February

Isle of Man TT: Bruce Anstey looking for superbike victory

Isle of Man TT: Bruce Anstey looking for superbike victory

Kiwi Bruce Anstey has won six Isle of Man TTs since making his debut in 1996 but a superbike win has always eluded him – even though he’s the third fastest man around the mountain course with his best...

Qatar World Supersport: Fabien Foret in control, mixed fortune for Brits

Qatar World Supersport: Fabien Foret in control, mixed fortune for Brits

Fabien Foret took just five laps to set the fastest time in the free practice session for the opening round of the World Supersport Championship in Qatar. Onboard the new Yamaha R6, Foret shrugged...

Qatar World Superbikes: Yamaha and Suzuki lead the way

Qatar World Superbikes: Yamaha and Suzuki lead the way

Fonsi Nieto made an impressive start to life in the Alstare Suzuki team by setting the fastest lap in the opening free practice session. Fonsi Nieto completed 19 laps with his fastest time coming on...

World Superbikes: Yukio Kagayama pays homage to Kevin Schwantz

World Superbikes: Yukio Kagayama pays homage to Kevin Schwantz

Yukio Kagayama has dropped his trademark number 71 race number and will race with the number 34 in 2008. The Suzuki man will race with the number 34, as it was number he used when he won the Suzuka...

World Superbikes: Alstare Suzuki unveil 2008 colours

World Superbikes: Alstare Suzuki unveil 2008 colours

The factory Alstare Suzuki unveiled their new 2008 livery and sponsors in Qatar. Following months of speculation regarding the team’s sponsor and even their participation in this year’s series, the...

Jerez MotoGP test pictures

Jerez MotoGP test pictures

Here’s some pictures I took this weekend at Jerez. Enjoy.

Toseland drops it

Toseland drops it

I was at the corner where Toseland hit the deck. I had just put the camera down, but got some of him, glad to hear he’s well. Nice colours and a good weekend for him. BBC TV team at corner. Parrish...

Farquhar returns to the TT

Farquhar returns to the TT

Dungannon’s Ryan Farquhar  returns to the TT in 2008 re-united with the McAdoo Kawasaki team. Farquhar, a two-time TT winner, is still looking for a win on a superbike race on the mountain course and...

MotoGP: Michelin explain 2008 development plans

MotoGP: Michelin explain 2008 development plans

Michelin has outlined its 2008 MotoGP development strategy that French tyre bosses hope will spark a revival against dominant rivals Bridgestone next season. Bridgestone emerged as the dominant tyre...

MotoGP: Danny Webb braving pain in Jerez

MotoGP: Danny Webb braving pain in Jerez

British teenager Danny Webb braved the pain of torn ligaments in his right shoulder to continue his 2008 125GP preparations in Jerez yesterday. Just days after injuring his shoulder in a high-side...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden happy with new Michelin strategy

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden happy with new Michelin strategy

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has backed Michelin’s aggressive development of a new 16-inch rear tyre ahead of the 2008 MotoGP campaign. The factory Honda rider topped the timesheets at this...

BSB: MotorSport Vision to run British Superbikes

BSB: MotorSport Vision to run British Superbikes

MotorSport Vision has taken over the responsibility of organisation and promotion of the British Superbike championship from Dorna UK. MSV has signed a ten-year agreement with the Motorcycle Circuit...

MotoGP: Bridgestone target qualifying tyre improvement

MotoGP: Bridgestone target qualifying tyre improvement

Senior Bridgestone race boss Hirohide Hamashima says improving qualifying tyres is one of the key targets for the Japanese factory before the start of the 2008 MotoGP world championship next...

Isle of Man TT: British Supersport's James Hillier to live the TT dream

Isle of Man TT: British Supersport's James Hillier to live the TT dream

British Supersport regular James Hillier (22) has teamed up with well-known Isle of Man TT team boss Martin Bullock’s Race Team to make his debut on the 37.73miles Mountain Course this year. Hillier...

Isle of Man TT: Ryan Farquhar looking for superbike win

Isle of Man TT: Ryan Farquhar looking for superbike win

Dungannon’s Ryan Farquhar returns to the Isle of Man TT in 2008 re-united with the McAdoo Kawasaki team. Farquhar, a two-time Isle of Man TT winner, is still looking for a win on a superbike race on...

MotoGP: LCR Honda already eyeing 2009

MotoGP: LCR Honda already eyeing 2009

The LCR Honda team has already started to turn attentions to 2009 after the impressive winter testing performances of new rider Randy de Puniet. The Frenchman’s fast form continued this week when he...

MotoGP: Michelin still hopeful on Alex Barros deal

MotoGP: Michelin still hopeful on Alex Barros deal

Michelin boss Jean Philippe Weber has revealed the French tyre brand is still in negotiation with Brazilian veteran Alex Barros about a test rider role in 2008. While Ducati, Kawasaki and Suzuki have...

