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August

Indy MotoGP: Colin Edwards eyes new Tech 3 deal

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Colin Edwards eyes new Tech 3 deal

Colin Edwards is hoping to secure another season in the MotoGP world championship having made it clear in Indianapolis he wants to stay with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad. The Texan will make his...

Indy MotoGP: Ben Spies targets more podiums

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Ben Spies targets more podiums

Ben Spies has targeted regular podium finishes after his move to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad was confirmed in Indianapolis this morning. The 26-year-old will join Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo after an...

Indy MotoGP: Official Ben Spies replaces Valentino Rossi

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Official Ben Spies replaces Valentino Rossi

Ben Spies will replace Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in 2011. As has been widely expected for several weeks now, the Texan will partner Jorge Lorenzo in a deal confirmed at the...

Ducati quit WSB

27 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Ducati quit WSB

Ducati will quit WSB at the end of the season it has announced in a press release issued today. The Italian company says it will focus its technical resources on product development and will therefore...

Indy MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama poised for return

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama poised for return

Hiroshi Aoyama has spoken of his long and tough recovery from the broken back that ruined his rookie MotoGP campaign. The reigning world 250GP champion will make a comeback in Indianapolis this...

Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hopeful on damaged wrist

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hopeful on damaged wrist

Nicky Hayden is confident his damaged left wrist won’t seriously hinder his bid for a third successive podium finish in Sunday’s Indianapolis MotoGP race. The Kentucky rider chipped a bone in his...

Dunlop clocks 117.9mph in Manx Post Classic practice

27 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Dunlop clocks 117.9mph in Manx Post Classic practice

Michael Dunlop took advantage of the perfect weather conditions to post another unofficial lap record for the Post Classic class, this time lapping the 37.73mile Mountain course at 117.927mph on John...

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi admits confidence issue

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi admits confidence issue

Valentino Rossi has admitted a lack of confidence is preventing him from challenging for victories in MotoGP. The Italian is still working his way back to full fitness after breaking his right leg...

Indy MotoGP: Casey Stoner takes front fork gamble

27 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Casey Stoner takes front fork gamble

Casey Stoner will gamble on running 2011 spec Ohlins front forks in Indianapolis this weekend as he looks to end his long victory drought in MotoGP. The Australian’s winless streak extends way back to...

Michael Dunlop tops Manx ‘Post Classic’ practice

26 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Michael Dunlop tops Manx ‘Post Classic’ practice

Michael Dunlop posted the fastest time of the night in the Post Classic Senior class during the Manx GP practice last night. Dunlop lapped the 37.73mile course at 115.097mph on John Simms’ Trident...

JT at Silverstone

25 August 2010 by Chris White

JT at Silverstone

Aaron, aged 9 from Rutland meeting James Toseland on practice day at Silverstone WSB.

Cal Crutchlow better off in WSB for 2011

25 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow better off in WSB for 2011

Cal Crutchlow would be better off delaying his switch to MotoGP until 2012, according to a leading Yamaha boss. The British rider has become hot property since he won both races at the Silverstone WSB...

Cooper and Palmer on Jentin BMW at Cadwell

25 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Cooper and Palmer on Jentin BMW at Cadwell

The Cadwell Park bank holiday weekend’s racing will see the return of Richard Cooper alongside fellow Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad riders Steve Brogan and Tristan Palmer. Palmer, who has been standing...

Valentino Rossi vital for Ducati's new 1000cc project

25 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi vital for Ducati's new 1000cc project

Ducati say Valentino Rossi’s development skills will be a priceless asset when MotoGP switches to a 1000cc four-stroke format in 2012. As well as winning over 100 Grand Prix races, the Italian is...

Casey Stoner critical of Karel Abraham's MotoGP move

25 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner critical of Karel Abraham's MotoGP move

Casey Stoner has criticised Karel Abraham’s Ducati MotoGP move. The Aussie said money should never secure a top MotoGP ride over talent after Abraham’s premier class switch was signed in Brno earlier...

Ben Spies targets career best result at Indianapolis

24 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies targets career best result at Indianapolis

Ben Spies has targeted a career best finish in this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider is hoping to better his stunning third place at the British Grand Prix in June...

Riders battle elements in Manx practice

24 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Riders battle elements in Manx practice

Variable conditions around the course on the Isle of Man meant a short delay in this evening’s first timed practice for the 2010 Manx Grand Prix, sponsored by visitisleofman.com but the session got...

Guy Martin at Ulster

23 August 2010 by Darren Smyth

Guy Martin at Ulster

My son Chris with Guy Martin just before first practice for the Ulster Grand Prix – Guy’s first road race after his big senior TT accident!

Kevin Schwantz keen on full-time management role

23 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz keen on full-time management role

American Kevin Schwantz is hoping his foray into Grand Prix team management this week will be the platform to a permanent role in the future. The 1993 world 500cc champion will lead an American Honda...

