TONI ELIAS is back in MotoGP in 2011, replacing Randy de Puniet in the LCR Honda squad.

The Spaniard, who clinched this year's inaugural Moto2 World Championship title, will return to premier class racing on a Honda, rather than for Ducati, as initially expected.

Elias was set to ride for Pramac Ducati but turned his back on the deal following ongoing talks with LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello, reports online mag GPWeek.

Elias last raced in MotoGP in 2009, finishing seventh in the final championship standings with 115 points.

De Puniet will now take the vacant seat at Pramac Ducati for the 2011 MotoGP championship.

MOTOGP organisers Dorna have announced new rule changes to the 2011 MotoGP series and incoming Moto3 championship for 2012.

This morning's press release reads as follows:

1. Practice Time schedule:

Two days for each class.
-
MotoGP: 4 sessions of 60 minutes.
-
Moto2: 4 sessions of 45 minutes.
-
125cc: 2 sessions of 45 minutes (morning) and 2 sessions of 30 minutes (afternoon).

2. Grid position for each class: 3 riders per row.

3.Generator for tyre warmers are permitted on the grid for the 3 classes.

4.In MotoGP, only the GPS provided by Dorna is permitted.

Application 2012 For Moto3:

1. ECU: There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.
See specifications below:

Requested hardware features for Engine Management:

Single-cylinder management (2 independent fuel injectors, one ignition driver)

Up to 14,500rpm

At least 10 analog inputs (0-5V 10bit resolution) for analog sensors and temperature sensors

UEGO lambda sensor input and management

At least 4 input capture for wheel speeds and crank/cam sensors

At least 4 ON/OFF inputs for switches

Fuel Pump relay driver

Stepper motor driver for throttle bypass/exhaust valve

High speed CAN line (1Mbit/s)

PC-ECU plug’n’play communication cable

Internal data logger:

At least 8Mbyte internal memory

Not less than 200Hz max sampling frequency

Not less than 64 max logging channels

CAN line data download

paris hilton sponsors a 125 gp team - From the “now we’ve heard it all” department: In one of the most unlikely pairings ever, infamous socialite Paris Hilton will be part owner of a new team that will contest the 125cc Grand Prix Championship in MotoGP for 2011. To be officially named the “SuperMartXé VIP by Paris Hilton” team (SuperMartXé is some sort of dance party “series” based in Ibiza that Hilton has been affiliated with), it is the result of a pairing with the BQR Racing team, who have been campaigning in the 125cc GP series as well as the Spanish CIV national championship series. The squad apparently has already signed two name riders: seasoned 125/Moto2 pilot Sergio Gadea, and 15-year-old rising star Maverick Viñales, who won both the Spanish and European 125cc titles in 2010. Also on the team roster is the very experienced technical team of Rossano Brazzi (who was crew chief at Aprilia for numerous world champions, including Valentino Rossi, Marco Melandri, Manuel Poggiali, and Luca Cadalora) and Christian Lundberg (former technical director with teams such as Seedorf Racing, who have helped launch the careers of MotoGP riders Alvaro Bautista and Hector Barbera) to help with development, so this apparently isn’t some all-show/no-go team that was cobbled together at the last minute. According to the NY Times, the unusual joint venture came about when Hilton was approached by Riccard Garriga, a team partner, and Nano Barea, founder of the SuperMartXé, to gauge her interest in lending her image to the proposed team. Hilton reportedly became so enamored with the idea that she became one of the team’s owners in addition to lending her image. Hilton is also reportedly contractually obligated to attend five MotoGP races; one can only imagine the crush of paparazzi that will occur at those appearances.                                                                                                                                                                              

cant wait to see how rossi goes on his duke !!                                                                                                                                                                              

Entry lists

MotoGP:

1; JORGE LORENZO, SPANISH, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA
4; ANDREA DOVIZIOSO, ITALIAN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
5; COLIN EDWARDS, AMERICAN, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA
7; HIROSHI AOYAMA, JAPANESE, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI, HONDA
8; HECTOR BARBERA, SPANISH, ASPAR TEAM, DUCATI
11; BEN SPIES AMERICAN, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA
14; RANDY DE PUNIET, FRENCH, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI
17; KAREL ABRAHAM, CZECH, CARDION AB MOTORACING, DUCATI
19; ALVARO BAUTISTA, SPANISH, RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP, SUZUKI
24; TONI ELIAS, SPANISH, LCR HONDA MOTOGP, HONDA
26; DANI PEDROSA, SPANISH, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
27; CASEY STONER, AUSTRALIAN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
35; CAL CRUTCHLOW, BRITISH, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA
46; VALENTINO ROSSI, ITALIAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI
58; MARCO SIMONCELLI, ITALIAN, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI, HONDA
65; LORIS CAPIROSSI, ITALIAN, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI
69; NICKY HAYDEN, AMERICAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI

