2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in 125GP opener

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in 125GP opener

British teenager Bradley Smith made a fast start in searing hot conditions at the Sepang circuit today to clock the fastest 125GP time ahead of this weekend’s penultimate race of the 2009 campaign. A...

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa targets Honda improvement

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa targets Honda improvement

Dani Pedrosa reckons Honda must solve a corner entry issue with its factory RC212V if he is to have any chance of consistently challenging Yamaha and Ducati for MotoGP wins. The Spaniard, who is...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed by third place

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed by third place

Clinching third place in the MotoGP world championship will mean nothing to former world champion Casey Stoner. The Aussie, who claimed a brilliant home success in Phillip Island last weekend, is...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

Valentino Rossi is trying to keep a lid on expectations that he will clinch a seventh MotoGP crown in Malaysia this weekend, the Italian insisting he is taking nothing for granted. The 30-year-old...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo resigned to title defeat

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo resigned to title defeat

Jorge Lorenzo has conceded his MotoGP world title hopes are over, but refused to single out his four crashes as the prime reason for his likely defeat to Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo...

Aleix Espargaro to replace Niccolo Canepa in Sepang

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aleix Espargaro to replace Niccolo Canepa in Sepang

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro will get another chance to gain crucial experience ahead of his first full MotoGP campaign in 2010 during this weekend’s Malaysian GP at Sepang. Espargaro, who will ride for...

Mick Doohan: Jorge Lorenzo will get stronger

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mick Doohan: Jorge Lorenzo will get stronger

Five-times MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan believes Jorge Lorenzo will be a stronger opponent for Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in 2010. A first corner crash at last weekend’s Australian...

Valentino Rossi hopes to avoid Valencia decider

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hopes to avoid Valencia decider

Valentino Rossi has told MCN he hopes to clinch his seventh MotoGP world title in Malaysia this weekend to avoid a final race decider against Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. A ninth career...

Valentino Rossi’s experience vital, says Wayne Gardner

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s experience vital, says Wayne Gardner

Wayne Gardner believes Valentino Rossi’s vast experience has proven pivotal in the Italian’s 2009 MotoGP title fight against rising star Jorge Lorenzo. The Aussie legend reckons Lorenzo has simply...

Casey Stoner not worried by Sepang heat

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner not worried by Sepang heat

Casey Stoner is confident he will be able to cope with the punishing heat and humidity at this weekend’s Malaysia GP in Sepang. This weekend’s penultimate round of the 2009 MotoGP campaign will...

Nicky Hayden not shocked by Casey Stoner form

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden not shocked by Casey Stoner form

Nicky Hayden reckons he has not been shocked at factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner’s stunning return to MotoGP. Having missed three races and been out of action for close to 10 weeks while he...

No regrets for Casey Stoner

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

No regrets for Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner has said he won’t look back and ponder what might have been in 2009 after his brilliant return to winning ways in Australia last weekend. The Aussie’s bid to regain the world title he...

Sykes signs for Kawasaki World Superbike team

20 October 2009 by Michael Guy

Sykes signs for Kawasaki World Superbike team

Tom Sykes will ride for the factory Kawasaki World Superbike team in 2010. The 24 year old Brit signed a deal last week that will see him line up alongside Australian Chris Vermeulen in the British...

My new MotoGP tattoo

20 October 2009 by Anonymous

My new MotoGP tattoo

My new tattoo. MotoGP rules!

Kagayama out for podiums in final ride for Alstare Suzuki

20 October 2009 by Michael Guy

Kagayama out for podiums in final ride for Alstare Suzuki

Yukio Kagayama wants to step on the podium in his last ride for the Alstare Suzuki WSB squad at Portimao. Having spent five years racing for Alstare in WSB, Kagayama will return to BSB in 2010 to race...

Haga: “I’m going there to win”

20 October 2009 by Michael Guy

Haga: “I’m going there to win”

World Superbike series leader Noriyuki Haga has declared his intention of winning races in Portimao in an effort to secure his elusive first WSB crown. Haga currently leads the championship standings...

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner revels in home success

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner revels in home success

Casey Stoner became the second most successful Australian rider in Grand Prix history with a stunning victory over Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island. Making only his second appearance since returning...

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland furious with start penalty

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland furious with start penalty

James Toseland slammed a decision by race bosses to penalise him for a jump start that robbed him of a certain top ten finish in Australia today. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Monster Yamaha...

