2008

Year: 2008

Month: ALL

Noriyuki Haga pinned, plated and ready for Nurburgring

06 June 2008 by Michael Guy

Noriyuki Haga pinned, plated and ready for Nurburgring

Noriyuki Haga has undergone a successful operation to repair his badly broken collarbone sustained in at Miller Motorsports Park last weekend and remains confident he will be fit to race in Germany...

Team switch for Graeme Gowland in Germany

06 June 2008 by Michael Guy

British rider Graeme Gowland will ride for the Italian Berry Racing team for the rest of the World Supersport season starting with round six of the championship at Nurburgring on 13th to 15th June. Graeme Gowland made his World Supersport debut with the Dutch Benjan Racing Team showing his impressive pace which netted him points in the Phillip Island race in Australia. Unfortunately the 22 year...

Isle of Man TT: John McGuinness takes victory in Senior Race

06 June 2008 by Liam Marsden

Isle of Man TT: John McGuinness takes victory in Senior Race

John McGuinness has equalled Mike Hailwood’s record of 14 Senior TT motorcycle race wins at the Isle of Man TT. Padgett Honda rider John McGuinness led the race upto Ramsey Hairpin on the first lap,...

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith and Scott Redding in provisional top ten

06 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith and Scott Redding in provisional top ten

Injured British rider Bradley Smith and rookie Scott Redding have claimed top ten places on the provisional grid for Sunday’s Catalunya 125GP. A fastest time of 1.51.988 secured eight for Polaris...

Dani Pedrosa starts on top in Catalunya

06 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa starts on top in Catalunya

Dani Pedrosa made the perfect start to his home race in Catalunya this morning when he edged out title rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in the opening free practice session. Factory Honda...

Nightmare start for Casey Stoner in Catalunya

06 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nightmare start for Casey Stoner in Catalunya

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner made a nightmare start to his bid for a second successive Catalunya MotoGP victory this morning. The 22-year-old was uninjured in a crash exiting the Curve Elf...

Scott Redding makes flying start in Catalunya

06 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding makes flying start in Catalunya

British MotoGP rookie Scott Redding has posted the second fastest time in this morning’s opening free 125GP practice session in Catalunya. The Blusens Aprilia rider actually led the session until the...

Nicky Hayden disappointed at further engine delay

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden disappointed at further engine delay

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has spoken of his disappointment at not being able to race Honda’s pneumatic valve motor in this weekend’s Catalunya GP. The American was hoping to ride the V4 for...

Casey Stoner confident ahead of Catalunya clash

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner confident ahead of Catalunya clash

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner is confident he can repeat his stunning 2007 victory in Catalunya this weekend as he tries to close the gap on series leader Valentino Rossi. Ducati rider...

Valentino Rossi aiming to continue good form

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi aiming to continue good form

Valentino Rossi is hoping he can continue his good form in Barcelona this weekend as he goes in search of a ninth win on the Catalunya circuit. Valentino Rossi leads the series by 12-points over home...

Casey Stoner confirms possible 2009 Ducati test

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner confirms possible 2009 Ducati test

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has confirmed that he might test Ducati’s 2009 prototype machine in Barcelona next week. Test rider Vittoriano Gaureschi is due to ride an early version of...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - Michael Dunlop is pleased with his achievements

05 June 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - Michael Dunlop is pleased with his achievements

We took advantage of an offer to join Dunlop today for their dealer seminar to launch the new Roadsmart high performance sport touring tyre. MCN’s Senior Road Test Editor Michael Neeves highly rated...

No pneumatic valve motor for Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

No pneumatic valve motor for Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa

MotoGP factory Honda duo Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa will not race the new RC212V pneumatic valve engine in this weekend’s Catalunya GP. After lengthy discussions with Honda engineers and team...

Carlos Checa 13th rider to take wins in both GP and WSB

05 June 2008 by Michael Guy

Carlos Checa 13th rider to take wins in both GP and WSB

Carlos Checa’s WSB victories at Miller Motorsports Park in the USA last weekend cemented the Spaniards place in the history books as one of the few men to win a GP and WSB race in their career. Checa...

Hand injury still a concern for Bradley Smith

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Hand injury still a concern for Bradley Smith

British 125GP rider Bradley Smith reckons the right hand injury he suffered only five days ago in a spectacular high-side crash in Mugello will still be a big hindrance in this weekend’s Catalunya...

Honda veteran backs Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa

05 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda veteran backs Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa

Honda veteran Tadayuki Okada reckons the 2008 MotoGP title fight will be a two-horse race between Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa. The Japanese rider, who made his first MotoGP appearance in eight...

Ducati designer praises Yamaha response

04 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati designer praises Yamaha response

Ducati’s technical boss Filippo Preziosi has praised Yamaha for the way the Japanese factory has retaliated against Casey Stoner’s 2007 domination. In the opening six races of 2008, Yamaha has been...

Cal Crutchlow to race at Suzuka Eight Hour

04 June 2008 by Marc Potter

Cal Crutchlow to race at Suzuka Eight Hour

British Superbike star Cal Crutchlow will race for Honda motorcycles at this year’s Suzuka Eight Hour in July, and at this weekend’s 300km race. The factory HM Plant Honda rider has been out testing...