Video: Off-roading with Chris Walker

MCN World Superbike reporter Michael Guy caught up with British Supersport rider Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker at an off road track as he prepares for the 2008 season. Walker talks about the upcoming Qatar testing, his love of off-roading and his aims for the 2008 season with Kawasaki. Read the full article in this weeks Motorcycle News out Wednesday 20th February 2008

MotoGP: Kawasaki 'Screamer' needs time - says Olivier Jacque

MotoGP: Kawasaki 'Screamer' needs time - says Olivier Jacque

Olivier Jacque reckons it is too early to accurately judge the true potential of Kawasaki’s new Screamer MotoGP motor. Poor weather at last weekend’s IRTA test in Jerez wrecked Kawasaki’s hopes of a...

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner unhurt in crash

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner unhurt in crash

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner escaped injury in a small crash on the final day of testing in Jerez. The Aussie lost the front end of his factory Ducati GP8 on the entry to turn five as he...

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden fastest in Spain

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden fastest in Spain

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has finished the three-day weather disrupted IRTA test with the fastest time. The American clocked a fastest time of 1.38.848 using a Michelin qualifying tyre today...

MotoGP Jerez test: Tech 3 relief after James Toseland’s injury scare

MotoGP Jerez test: Tech 3 relief after James Toseland’s injury scare

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal has spoken of his relief after new British signing James Toseland escaped serious injury in a high-side crash in Jerez today. Toseland needed lengthy treatment in...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland bounces back to claim sixth

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland bounces back to claim sixth

James Toseland shrugged off the pain of a badly twisted right ankle to clock the sixth fastest time on the final day of testing in Jerez. In blustery conditions, Toseland escaped injury on only his...

KTM RC8 makes track debut

KTM RC8 makes track debut

The first racing version of KTM’s new RC8 got on track last week for shakedowns at Cartagena in Spain, the factory has revealed. The race bike was piloted by Austrian rider Rene Mahr, who has been...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland in the clear after injury scare

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland in the clear after injury scare

Relieved James Toseland has confirmed he has no broken bones after he was involved in a first corner spill in testing at Jerez this afternoon (Monday). X-rays taken in the Clinica Mobile have shown no...

MotoGP: Jerez test: James Toseland undergoing medical checks

MotoGP: Jerez test: James Toseland undergoing medical checks

British rider James Toseland is currently undergoing medical checks at the Jerez circuit after he crashed on only his second lap of the final day of testing this afternoon. The double World Superbike...

Beowulf Racing's Supersport Yamaha R6 makes first appearance

Beowulf Racing’s Pat McDougall has been testing the Yamaha YZF-R6 he will be racing in this year’s British Supersport Cup Championship at Snetterton. See Beowulf testing in Cartagena The 22-year-old completed five 20-minute sessions on the motorcycle he will be racing this season after previously testing a fleet of Yamaha R6’s to be used by the European Superstock riders. Pat McDougall said:...

Colchester Kawasaki to run National Junior Superstock 600 team for 2008

Colchester Kawasaki to run National Junior Superstock 600 team for 2008

Colchester Kawasaki is to enter this season’s National Junior Superstock 600 class using Kawasaki ZX-6Rs. Robbie Brown, 18, and 19-year-old AJ Johnson will ride for the team in the championship, which...

Isle of Man TT: John McGuinness to race for Padgetts Honda

Isle of Man TT: John McGuinness to race for Padgetts Honda

John McGuinness will race a Padgetts Honda Fireblade in the Superbike and Senior TTs this year. Honda Racing in Louth, the same team running the HM Plant Honda for Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow, is...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland rues rain error

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland rues rain error

James Toseland was left to rue his decision to wait for track conditions to improve as he finished outside of the top ten in this afternoon’s 40-minute BMW qualifying shootout. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider...

MotoGP Jerez test: Valentino Rossi beaten by Casey Stoner again

MotoGP Jerez test: Valentino Rossi beaten by Casey Stoner again

Valentino Rossi said today’s BMW shootout in Jerez was another reminder of why Casey Stoner will start the 2008 MotoGP season next month as the red-hot favourite. Stoner produced another brilliant...

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden third in BMW shootout

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden third in BMW shootout

Nicky Hayden saw his hopes of collecting the keys to a new BMW car dashed by rain and the super fast performances of Bridgestone rivals Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi today. Having set the fastest...

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner hammers rivals to win BMW car

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner hammers rivals to win BMW car

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner claimed the first big prize of 2008 when he collected the keys to a new BMW in today’s televised 40-minute qualifying shootout. The Aussie started 2008...

MotoGP Jerez test: Birthday boy Valentino Rossi eighth fastest

MotoGP Jerez test: Birthday boy Valentino Rossi eighth fastest

Valentino Rossi marked his 29th birthday celebrations by setting the eighth fastest time on the opening day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Returning to the track where he made his...

MotoGP: Danny Webb in injury scare

MotoGP: Danny Webb in injury scare

British teenager Danny Webb suffered a major injury scare today less than a month before the start of the 2008 125GP world championship. The Molenaar Aprilia rider was given the all-clear after...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland boosts confidence on first day

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland boosts confidence on first day

James Toseland got a major confidence boost in Jerez today when he posted the fifth fastest time to beat a host of big name MotoGP rivals including Valentino Rossi and reigning world champion Casey...