Moto2:

3; SIMONE CORSI, ITALIAN, IODA RACING PROJECT, IODA
4. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, SWISS, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND KIEFER RACING, KALEX
9; KENNY NOYES, AMERICAN, AVINTIA-STX, FTR
10; FONSI NIETO, SPANISH, G22 RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI
12; THOMAS LUTHI, SWISS, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK M2 RACING, SUTER
13; ANTHONY WEST, AUSTRALIAN, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA
14; RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THAI, SAG TEAM, FTR
15; ALEX DE ANGELIS, SAN MARINESE, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI
16; JULES CLUZEL, FRENCH, FORWARD RACING, SUTER
21; JAVIER FORES, SPANISH, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, SUTER
25; ALEX BALDOLINI, ITALIAN, FORWARD RACING, SUTER
29; ANDREA IANNONE, ITALIAN, SPEED MASTER, SUTER
34; ESTEVE RABAT, SPANISH, BLUSENS-STX, FTR
35; RAFFAELE DE ROSA, ITALIAN, G22 RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI
36; MIKA KALLIO, FINNISH, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, SUTER
38; BRADLEY SMITH, BRITISH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3
39; ROBERTINO PIETRI, VENEZUELAN, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, SUTER
40; ALEIX ESPARGARO, SPANISH, PONS RACING, PONS KALEX
44; POL ESPARGARO, SPANISH, HP TUENTI SPEED UP, SPEED UP
45; SCOTT REDDING, BRITISH, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, SUTER
49; KEV COGHLAN, BRITISH, MOTORSPORT 69, FTR
51; MICHELE PIRRO ITALIAN, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI
53; VALENTIN DEBISE, FRENCH, SPEED UP, SPEED UP
54; KENAN SOFUOGLU, TURKISH, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER
60; JULIAN SIMON, SPANISH, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, SUTER
63; MIKE DI MEGLIO, FRENCH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3
64;SANTI HERNANDEZ, COLOMBIAN, SAG TEAM, FTR
65; STEFAN BRADL, GERMAN, VIESSMANN KIEFER RACING, KALEX
68; YONNY HERNANDEZ, COLOMBIAN, BLUSENS-STX, FTR
71; CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALIAN, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, SUTER
72; YUKI TAKAHASHI, JAPANESE, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI
75; MATTIA PASINI,ITALIAN, IODA RACING PROJECT, IODA
76; MAX NEUKIRCHNER, GERMAN, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA
77; DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, SWISS, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER
80; AXEL PONS, SPANISH, PONS RACING, PONS KALEX
88; RICKY CARDUS, SPANISH, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI
93; MARC MARQUEZ, SPANISH, TEAM CATALUNYA CAIXA REPSOL, SUTER
95; MASHEL AL NAIMI, QATARI, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI

125cc class:

3; LUIGI MORCIANO, ITALIAN, TEAM ITALIA FMI, APRILIA
5; JOHANN ZARCO, FRENCH, AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
7; EFREN VAZQUEZ, SPANISH, AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
11; SANDRO CORTESE, GERMAN, RACING TEAM GERMANY, APRILIA
12; DANIEL KARTHEININGER, GERMAN, CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE DPT., KTM
15; SIMONE GROTZKYJ, ITALIAN, WORLDWIDE RACE, APRILIA
17; TAYLOR MACKENZIE, BRITISH, WORLDWIDE RACE, APRILIA
18; NICOLAS TEROL, SPANISH, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM, APRILIA
19; ALESSANDRO TONUCCI, ITALIAN, TEAM ITALIA FMI, APRILIA
21; HARRY STAFFORD, BRITISH, ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA, APRILIA
23; ALBERTO MONCAYO, SPANISH ANDALUCIA CAJASOL APRILIA
25; MAVERICK VINALES, SPANISH, PEV-BLUSENS-SMX-PARIS HILTON, APRILIA
26; ADRIAN MARTIN, SPANISH, MOTORSPORT 69, APRILIA
30; GIULIAN PEDONE, SWISS, WORLDWIDE RACE, APRILIA
31; NIKLAS AJO, FINNISH, TT MOTION EVENTS RACING, APRILIA
39; LUIS SALOM, SPANISH, MOLENAAR RACING GP, APRILIA
40; SERGIO GADEA, SPANISH, PEV-BLUSENS-SMX-PARIS HILTON, APRILIA
43; FRANCESCO MAURIELLO, ITALIAN, WTR-TEN10 RACING, APRILIA
44; MIGUEL OLIVEIRA, PORTUGUESE, ANDALUCIA CAJASOL, APRILIA
52; DANNY KENT, BRITISH, RED BULL AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
53; JASPER IWEMA, DUTCH, MOLENAAR RACING GP, APRILIA
55; HECTOR FAUBEL, SPANISH, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM, APRILIA
63; ZULFAHMI KHAIRUDDIN, MALAYSIAN, AIRASIA - SIC – AJO, DERBI
69; SARATH KUMAR, INDIAN, WTR-TEN10 RACING, APRILIA
71; TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA, JAPANESE, RACING TEAM GERMANY, APRILIA
72; ALEXANDER KRISTIANSSON, SWEDISH, MATTEONI RACING, APRILIA
76; HIROKI ONO, JAPANESE, CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE DPT., KTM
77; MARCEL SCHROTTER, GERMAN, MAHINDRA RACING, MAHINDRA
84; JAKUB KORNFEIL, CZECH, ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA, APRILIA
94; JONAS FOLGER, GERMAN, RED BULL AJO MOTORSPORT, DERBI
96; LOUIS ROSSI, FRENCH, MATTEONI RACING, APRILIA
99; DANNY WEBB, BRITISH, MAHINDRA RACING, MAHINDRA

