2011

Year: 2011

Month: ALL

Rutter and Jessopp get factory Ducatis for BSB

02 February 2011 by Gary Pinchin

Rutter and Jessopp get factory Ducatis for BSB

When team owner Phil Jessopp reveals his Rider Ducati team plans at the MCN Carole Nash London Motorcycle Show tomorrow (Thursday, February 3) it’s going to be more than a new title sponsorship deal...

Tinmouth to race BSB Aprilia

02 February 2011 by MCN Sports Desk

Tinmouth to race BSB Aprilia

Jenny Tinmouth will race a Splitlath Aprilia RSV4 in this year’s MCE British Superbike championship. She will make history as the first female to ever tackle a full season of the world’s most...

Get ready for MCN Fantasy Road Race 2011

01 February 2011

Get ready for MCN Fantasy Road Race 2011

It’s time to start thinking about your choice of riders for the MCN Fantasy Road Race 2011 in association with MCE. Registration opens on Feb 8th, 2011, and you’ll need to have your team registered...

Valentino Rossi struggles with shoulder in Sepang

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi struggles with shoulder in Sepang

Valentino Rossi admitted that his on-going right shoulder injury is still a major problem as the Italian slumped to a lowly 12th place on the timesheets as MotoGP winter testing resumed at the Sepang...

Casey Stoner shocked to top Sepang timesheets

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner shocked to top Sepang timesheets

Casey Stoner declared himself ‘surprised’ after he kicked off preparations for the 2011 MotoGP world championship in brilliant fashion today, the Aussie ending the opening day of testing at Sepang...

Cal Crutchlow satisfied with 16th in Sepang

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow satisfied with 16th in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow made a steady rather than spectacular start to the 2011 winter testing campaign in Malaysia earlier today, the British rider ending the opening day with the 16th best time. Today’s test...

Jorge Lorenzo still seeking engine step from Yamaha

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo still seeking engine step from Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo reckons Yamaha still needs to work on improving engine performance and rear grip despite the reigning world champion making an impressive start to the 2011 testing campaign in Sepang...

Ben Spies baffled by early crash

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies baffled by early crash

Ben Spies had an eventful return to MotoGP action in Sepang today, the Texan recovering from an early crash to post the fifth fastest time as 2011 testing resumed in Malaysia. Spies was on an out-lap...

MotoGP Sepang Test Times

01 February 2011

MotoGP Sepang Test Times

Day one of the first official test for the 2011 MotoGP season has just ended at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, with Honda’s Casey Stoner at the top of the timesheets, followed by Jorge Lorenzo on the...

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

Casey Stoner has moved quickly to play down pre-season hype that he will start the 2011 MotoGP world championship as favourite having moved to Honda. The Australian made an impressive debut on Honda’s...

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

Casey Stoner has moved quickly to play down pre-season hype that he will start the 2011 MotoGP world championship as favourite having moved to Honda. The Australian made an impressive debut on Honda’s...

Casey Stoner proud to follow Mick Doohan at Repsol Honda

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner proud to follow Mick Doohan at Repsol Honda

Casey Stoner has told MCN of his delight at fulfilling a lifelong dream to ride for the Repsol Honda team and follow in the illustrious footsteps of fellow Aussie Mick Doohan. Giving his thoughts on...

Andrea Dovizioso predicts strong Honda challenge

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso predicts strong Honda challenge

Andrea Dovizioso reckons Honda’s 2011 factory MotoGP line-up is one of its most formidable in years as the Japanese factory seeks to end its barren run of success in the premier class. HRC has yet to...

Dani Pedrosa unsure of shoulder strength

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa unsure of shoulder strength

Dani Pedrosa reckons the left shoulder he badly broke during a practice crash in Japan in early October could still give him some problems when the 2011 winter testing schedule kicks off in Malaysia...

Honda determined to win final 800cc crown

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Honda determined to win final 800cc crown

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto has spoken of his desire and determination to win the final 800cc MotoGP crown in 2011 at the launch of the Repsol Honda squad in Malaysia tonight. Speaking at a special...

Ducati move to prolong Valentino Rossi’s career

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ducati move to prolong Valentino Rossi’s career

Valentino Rossi’s Ducati move is likely to extend his career in MotoGP. The 31-year-old stunned the racing world last year when he opted to quit Yamaha and sign for the Bologna factory in a lucrative...