Rossi and crew chief rubbish Ducati rumours

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Rossi and crew chief rubbish Ducati rumours

With one hand now firmly on the 2009 MotoGP title, Valentino Rossi strenuously denied his other hand was poised to sign a mega money deal to join Ducati in Phillip Island. He told MCN: “There are a...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled with vital second

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled with vital second

Valentino Rossi might not have been able to halt Casey Stoner’s home domination in Phillip Island, but the Italian was still in buoyant mood as a crucial second place moved him to the brink of a...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo suffers title blow

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo suffers title blow

Jorge Lorenzo’s MotoGP title hopes suffered a massive blow in Australia today, the factory Yamaha rider crashing out of the 27-lap Phillip Island race at the first corner. Trying to recover from a...

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa frustrated with Honda threat

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa frustrated with Honda threat

Dani Pedrosa could not disguise his frustration after the Spaniard was easily beaten by Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in Phillip Island. Leader on the first lap after a trademark fast start from...

Australia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden suffers more first lap misery

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden suffers more first lap misery

Nicky Hayden counted himself lucky after he avoided a high-speed crash following his first corner clash with Jorge Lorenzo at Phillip Island. Having been struck from behind by Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha,...

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith’s 125GP title hopes finish

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith’s 125GP title hopes finish

Bradley Smith saw his slim hopes of pulling off an unlikely 125GP world championship triumph ended in Australia. The 18-year-old needed to finish in front of Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon for...

Phillip Island: Simoncelli closes in on title with win

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island: Simoncelli closes in on title with win

Reigning 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli closed to within12 points of the championship lead at Phillip Island after victory at Phillip Island. Championship leader Hiroshi Aoyama was unable to run at...

Phillip Island MotoGP: Simon takes win and 125GP championship

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island MotoGP: Simon takes win and 125GP championship

Aspar Aprilia rider Julian Simon won the Phillip Island 125GP race ahead of team-mate Bradley Smith and with it the 125GP championship. Simon didn’t have it all his own way during the race, and had to...

Phillip Island MotoGP: Stoner takes home win

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island MotoGP: Stoner takes home win

Australian Casey Stoner has won his home GP at Phillip Island for the third year in a row after battling with reigning champion Valentino Rossi. The two riders soon pulled away from the rest of the...

Valentino Rossi’s stepfather commits suicide

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s stepfather commits suicide

Valentino Rossi was rocked by a personal tragedy on the eve of the Phillip Island MotoGP race, with news of the suicide of the Italian’s stepfather. Mauro Tecchi, second husband of Rossi’s mother...

Haslam racing Suzuki in Sunday’s Mallory Rallycross

17 October 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Haslam racing Suzuki in Sunday’s Mallory Rallycross

WSB star Leon Haslam won’t be making his WSB Alstare Suzuki debut until next year but he will be making his Suzuki debut this Sunday at Mallory Park – in the British Rallycross Championship. Haslam...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eyes title boost

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eyes title boost

Valentino Rossi told MCN that he aims to pounce on a bad Phillip Island weekend so far for MotoGP title rival and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. Rossi starts tomorrow’s 27-lap race with an...

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa bounces back for front row

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa bounces back for front row

Dani Pedrosa admitted he was lucky to escape injury after he bounced back from a heavy qualifying crash to claim a place on the front of the grid for tomorrow’s Australian MotoGP clash. Hopes of the...

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith ‘annoyed’ at late mistake

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith ‘annoyed’ at late mistake

British teenager Bradley Smith admitted he was annoyed with himself after a late crash in 125GP qualifying cost him his chance of a front row start for tomorrow’s Phillip Island race. Smith was...

Checa signs for new Altea Ducati Team for 2010

17 October 2009 by Michael Guy

Checa signs for new Altea Ducati Team for 2010

Spanish veteran Carlos Checa will ride a Ducati 1198 in the World Superbike Championship in 2010. The long time GP man arrived in WSB in 2007 where he spent two years campaigning the Ten Kate Honda...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fourth and frustrated

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fourth and frustrated

Jorge Lorenzo couldn’t hide his frustration in Phillip Island today after he surrendered his 100 per cent front row qualifying record in 2009. For the first time in 15 races this season, the...

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland aims high

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland aims high

British rider James Toseland believes he can still mount a strong challenge for a top six finish in tomorrow’s Australian MotoGP, despite only qualifying in 12th position on the grid. The 28-year-old...

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner storms to home pole

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner storms to home pole

Casey Stoner stormed to his first pole position since the opening round of the season to delight a large home crowd at Phillip Island this afternoon. Just two minutes of an exciting qualifying session...