2009 | Page 27

Gregorio Lavilla at Donington MotoGP

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

WSB star Gregorio Lavilla is at the Donington MotoGP round this weekend. MCN caught up with him when he was sat at the back of the press office, dialled to the internet to catch up on the latest WSB...

Sylvain Guintoli throws away his crutches

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB Suzuki star Sylvain Guintoli continues to make rapid progress from the serious leg injuries he sustained at Donington Park back in May. He was back at Donington Park today, limping around the...

British MotoGP: James Toseland eyes home top six

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is confident he can challenge for the top six in tomorrow’s British MotoGP race after he equalled his best qualifying result at Donington Park this afternoon. The 28-year-old will start...

British MotoGP: Valentino Rossi snatches Donington pole position

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning the last British MotoGP race at Donington Park got a massive boost today when the Italian stormed to his fourth pole position of the season. The reigning world...

British MotoGP: Jorge Martinez confirms Ducati deal

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Martinez’s Aspar squad has confirmed today at Donington Park that it will move to MotoGP in 2010 with Ducati. After failed talks previously with Yamaha and Suzuki, the Spaniard also talked with...

Brno WSB: Second Free Practice times

25 July 2009 by Michael Guy

1 19 B. SPIES USA Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 2’00.119 2 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 2’00.132 3 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 2’00.244 4 7 C. CHECA ESP HANNspree...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith storms to home pole position

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith produced a stunning final lap to storm to pole position for his home 125GP at Donington Park tomorrow. The Aspar Aprilia rider looked like he might have to settle for second place after...

Brit teenager on pole for Donington Red Bull Rookies

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Brit Danny Kent secured his second pole in a row within the first 10 minutes of practice for this afternoon’s Red Bull Rookies Cup race at the Donington Park British Grand Prix. Kent quickly got down...

Day of Champions raises £177,000

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Day of Champions raised £177,000 for Riders for Health as the stars of MotoGP joined thousands of fans at Donington on Thursday. This year’s Day of Champions – the last at Donington before the...

Brno WSS: Crutchlow takes comfortable pole from Laverty

25 July 2009 by Michael Guy

Cal Crutchlow completed his domination of Free Practice and Qualifying by securing pole position for tomorrows 18 lap World Supersport race. Onboard the factory Yamaha R6 Crutchlow came within...

Riders for Health auction highlights

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

£77,000 raised in the auction for Riders For Health in the Day of Champions at Donington on Thursday 75 lots auctioned in four hours Rizla Suzuki ultimate VIP package: £7600 Colin Edwards leathers and...

Brno WSB: Biaggi stays on top in second qualifying

25 July 2009 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi retained his position at the top of the leader board after second qualifying despite not improving on his day one lap time. Biaggi’s 1m59.982s lap from Friday afternoon was enough to hold...

British MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa continues impressive Donington form

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa continued his impressive form at the British MotoGP this morning, the Spaniard topping the timesheets in the second practice session. Pedrosa, who won at Donington in...

Brno WSS: Crutchlow continues to lead the way in second free practice

25 July 2009 by Michael Guy

Cal Crutchlow retained his position at the top of the time sheets during second Free Practice session ahead of this afternoons qualifying session. Crutchlow’s blistering 2m 02.292s lap was a new...

British MotoGP: Brits outside top ten in 125GP practice

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith, Danny Webb and Scott Redding were all outside of the top ten in this morning’s final 125GP practice session at Donington Park. Oxfordshire rider Smith’s best lap of 1.39.188 was only...

British GP Blog: The British love of the Norton

24 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Mike Nicks and I wandered over to the Loop to watch – and hear – the two Nortons in practice for Sunday’s GP1 15-lap sprint race, part of the Thundersport GB support programme at this year’s Donington...

British GP Tech Blog: The trauma of wet Friday practice

24 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

First practice is important. Mess up and it can mean playing catch-up all weekend, chasing a set-up for race day. A crew chief needs to get a quick idea whether the initial set-up ideas that he’s...

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner to undergo more medical checks

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner will return to Australia during the short summer break for further medical checks aimed at getting to the bottom of the Ducati rider’s on-going mystery physical issues. Recent assessments...