FIM World Motocross: Tony Cairoli and Jonathan Barragan rule Britannia

04 June 2008 by Paul Harris

FIM World Motocross: Tony Cairoli and Jonathan Barragan rule Britannia

Grand Prix motocross came to Mallory Park for the first time last weekend in front of 41,000 spectators, and the result was a universal success. The brand-new track hosted some great racing for the...

James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto dominate at Hangtown

04 June 2008 by Paul Harris

James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto dominate at Hangtown

After running off and hiding from the pack at the Glen Helen AMA Motocross season opener last weekend, James Stewart did exactly the same again at Hangtown in round two. The Monster Energy Kawasaki...

Scott Nicholls' diary: British Speedway Champion

04 June 2008 by Macalister Bryan

Scott Nicholls' diary: British Speedway Champion

My week since the last diary has gone pretty good. Last Thursday was the British Final and it went well. Apart from an engine failure in my third race I won all my races, which was enough to take me...

MotoGP: Eugene Laverty targets more points in Barcelona

04 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Eugene Laverty targets more points in Barcelona

Irish privateer Eugene Laverty has targeted another top 15 finish in this weekend’s Catalunya 250GP after his career best dry race result in Italy. Laverty scored a 13th place in Mugello and he’s...

Norasport Championship from Three Sisters

04 June 2008 by Kathryn Drayton

Norasport Championship from Three Sisters

Round Three of the Gimoto National Supermoto Championship took place at the Three Sisters Circuit in Wigan, and a warm sunny circuit welcomed the riders out for practice. 450 National...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - I'm pleased Bruce Anstey dominated the supersport race

04 June 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - I'm pleased Bruce Anstey dominated the supersport race

I’m so pleased Bruce Anstey and the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team dominated today’s Supersport race It proved what everyone said after Monday’s disqualification: Bruce Anstey is superb round the Isle...

Isle of Man TT: Nick Crowe / Mark Cox win Sidecar Race B

04 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Isle of Man TT: Nick Crowe / Mark Cox win Sidecar Race B

Nick Crowe and Mark Cox have secured their second sidecar win of the Isle of Man TT this afternoon after a great battle with second placed Dave Molyneux and Dan Sayle. The two Isle of Man riders stuck...

Kawasaki closing in on 2009 MotoGP targets

04 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki closing in on 2009 MotoGP targets

Kawasaki bosses will have whittled a 2009 rider shopping list down to just two riders after this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP in Barcelona. A short list of five riders, including struggling Aussie...

Isle of Man TT: Bruce Anstey bounces back from disqualification to take second Supersport win

04 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Isle of Man TT: Bruce Anstey bounces back from disqualification to take second Supersport win

Bruce Anstey bounced back from the disappointment of disqualification from Monday’s Isle of Man TT Supersport race to win the second encounter today and secure himself the lap record once and for...

Isle of Man TT: Relentless by TAS Suzuki boss talks about Bruce Anstey disqualification

04 June 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Isle of Man TT: Relentless by TAS Suzuki boss talks about Bruce Anstey disqualification

As preparations for today’s second Supersport race are underway in the most perfect weather conditions, Phillip Neill has spoken out about Bruce Anstey’s disqualification from Monday’s Supersport...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - beatiful sights of the Manx

04 June 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - beatiful sights of the Manx

Another scorcher of a day. After a late breakfast, accompanied by the dulcit tones of ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Old Oak Tree’ (the instrumental version of course – such is the time-warp the...

Meeting the stars at Mugello

03 June 2008 by Jamie Robson

Meeting the stars at Mugello

Photos of my wife with Keith Flint (from Prodigy) and me and Steve Parrish (Stavros) at Mugello before Sundays MotoGP race.

Tech 3 Yamaha cool on Ben Spies link

03 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha cool on Ben Spies link

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal has played down speculation that he would look at signing reigning American Superbike champion Ben Spies if Colin Edwards departed from the Tech 3 team. Poncharal is...

Valentino Rossi looking to continue purple patch

03 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi looking to continue purple patch

Valentino Rossi believes he has a great chance of extending his current winning streak to four races when he looks to beat home favourites Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo in Barcelona this...

Alex de Angelis pleads for Honda help

03 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Alex de Angelis pleads for Honda help

Mugello MotoGP sensation Alex de Angelis has begged Honda to give him extra help when factory pair Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa begin to campaign the new pneumatic valve engine. De Angelis caused one...

KTM propose 500cc twins to replace 250GPs

03 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

KTM propose 500cc twins to replace 250GPs

KTM has unveiled plans for the current two-stroke 250GP class to be replaced by 500cc four-stroke twins. In response to Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta’s Le Mans proposal to introduce four-stroke machines...

Jorge Lorenzo looks to bounce back on home soil

03 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo looks to bounce back on home soil

Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can return to form on home soil in Barcelona this weekend after suffering the first major setback of his MotoGP career last weekend in Mugello. The Spaniard lost vital...

Kawasaki to support John Hopkins

03 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki to support John Hopkins

Kawasaki bosses have refused to castigate John Hopkins after the American’s recent damning attack on the performance of the 2008 ZX-RR. The American slammed a lack of development from factory...