February | Page 5

WSS: Ten Kate quickest

07 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Both Ten Kate Honda boys picked up where they left off by topping the timing sheets on the first day of testing in Valencia today. Defending Supersport Champion Sebastien Charpentier shared the...

James Toseland has posted the quickest time at today’s test in Valencia, 0.7 seconds faster than his rivals. Toseland has been testing his two identical bikes on the opening day of the test in Spain,...

Race true test for Stoner

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi has backed new factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner to emerge as a big threat in the 2007 MotoGP world championship, but admitted the real test for the young Aussie was yet to...

Checa set for Qatar test

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Carlos Checa plans to complete two punishing race simulation tests in the grueling desert heat in Qatar when he resumes testing in a three-day session in Doha on February 13. The Qatar test is one of...

Testing D-day for Ducati

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi believes the crunch test of how serious a threat Ducati’s new GP7 800cc machine will pose 2007 MotoGP world championship will come in the last two winter test sessions in Qatar and...

Hayden happier with 800

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Defending MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has admitted he finally enjoyed riding Honda’s new RC212V 800 machine when he topped the timesheets in testing at Phillip Island. The switch from the...

Barros cautious on tyre

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Alex Barros reckons the forthcoming IRTA test in Qatar will give him the chance to properly assess Bridgestone tyres on his new Ducati GP7. The South American was third fastest recently at the Phillip...

Tyre boost for Melandri

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri has praised Bridgestone’s front tyre after his shock winter switch from Michelin. The Gresini Honda rider has added to the many plaudits of the Bridgestone front, which has a reputation...

Bou leads World Trials

06 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Spaniard Antonio Bou won Sunday’s World Indoor Trial at the Sant Jordi Stadium, Barcelona and now leads the series by six points. Montesa rider Bou set a fierce pace in the qualifiers dropping just...

Stewart wins again

06 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

James ‘Bubba’ Stewart became the first rider to win all three Anaheim Supercross races in one season when he took Saturday’s fifth round of the AMA series. It was also his fourth win of the season and...

Blog: TT resurgence

06 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

After recent MCN’s laden with ‘Rutter back the TT’, the ‘MV return to TT with Finnegan’ and ‘McGuinness sticks with Honda for TT,’ stories I was asked how come the TT has been getting so much space...

Rossi 2nd in Sepang

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

With Honda and Ducati skipping this week’s Malaysia test, it was no surprise to see former world champion Valentino Rossi close to the top of the timesheets on the opening day in Sepang today. Fastest...

Relentless TAS

05 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

TAS Suzuki are gearing up for BSB in 2008 thanks to a major sponsorship from Relentless – an energy drink targeted at active young people. TAS are the highest-profile race team in Ireland, racing in...

JT ready for Valencia

05 February 2007 by Michael Guy

James Toseland heads to Valencia on Wednesday for a two day test where he intends to put the finishing touches to his 2007 season preparations. Since the end of the 2006 season, Toseland has completed...

No plane, no gain

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Yamaha rider Colin Edwards will show dedication beyond the call of duty this week to catch a round of the American supercross series. This week’s Sepang test is quickly followed up with the...

Ellison's AMA progress

05 February 2007 by Michael Guy

James Ellison continued his busy testing schedule for the American Superbike championship with a two day, rain-hit shakedown test at Fontana. Onboard the Corona Extra Honda CBR1000RR, Ellison...

Hoffman promises more

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Alex Hofmann says he’s got plenty more to come in the build up to the new MotoGP season after he finished the recent Phillip Island test in Australia with the sixth fastest time. Hofmann is desperate...

JM: ‘130mph TT lap on’

05 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

It’s almost certain that HM Plant Honda’s John McGuinness’ astounding 129.45mph Isle of Man TT outright lap record will be well and truly smashed at this year’s TT – providing the weather conditions...

Rossi on new Yam deal

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has spoken in public for the first time today about his new contract with Yamaha on the first day of testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The 27-year-old Italian caught the...

Ilmor off pace in Sepang

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

The British-built new Ilmor 800cc machine got a rude awakening today in Malaysia when Andrew Pitt finished a massive 6.4s off the pace on day one at Sepang. The Ilmor, which raced twice at the end of...

Edwards ousts Rossi

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards edged out factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi to end the opening day of testing in Malaysia fastest. Edwards left it late to take the honours today, his best time of...

TT launch party

05 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Twenty-six of the best pure road racers in the world were flown in to the Isle of Man for the biggest TT press launch ever on Friday night. Top riders including TT lap record holder John McGuinness...

Nicky grabs 16 inch

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has already made his mind up that he will start the defence of his MotoGP world title in Qatar on March 10 using Michelin’s new 16-inch front tyre on his Honda 800...

Donington Park sold

05 February 2007 by MCN

The landscape of who owns what in British racing changed dramatically this morning. An announcement has been made that Donington Park racetrack has been sold by the long-time owners the Wheatcroft...

Nakano motivated

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

New Honda recruit Shinya Nakano is determined not to blow his big MotoGP chance on board the new RC212V after quitting Kawasaki’s factory team at the end of 2006. Nakano spent three years as...

Barros backs Biaggi

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Alex Barros believes former MotoGP rival Max Biaggi will find it easier in World Superbikes than he did because the Italian is lining up in Suzuki’s official factory squad. Barros raced for the Klaffi...

Vermeulen confident

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen is confident that Suzuki’s new GSV-R 800 will return to form in testing at Qatar next week. The Australian’s brilliant winter testing displays stalled recently on home soil at Phillip...

Race focus for Melandri

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Honda rider Marco Melandri says he is not concerned about being at the top end of the winter testing timesheets with the new MotoGP season just five weeks away. Melandri has finished 2007 tests in...

Loris: Smaller is better

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati number one Loris Capirossi is likely to shun the chance to race with Bridgestone’s big profile 16.5-inch rear tyre when the new MotoGP campaign gets underway in Qatar. Capirossi said...

Hopper to bounce back

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Suzuki rider John Hopkins reckons he will bounce back from the recent disappointment of his poor showing in Phillip Island when he continues his 2007 MotoGP preparations in Qatar. Hopkins had...

800 corner speed concern

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Faster corner speeds run by the new generation 800cc machines could be an issue in certain high-speed corners in 2007. That’s the view of factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who reckons tracks like...

Melandri's weight issue

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri reckons he will be in better form at the IRTA test in Qatar having resolved a front-end problem he suffered in Phillip Island recently. Melandri was complaining of front-end grip...

PI hid Honda problems

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri reckons the fast and flowing nature of the Phillip Island circuit masked some of the horsepower problems on Honda’s new RC212V 800 machine. Melandri was only 10th quickest overall at...

Hayden's shoulder check

03 February 2007 by Matthew birt

Nicky Hayden flew to San Francisco after his test topping performance in Phillip Island this week to make sure his right shoulder is holding up under the strain of an intensive winter testing...

Elias backs Honda

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Toni Elias has backed Honda to turn its new RC212V 800cc machine into a race winner from the start of the 2007 MotoGP season. The Gresini rider, who played a massive role in the destiny of...

Checa's special delivery

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Carlos Checa believes Honda’s new RC212V 800cc is getting competitive at the right time with just two more tests before the 2007 MotoGP world championship gets underway next month. The LCR...