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2009

Video: A lap of the new Donington Park Circuit

16 January 2009 by Michael Guy

MCN were granted exclusive access to a £48,000 simulator, which shows how the all new Donington Park circuit will look after its multi million pound developments in time for the 2010 Formula One race. Although it’s difficult to appreciate the true undulation of the new circuit layout the simulator illustrates how fast and flowing the new layout will be. “It also gives an indication to the extent...

Video: Haslam confident in level of new Stiggy Honda team

16 January 2009 by Michael Guy

With just seven days until WSB testing kicks off in Portugal and six weeks before the opening round of the championship in Australia, Leon Haslam is busy preparing for the 2009 season. The 25 year old Brit has been training hard along with spending time on a trials bike over the winter and remains confident in his new Stiggy Honda team and bike for the coming season

Video: Sykes getting back to fitness and focused on Portugal test

16 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Factory Yamaha WSB man Tom Sykes is making a quick recovery following his 100mph crash in testing at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa in December. The 23 year old Brit is now focussed on his third test on the new long bang R1 which will take place at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal on 23rd, 24th and 25th January 2009.

Dakar Day 12 – Simon Pavey Blog

16 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Dakar Day 12 – Simon Pavey Blog

Simon Pavey has reached the finish of the toughest day of the 2009 Argentina – Chile Dakar Rally. The BMW rider finished an impressive 45th in the extreme Stage 12 200km Special Timed Stage and now...

Despres takes third stage win but Coma stays in control

16 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Despres takes third stage win but Coma stays in control

Red Bull KTM rider Cyril Despres claimed his third stage win of the 2009 Dakar to move up into second position overall, but still remains 1h 29m 48s behind the fast and consistent race leader Marc...

Ducati boss plays down Troy Bayliss/Valentino Rossi showdown

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss plays down Troy Bayliss/Valentino Rossi showdown

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali has said he would love to see Valentino Rossi and Troy Bayliss go head-to-head in a dream World Superbike clash. But sadly for millions of race fans, Domenicali...

Casey Stoner backs British MotoGP move

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner backs British MotoGP move

Former world champion Casey Stoner has backed the surprise decision to switch the British MotoGP race from Donington Park to Silverstone for 2010. Dorna announced a five-year deal with the...

MotoGP talent search hit by credit crunch

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP talent search hit by credit crunch

The quest to unearth MotoGP stars of the future has suffered a big blow with news that the Red Bull Rookies Cup calendar will be cut because of the global economic crisis. The European series will be...

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden unveil 2009 Ducati

15 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden unveil 2009 Ducati

After snow caused the official unveiling of Ducati’s GP9 machine to be postponed yesterday (Wednesday), Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden finally got round to showing off the new bike in public for the...

Video: Casey Stoner reflects on wrist recovery and 2008

15 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has spoken of his recovery from major wrist surgery and his reflections on defeat to Valentino Rossi in 2008 at the launch of Ducati’s 2009 factory MotoGP squad in Italy. Looking back on 2008 when the Aussie surrendered his world title to a resurgent Valentino Rossi, last year’s runner-up said: “The first half of the season was very disappointing. “We had such a strong start and...

Video: Nicky Hayden excited by Ducati challenge

15 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has spoken of his excitement about his debut season with Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2009. Making his first official public appearance for the Marlboro-backed squad at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy, Hayden said: “The feeling is very exciting. “On Sunday we did my first real photo shoot in the full-on Marlboro leathers and Ducati leathers and I got to admit it was a...

Ian Lougher to ride for AIM Yamaha

15 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Ian Lougher to ride for AIM Yamaha

Ian Lougher will be riding the AIM Yamaha Superbike at the major international road races in 2009. The deal renews a partnership that Lougher had with team boss Alistair Flanagan in 2000 when he rode...

BSB Calendar- Why Brands?

15 January 2009 by iancol

Just seen the calendar for 2009. The series starts on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. Why is this circuit used now that it’s too short for today’s fastest bikes? Last year, there was more than one race result jeopardised by the front runners catching up with back markers.

BBC MotoGP 2009

14 January 2009 by Andrew Salter

When you think things can’t get any worse, then the BBC announce that they have Parish and Cox presenting the MotoGP for 2009. I think whoever has made this crazy decision at the beeb either knows very little about the sport or are related to one of these awful commentators. WSB and Eurosport coverage will no doubt cover the sport as it should be covered with the race fans given a first class...

Dakar Rally day 10: Simon Pavey blog

14 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Dakar Rally day 10: Simon Pavey blog

Simon Pavey was forced to ride 200km off-road with a flat tyre after his mousse blew, but through sheer determination managed to complete stage ten and as a result remains in the Dakar Rally. Writing...

Phase One announce World Endurance line-up

14 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Phase One announce World Endurance line-up

Britain’s top World Endurance championship team Yamaha Phase One Endurance have announced their rider line up for the 2009 series. Team regular Damian Cudlin will be partnered by international...

GMT94 gear up for World Endurance

14 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

GMT94 gear up for World Endurance

GMT94, one of the top French teams in World Endurance, have signed David Checa, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Arnaud Restani for the 2009 season. The team, owned by former racer Christophe Guyot...