Pre-season testing re-commences with the three-day test at Sepang scheduled for February 1-3. The 2011 season launches on March 20th at Qatar.

Nice to see Bradley Smith and Scott Redding moving up to play with the bigger boys.                                                                                                                                                                             

Yep i shall be supporting the ginger ninja this year wahoooooooo                                                                                                                                                                              

Yep !  Hope wee ginger pubes goes well this year.  My prediction is Ricky Cardus to finish in the top 5 aswell.                                                                                                                                                                              

Tempted to have a wee flutter on Ben Spies and Dovi being in the top 5 what do you reckon?                                                                                                                                                                              

Ye can flutter all ye like BJ - as long as the GOAT is first !!!  lol                                                                                                                                                                             

A rise of political instability in Qatar may put the opening round of the MotoGP championship at risk.

The detainment of a Qatari blogger may inspire similar protests and riots that have seen dictators overthrown in Egypt, Yemen and the current civil unrest taking place in Libya.

Should the people of Qatar seek the vitriol against Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa al Thani and his regime, the MotoGP round at Losail may postponed until the political unrest has resolved.

The act of holding the Qatar round may see the opening MotoGP race brought forward or the paddock having to wait until April 3rd when the championships arrives at Jerez.

The start of the MotoGP series appears to be tainted with the troubles that the Jerez circuit is also currently facing.

If you're planning on visiting the first European MotoGP of the season at Jerez on April 3rd the news is good. It's still happening.

Rumours have abounded for the past few days that the Spanish circuit's financial difficulties might jeopardize this massive event.

To set the record straight, we spoke to MotoGP's rights holder, Dorna and they were very keen to stress that the event at the beginning of April is happening as planned. This will come as some relief for the hundreds of Brits who make the pilgrimage to Jerez every year.

However, Cirjesa, the company behind the running of the circuit has had its assets frozen by a Spanish court over €2.5m of unpaid debts. This cashflow crisis and the fact that rival circuit Aragon has signed a six year deal with Dorna doesn't bode well for the long term health of the Jerez GP. There will now be four rounds held in Spain in 2011. Will this be a more realistic three in 2012

Cal Crutchlow is going all out this weekend for the 1st race of the season in Qatar, he's even taken to removing the tip of his little pinky on the tarmac in practice to increase weight saving.   Japanese GP in April has been cancelled for obvious reasons.                                                                                                                                                                             

I will bet a pound [sorry unemployed at the mo] that Cal Crutchlow will not finish in the top 6 in any round of moto gp this year, period.   And who wants a wager when that bloody Toby Moody starts saying "UBER" in any sentance, will he say it this Sunday or will he wait untill the European rounds.                                                                                                                                                                             

I'll go along with that actdaft, way to early for Cal to make a mark at this level.  Personaly I think Stoner will be the man to stop this year on the Honda.
                                                                                                                                                                             

although i hate to say it...i tend to agree with you DriftnSlide.... tho vale aint up to speed yet coz of his shoulder... give him time but by then maybe stoner will be too far ahead... who knows its gonna be a close one again i reckon... and i have to watch it on BBC now  .. parish and the toher guy are noooo where near as good as toby and julian....                                                                                                                                                                             

last season with 125 two strokes there gonna be 250 4 stroke sigles next year                                                                                                                                                                              

Yep.  Buy up your 2 strokes now as they'll be a thing of the past soon.  With no development anymore the few manufacturers still making 2 stroke road bikes will concede defeat also.  They'll make a good pension plan if ya can find a nice dry space in the garage for 1 or 2.

Garage DS? My ex-team Roberts TZ is in the dining room. Sadly never got to race it. It was nearly race-ready and I crashed another race-bike.