency this week. “I think it’s the same for Mr Ecclestone.”

Schmidt is trying to negotiate a lower race fee for the circuit’s next scheduled race in 2013.

But de la Rosa said F1′s traditionalists need to accept the future has arrived.

“I understand that it is very hard for all those who, like me, grew up watching F1 races at the Nurburgring, at Brands Hatch, Estoril or at the Paul Ricard circuit,” he said.

“But it is as obvious to recognise that the investment of Asian countries is supplanting and even replacing the tradition of European countries.”

Filed the “triple” extra-European Jorge Lorenzo is back in his Palma de Mallorca for the due and deserved celebrations for winning his first world title in MotoGP. Long celebration, a few days to stop taking the high level of concentration in the shorter distance to Estoril in its agenda.

On the track where he won his first race in MotoGP in 2008, repeating the claim last year dressed as an astronaut … the world champion aims to return to the top step of the podium where missing from Brno: six races, too many for a driver like him.

“Now we have two races in a row, two very special race, “said Jorge Lorenzo. “The first of these two stages is Estoril where I had my best moments in MotoGP over the past two seasons. Here I had never won in 125 or 250, but I won two Grand Prix wins out of two races, is the only circuit where he won twice in this category!

The track I like very much and I seem to run into the house because there’s a lot of fans from Spain and I always feel their support. Also for me it will be the first time in a circuit ‘home’ by World Champion: I want to try to win maybe even repeat performance of 2009 when the astronaut arrived!”.

Jorge Lorenzo’s early in the last few days in Estoril will present a surprise to his devoted fans: what is it? We’ll find out only in the race weekend …

There are no physical problems, the shoulder surgery was postponed in mid-November, so between Estoril and Valencia Valentino Rossi will conclude the seven-year experience with Yamaha. Hopefully in the best way to 9-time world champion, trying to win starting with the Grand Prix of Portugal where it does not rise to the top step of the podium since 2007, only 4 th last year.

“The last three races have been positive, “says Valentino Rossi. “I won three podiums, including a victory, I was happy because the bike has improved the health of my injured shoulder. Now we return to Europe and I feel very strong, I want to have fun in these last two races trying to win again.

Estoril for me last year was not a good race, we had some problems and am not on the podium, so we will try to change history this year. After Phillip Island in Portugal the weather is definitely better, even though the weather can change very quickly in Estoril It will be a factor to be reckoned with. ”

Potentially still in the race for third place in the championship, it should be noted that Valentino Rossi in the last three races has collected more points than all: the best way to present at Estoril and Valencia, for the first test with Ducati on 9-10 November .

At 12:00 o’clock at Motegi Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd and Yamaha Motor Racing announced in a press release be extended for another two seasons (2011 and 2012) of Jorge Lorenzo. The agreement, reached recently, it was vital to the home of the Three Diapason is so assured that the current leader of the MotoGP World Championship and, in fact, world champion in 2010 an accomplice to the exclusion of an injury to Daniel Pedrosa.

Lorenzo made his debut with Yamaha in MotoGP in 2008 after winning two titles in the 250cc pole in Qatar debut, winning the third race at Estoril. In 2009 he dueled with Valentino Rossi for the title and then reach their goal this year, where is the absolute ruler of the charts. The Yamaha factory team, where there is still the main sponsor (Fiat will not renew), will be composed by Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, while the team “satellite” by Colin Edwards Tech 3 and Cal Crutchlow.

“My first choice has always been to stay with Yamaha, “says Jorge Lorenzo,”so I’m very happy that we have reached an agreement. Here I feel happy, I’m surrounded by people very professional, I have a good relationship with Yamaha and have a great bike.

I have to thank Lin Jarvis has always supported me in these years. Now I’m focused on winning the championship, but right now I can not wait to be 2011. I know who along with Ben (Spies), we can do a good job for the Yamaha, I have to thank them for the confidence. “

Lin Jarvis, who has always promoted “Jorge Lorenzo even at the expense of” spoiling “relations with Valentino Rossi said his satisfaction in finding a new contract with your protégé.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Jorge, who will remain an official Yamaha rider for 2011 and 2012. Since when has joined us three years ago has made great progress, it has improved each season in 2008 and concluded 4 th best rookie, 2nd in 2009, is struggling this year for the world title. Announce the renewal here in Japan is very important to us, but for Jorge, who can focus better to secure his first world title in the top class.

