February | Page 3

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 2

18 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Jonathan Rea touched down in Australia yesterday ahead of the opening round of WSB at Phillip Island in nine days time. While Aprilia, Stiggy Honda and Altea continue to test Rea has had a much easier...

Silverstone happy with British MotoGP deal

18 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Silverstone Managing Director Richard Phillips believes the Northamptonshire circuit has got value for money with its five-year British MotoGP deal. When Silverstone won the rights to host the British...

MCN Exclusive: Silverstone unveils £5m British MotoGP revamp

18 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Silverstone’s £5m revamp for the 2010 British MotoGP will have two prime goals – close racing and a better viewing experience for the paying public. That is the blueprint for Silverstone Managing...

Kop Hill Climb is back

18 February 2009 by Bob Woodman

Historic Kop Hill Climb to be revived in 2009! Kop Hill, Princes Risborough, is one of the oldest Hill Climb venues in England. In the period between 1910 and 1925 Kop Hill was one of several hill climbs in the Chilterns along with Aston Clinton. Kop Hill, where the first open hill climb was held, was a major event on the motor sports car and motorcycle calendar at that time. One of the fastest...

Why Is Racing So Expensive?

17 February 2009 by Dan D

Why Is Racing So Expensive? Teams and organisers often comment about how expensive racing is, but what makes it so expensive? There’s no written rule that says how much you have to spend to race, it’s all down to how competitive you want to be, and who you want to beat. As an example let’s look at World Superbikes, a supposed less expensive formula. When this Championship started in 1988, no one...

Waiting game continues for Marco Melandri

17 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri still has no clear idea whether he will be able to take his place in the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Left with the prospect that he would not have a ride following the...

Let it shine says Suzuki’s top technician

17 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent Suzuki’s chief technician Les Pearson has a great theory on the forthcoming BSB season. He reckons the weather runs in three-year cycles, two bad ones and one good. And here’s how he worked...

Valentine’s BSB future

17 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

In this week’s MCN (Feb 18) we reveal the full story behind Crescent Suzuki’s one-man British Superbike team with Sylvain Guintoli and talk to team manager Jack Valentine about the new Suzuki...

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 1

17 February 2009 by Michael Guy

With just ten days until the World Superbike championship kicks off in Australia MCN will be following the build up to the race with Hannspree Ten Kate man Jonathan Rea. The 22 year old Brit has...

2009 MotoGP cost cuts to be agreed

17 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Cost-cutting measures for the 2009 season to help theMotoGP world championship ride out the global economic crisis should be finalised tomorrow (Wednesday). The Grand Prix Commission will convene in...

Edwards impressed with Bridgestone endurance

17 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards has declared himself delighted with the endurance and consistency of Bridgestone’s tyres. The Michelin stalwart completed his first long distance run on Bridgestone...

Sete Gibernau still looking to master electronics

17 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau has told MCN that he is still trying to adapt to the huge increase in electronics since he last raced in MotoGP in 2006. The Spaniard spent the majority of the last test session in...

MotoGP grid numbers unlikely to increase in 2010

17 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Plans to introduce a one bike per ride rule next year in MotoGP to help bolster dwindling grid numbers in 2010 appear to be seriously flawed before the approval stage. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta...

Nicky Hayden: ‘I expect more’

17 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden has admitted that he expected much more from his recent 2009 MotoGP debut in Sepang. The new factory Ducati rider was only 11th quickest in the Far East and struggling to get...

World road race series

17 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Would a World Championship racing series on pure roads be a viable proposition? It’s something that’s been talked about ever since the demise of the FIM World Championship TTF1 series at the end of...

Ian Lougher’s TT plans

17 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Ian Lougher’s Black Horse Finance Yamaha team will be expanded to three riders at the Isle of Man TT this year. He will run Swede Mats Nilsson in the superbike and supersport races and Japanse rider...

Celebrating Rossi's 30th

16 February 2009 by ashley bland

We had our own birthday party to help celebrate in style valentino’s 30th birthday. good time had by all!

Japanese TT race still possible

16 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

TT star Ian Lougher reckons there’s still a possibility of a TT-style road race on Miyakejima island, a six-hour ferry ride from mainland Japan. But it’s likely to be on a two-mile time trial on...

