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December

Maria Costello gets her mojo working

11 December 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Maria Costello gets her mojo working

Female bike racer Maria Costello says she cannot wait for the start of the 2010 season after recovering her racing ‘mojo’. Costello, the first woman to achieve a podium finish at the Isle of Man, says...

Grant and Marshall at North Yorks chat show

11 December 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Eighties racing legends Mick Grant & Roger Marshall are the stars of a North Yorks Road Racing Supporters Club chat show hosted by another former race hero Andy McGalddery on Tuesday, December 15 at The Golden Lion Hotel, Mowbray Suite, High Street, Northallerton DL7 8PP. Doors open 7.30pm. Show starts 8.15pm. Admission Price: £5 for all as includes buffet/nibbles. There’s also a bar, raffle and...

Chris Burns returns to National Superstock

11 December 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Chris Burns returns to National Superstock

Chris Burns returns to National Superstock 1000 in 2010 riding with the Splitlath Motorsport squad. The former WCM MotoGP rider will partner younger brother Joe to lead the Welsh outfit’s two-pronged...

Billown loses TT races

11 December 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

The Southern 100 Club have publicly expressed their feelings that the Department of Tourism and Leisure will no longer fund the 125 and 250 TT races that have been run on the Billown course for the past two years. A tersely-worded press statement from the club said: “We are very disappointed that the Department of Tourism and Leisure have decided that they would not fund the 125cc and 250cc...

Donington out. Second Cadwell BSB race in 2010

11 December 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Donington out. Second Cadwell BSB race in 2010

There will be a second Cadwell Park BSB championship round next year, replacing Donington Park, according to the revised 2010 calendar released today by MSVR. Donington Park has not been included in...

Moto2 bikes humbled by World Supersport at Valencia test

11 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Moto2 bikes humbled by World Supersport at Valencia test

After two days of testing in Valencia alongside Ten Kate Honda’s world Supersport team, it appears that the current Moto2 teams are not yet going as fast as expected. Despite running prototype...

Plater and McGuinness at Braintree Indoor Shorttrack

11 December 2009 by MCN Sports desk

Plater and McGuinness at Braintree Indoor Shorttrack

TT heroes John McGuinness, Steve Plater and Gary Johnson line up against 24 of the best shorttrack riders in Europe on Sunday, December 27 at the Towerlands Centre, Braintree in Essex. Their...

Biaggi ends 2009 on top at Valencia test

10 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Biaggi ends 2009 on top at Valencia test

Aprilia Racing’s Max Biaggi stormed to the fastest lap time of the two day test at Valencia with an impressive 1m 33.8 second best set on race tyres. Biaggi was in impressive form throughout the two...

MotoGP poised to confirm 1000cc switch

10 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP poised to confirm 1000cc switch

MotoGP bosses are expected to approve a switch to a 1000cc capacity limit at crunch meetings in Switzerland tomorrow (Friday). Facing mounting pressure to slash costs and stop plummeting grid numbers,...

Toseland heads day two of Valencia test

10 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Toseland heads day two of Valencia test

Factory Yamaha rider James Toseland is currently the fastest man on track at mid way through day two of the Valencia WSB test. Using the new specification Pirelli tyre, Toseland lapped the Spanish...

Ex-Kawasaki MotoGP boss unveils Moto2 plan

10 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ex-Kawasaki MotoGP boss unveils Moto2 plan

Former factory Kawasaki MotoGP boss Michael Bartholemy has confirmed he will run a team in the new Moto2 world championship as part of an ambitious Belgian motorsport project. As was first reported by...

First blood to Haslam in Valencia

09 December 2009 by Michael Guy

First blood to Haslam in Valencia

Alstare Suzuki man Leon Haslam secured the fastest lap time on day one of the two day WSB test at Valencia. The 26 year old Brit used the latest specification rear tyre from Pirelli to post an...

Irish Roadrace Calendar 2010

09 December 2009 by suzukimad

For the eighth year in a row top road racing photographer Stephen Davison has produced his Road Racers calendar for 2010. Following the popular format of the previous years there are 12 A3 sized pictures, all of which can be kept and framed after use. The full colour calendar includes stunning images of top racers Cameron Donald, Michael Dunlop, Conor Cummins, Michael Rutter, Keith Amor, William...

Honda chassis is major weak point, says HRC boss

09 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda chassis is major weak point, says HRC boss

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto has admitted that this year’s factory chassis was the major weak point of the 2009 RC212V. Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso complained throughout last season of problems...

Toseland on pace despite crash

09 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Toseland on pace despite crash

James Toseland walked away from his first crash since returning to WSB when he lost the front of his factory Yamaha R1. The former MotoGP man crashed changing direction between turn four and five, but...

Sofuoglu injured in first lap crash

09 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Sofuoglu injured in first lap crash

World Supersport front runner Kenan Sofuoglu has been taken to hospital in Valencia following a crash on his out lap this morning in Valencia. The 2007 WSS champion high sided his Ten Kate Honda...

WSB and Moto2 testing under way at Valencia

09 December 2009 by Michael Guy

WSB and Moto2 testing under way at Valencia

World Superbike, World Supersport and Moto2 teams begun two days of testing in dry, sunny conditions at Valencia today. One of the first on track was Ten Kate man Jonathan Rea followed by Yamaha men...