At 23 years old Jorge has a long career ahead, we hope he can win many world titles with Yamaha. In 2011, will be joined by Ben Spies and with these two talented drivers, young, hungry team, we have secured the most competitive in the paddock. “

Before flying to Barcelona, where tomorrow will be operated by Doctor Xavier Mir at the University Clinic Dexeus, Dani Pedrosa has hired a press release on Repsol Honda Team commentary of what happened. The three-time world champion, now out of contention to win the MotoGP title, explains the dynamics of the incident and his feelings, with the promise to return soon to the track (Phillip Island or at the latest, Estoril).

“Obviously this was a bad day. It ‘been a strange fall, it was only my second lap I was in a lagging sector of the track. I tried to brake, but I knew immediately that something was wrong and I could not do anything to avoid falling.

After the accident I understood very well that I hurt, I felt so much pain. I had a big impact on the ankle and also fractured his collarbone when I hit the pavement: I was very unfortunate, because this time we were doing very well.

This year I had no physical problems since the pre-championship race after race we have reached a good level. It did not take this injury, I do not deserve.

Now back in Spain, so we decided after a consultation and medical examinations here in Japan. I hope to get back on track as soon as possible. “

Speaking of the causes of this fall, the HRC found that this was a problem with the accelerator, making sure it is already solved in the upcoming tests at Motegi where, unfortunately, there will be Dani Pedrosa.

The race Motorland Aragon has once again highlighted the problems of Valentino Rossi. If you find behind it is fully understandable since Jorge Lorenzo protagonist of an extraordinary season, need an explanation of the 17-handicap on his teammate, the 14 “crossed the line in favor of Ben Spies.

Rossi is not in shape, and it shows. The shoulder has become a difficult problem to resolution 2011 on track in perspective: this is the ‘operation, scheduled for December (recovery time from 2 to 3 months), may be anticipated after three trips outside the European Motegi (October 3), Sepang (10/10) and Phillip Island (17/10), thus skipping the last two seasons testing at Estoril and Valencia also the potential risk to first test with Ducati in November.

Just Valentino Rossi announced this radical change programs at the end of the race of Aragon: On its official website (www.valentinorossi.it) are reported in detail the post-race statement of 9 times World Champion, speaking to the whole field of shoulder problems, operation, Yamaha difficulty letting go even to comment on the speed of the Ducati.

” It’been a very difficult race: we hope to do better. We went so badly for a number of things here all the Yamaha and I struggled in my physical condition, I can not ride it how I want. Because of shoulder pain we have to put in place the bike to facilitate them in the guide, but we run into other problems: in short, we are not in place. The ugly end result is a consequence of all this.

Definitely will play the next three GP will then decide whether the case of an earlier speech at the shoulder or wait until end of season. We are a bit unlucky because the first calendar includes Japan: Motegi is probably the worst track on my terms. But it is worth trying because, especially in Malaysia, we all references in February when I rode this bike in place physically. Will therefore be important to see how we go on that path and then take a decision. It ‘clear that the goal is to finish the season, but if two tracks so positive for me and Yamaha have always been as Malaysia and Australia will continue to have these problems, if not continue to ride well on the M1, it could also think the operation.

Still do not know if Yamaha will give me permission to go on a Ducati in Valencia test, but if I try not the best physical condition I may as well be operated before and get in shape to the test in February. It ‘one thing to assess, but a test is not right physically is not that important. For the moment I run because it has already been seen that the shoulder is not serious, but I lack the strength and can not ride good and precise as I wish, how I usually do when I’m in shape.

By three other bike races, especially the Honda, Ducati, but here also seem to have solved the problems they had before. Even at Misano we were in trouble with the speed, but still we managed to be competitive, but here was very tough for all riders of Yamaha. Today’s results are certainly very positive for Ducati 2011 in perspective, but I will still try to be strong and fast with the M1 in the coming races. Of course I’m sad, I feel sorry for this situation, but I know that are not 100% so if I were being physically in place, would be more serious … In 2006 and 2007 was much worse: I’m sure in the next runs, the M1 will be much more competitive than Aragon.