2009

Ten Kate Honda test Kayaba suspension

28 January 2009 by Michael Guy

After years of highly successful collaboration, Ten Kate Honda’s long term relationship with suspension specialists WP could be coming to an end. Ten Kate have won seven consecutive World Supersport...

Suzuki MotoGP team gets green light for 2009

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki will definitely race its factory team in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, killing off persistent rumours the Japanese company would join Kawasaki as a casualty of the global economic...

Bradley Smith stays in second place in Jerez

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith impressed again on the second day of 125GP testing in Jerez, the Aspar Aprilia rider holding onto second place. Smith slashed 0.5s off his best time from the first day...

Fantasy Road Race: Rider list

28 January 2009 by James Keen

This year’s MCN Fantasy Road Race competition kicks of on February 4th, but it’s not too early to start thinking about who you’re going to choose for your team. Here’s a run down of all the riders and...

Scott Smart in Superstock on a Ducati

28 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Former BSB rider Scott Smart is switching to the National superstock series, riding a Ducati 1198S for Winchester-based dealers Moto Rapido. Smart, currently in Dubai, is flying home early to attend...

Party with James Toseland

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is staging another one of his successful pre-season send-off parties ahead of his second assault on the MotoGP world championship. The double World Superbike champion will be...

Parkalgar WSB test news in brief

27 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Ten Kate Honda rider Ryuichi Kiyonari had two steering dampers one under the other fitted to his Ten Kate Honda in Portugal. Kiyonari likes his steering heavily damped and because he had to have his...

Sete Gibernau vital for Ducati in 2009

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali believes that Sete Gibernau can play a pivotal role in helping the Bologna factory reclaim the MotoGP world crown in 2009. Having dominated in the first 800cc...

Danny Webb made to wait for 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb will have to wait a bit longer to make his 2009 track debut while Aprilia continue to build up and deliver new bikes. Pre-season testing for some of the 2009 125GP grid kicked off in Jerez...

Bradley Smith second fastest on 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith made a bright start to his 2009 pre-season preparations when he clocked the second fastest time on the opening day of testing in Jerez. Making his second appearance for...

Crescent Suzuki ready to resume testing

27 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent Suzuki team boss Jack Valentine has quashed rumours suggesting the Verwood-based team is about to shut up shop. The rumours, the latest in a never-ending stream in these hard economic times,...

Croft future in doubt after appeal blow

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

The Croft circuit has suffered a massive blow today after losing an appeal related to noise pollution at the historic racing venue. The future of the Darlington circuit is now uncertain after the...

HM Plant trio get fighter-pilot experience

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

HM Plant Honda riders John McGuinness, Steve Plater and Glen Richards, swapped two wheels for two wings to get airborne with some of the UK’s flying aces and experience life as a fighter pilot, with...

Picture exclusive: Scott Redding makes 2009 debut

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding has completed his first laps on the 2009 Aprilia that he hopes will help him build on his incredible rookie 125GP campaign. Redding made an instant impact in his debut season, the...

Picture exclusive: Bradley Smith starts 2009 preparations

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has started his 2009 125GP world championship preparations at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. After a cold start to proceedings, the British teenager was able to kick off his ’09...

Bridgestone looking forward to single tyre challenge

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone bosses say they are looking forward to the 2009 MotoGP single tyre rule with ‘great anticipation’ having agreed the final terms of a three-year tyre exclusive tyre deal with Dorna. Having...

Scott Russell finishes 23rd in Daytona

26 January 2009 by Marc Abbott

Former WSB and AMA superbike legend Scott Russell turned his hand to four wheels at the weekend, finishing 11th in class and 23rd overall in the prestigious Daytona 24-hour car race. Russell, with...

Matt Hoyle signs for Maxtra 125GP team

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider Matt Hoyle will join Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb in the 125GP world championship next season. As expected, Hoyle’s deal with the new Chinese-backed Maxtra team was...

It’s official – BSB gets younger!

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB is getting younger and to prove it here’s the official rider lists with dates of birth and actual ages as of Jan 13th this month, supplied by the series organisers at MCN’s request. The chart...

New look Manx GP

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Manx Motorcycle Club has made changes to the programme for the 2009 Manx Grand Prix that they claim is going to boost interest in the event. A Post Classic Race has been introduced for the first...

NW200: No SV650s at 2009 races

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Coleraine club, organisers of the North West 200 are looking at the possibility of adding a new class to the race programme as a replacement for the 400s – but it won’t be until 2010. As announced...

Auto 66 Presentation Evening

25 January 2009 by Simon Hunt

After a fantastic night out, I felt compelled to pass on my thanks to everyone at last night’s presentation who made it a great night. After 7 years of racing at club level, in sidecars and now on 2 wheels, its thanks to clubs like Auto 66 that have brought on so many young riders who take their first attempts at racing at some times bleak and wet weekends wobbling around Elvington Airfield who...

The Future of MotoGP with no Kawasaki

25 January 2009 by Dan D

Kawasaki have now pulled out of MotoGP for whatever reason you chose to believe. The reason for pulling out is not important, what is important is how the championship can continue with out them. Since MotoGP became four stroke, the rules have been written to favour works machines and make it very difficult for non-works supported privateers, for the sake of the championship. All bikes had to be...