December | Page 2

Phillip Island warned over 2012 date change

14 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Phillip Island, popular venue for the Australian MotoGP race, will be kicked off the calendar unless organisers agree to stage the race six months earlier than its normal October slot in 2012. Dorna...

Engine issues tarnished Suzuki image

14 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki’s failure to comply with new cost-saving engine restrictions reflected badly on the Japanese factory, according to a senior race boss. In a bid to cut costs by saving engine mileage for 2010,...

Relentless still looking for Brookes’ team-mate

13 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Relentless by TAS Suzuki boss Philip Neill is still looking to sign a second rider alongside Josh Brookes for their BSB team. Neill was on the verge of bringing Ian Lowry back to the team who finished...

Eugene Laverty is Irish Motorcyclist of the Year

13 December 2010 by Stephen Davison

Eugene Laverty has won the coveted Irish Motorcyclist of the Year award. The World Supersport runner-up edged out WSB star Jonathan Rea and Irish national road racer Ryan Farquhar. Final standings: ...

Rea to make MotoGP testing debut in Sepang

13 December 2010 by Michael Guy

Jonathan Rea is scheduled to ride Casey Stoner’s Honda RCV212V in a two day test at Sepang starting tomorrow (Tuesday). The current Ten Kate Honda WSB rider flew from Australia to Malaysia on Sunday...

Yamaha optimistic new Ben Spies deal is close

13 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha bosses remain optimistic that an extended MotoGP deal for impressive American Ben Spies will be finalised in the near future. Yamaha management and representatives of Spies have been locked in...

Honda fear Jorge Lorenzo in 2011

13 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Honda management fear the biggest threat to the Japanese factory’s bid to win the last 800cc MotoGP title in 2011 will come from Yamaha rival and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo. The Spaniard...

Top doctors withdraw from TT

13 December 2010 by MCN Sports Desk

MCN has received a statement which says TT Chief Medical Officer Dr Heike Rommer and Medical Director Dr Stevens will not be involved in the 2011 TT, but will continue to work at the 2011 Manx GP. The...

Guy Martin tests Relentless Suzuki

13 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

TT hero Guy Martin completed his first test with the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team at Almeria on Sunday, completing over 90 laps on their 2010 TT superbike. In bright sunshine and 20-degree...

Star line-up for Sheffield Indoor trial

10 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

International trials riders Dougie Lampkin, Toni Bou, Adam Raga and Jeroni Fajardo headline the Sheffield Indoor Trial on January 8, 2011. Five of the sport’s leading lights have switched camps this...

Baz and Westmoreland testing in Spain

10 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

New Motorpoint Yamaha signing Loris Baz and prospective team-mate James Westmoreland are testing at Cartagena today. Baz is a confirmed runner with the team for next year’s British Superbike championship but Westmoreland is having a try out on the R1 before any decisions are reached. Team boss Rob McElnea said: “We’ve got some time at a track day to give both of them a run-out on the bikes before...

Positive shakedown test for BMW Motorrad Italia at Portimao

10 December 2010 by Michael Guy

The BMW Motorrad Italia team of James Toseland and Ayrton Badovini finally enjoyed some dry track time in Portimao toady where they begun their first shakedown test of their new S1000RR’s which the...

Hopkins to BSB rumours: The facts

10 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent Suzuki have admitted they are courting former MotoGP star John Hopkins to race in BSB next year. Rumours that the American may ride for Crescent Suzuki in BSB next year surfaced on the web...

Plater and Lowes to ride indoor shorttrack

09 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

British Supersport champion Sam Lowes and recent Honda TT Legends World Endurance signing Steve Plater are just two of the top names lined up to race in the Braintree Bonanza indoor short track...

Toseland’s Portimao test delayed by mudslides

09 December 2010 by Michael Guy

The BMW Motorrad Italia team of James Toseland and Aryton Badovini have been forced to sit out of their scheduled test at Portimao this morning after a heavy storm caused mudslides at the Portuguese...

Ducati ponders seven-bike entry in 2012

08 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati could extend its involvement in the new look 1000cc four-stroke MotoGP world championship to seven bikes in 2012. The Bologna factory will field six bikes in 2011 having agreed to lease a GP11...

Laverty: “I could have been even faster”

08 December 2010 by Michael Guy

In last weeks WSB test at Phillip Island Eugene Laverty topped the time sheets beating Max Biaggi, Leon Camier and Marco Melandri in the process. His performance and progress since jumping on the...

New approach crucial to Jorge Lorenzo’s success

07 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

A calmer approach and revised strategy proved crucial in helping Jorge Lorenzo become only the second Spanish rider in history to capture the MotoGP title in 2010. The 23-year-old was a model of...

Alex Criville warns Honda against major changes

07 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Alex Criville has warned Honda not to make radical winter changes to its factory RC212V contender to help Dani Pedrosa win the last 800cc MotoGP title in 2011. Criville said...

Niall Mackenzie’s son lands 125GP ride

06 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts and Kenny Roberts Junior, Graziano and Valentino Rossi and Ron and Leon Haslam are all father and sons to have raced in the Grand Prix world championship. Now Niall and Taylor Mackenzie...

Cal Crutchlow starts rehab after shoulder surgery

06 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow has started the long rehabilitation process after he underwent successful surgery on a long-standing left shoulder injury in Manchester last week. The Coventry rider needed tendon and...

Jerry Burgess expects big Honda challenge

06 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess reckons Honda could pose the most serious threat to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning the MotoGP crown at the first attempt with Ducati in 2011. The Aussie, who is currently in Bologna...

Bradley Smith destroys Moto2 bike in test crash

03 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith escaped unhurt but destroyed a Tech 3 Racing Moto2 machine as he took part in a freezing cold and wet testing double-header in Spain earlier this week. The 20-year-old braved chilly...

Casey Stoner backs four-rider Honda assault

03 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has dismissed concerns that Honda might struggle to give equal support to its quartet of factory riders in 2011. Stoner will ride with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso in the factory HRC...

Me and Cameron Donald

02 December 2010 by Richard Thorne

Me and Cameron Donald at the Isle of Man. He was more than happy to have this photo taken.

Jorge Lorenzo expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

02 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo is expecting new factory Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies to pose a major threat in the 2011 premier class series. Spies will join the 23-year-old next year after the...

Padgetts sign Anstey

02 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Padgetts of Batley have signed Bruce Anstey for the three major international road races in 2011. The veteran TT star was cut loose after several years with the Relentless by TAS team but now returns...

Antonio Banderas team quits Moto2

02 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

The Moto2 team supported by Hollywood star Antonio Banderas has collapsed, leaving former 125GP world champion Gabor Talmacsi and American Kenny Noyes without a ride for 2011. Title sponsor Jack &...

Cameron Donald signs for Wilson Craig

01 December 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Australian Cameron Donald has signed to race for Wilson Craig in next year’s international road races.  The Australian left Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing only a week ago by mutual consent, less...

Danny Webb secures 125GP ride with new Indian manufacturer

01 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb will contest the last 125GP world championship next season and first ever Moto3 four-stroke series in 2012 for the Indian-based Mahindra and Mahindra squad. The British rider has agreed a a...

Cal Crutchlow to undergo shoulder surgery

01 December 2010 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow is facing a race to be fit for the opening MotoGP test of 2011 having been due to undergo identical shoulder surgery to Valentino Rossi in Manchester today (Wednesday). The British rider...