Suzuki boss Paul Denning breaks leg

23 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki boss Paul Denning breaks leg

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP boss Paul Denning has broken his leg while motocross riding last Friday. Denning was riding in Dorset when he crashed and broke his fibula bone. He is still in hospital in...

Manx GP underway

23 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

The 2010 Manx Grand Prix, sponsored by visitisleofman.com, got underway on Satrurday evening after a short weather delay. Roads closed around the course at 5.20pm but mist on the mountain and a rain shower meant that the first bikes left the startline on Glencrutchery Road shortly after 6.30pm in an untimed practice. The 41 newcomers to the Mountain course were the first on the track. They...

Bradley Smith kicks off Moto2 preparations

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith kicks off Moto2 preparations

The 2011 Moto2 world championship maybe seven months away, but Bradley Smith has already kicked off preparations for next season. The 19-year-old was spotted testing a production Honda CBR600RR at the...

Suzuki dismiss downsize rumours

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki dismiss downsize rumours

Suzuki has dismissed growing speculation that its disastrous results will see the Japanese factory quit or drastically reduce its involvement in MotoGP for 2011. The factory GSV-R is undoubtedly the...

Indy announcement for Ben Spies’ factory Yamaha switch

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy announcement for Ben Spies’ factory Yamaha switch

Ben Spies’ move to replace Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad will be made official during the forthcoming Indianapolis MotoGP round. The Texan has been hugely impressive in his rookie...

Dani Pedrosa close to new Honda deal

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa close to new Honda deal

Dani Pedrosa insists he will sign a new deal with Honda for 2011, despite protracted talks not yet being finalised. Pedrosa, who finished second behind Jorge Lorenzo for the third time in the last...

Dovizioso’s Honda contract saga drags on

19 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dovizioso’s Honda contract saga drags on

Andrea Dovizoso’s quest to remain a factory Honda rider next season could end up in a bitter courtroom wrangle. MCN sources say lawyers could settle the Italian’s contract dispute with HRC unless an...

Valentino Rossi signing a big risk for Ducati, says Jerry Burgess

19 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi signing a big risk for Ducati, says Jerry Burgess

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons the Italian’s move to Ducati has heaped immense pressure on the Bologna factory for 2011. Rossi will partner Nicky Hayden next year in Ducati’s...

Spencer ’85 double impossible to repeat, says Valentino Rossi

19 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Spencer ’85 double impossible to repeat, says Valentino Rossi

Twenty-five years since Freddie Spencer completed a remarkable Grand Prix double when he won the 250 and 500cc world titles in 1985, Valentino Rossi has dismissed the possibility of that unique...

Nori Haga at Silverstone

19 August 2010 by Bob Sallows

Nori Haga at Silverstone

He might not be having the best of times on track but he had time to chat with my daughters at silverstone WSB.

Ulster Grand Prix future

19 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Ulster Grand Prix future

The Ulster Grand Prix has been through a difficult period but this year was revered as one of the best days of racing in the sport’s history. But what of the future? MCN spoke to Noel Johnston, the...

Hutchinson to Relentless Suzuki?

19 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Hutchinson to Relentless Suzuki?

Rumours of Ian Hutchinson, Michael Dunlop and Keith Amor being courted by the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team for 2011 simultaneously began at Brands Hatch and  Armoy just over two weeks ago. The...

Top class Manx GP entry

19 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

This year’s Manx Grand Prix boasts an impressive line-up  for the classic and post classic races and enforces the event’s boast of being ‘the world’s premier classic road race.’ Practice is scheduled from Saturday 21st August with race week running from Monday 30th August to Friday 3rd September. The decision in 2009 to include races for Post Classic machines has been vindicated with a significant...

New Manx GP website

19 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

This year’s Manx Grand Prix festival audience is set to grow thanks to the launch of a new website branded as ‘Manx Grand Prix Festival’, which runs from 21st August to 5th September 2010. For the first time ever, race fans worldwide will be able to follow this year’s Manx GP races live via Manx Radio commentary and live timing on the internet. The MGP festival brings together four of the biggest...

Pirelli’s 133.977mph Ulster GP tyre

18 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Pirelli’s 133.977mph Ulster GP tyre

Success at this year’s Ulster Grand Prix was looking a bit thin on the ground for Pirelli after Dunlop riders Ian Hutchinson won three races and Keith Amor had won one. But Bruce Anstey took the final...

Farquhar to quit racing?

18 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Farquhar to quit racing?

Ryan Farquhar is at a crossroads in his career. For the past three seasons he’s been virtually unbeatable on the Irish Nationals – and last year even surpassed the late, great Joey Dunlop’s record of...

The big question: What’s the plan for 2011?

18 August 2010 by Gary Pinchin

The big question: What’s the plan for 2011?

With the dust settled on the big three international road races, talk now is of what prospects might be in store for 2011. MCN asked two of the leading players what plans they might have for next...