2007 | Page 60

Gibernau rejects GP return

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau has turned down the chance to make an instant return to the MotoGP world championship in 2007. The former factory Honda rider was offered a job working as an expert pundit on Spanish TV...

Walker heads BSB field

02 March 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Chris Walker got up to speed with a bang today at the major BSB three- day test in uadix, Spain, leading the field on the first day. The Rizla Suzuki star, back ‘home’ in BSB after years on the world...

Rossi backs Brit teen

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi has backed British teenager Bradley Smith to make a big impact in his second year on the world stage in 2007. Rossi praised the MotoGP Academy graduate last...

Rea crashes out

02 March 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Jonathan Rea is sitting out the afternoon on the first day of the BSB three-day test at Guadix today, after a nasty crash this morning saw him bash the injured left knee which is only just coming back...

Laverty crashes

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

World 250 championship rookie Eugene Laverty finished pre-season testing for his first GP campaign with a crash at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The 20-year-old crashed his production LCR...

Toseland in control

02 March 2007 by Michael Guy

James Toseland blitzed the first qualifying session at Phillip Island with a lap time 0.6 seconds faster than his closest rival. Toseland, clearly on a high after last weekends win and second place...

Supersport: MSS focus on Easton

01 March 2007 by Gary Pinchin

The MSS Discovery Kawasaki team have cut their British Supersport team in half after they split with Kieran Murphy today. The team were due to run Murphy alongside Stuart Easton on ZX-6Rs in...

Kawasaki wrap up test

01 March 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Michael Rutter and Stuart Easton have completed their first full test of their 2007 bikes, at the Guadix track in Spain. Rutter’s three days on the ZX-10R he will race this year were hampered by...

Vermeulen wants BHP

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Extra horsepower is one critical area that factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen believes the new GSV-R can still improve as the countdown to the 2007 MotoGP world championship gets closer. Although...

Qatar concern for Loris

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi is hoping front tyre concerns won’t ruin his hopes of winning the opening MotoGP race for the second year in succession. The Italian spoke to MCN about Qatar where several Bridgestone...

Corner speeds help GSV-R

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins believes the huge increase in corner speeds on the new 800cc machines has played into Suzuki’s hands for the 2007 world championship campaign. The Rizla star, who sat out the recent IRTA...

Edwards braking free

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Texas Tornado Colin Edwards believes Michelin’s new 16-inch front tyre has helped him make a massive step forward in braking and corner entry speeds on the new factory Yamaha YZR-M1. The American has...

Max: Love me or hate me

01 March 2007 by Michael Guy

Don’t feel bad if you haven’t become a fan of Max Biaggi yet, that’s the way he wants it. After taking a win and a second last weekend in Qatar it’s clear that Biaggi is here to win, but throughout...

Bayliss' focus

01 March 2007 by Michael Guy

Troy Bayliss knows that he’s got to turnaround his fortunes this weekend after a disastrous start to his WSB title defence in Qatar. Last weekend the reigning world champion slumped to a fifth and...

Corser still behind

01 March 2007 by Michael Guy

Double WSB champion Troy Corser remains optimistic about his chances this weekend in Phillip Island despite admitting his bike is behind his rivals. In Qatar last weekend Corser was the only rider...

Oz future in safe hands

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

The emergence of young talent like Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen has proven This is according to legendary Aussie crew chief Jerry Burgess, who is working with former champion, Valentino Rossi to...

Edwards: Plenty to come

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has warned his MotoGP rivals he has still got plenty more to come when the new season kicks off on March 10, 2007. This is following his recent impressive testing performances at Jerez...

M1 power delivery boost

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi reckons the secret to Yamaha’s brilliant winter testing performances has been the smooth power delivery on his new factory YZR-M1 800. Several of Rossi’s...

Checa chases front grip

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Carlos Checa reckons front-end feel on Honda’s new RC212V is the biggest area he needs to improve before the new MotoGP season kicks off in less than three weeks. Although Michelin has made a...

Stoner crashes

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Australian Casey Stoner walked away unhurt from a massive high-side at the end of the final day of testing in Jerez today. The 21-year-old crashed his factory Ducati Desmosedici GP7 in the stadium...

Rossi wins BMW

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi struck a crucial early psychological blow against his MotoGP rivals this afternoon with an incredible Jerez display that won him a new BMW Z4 Coupe. In what is surely a sign of things...

Tamada crashes

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Japanese rider Makoto Tamada has escaped injury in a crash on the second afternoon of the IRTA test in Jerez. The 30-year-old lost the front of his factory Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 800 at turn...

KR delays quit threat

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts will continue to run his MotoGP squad until the middle of the 2007 season at least despite fears that a money crisis could see the American legend quit after two races. Speaking to...

Stoner second in Jerez

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner’s impressive winter testing form continued today as he logged the second quickest time on a first day in Jerez badly affected by rain. The 21-year-old was just 0.071s slower than...

Hayden's woes continue

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden’s tough winter showed no signs of improvement today in Jerez as he finished way down the timesheets in 19th place. The American was a massive 3.338s slower than...

Rossi 13th in Jerez

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi found himself surprisingly off the pace on a rain-hit first day in Jerez today with the former world champion languishing down in 13th place. The 27-year-old 1.9.31s slower than...

Marco sets Jerez pace

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Former world 250 champion Marco Melandri took the honours on a rain-hit first day in Jerez today as Valentino Rossi and reigning world champion Nicky Hayden struggled. The Gresini Honda rider clocked...

OJ wants improvement

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Olivier Jacque says there is still plenty of room for improvement despite Kawasaki’s encouraging start to the new 800cc MotoGP era. Jacque, who missed most of last week’s IRTA test in Qatar after...

Capirossi: 800s like 500s

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi reckons the new generation 800cc machines are a throwback to riding the fearsome 500cc two-strokes replaced years ago. The 33-year-old factory Ducati rider has made big strides with...

Rea ends test on top

28 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

For the third day running, Jonathan Rea has set the best time at the multi-team BSB test taking place at Almeria in Spain. The 20-year-old set the pace throughout the dry weather test which has just...

Rea continues reign

28 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Jonathan Rea continues to lead the BSB stars testing out in Spain, with the new HM Plant signing again going fastest at Almeria on day two of the three-day test there. His performance is all the more...

Leon in medical centre

28 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Leon Haslam was taken to the Almeria medical centre after a 90mph highside at the Spanish track just minutes ago – but has thankfully escaped with just a bruised left leg. The Airwaves Ducati man...

Diet boosts Checa

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Carlos Checa has revealed some of the extreme measures he’s taken to help him adapt to the new generation 800cc MotoGP machines in 2007. The Spaniard underwent a rigorous and gruelling winter training...

Endurance boost

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins reckons lap times are plummeting on the new 800cc machines because the drop in horsepower has seen tyre endurance greatly increased. Riders can lap faster and for longer without the...

Marco better than ever

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri claims he will go into the new MotoGP world championship campaign in better shape than at any other time in his career. Despite some disappointing winter testing performances on the...

BHP management key

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati rider Loris Capirossi believes one of the reasons why lap times are already plummeting in the new 800cc MotoGP era is down to significantly more manageable horsepower, despite saying...