2008 | Page 47

Italian MotoGP: Pol Espargaro sets fastest time in 125cc free practice two

31 May 2008 by Liam Marsden

Derbi rider Pol Espargaro has taken topped the time sheets in the 125cc free practice two. With only a few seconds remaining on the clock Sandro Cortese was at the top of the time sheets with a time...

USA World Superbikes: Troy Bayliss again in first qualifying

31 May 2008 by Michael Guy

Troy Bayliss took provisional pole position for Sunday’s two World Superbike races in Salt Lake City after posting an impressive lap time of 1min 49.394secs. Xerox Ducati rider Bayliss has had no...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - What a sensational evening, who is going to win?

31 May 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Sensational. That’s the only way to describe tonight’s TT practice session. Guy Martin flashes down the Glencrutchery Road on his Hydrex Bike Animal Honda to clock a 127.77mph lap – the quickest of...

WSB men already faster than AMA regulars

31 May 2008 by Michael Guy

It took just two sessions for the World Superbike contenders to beat the best times set by the American Superbike regulars at the Miller Motorsport Park. Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss set the benchmark...

USA World Superbikes: Troy Bayliss on top and on the pace stateside

30 May 2008 by Michael Guy

Xeros Ducati rider Troy Bayliss took little time to acclimatise himself to the all new Miller Motor sports circuit and claimed provisional pole position with a best lap of 1min 50.710secs. Bayliss’...

Michael Rutter slates Ducati weight penalty

30 May 2008 by Gary Pinchin

North West 200 Ducati rider Michael Rutter has slated the British Superbike race organisation’s decision to inflict a weight penalty on the Ducati 1098RS machines. Rutter said: “I think the weight...

Hydrex Honda chief technician happy with BSB rules

30 May 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Hydrex Honda chief technician Mick Shanley fully supports this year’s supersport-spec engine rules that have been implemented for British Superbike Championship – and says racing is cheaper with them...

Italian MotoGP: James Toseland wet but competitive in Mugello

30 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland took full advantage of a special wet Michelin tyre test last week as he posted some of the fastest times on a rain-lashed first day of action in Mugelllo. Toseland tested...

Michael Schumacher on track in Germany again this weekend

30 May 2008 by Ben Purvis

Seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is set to make another appearance in the German Superbike championship this weekend (May 31-June 1, 2008). The news of his appearance comes just two...

Italian MotoGP: Mattia Pasini snatches provisional home pole

30 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Italy’s Mattia Pasini has snatched provisional pole position for Sunday’s 250GP from Marco Simocelli to the delight of his home fans in Mugello. The Polaris World Aprilia rider is the only Italian on...

Scott Nicholls secures fifth British Speedway Championship title

30 May 2008 by Chris Seaward

Scott Nicholls collected his fifth British Speedway Championship with a hard fought and well deserved victory on a night of terrific action at the Abbey Stadium, Swindon last night. (Thursday). The...

Italian MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen shines in the rain in second practice

30 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen has finished top of the timesheets in this afternoon’s second Italian MotoGP practice, held in pouring rain. The wet weather man, who won in the wet at Le Mans last...

Italian MotoGP: Scott Redding in provisional second for 125GP

30 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Scott Redding has put in a brilliant first qualifying session in torrential rain to put himself in provisional second on the grid for Sunday’s 125GP in Mugello. The 15-year-old shot to the...

Italian MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista fastest in first 250 practice

30 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista was the man to beat in this morning’s opening 250GP practice in Italy. The Mapfre Aspar Aprilia rider, who was on pole at Le Mans a fortnight ago, recorded a best lap of 1:55.321 with...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - TT finally comes alive

30 May 2008 by Gary Pinchin

The Isle of Man TT 2008 finally came alive tonight (Thursday). Sunshine, blue skies and near perfect conditions, apart from a few damp patches out on the course, meant we saw some of the fastest...

Italian MotoGP: John Hopkins fastest in rain-hit first practice

30 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins cast aside his frustrations at a lack of progress with Kawasaki’s factory ZX-RR to top the timesheets in this morning’s opening free practice session in Italy. Under threatening grey...

Italian MotoGP: Pol Espargaro fastest in wet first practice

30 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Spain’s Pol Espargaro was the fastest man on track at a wet Mugello circuit this morning for the opening 125GP practice. The Belson Derbi rider recorded a best lap of 2:15.341 just 0.408secs ahead of...

Tyre life expected to cause problems at Miller

30 May 2008 by Michael Guy

Britain’s Chaz Davies believes that tyre life could be a major problem for the World Superbike regulars during their first time at the Miller Motorsports Park circuit in the USA this weekend. Davies...