Kevin Schwantz: Suzuki wrong not to sign Ben Spies

08 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz: Suzuki wrong not to sign Ben Spies

Kevin Schwantz reckons Suzuki made an appalling error of judgement in not signing Ben Spies for its factory MotoGP squad in 2009. The Texan legend says Suzuki management must regret letting Spies move...

Ben Spies: Adapting to Bridgestone quickly is vital

08 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies: Adapting to Bridgestone quickly is vital

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies has admitted his hopes of challenging for regular top six finishes in next year’s MotoGP world championship will depend on how quickly he can adapt to...

Shakey to miss Valencia test

08 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Shakey to miss Valencia test

Shane Byrne will miss this weeks two day test at Valencia because his new 2010 specification Altea Ducati’s won’t be ready in time. Shakey was expecting to get his first ride on his new bike, which is...

WSB Brits set for two day Valencia test

08 December 2009 by Michael Guy

WSB Brits set for two day Valencia test

A selection of the World Superbike paddock will be on track this week in a two day test at Valencia in Spain. Alstare Suzuki, Ten Kate Honda, Yamaha Superbike Kawasaki Superbike and Aprilia are all...

Flammini confident of 24 strong WSB grid in 2010

07 December 2009 by Michael Guy

Flammini confident of 24 strong WSB grid in 2010

World Superbike boss Paolo Flammini believes that next years championship will boast at least 24 full time riders with the possibility of more. Despite the ongoing economical crisis that continues to...

Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha future

07 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha future

Jorge Lorenzo has dismissed fears that Valentino Rossi’s influence will see him bombed out of Yamaha’s factory Yamaha at the end of 2010. World champion Rossi and highly rated Spaniard Lorenzo will...

Colin Edwards expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

07 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

Colin Edwards has told MCN that he expects a strong challenge from new Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Ben Spies in next year’s MotoGP world championship. Spies will join fellow Texan Edwards in Herve...

Valentino Rossi fears engine restrictions will hurt MotoGP

04 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi fears engine restrictions will hurt MotoGP

Valentino Rossi fears cost-cutting engine restrictions in 2010 will further damage MotoGP as a spectacle. Rossi and his MotoGP rivals will only be able to use six engines for the entire 18-race world...

Honda boss eyes Andrea Dovizioso improvement

04 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda boss eyes Andrea Dovizioso improvement

Honda has warned Andrea Dovizioso his performances must improve in 2010. Aside from a brilliant wet weather victory at Donington Park, Dovizioso’s factory Honda debut campaign was largely...

Wantanabe to race speedway

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Wantanabe to race speedway

Former Suzuka Eight Hour race winner and ex-BSB racer Atsushi Watanabe is training for a new career – as a racer in Auto Race, Japan’s municipally-managed, gambling-led, speedway-style...

Tailor-made TT travel packages

04 December 2009 by MCN sports desk

Tailor-made TT travel packages

Isle of Man-based travel company Regency Travel has been appointed as the official Travel Agency of the TT Races following a tender process.  The company will market a wide range of packages,...

TT schedule announced

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

TT schedule announced

TT Mountain Course race schedule reverts to core programme. Billown Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight TT Races no longer part of schedule. Classic parade laps return on Senior Race Day. Those are the...

TT Day of Champions

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

TT Day of Champions

Next year’s TT entertainment programme kicks off on Thursday, June 3 with the TT ‘Day of Champions’. Former motorcycling champions and TT legends will be interviewed on the main stage at the TT...

More to come from McAdoo Kawasaki

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

More to come from McAdoo Kawasaki

Jason McAdoo has admitted that development of the team’s Kawasaki ZX-10R superbike that Conor Cummins broke the Ulster lap record with was held up until the rider had agreed terms for 2010. “We...

Yukio Kagayama says hello British race fans

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Yukio Kagayama was back in front of the British public last week at the NEC, his first major public engagement since signing for the Worx Suzuki team to race in BSB next year. And he’s promising some of his typical no holds barred,  ‘dramatic action.’ Kagayama’s outgoing personality and aggressive riding style won him the hearts of BSB fans when he rode for the Rizla Suzuki team in 2003/2004 and,...

Tommy Hill’s testing frenzy

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Tommy Hill’s testing frenzy

Tommy Hill met up with his new team-mate Yukio Kagayama on Thursday at the NEC Show and said he’s looking forward to race in the same team as the Japanese star next year. “I’m hoping we can push each...

Gowland wants to stay in Britain next year

04 December 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Gowland wants to stay in Britain next year

Graeme Gowland is hoping to remain racing in Britain for a second season – despite an impressive two races on the British-built FTR Moto2 in the final two Spanish championships rounds of the...

Exclusive pics: Tech 3 Moto2 bike on track

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Exclusive pics: Tech 3 Moto2 bike on track

The Tech 3 team has given its new Moto2 bike its eagerly awaited track debut in France, as these MCN exclusive pictures show. Designed by Colin Edwards’ crew chief Guy Coulon and James Toseland’s...

Ben Spies cautious on 2010 prospects

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies cautious on 2010 prospects

Ben Spies insists he won’t get carried away after the reigning World Superbike champion made an encouraging start to his Yamaha MotoGP career last month. Spies finished seventh on his YZR-M1 debut in...