Ulster GP backs British Supersport team

16 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Ulster Grand Prix has followed the precedent set by the North West 200 and backed a race team in the British championship. The Ulster Grand Prix Bikeweek Race team, will consist of three Yamaha R6...

Valentino Rossi’s 30th birthday messages

16 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tom Cruise and Daniel Day-Lewis might have been the A-list stars delivering personal messages to Valentino Rossi on his 30th birthday. But a host of people have been passing on their congratulations...

Kevin Schwantz sad at British MotoGP switch

16 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

American legend Kevin Schwantz has spoken of his sadness at seeing his beloved Donington Park lose the British MotoGP race to Silverstone from 2010. Four of Schwantz’s 25 MotoGP victories were...

Hollywood says Happy Birthday to Valentino Rossi

16 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Daniel Day-Lewis have both sent 30th birthday messages to reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi. Top Gun star Cruise, who attended last year’s American GP race...

Scott Redding tipped as 125GP title challenger

16 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

German Stefan Bradl believes British sensation Scott Redding will be a serious contender for the 2009 125GP world championship. Speaking at the launch of his Kiefer Racing Aprilia team at the famous...

Valentino Rossi celebrates 30th birthday

16 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is celebrating his 30th birthday today (Monday). Rossi, who began his world championship career with Aprilia in the 1996 125GP series, has gone onto become one of...

Tom Grant gets Centurion Honda reprieve

16 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Tom Grant made his track debut for the Centurion Honda team this week when he joined regular rider Dan Cooper for the team’s three-day test in Calafat, Spain. 20-year-old, Grant from Melbourne, Derby...

Maxtra searching for engine speed

16 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Increasing engine performance is the next key target for the new Maxtra 125GP squad after a successful two-day test session in Valencia last week. British rookie Matt Hoyle and Austrian Michael...

Matt Hoyle improves but crashes in Valencia

15 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP rookie escaped injury in a crash on the final day of testing in Valencia as he on the new Maxtra machine. The 17-year-old former Red Bull Rookie star knocked a massive three seconds off...

Colin Edwards renews attack on James Toseland

13 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has launched another attack on British rider James Toseland over the controversial crew chief switch at Tech 3 Yamaha for 2009. Edwards lost his crew chief Gary Reynders to Toseland for...

Craig Jones honoured in local communmity

13 February 2009 by Michael Guy

World Supersport man Craig Jones has been honoured with a memorial tree and bench on the Greenbank estate where he grew up. The 23 year old died following a crash at Brands Hatch in August 2008 whilst...

Yamaha unveil new WSB livery

13 February 2009 by Michael Guy

The Yamaha World Superbike squad of American Ben Spies and Brit Tom Sykes have unveiled its all-new livery for their 2009 R1. After being sponsored by Spanish financial giant Santander and running a...

Kenny Roberts stars in celebrity golf tournament

13 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

American MotoGP legend Kenny Roberts’ departure from the paddock enabled him to spend more time indulging in his passion for golf. And the Californian seems to have put his spare time to good use as...

Pics: James Toseland’s Sepang crash helmet

13 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

These exclusive pictures of James Toseland’s Airoh helmet shows why the British rider was lucky to escape with only minor injuries after his 125mph testing high-side in Sepang. Toseland destroyed his...

Fast start for Marco Simoncelli in Valencia

13 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli kicked off preparations for the defence of his crown in positive fashion when he logged the quickest time in Valencia yesterday (Thursday). The Italian...

Matt Hoyle makes official 125GP debut

13 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider Matt Hoyle made his debut for the new Maxtra 125GP team in Valencia yesterday (Thursday), ending 10th quickest for the John Surtees-inspired project. The 17-year-old clocked a best time...

A chance encounter with James Toseland

13 February 2009 by Tricia Bignell

I thought you may like to see these pictures of a huge coincidence! I was waiting for a flight to Holland at Birmingham airport on Wednesday (11th) and had just been reading my MCN about poor JT’s...

Official GSE Racing history

13 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

GSE Racing, the most successful British superbike race team of all time, has released a limited edition book, ‘From Diggers to Ducatis,’ charting the history of the team since its inception in...