2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa to undergo surgery

04 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa to undergo surgery

Dani Pedrosa will undergo surgery in Barcelona today after he was diagnosed with a fractured left arm following a heavy crash on the second night of testing in Qatar on Monday. The Repsol Honda rider...

Letter to Matt Mladin

03 March 2009 by Ted Estarija

Dear Mat Mladin, I’m a huge AMA Superbike fan and have been searching the internet on topics about you going to MotoGP or FIM WSBK, which I had no luck finding. I’m sure you’ve been asked this many times and you’re probably sick of answering the question. I did hear a few comments you made about you being too old for MotoGP, which I disagree with because you’re down right fast. But today’s new GP...

Qatar test: Casey Stoner satisfied with pace and wrist

03 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Casey Stoner satisfied with pace and wrist

Ducati’s Casey Stoner reported positive progress on the recovery of his left wrist after he dominated the second night of testing in Qatar. The 2007 world champion, who has won 16 out of his 36 races...

Tech 3 Yamaha confirms Monster deal

03 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha confirms Monster deal

James Toseland and Colin Edwards will have Monster sponsorship on their Tech 3 Yamaha bikes in 2009 and 2010, as was exclusively revealed by MCN a month ago. The American energy drink giant has signed...

Qatar test: Colin Edwards continues fast form

03 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Colin Edwards continues fast form

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards continued his superb early 2009 form in Qatar last night as the Texan clocked the third best time in blustery conditions. The double World Superbike champion finished...

Qatar test: James Toseland struggling to recapture confidence

03 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: James Toseland struggling to recapture confidence

British rider James Toseland has admitted he is struggling to rediscover his confidence as he ended the second night of testing under the spectacular Qatar floodlights in last place. Get all the...

Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa on latest crash blow

03 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa on latest crash blow

Dani Pedrosa has talked about the latest in a long line of high profile and costly crashes after injury ended his Qatar test on the second night. The Spaniard will fly back to Barcelona for further...

Qatar test: Casey Stoner lights up night test

03 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Casey Stoner lights up night test

Former world champion Casey Stoner produced a dazzling performance under the Losail International Circuit’s floodlights tonight, the Aussie dominating the second night of MotoGP testing. Stoner had...

Qatar test: Chris Vermeulen escapes injury in crash

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Chris Vermeulen escapes injury in crash

Chris Vermeulen’s promising start to 2009 suffered a minor setback when the Aussie suffered a badly swollen right thumb in a crash on the second night of testing in Qatar. The factory Suzuki rider...

Qatar test: Jorge Lorenzo struggling with Bridgestone switch

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Jorge Lorenzo struggling with Bridgestone switch

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo has conceded he is struggling to adapt to Bridgestone tyres after a disappointing second night of testing at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The Fiat Yamaha rider...

Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa injured in night crash

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa injured in night crash

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa is facing a fight to be fit for the final pre-season test in Jerez later this month after he suffered left wrist and knee injuries on the second night of testing in...

Cal Crutchlow: "I could have won it"

02 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Cal Crutchlow: "I could have won it"

Cal Crutchlow and Eugene Laverty confirmed they will be title contenders in the World Supersport championship after finishing fourth and fifth, separated by 1/1000th of a second and just one second...

Phillip Island WSB gossip

02 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Phillip Island WSB gossip

41 riders fined for speeding A total of 41 riders were fined for breaking the 60kph pit lane speed limit during the Phillip Island meeting. Pit lane speed is usually controlled by a marshal sitting at...

WSB Blog: Phillip Island Race

02 March 2009 by Michael Guy

WSB Blog: Phillip Island Race

Well it’s fair to say that the opening round of the World Superbike championship lived up to all the hype. Ben Spies proved beyond doubt that he is the real deal by setting pole and winning race two...

Qatar test: Nicky Hayden talks top spot

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Nicky Hayden talks top spot

Nicky Hayden believes the opening night of testing in Qatar was not a waste of time as the American topped the timesheets on Ducati’s carbon fibre chassis GP9. The Kentucky rider clocked the best time...

Qatar test: Colin Edwards happy with neck injury progress

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Colin Edwards happy with neck injury progress

Colin Edwards has declared himself satisfied that his troublesome neck injury is clearing up after a largely meaningless night of testing in Qatar. The one positive for the Texan after a short rain...

Qatar test: Marco Melandri relieved to be back on track

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Marco Melandri relieved to be back on track

Marco Melandri posted the second best time on a rain-hit opening night of testing in Qatar as he began to put a nightmare winter behind him. Riding the Hayate bike, which is a factory Kawasaki ZX-RR...

Qatar test: James Toseland frustrated by desert downpour

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: James Toseland frustrated by desert downpour

British rider James Toseland’s hopes of kick starting his 2009 MotoGP campaign were thwarted by a five-minute rain shower on the opening night of testing in Qatar. Desperate to bounce back from his...

