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January

It’s official – BSB gets younger!

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

It’s official – BSB gets younger!

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

New look Manx GP

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

NW200: No SV650s at 2009 races

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...

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne again on final day

25 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne again on final day

Shane Byrne made it three out of three by setting the fastest time once again on the third and final day of the World Superbike test at Parkalgar today (Sunday). Byrne set his best time during the new...

Parkalgar WSB test: Sofuoglu tops rain hit day three

25 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Sofuoglu tops rain hit day three

Former World Supersport champion posted the fastest time of day three on a rapidly drying track at Parkalgar today.   The Turkish rider on-board his 2008 specification Ten Kate Honda set a best time...

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne stays top with fastest ever lap of Parkalgar circuit

24 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne stays top with fastest ever lap of Parkalgar circuit

Shane Byrne fired yet another warning shot to his rivals on day two of the Parkalgar WSB test in Portugal by posting the fastest ever lap of the circuit to stay at the very top of the leader board.

Parkalgar WSB test: Pitt on top as track dries

24 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Pitt on top as track dries

World Champion Andrew Pitt set an impressive 1M 46.094s lap time to top the time sheets in the opening World Supersport test session of the day at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal. The Hannspree Ten...

Parkalgar WSB test: BMW top first wet session

24 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: BMW top first wet session

BMW men Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus secured first and second positions in the opening session on day two of the Parkalgar WSB test this morning. Although there has been no rain since lat night the...

Higgs: ‘BSB TV is good – and well targeted’

24 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Higgs: ‘BSB TV is good – and well targeted’

This week’s MCN interview with MSVR boss Jonathan Palmer, discussing how British Superbikes might be affected by the current economic situation, brought a swift reaction from his right-hand man and...

Byrne blitzes first day of Parkalgar WSB test

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Byrne blitzes first day of Parkalgar WSB test

Shane Byrne showed his undoubted pace on day one of the official World Superbike test at Parkalgar to set the fastest time in both wet and dry sessions today. The Sterilgarda Ducati rider picked up...

Cal Crutchlow second fastest at Parkalgar

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Cal Crutchlow second fastest at Parkalgar

Factory Yamaha man Cal Crutchlow started his 2009 season where he finished 2008 by running at the front of the time sheets after day one at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal. The British rider had a...

Ten Kate give Kiyo new paint scheme, but deny it's an HRC bike

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Ten Kate give Kiyo new paint scheme, but deny it's an HRC bike

Ten Kate Honda unveiled an all new paint scheme for Ryuichi Kiyonari’s World Superbike today (Friday). Having raced in Hannspree colours in 2008, Kiyo will race in Honda Accessories colours similar to...

Honda withdraw factory team from Suzuka 8-hour

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Honda withdraw factory team from Suzuka 8-hour

Honda have withdrawn their factory teams from the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race in 2009. The Japanese company have sighted budget cuts and the current global financial situation as the reson for...

Norton rotary gets North West 200 go ahead

23 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Norton rotary gets North West 200 go ahead

Michael Dunlop will be granted his dream ride following news that the Norton NRV588 rotary has been granted dispensation to race in the North West 200 alongside the superbike machines. Dunlop had...

Jon Kirkham with BSB Jentin Yamaha team

23 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Jon Kirkham with BSB Jentin Yamaha team

The Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha team has confirmed it will run Jon Kirkham in BSB this year on a new Yamaha R1. The 24-year-old rider certainly impressed many team managers during his campaign last...

Ducati eye Marco Simoncelli swoop for 2010

23 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati eye Marco Simoncelli swoop for 2010

Ducati chief Livio Suppo has reiterated his desire to sign Marco Simoncelli` for the 2010 MotoGP campaign. The Italian factory hotly pursued Simoncelli throughout 2008 as he blossomed into one of...

Casey Stoner: Single tyre rule will help Ducati

23 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: Single tyre rule will help Ducati

Former world champion Casey Stoner believes the controversial single tyre rule will boost his hopes of reclaiming the MotoGP world title in 2009. The Australian rider believes his previous tactic of...

Rain threatens Parkalgar WSB test

22 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Rain threatens Parkalgar WSB test

Heavy rain and blustery wind are threatening any meaningful testing at the planned three day World Superbike and World Supersport test at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal. The test is due to start...

