2001
The paper ball challenge
02 December 2001
The ladies were convinced their rivals in the inter-stand NEC Show paperball fight couldn’t hit a cow’s butt with a banjo.
2002 KX250 Key features and changes
02 December 2001
Engine: Reshaped porting for more power throughout the rev range and better over-rev power; New two-piece power valve with increased valve width, and new spring and lever shape for better sealing and increased mid-range power; Piston skirt lengthened for better exhaust-port sealing; Connecting rod redesigned to allow more oil into the big-end bearing for improved durability and with smoother...
Full transcript of webchat with Suzuki GP boss
02 December 2001
Suzuki GP boss Garry Taylor took the time to join us for a live webchat on Thursday November 29. In it, he revealed that he only applied for the job thinking it was a Formula One team, that he thinks...
2002 KX125 key features and changes
02 December 2001
Engine: Reshaped combustion chamber for increased compression; Reshaped exhaust and scavenging ports, and revised exhaust timing for better power at high rpm; Piston tin-plated and " machine-streaked " to prevent scarring, especially during running in; New, lighter crankshaft for quicker engine response; Revised ignition timing for more power at mid to high rpm; Optional flywheel weight for more...
Latest WSB test news: Walker, Edwards, Sauber
02 December 2001
CHRIS WALKER is now eight days into a hectic World Superbike testing schedule in preparation for his return to world championship racing. In contrast, Neil Hodgson has not even seen his new Ducati...
Exclusive: First pictures of Katoh on the NSR500
02 December 2001
New world 250 champion Daijiro Katoh hasn’t had much time to dwell on his record-breaking 2001 season as he was back on track testing a works Honda NSR500 for the first time today. Katoh, who beat Mike Hailwood’s long-standing 250 record with 11 wins last season, got his pre-season campaign underway with the first of a two-day shakedown test at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. The Telefonica...
Crockford sticks with Suzuki superstock for 2002
25 November 2001
JOHN CROCKFORD will continue to lead Suzuki’s superstock challenge after signing up with the Roundstone squad for 2002. The Southampton-based rider, third in last year’s series, had hoped to return to...
Lavilla is sole factory Suzuki in World Superbikes
25 November 2001
The team will continue to compete in the Superbike and Supersport series as a factory supported team, but with a slight change in personnel. Japanese rider Katsuyaki Fujiwara will continue in the...
Video exclusive: Rossi tests 2002 GP bike
25 November 2001
Click on the link on the right for our unmissable video exclusive of Valentino Rossi as he gets to grips with his new RCV four stroke around the Jerez circuit in Spain. At this test Rossi sliced over...
The background to Petronas
25 November 2001
PETRONAS is one of the biggest names to join WSB since the championship started in 1988. It was formed in 1974 as the national petroleum company of Malaysia and having established itself in the...
Katoh and two-stroke NSR blast back at Jerez
25 November 2001
DAIJIRO KATOH blew away the myth that the four-strokes will blitz old two-stroke 500s with an awesome performance at Honda’s test yesterday in Jerez. With only his second appearance on the works NSR...
Rossi smashes Jerez lap record in first four stroke test
25 November 2001
VALENTINO ROSSI’S first serious test on Honda’s new V5 four-stroke GP at Jerez saw him demolish his own lap record by over half a second. Rossi completed 46 laps on his RCV on the first day of the...
Ellison set for Kawasaki Supersport ride
25 November 2001
European superstock champion James Ellison is likely to race alongside Andrew Pitt in Kawasaki’s 2002 World Supersport team. The 20-year-old from Cumbria has won the superstock title for the past two...
Exclusive: Foggy, "This deal is a gamble – but it’ll pay off"
25 November 2001
IN an exclusive chat with MCN Carl Fogarty has admitted that his WSB deal is risky, but he reckons it will pay off. With the preliminary stages already well under way, Foggy believes with his name and...
The Foggy/Petronas road bike is coming
25 November 2001
CARL FOGARTY road bike will be in our showrooms later next year after the four-times World Superbike champion announced one of the biggest deals in British motorcycle history last week. He has signed...
Reynolds moves to Suzuki
18 November 2001
John Reynolds has rocked the British Superbike paddock by sensationally dumping Red Bull Ducati for a move to Paul Denning’s Crescent Suzuki squad with a ride alongside fellow reigning British...
Dobb cleans up in NEC Supercross
18 November 2001
Jamie Dobb made a World champion’s return to racing by winning the Pro Open class of the MCN-backed UKSX supercross at the NEC Arena on Saturday night. Dobb might have been sidelined from racing with...
First pictures of the Suzuki XREO GP bike
18 November 2001
SUZUKI’S all-new GP four-stroke will be a surprise entrant to the new-look 2002 world championship series. The Japanese factory initially said it would use 2002 as a development year for the bike code...
Rossi and Bayliss collide
18 November 2001
World champions Troy Bayliss and Valentino Rossi will race head-to-head on equal machinery for the first time next month although sadly it will be on four wheels and not two. World Superbike champ...
Haslam forced to 250s
18 November 2001
LEON HASLAM is expected to confirm this week that he will ride in next year’s world 250 championship. The 18-year-old British rider has been forced to drop into 250s after he couldn’t secure a ride in the 500 class. After an up and down rookie season in the world 500 championship, he looked like he would be retained by the Shell Advance Honda squad to ride a production Honda NSR V-twin. That...
World exclusive: Foggy / Petronas deal sealed
18 November 2001
It’s official. The lid on Foggy’s top secret plans has been lifted with the four-times World Superbike champion announcing “a once in a lifetime opportunity ” with Petronas. Foggy has agreed an...
Foggy and Ducati split
18 November 2001
FOUR-TIMES World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty officially split from Ducati today. And he’s now expected to be installed as the man to spearhead Sauber’s surprise World Superbike effort in 2002. Ducati announced this afternoon that they have decided to end their long-standing relationship with the British legend, who is currently still recovering from a broken leg he suffered while testing a CCM...
Okada quits – will Edwards go it alone for Honda?
18 November 2001
SPECULATION that Castrol Honda will run just one full-factory SP-2 in WSB next season was reinforced when Tady Okada announced his retirement after finishing second in the final round of the All Japan...