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner searching for wet improvement

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Casey Stoner conceded he will need to make significant improvements to the wet set-up of his factory Ducati if there’s a repeat of today’s fast changing weather conditions at...

British MotoGP: Valentino Rossi satisfied with third

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s hopes of bowing out at Donington Park in style got off to a good start today, the reigning MotoGP world champion claiming third place in a rain-hit opening practice session. As a dry...

Brno WSB: Biaggi the dominant force after first qualifying

24 July 2009 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi saved his best until last by snatching provisional pole position from fellow Roman Michel Fabrizio in the final seconds of the opening qualifying session at Brno. The factory Aprilia man...

British MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa ‘Great to be on top’

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa made the perfect start to the final British MotoGP race at Donington Park today, the Spaniard topping the timesheets at the end of opening practice. On a virtually dry track at the end of...

Brno WSS: Crutchlow’s domination starts early

24 July 2009 by Michael Guy

World Supersport championship leader, Cal Crutchlow destroyed the opposition in the opening free practice session today with a lap time that would have seen him qualify 22nd on the WSB grid onboard...

British MotoGP: Fuel mix-up costs James Toseland

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Confusion over the amount of fuel James Toseland’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine was carrying cost the British rider a chance to claim a morale-boosting top six finish in today’s weather-hit...

British MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa fastest at rain-hit Donington

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa topped an opening British MotoGP practice session dominated by constantly changing weather conditions at Donington Park today. The session started under grey and gloomy skies on...

Brno WSB: Haga targets points despite pain

24 July 2009 by Michael Guy

Noriyuki Haga has vowed to fight like he does on any other race weekend in Brno despite riding with a recently plated forearm and broken Scapula sustained at Donington Park three weeks ago. Haga...

Brno WSB: Strong start to the weekend by Hopkins

24 July 2009 by Michael Guy

American John Hopkins underlined his potential by claiming second position in the opening free practice session at Brno. Onboard the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR, Hopkins made a significant set-up change to...

Brno WSB: Biaggi tops Free Practice after intense battle with Fabrizio

24 July 2009 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi made an impressive start to the Brno race weekend by topping the timesheets in the opening Free Practice session this afternoon. On board the factory Aprilia RSV4 the Italian clearly...

British MotoGP: Downpour disrupts 125GP practice

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

A torrential downpour after less than three minutes badly disrupted today’s 125GP practice session at Donington Park. Most riders had only completed an out lap and one quick lap on a dry track when...

British MotoGP: Kevin Schwantz backs Valentino Rossi for title

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Kevin Schwantz believes Valentino Rossi’s experience will be vital as the Italian chases a ninth world title in 2009. Rossi is currently locked in an enthralling title fight with Fiat Yamaha...

Donington MotoGP stats: Facts and figures

24 July 2009 by Dr Martin Raines

Valentino Rossi has had seven victories at Donington; the 125cc race in 1997, the 250cc race in 1999 and in the premier-class in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. He also crossed the line first in...

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner – ‘Britain helped my career’

24 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Casey Stoner reckons he could not have enjoyed his premier class success had it not been for the British championship helping to launch his bid for stardom. Stoner cut his teeth...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith to race Jenson Button - at triathlon!

23 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP will clash with Formula One in London next month with Bradley Smith and Jenson Button poised to take each other on in the London Triathlon. Oxfordshire rider Smith, who has won two races in...

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes end to frustrating spell

23 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has admitted he is getting increasingly frustrated that his mystery health issues are preventing him from mounting a stronger challenge to Fiat Yamaha rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge...

British MotoGP: Valentino Rossi – ‘Weather to play vital role'

23 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi reckons the temperamental British weather could play a decisive role in his bid to win a sixth premier class race at Donington Park. The Italian’s last...

British MotoGP: Marco Melandri expecting Hayate withdrawal

23 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri has confirmed he is expecting the Hayate team to quit MotoGP at the end of the season. Branded Hayate, Melandri’s team is run by Kawasaki and he’s currently riding a 2009...