2007 | Page 61

Vermeulen wants grip

28 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen has told Bridgestone that it must improve its new generation front tyres to help adapt to the new riding style required on the 800cc MotoGP machines. With increased corners speeds and...

Dani's bike faster

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri has hinted that factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has already received engine upgrades on the new RC212V 800cc contender. The Italian spoke to MCN having followed the triple world...

Barros targets win

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Brazilian veteran Alex Barros believes he is capable of making a winning return to the MotoGP world championship in 2007. The 36-year-old is back in the premier class after a year with in World...

800s like two strokes

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Former world 250 champion Marco Melandri says that the new generation 800cc MotoGP machines have the same aggressive power characteristics of a two-stroke. Though he never raced a two-stroke 500 in...

Rossi backs Edwards

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has backed factory Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards to finally deliver in the MotoGP world championship. The American is still searching for his first premier class victory having spent...

Fuel no worry for Honda

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Kenny Roberts Jr reckons Honda’s new RC212V has no worries over fuel consumption with tank capacity slashed to 21 litres for 2007. Fuel consumption has been one of the most...

Rear progress for Colin

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has been boosted by a breakthrough with rear set-up on his new factory Yamaha 800. Edwards experimented with yet another new Ohlins rear shock set-up having made a significant...

Carlos gets comfy

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Carlos Checa has unveiled some of the secrets to his rapid improvement in winter testing on board the LCR Honda RC212V 800 contender. The Spaniard has begun to recapture his best form in recent tests...

Michelin boss talks 16

27 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Having made the first aggressive move in the 2007 MotoGP tyre war with a new 16-inch front tyre becoming one of the big talking points of winter testing. Michelin boss Jean-Philippe Weber has told MCN...

Nicky needs early speed

26 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden reckons he has got to come out of the gate faster at every race to bolster his hopes of retaining the MotoGP crown in 2007. Hayden admitted one of his weaknesses...

Meetings help Yamaha

26 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

A new regime has helped Yamaha become the manufacturer everybody wants to beat when the new 800cc MotoGP world championship kicks off on March 10, 2007 in Qatar. That’s the view of factory rider Colin...

Toseland wins race two

24 February 2007 by MCN

James Toseland has won the second race at the Losail circuit in Qatar after a near faultless ride. Early on, the same group of four as race one consisting of Toseland, Biaggi, Haga and Corser made...

Sofuoglu wins in WSS

24 February 2007 by Rob Hull

Kenan Sofuoglu has won the opening World Supersport race of 2007 after Hannspree Honda team-mate Sebastien Charpentier crashed out of the lead in the closing stages of the race. Yamaha rider Kevin...

Biaggi wins race one

23 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi has won the opening race of the 2007 WSB season – his first race for over a year and his first ever race in World Superbikes. The Roman Emperor had to fight for his win after he and James...

Beeb unveil '07 plans

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

All 18 rounds of the 2007 MotoGP world championship will be screened live on the BBC. Coverage plans were confirmed by BBC MotoGP series producer Belinda Rogerson at the start of the IRTA test in...

Corser on Pole

23 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Troy Corser has just snatched pole position for the first round of the World Superbike championship, ahead of Max Biaggi and James Toseland. With more Superpole wins than any other rider in the...

Smith gets wet boost

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Two crashes couldn’t stop British teenager Bradley Smith scoring an encouraging top 10 finish in the IRTA 125 test at Jerez. The Repsol Honda rider was eighth fastest overall, his best time of...

Wet, wet, wet in Jerez

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

The opening morning of the final IRTA test in Jerez has been dominated by soaking wet conditions that have seen none of the full-time MotoGP riders out on track in the first two hours. Only Ducati...

Toseland again

23 February 2007 by Michael Guy

James Toseland will be the final rider to head out on to his Superpole lap this afternoon (1pm UK time) after setting provisional pole position with a lap time over two tenths quicker than his nearest...

Pitt waits on new parts

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Andrew Pitt is hoping that vital engine upgrades for the struggling Ilmor 800 arrive in time for this weekend’s final IRTA test in Jerez. Pitt and team-mate Jeremy McWilliams are waiting on a new...

Yamaha's 800 edge

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Honda duo Marco Melandri and Carlos Checa reckon rivals Yamaha have a clear advantage going into the inaugural 800cc MotoGP world championship next month. Former world champion Valentino Rossi and...

Hayden: Engine still key

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes Honda’s new RC212V 800cc motor can improve despite the V4 appearing close to its rivals in testing in Qatar last week. Hayden has been a vocal critic at the lack of performance...

Edwards on Jerez test

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

In-form factory Yamaha rider Colin Edwards has backed the factory’s YZR-M1 800 machine to continue its blistering winter pace when pre-season testing reaches its climax in Jerez. Edwards said he is...

800 just a tool

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Legendary Aussie chief engineer Jerry Burgess says he doesn’t expect MotoGP to change too drastically despite the capacity reduction to 800cc for 2007. Burgess, who is working with Yamaha and...

Rizla Suzuki's 2007 livery revealed

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

This is the first look of the new livery to be run by Rizla Suzuki’s MotoGP team in 2007. The bike was officially unveiled at Jerez moments ago (on Thursday afternoon), and is designated the...

Hopper gets shocked

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins is undergoing intensive electric shock treatment in Jerez to ensure he returns close to 100 per cent fitness for the season’s opening GP in Qatar on March 10, 2007. With the final IRTA...

Webb injured in crash

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb will need a late fitness check before deciding whether he can ride in the final 125 winter test session in Qatar next week. The 15-year-old scraped skin off three fingers...

Biaggi on race pace

23 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Any doubts that Max Biaggi would take time to settle into WSB after a year out were firmly erased today, with the Italian in confident mood. He set the standard by posting easily the most consistent...

Vermeulen rates rivals

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen reckons Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 has set the early benchmark in the new 800cc MotoGP era with the new season due to kick off in less than three weeks. The factory Suzuki rider...

Smart back to Hawk?

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Scott Smart could be on his way back to Hawk Kawasaki, if the team can secure the backing to run a second rider alongside Peter Hickman. Smart, speaking from the WSB paddock in Doha where he’s...

Smart back to Hawk?

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Scott Smart could be on his way back to Hawk Kawasaki, if the team can secure the backing to run a second rider alongside Peter Hickman. Smart, speaking from the WSB paddock in Doha where he’s...

Haga from Toseland

22 February 2007 by Michael Guy

The honour of provisional pole position for the opening WSB race in Qatar went to Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga with a lap time 0.6 seconds inside Troy Bayliss’ 2006 lap record. Haga has completed two tests...

Martin for BSB

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Roads hero Guy Martin could be racing a Hydrex Honda in BSB this year. The Ulster GP winner and outright lap record holder was down to race in British Supersport this year but Hydrex team boss Shaun...

Hopper: more speed

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Injured American John Hopkins reckons Suzuki’s new GSV-R 800 needs more power. The 23-year-old believes this is necessary to ensure it will be a competitive force when the new MotoGP world...

Toseland on top

22 February 2007 by Michael Guy

James Toseland topped the time sheets in first free practice with an impressive 2m 00.029s lap onboard his Ten Kate Honda. The 26-year-old Brit spent the session fine tuning his advanced...

GP blow for Brits

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

British interest in the world championship has been slashed by a third just two weeks before the first race in Qatar. The Winona WCM 250 team, which was to field an all-British line-up with Dan...