Relentless Suzuki at Druids

30 May 2008 by Andy Griffiths

Relentless Suzuki at British superbikes, Druids May 2008

Thruxton BSB 2008

30 May 2008 by Paul Collins

Thruxton BSB 2008

Italian MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking for confidence boost

29 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has backed himself to turn around a disappointing 2008 campaign with a positive result in this weekend’s Mugello MotoGP clash. The factory Honda rider is rumoured to...

Italian MotoGP: Marco Melandri baffled by Ducati woes

29 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri claims he is at a loss to solve the problems that have turned his factory Ducati dream into a nightmare in the early part of 2008. Preparing for what is likely to be a tough home race...

Italian MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo at ’70 per cent’ fitness

29 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Spanish rookie sensation Jorge Lorenzo reckons he will be 70 per cent fit for this weekend’s Italian MotoGP in Mugello. The Fiat Yamaha rider goes into round six of the series trailing championship...

Scott Nicholls diary: Sweden Speedway GP

29 May 2008 by Macalister Bryan

We flew out to Sweden last Thursday in plenty of time for Saturday’s Grand Prix. Unusually we managed to have a good stroll around Gothenburg – mostly it’s turn-up, race and fly out again. We even...

Italian MotoGP: Valentino Rossi wary of double Spanish threat

29 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi has not singled out either Dani Pedrosa or factory Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo as his biggest threat in 2008. Spanish duo Pedrosa and Lorenzo are...

Italian MotoGP: Jerry Burgess refuses to write off Casey Stoner

29 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s experienced crew chief Jerry Burgess has refused to write off Casey Stoner’s hopes of mounting a successful MotoGP title defence in 2008. The Australian’s 16th place finish in Le...

Henderson R1 Cup: More rain for Donington Park round

29 May 2008 by Michael Neeves

Another Henderson R1 Cup round and another typically wet and windy weekend. This will be the sixth consecutive race meeting I’ve done this year (including the three Bemsee Powerbike rounds I’ve done)...

Italian MotoGP: Valentino Rossi poised for new Yamaha deal

29 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will postpone his retirement plans until the end of the 2010 season at least as he moves close to agreeing a fresh deal with Yamaha. Rossi’s current two-year deal with Yamaha expires...

BSB Luke Quigley Crash Pics

29 May 2008 by Kerry Green

Luke Quigley had a major crash at the recent Brands Hatch BSB round, at the infamous Paddock Hill bend and we were on hand to capture the action. The two pictures are part of a twenty frame sequence...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog - Wednesday practice cancelled on the Island

29 May 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Well, the rain did stop briefly during the middle of the day while we were downtown Douglas having lunch and we got our hopes up there would be some track action in the evening after all. See day one...

Isle of Man TT: Michael Dunlop to race with Phase One Yamaha

28 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Michael Dunlop has been signed up to ride for Phase One Yamaha at the Isle of Man TT. The 20-year-old son of TT legend Robert Dunlop, who died at the North West 200 earlier this month, will replace...

FIM World Motocross Grand Prix comes to Mallory Park

28 May 2008 by Paul Harris

Thousands of dirt-biking aficionados will be heading to Mallory Park this weekend (May 31-June 1) for the British Motocross Grand Prix as the circuit debuts as a World Motocross Championship venue. A...

Isle of Man TT: Gary Pinchin's blog Guy Martin tops superbike practice

28 May 2008 by Gary Pinchin

I arrived on the Island yesterday for the 2008 Isle of Man TT and Phil Plater and Simon Betney from Dunlop Tyres were kind enough to give me a lift from the airport to my hotel. Good to see them since...

A fresh Cuppa at Le Mans Moto GP

28 May 2008 by Trevor Hedges

Trevor & Kay having a great time at the Le Mans Moto GP having a freshly brewed cuppa much to the merriment of the French MotoGP fans. ‘Les anglais typique!’

Ducati confirm Ben Spies approach

28 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati have confirmed they have received a tentative approach from reigning American superbike champion Ben Spies about a 2009 MotoGP ride. Factory team boss Livio Suppo confirmed to MCN that Spies’...

Prototypes should support MotoGP

27 May 2008 by Mike Thompson

The MCN story on the replacement of 250’s in GP has certainly stimulated some interest. A friend has a recently restored Z650, we reckon given the proposed restrictive rules and replacing his Cheng Shin’s with stickier rubber, he will be in with a fighting chance. Why not open the class to any type of prototype but severely restrict fuel capacity? This would appease enviromental concerns and may...