Qatar test: Valentino Rossi rues desert downpour

02 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Valentino Rossi rues desert downpour

Valentino Rossi was left a frustrated figure as he completed just one lap on the opening night of testing at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The reigning world champion spent most of the...

Qatar test: Nicky Hayden quickest after desert storm

01 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Qatar test: Nicky Hayden quickest after desert storm

Factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden ended a weather-hit opening night of testing in Qatar with the fastest time. Get all the latest MotoGP news The American posted the best time of 2.00.717 in his...

Scott Redding tries new bike test

01 March 2009 by STEVEACER

MotoGP rider Scott Redding, motorcycle Instructor Steve Guest and new rider Ted try the new motorcycle test at the Gloucester test center. The test is coming in on April the 27th.

Grip issues at Qatar night test

01 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Grip issues at Qatar night test

Strong winds and early morning rain have already caused grip issues on the opening night of the MotoGP Qatar test session. The Losail International Circuit has been buffeted by strong winds in the...

Rain stops testing in Qatar

01 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Rain stops testing in Qatar

The opening night of MotoGP testing at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar has already been badly disrupted by rain. Only ten riders had been out on track when a heavy cloudburst hit the desert...

Five Brits join Red Bull MotoGP talent search

01 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Five Brits join Red Bull MotoGP talent search

Five British riders, including the son of former 500GP racer and triple MCN British Superbike champion Niall Mackenzie, will contest this year’s Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Taylor Mackenzie will be...

Reading MCN at Phillip Island

01 March 2009 by Paul Saint

Reading MCN at Phillip Island

Here’s a couple of pictures that were taken of us reading MCN at turn 1, WSB Phillip Island.

Phillip Island WSB: Haga and Spies share spoils

01 March 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island WSB: Haga and Spies share spoils

Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga and WSB rookie Ben Spies took a win each at the opening round of the season at Phillip Island. Race one Haga made his intentions for the season clear by taking the win in...

Rea delighted with Superpole front row

28 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Rea delighted with Superpole front row

Jonathan Rea showed his undoubted potential with an accomplished performance in Superpole to secure his place on the front row for Sunday’s two WSB races at Phillip Island. Rea secured the third...

Haslam secures impressive sixth in qualifying

28 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Haslam secures impressive sixth in qualifying

Leon Haslam was the surprise package of Saturday Superpole by securing sixth position for Sunday’s two 22 lap WSB races. The 25 year old Brit was consistently one of the fastest riders on track after...

Crutchlow baulked by Pitt in final qualifying

28 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Crutchlow baulked by Pitt in final qualifying

Cal Crutchlow secured a place on the front row of the grid for Sunday’s opening World Supersport race at Phillip Island despite being baulked by Andrew Pitt on his fastest lap of qualifying. Crutchlow...

Foret in doubt for Phillip Island Supersport race

28 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Foret in doubt for Phillip Island Supersport race

Yamaha Supersport rider Fabien Foret could miss the opening round of the World Supersport championship at Phillip Island tomorrow following a crash in final qualifying. The Frenchman crashed within...

Phillip Island WSB: Ben Spies takes pole on debut

28 February 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island WSB: Ben Spies takes pole on debut

Yamaha rider Ben Spies smashed the lap record to take pole position on his WSB debut at Phillip Island. Spies broke the lap record – held by Troy Bayliss – by four tenths of a second with his best...

Phillip Island WSB: Superpole explained

28 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Phillip Island WSB: Superpole explained

The all new World Superbike Superpole kicked off at Phillip Island today. After ten years of running the one lap Superpole shootout where the fastest 16 riders after regulation qualifying entered the...

Laverty confident for opening race

28 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Laverty confident for opening race

Eugene Laverty will start tomorrows 21 lap race World Supersport race from fifth position after an impressive performance during final qualifying. The Parkalgar Honda rider arrived at Phillip Island...

Kawasaki to race as Hayate MotoGP in 2009

27 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki to race as Hayate MotoGP in 2009

Kawasaki’s one-rider MotoGP effort for the 2009 campaign will be re-branded ‘Hayate’, MCN can exclusively reveal. Hayate means ‘Hurricane’ in Japanese and is the team name that Kawasaki’s ZX-RR will...

James Toseland eager to begin Qatar test

27 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland eager to begin Qatar test

Tech 3 Yamaha rider James Toseland can’t wait to get back on track on Sunday night as preparations for the new MotoGP season continue in Qatar. Sunday’s opening night will be the first time Toseland...

Jorge Lorenzo backs James Toseland to bounce back in Qatar

27 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo backs James Toseland to bounce back in Qatar

Jorge Lorenzo reckons James Toseland will be mentally stronger as he backed the Brit to bounce back from his 125mph Sepang crash nightmare. Spaniard is an expert in bouncing back from adversity and...