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Legend Rossi seeks world title in Mugello

Italian motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi, seeking a tenth world title in all categories, bids to return to the top of the podium in his home MotoGP this weekend.

Published: 28 May 2015 09:08 CEST
Legend Rossi seeks world title in Mugello
Valentino Rossi won at Mugello on seven successive occasions from 2002-08. Photo: Guerrero/AFP

The 36-year-old Yamaha rider — who won the first two MotoGP of the season but has gone winless in the three since then — has seen team-mate Jorge Lorenzo close in on his lead in the championship by winning the last two races, Rossi finishing runner-up in France last time out.

Rossi leads the standings on 102 points with Lorenzo on 87 and two-time defending champion Marc Marquez, who has struggled thus far this season after his dominant campaign last year, in fourth 33 points adrift of the Italian.

Rossi, who won at Mugello on seven successive occasions from 2002-08, is determined to reverse the positions in Sunday's race.

“Arriving at Mugello as the leader in the championship and being in great shape is perfect,” Rossi told the team website.

“We are fast from the start of the season and this is important.

“I really like the Mugello circuit, the Italian Grand Prix is always a nice weekend, but also Jorge loves this track. Jorge and I will try to put our Yamahas on top again, but this time I hope it will be in a reverse order! In Le Mans I struggled a bit, but I still managed to take second.

“At Mugello we must not make mistakes with the setup of the bike, starting from the free practices.”

Rossi has reason to fear Lorenzo as the 28-year-old Spaniard – a two-time champion in this category – also has a superb record on the track having finished on the podium, including three wins, in the last six editions.

“Le Mans was confirmation that I'm feeling stronger and that I'm in great shape,” said Lorenzo.

“Claiming a second victory in a row was very important to me and the team in order to know for certain that Jerez (his first win of the season) wasn't a one-off.

“It is a nice bike to ride and permits me to ride in the manner I like.

“The track (Mugello) is maybe one of my favorites throughout the MotoGP calendar so I'm eager to race there.

“In the past I got so many wins in Mugello and it's a suitable circuit for both me and the bike.

“It's fluid, with many uphill and downhill sectors and amazing, long high-speed corners.

“I will try to fight again for the podium here and keep this nice momentum going!”

Marquez, who was hindered in the Spanish MotoGP by a broken little finger but then produced a listless performance in the French race, said that things were coming together with his Honda team and they were in great shape to try and put a spoke in Yamaha's wheels.

“We are very motivated after the weekend in Le Mans and arrive in Italy in good shape,” said 22-year-old Marquez.

“We must work hard from Friday to find a good setup as Mugello is a complicated circuit, however, I like it and have good memories from my first victory in 2010.

“We know Valentino will be very strong at his home race, Jorge and Dani (Marquez' Honda team-mate Pedrosa) have a good history there and Ducati were testing there just a few weeks ago, so we will have to be focused all weekend.”

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REAL ESTATE

EXPLAINED: What’s happening to house prices and rents in Germany amid the coronavirus crisis?

There's an increased demand on the real estate market in Germany at the moment, and there's drama looming for tenants in Berlin. Here's a look at what's going on.

Published: 10 August 2020 11:17 CEST
Updated: 22 August 2020 12:59 CEST
EXPLAINED: What's happening to house prices and rents in Germany amid the coronavirus crisis?
Frankfurt am Main. Photo: DPA

Ever dream of owning your own home in Germany? Well, sadly, it has become more expensive since the beginning of the pandemic.

In the second quarter (April to June), condominiums were on average 1.3 percent more expensive than at the beginning of the year. Compared to the second quarter of 2019, the increase was 5.9 percent. That's according to Research and Consulting Company for Housing, Real Estate and the Environment (F+B), which Spiegel reported on Monday.

Surprisingly, the price increase for single and two-family houses was even higher than that of apartments. Compared to the previous quarter, the prices of houses increased by 2.9 percent – and even by nine percent year-on-year.

This is unusual because prices for condos in Germany have almost always risen much faster than those for houses over the past 10 years.

Experts said more people are choosing to buy homes in Germany.

“In view of historically unparalleled low lending rates, it seems to be more economical for many buyers to invest in owner-occupied properties instead of renting,” said F+B Managing Director Bernd Leutner.

READ ALSO: Housing in Germany – here's where demand and prices are soaring

It is not known for definite whether the sharp rise in the price of single-family homes is due to increased demand resulting from the coronavirus crisis, for example because families are looking for more space and gardens – but it could be a factor.

The F+B Residential Index measures the rent and price developments on the German real estate market. The index is based on the supply data of more than 30 million properties throughout Germany.

What's happening to rent?

Unlike homes, rents have hardly risen at all in the past two years. Even in the second quarter, there was only a minimal increase in new contract rents, researchers found. Compared to the previous quarter, rents rose by 0.4 percent and by one percent year-on-year.

Rents for existing properties rose by 1.3 per cent year-on-year. “On a national average, the increase in rents is therefore manageable,” said Leutner.

Berlin tenants face paying back millions of euros

There could be major problems looming for Berlin tenants

The controversial rent freeze came into force on February 23rd this year which resulted in lower rents for many tenants. But experts say it could be overturned at any moment, leaving tenants liable to pay pack the difference.

The core issue being debated in courts is whether the state of Berlin is allowed to legislate in this area.


Housing in Berlin. Photo: DPA

If the Constitutional Court overturns the rent cap, many tenants in Berlin will face paying back huge amounts, according to F+B.

Due to the still unclear legal situation, there is currently a split rental market in the city. There are “shadow rents”, i.e. “the market rents”, which are usually higher than the price of the rent cap.

And on the other hand, there's the “official” rent costs corresponding to the rental price cap. The research company analysed the advertised rental apartments before and after the law came into force and “observed the existence of two rent indications in one and the same apartment advertisement”.

READ ALSO: Berlin's district court rules in favour of rental price cap

This is often associated with the remark that “the landlord reserves the right to retroactively claim the difference between the rent cover rent and the market rent”. The tenant has to agree to this in the rental contract.

SEE ALSO: The complete guide to how you can (still) live cheaply in Berlin

According to F+B the difference is clear to see: for 3,133 apartments offered between February 23rd 2020 and June 30th, F+B assumes a capped average rent of €7.05 per square meter

However, the market rent for the apartments is an average of €13.63 per square metre – a difference of €6.58 per square metre. With an average apartment size of 60 square metres, this would mean a total difference of €1.2 million per month which tenants would have to cough up.

“The longer the decision drags on, the greater the threatening additional claims,” says F+B managing director Leutner. At the same time, the massive difference in costs shows the advantages of the new rent freeze for tenants.

In any case, a quick clarification would be in the interest of all parties involved, said the research firm.

READ ALSO: 'We're setting a clear stop sign': Berlin passes five-year rent freeze law

Despite receiving the support of Berlin's state parliament, the law is opposed by Germany's federal government which argues that regulating housing costs is a federal rather than a state matter.

 

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