Jentin Racing 2009

22 January 2009 by Anonymous

Anyone know what is happening at Jentin/Lloyds British for 2009? After finishing best Yamaha of 2008 with Simon Andrews, it’s all gone a bit quiet for 2009, lets hope Bernie and the boys are back with a new Young Gun now that Andrews has moved to Kawasaki.

R&G backs GSX-R racers

22 January 2009 by Michael Carroll

R&G backs GSX-R racers

The GSX-R Trophy race series will offer a bumper prize fund in 2009, after organisers agreed a sponsorship deal with R&G Racing. The firm has put up £12,000 in prize money, which will go towards the...

Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

The dividing wall that will continue to split Yamaha’s factory MotoGP garage in 2009 will be beneficial to Jorge Lorenzo, according to his team boss Daniele Romagnoli. Lorenzo was unhappy that Fiat...

Marco Simoncelli not rushing MotoGP decision

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli not rushing MotoGP decision

Reigning world 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli will keep Yamaha and Ducati sweating as he could delay a decision on his future until deep into the 2009 campaign. One key reason for the Italian’s...

Electronics reduction not answer to MotoGP cost cuts

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Electronics reduction not answer to MotoGP cost cuts

Ducati’s MotoGP technical guru Filippo Preziosi believes a reduction on the influence of electronic rider aids is not the answer to helping MotoGP slash costs. Reducing costs has become a focal point...

Supercasino.com back Kawasaki WSB team

22 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Supercasino.com back Kawasaki WSB team

The Penrith-based Paul Bird Motorsport team has secured a lucrative deal with gaming giants SuperCasino.com to back their factory Kawasakis in WSB. SuperCasino.com was launched in October 2008 and is...

BSB well-placed to weather the storm

21 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB well-placed to weather the storm

“Is Jonathan Palmer completely delusional? He’s lost his best riders. The top guys left are all old. The teams are struggling like any other businesses. “Yet he’s predicting crowds will only drop off...

Work to do for Laverty after Almeria test

21 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Work to do for Laverty after Almeria test

Eugene Laverty completed his first test onboard the new 2009 specification Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR he’ll campaign this year World Supersport Championship. The two days at Almeria in Spain were used...

Ilmor confirm interest in Kawasaki partnership

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ilmor confirm interest in Kawasaki partnership

Ilmor Engineering bosses have confirmed expressing serious interest in being part of a last-minute bid to keep Kawasaki involved in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, MCN can exclusively reveal. The...

WSB official test preview

21 January 2009 by Michael Guy

WSB official test preview

On Friday, the 2009 WSB season officially kicks off with the first all teams WSB and WSS test at Parkalgar in Portugal. After months of speculation and anticipation regarding this year’s rider line-up...

WSB Almeria Tests

21 January 2009 by Alan Maynell

A dozen or so teams from those competing in this years World Superbike, Supersport and Superstock Championships that took the extra time to come down to Almeria for a two day test session, were very much “all smiles” when the chequered flag finally brought an end to proceedings. As is usual, “Circuito de Almeria” was blessed with bright sunshine and everyone´s expectations of having a dry track...

Video: Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden eye 2009

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati duo Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden have given their insight into a range of current topics making the headlines ahead of the new MotoGP world championship. The former world champions spoke about last season, the single tyre rule and MotoGP as a spectacle during the official launch of the Marlboro Ducati squad at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy.

Chris Vermeulen: 2009 is not make or break

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen: 2009 is not make or break

Chris Vermeulen has denied that 2009 will be a watershed year for the Aussie as he looks to become a consistent MotoGP winner. The former World Supersport champion penned a new one-year deal with...

No Aspar involvement in Kawasaki rescue deal

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

No Aspar involvement in Kawasaki rescue deal

Jorge Martinez won’t be involved in any potential Kawasaki MotoGP rescue deal for 2009. The Spaniard had effectively ruled himself out earlier this month when he doubted a deal could be clinched on...

Crescent sell 2008 BSB Suzuki GSX-R1000s

20 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent sell 2008 BSB Suzuki GSX-R1000s

Crescent Suzuki’s 2008 BSB GSX-R1000s raced by Tom Sykes and Atsushi Watanabe 2008 are up for sale. Suzuki GSX-R1000s for sale With the all-new K9 now under development, all last year’s kit –...

Maxtra 125GP team poised to unveil Matt Hoyle

20 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Maxtra 125GP team poised to unveil Matt Hoyle

The new Maxtra 125GP team will officially unveil British rider Matt Hoyle as its second rider later this week. Although Hoyle’s name appeared on the provisional 2009 entry list, no formal announcement...