Two-man MV Agusta team in BSB

14 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Two-man MV Agusta team in BSB

There may not be any Ducatis in this year’s British Superbike championship but at least there will be two Italian bikes. The STP Motorsport team will field a two-man MV Agusta team in British...

Nicky Hayden delighted with Casey Stoner partnership

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden delighted with Casey Stoner partnership

Nicky Hayden believes his good rapport with factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner will bolster his hopes of being a success on the new GP9 next season in MotoGP. The American is looking forward to...

GSE Racing’s Yamaha R1s arrive

14 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

GSE Racing’s Yamaha R1s arrive

Two of GSE Racing’s four Yamaha R1s which they’ll race in the 2009 BSB series arrived this week and MCN were there to capture the moment. This is the first time since the team was established in 1997...

Donington v Silverstone

14 January 2009 by doctorfrank

I for one have been going to donington since they started staging it and seen bad crowds and good ones. Ticket prices have been on the up but with advance booking I’ve always managed to keep prices ”reasonable” but the facilities situation at donington has always been terrible, and they have had plenty of opportunities to resolve it. But I’m from the old school and having to put up with bad...

Ducati launch Stoner's carbon fibre MotoGP bike

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati launch Stoner's carbon fibre MotoGP bike

Ducati has officially unveiled its 2009 factory GP9 MotoGP contender that Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden will campaign next season. Although a special launch photo shoot in Madonna di Campiglio has...

Ducati boss against unifying MotoGP and World Superbikes

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss against unifying MotoGP and World Superbikes

Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali is opposed to unifying MotoGP and World Superbikes, insisting that the two world championships can co-exist in the current dire economic climate. There has been...

Video: Tommy Hill talks 2009

14 January 2009 by Michael Guy

MCN caught up with Hannspree Altea Honda rider Tommy Hill at Donington Park last week. The 23 year old Brit only recently returned to action after breaking his right Femur twice in 2008 and has already proved he is on the pace. Hill gave MCN an insight into his aims for 2009 and his current level of fitness with WSB testing in Portugal kicking off next week.

Kawasaki testing 2009 MotoGP bike in Australia!

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki testing 2009 MotoGP bike in Australia!

Kawasaki might have withdrawn from the MotoGP world championship, but bizarrely test rider Olivier Jacque is poised to evaluate the new ZX-RR in a test double-header in Australia. Kawasaki confirmed...

Dakar Day 10 – Viladoms wins as leaders get lost

14 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Dakar Day 10 – Viladoms wins as leaders get lost

Spaniard Jordi Viladoms took full advantage of race favourites Marc Coma and Cyril Despres getting lost to claim his first stage win of the 2009 Dakar. The factory Repsol KTM man powered to the...

BSB boss Palmer talks title sponsorship

13 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB boss Palmer talks title sponsorship

MSVR boss Jonathan Palmer was shocked to see today’s press release from Bennetts, announcing they were no longer the BSB title. He said: I’m surprised they put that release out. Bennetts’ option to...

Bennetts quit BSB

13 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Bennetts quit BSB

As we intimated only hours ago, Bennetts has announced today it will no longer be the title sponsor of the British Superbike championship. The insurance company has backed the championship for the...

BSB without title sponsor?

13 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB without title sponsor?

The absence of Bennetts branding on the official British Superbike website has led to speculation that negotiations between the insurance company and BSB series promoters MSVR have broken down. BSB...

Casey Stoner not fussed by British MotoGP switch

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner not fussed by British MotoGP switch

Former world champion Casey Stoner says he’s not fussed about the decision to switch the British MotoGP race to Silverstone from 2010 onwards. This year’s race at Donington Park will be the last after...

Dakar day 10 – Simon Pavey blog

13 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Dakar day 10 – Simon Pavey blog

BMW’s Simon Pavey got his Dakar back on track after suffering a crascked head gasket problem on day eight to post the the 34th quickest time on day tens special stage. Pavey’s impressive result has...

Bring on silverstone

13 January 2009 by lee cameron

At last Donington have been given their maching orders after years of very poor service for over the odds ticket prices! I have been going to the GP for years and the quality never gets any better but the price keeps going up, now at least we will be treated to the same high standard as the F1 fans!!!!!! I dont think for 1 minute that they would tolarate having to use over flowing toilets and...

Ducati duo shocked by Kawasaki withdrawal

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati duo shocked by Kawasaki withdrawal

Factory Ducati riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden have spoken of their shock at Kawasaki’s recent decision to quit MotoGP. The move leaves Stoner’s former team-mate Marco Melandri and Hayden’s...

Nicky Hayden: Electronics influence getting ‘ridiculous’

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden: Electronics influence getting ‘ridiculous’

New factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden reckons if electronic rider aids continue to develop at such a rapid rate it will become ‘ridiculous’. Speaking at the launch of Ducati’s 2009 MotoGP team at the...

Casey Stoner satisfied with wrist progress

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner satisfied with wrist progress

Aussie Casey Stoner is confident his left wrist will be recovered sufficiently for him to resume winter testing in Sepang next month. The former MotoGP world champion visited specialists in Italy...

John Hopkins unsure of 2009 prospects

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins unsure of 2009 prospects

American John Hopkins has admitted he has no idea what his immediate future holds following the recent withdrawal of Kawasaki’s official factory team from MotoGP. The 25-year-old has been left without...