Jerry Burgess predicts fierce Casey Stoner challenge

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess predicts fierce Casey Stoner challenge

Jerry Burgess reckons Honda and Casey Stoner will pose the biggest threat to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of capturing the MotoGP title at the first attempt for Ducati in 2011. Rossi’s legendary crew chief...

Yamaha focus on improving rear grip in 2011

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha focus on improving rear grip in 2011

Improving rear grip has been a key winter development target of Yamaha as the Japanese factory seeks to continue its domination of MotoGP without talisman Valentino Rossi in 2011. Rossi and 2010 world...

Video: Valentino Rossi on track on a Ducati

31 January 2011

Video: Valentino Rossi on track on a Ducati

Valentino Rossi has returned to the track for the first time since his shoulder operation, and you can see how it went it this video showing the Italian legend on a Ducati 1198 Superbike. Just 73 days...

First shots of Stoner's 2011 Honda RC212V

31 January 2011 by Dan Aspel

First shots of Stoner's 2011 Honda RC212V

These are the first official photos of Casey Stoner alongside the Honda RC212V that he’ll be racing in the 2011 MotoGP season. There are apparently few updates to the machine except for the new...

Lorenzo is "No.1"

31 January 2011 by Dan Aspel

Lorenzo is "No.1"

MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has unveiled his racing logo for the 2011 season: a number one made of the initials J and L. He said: “I have been lucky with my design because the No 1 works really well...

Villopoto wins Anaheim Supercross opener

30 January 2011 by Paul Harris

Like an Apollo moonshot, the 2011 AMA Supercross season has counted down and reached blast off – there were a host of big names vying for supremacy but the Neil Armstrong of the first race of the ‘11 SX season was Ryan Villopoto. Kawasaki’s factory star was coming back from an enforced eight month layoff following a terrible crash last April and showed that the plates and pins in the badly-broken...

Rossi faking it

28 January 2011 by Joe Cunningham

Further to the comments about Vale faking his shoulder problems. After being wiped out on a roundabout by a careless car driver which resulted in my bike being written of and me being in hospital for 5 days with back and shoulder damage in which the tendon was totally ripped off the shoulder bone. I had a operation on the November 10 2010 to re-attatch the tendon (Left shoulder athroscopic...

Gary Johnson signs for East Coast

28 January 2011 by MCN Sports Desk

Gary Johnson signs for East Coast

East Coast Racing have signed TT star Gary Johnson and Lee Johnston to race in British Supersport this year. They will ride the ex-GNS Racing Hondas ridden by BSS title-winner Sam Lowes last year.

Portimao WSB test: Rea fastest in changeable weather

28 January 2011 by Gordon Ritchie

Portimao WSB test: Rea fastest in changeable weather

Poor weather was the enemy of all at the official Portimao WSB tests on day two. An early rain shower made sure only eight of the 16 WSB riders in attendance would go out in the morning session, and...

Swan Yamaha reveal factory R1s

27 January 2011 by Gary Pinchin

Swan Yamaha reveal factory R1s

Swan Yamaha riders Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty will be racing 2010 factory R1s in this year’s MCE British Superbike championship. The team built the bikes in the WSB factory team’s workshop in...

Hutchinson signs for Swan Yamaha

27 January 2011 by Gary Pinchin

Hutchinson signs for Swan Yamaha

Ian Hutchinson has signed a two-year deal to ride for Swan Yamaha in the major international road races and selected rounds of the British Supersport series. Hutchy is still recovering from the broken...

Hickman teams up with Tyco Racing

27 January 2011 by Laura Stevens

Hickman teams up with Tyco Racing

Tyco Racing has signed Peter Hickman to ride alongside Tommy Bridewell in this year’s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, which gets underway on Easter weekend at Brands Hatch (22-25 April).

Snetterton revamp underway

27 January 2011 by Gary Pinchin

Snetterton revamp underway

The major £3.5m Snetterton revamp is well underway to create a very new look for the Norfolk circuit which MotorSport Vision boss Jonathan Palmer has said will make it the most exciting circuit in the...

FTR and Speed Up continue in Moto2

27 January 2011 by MCN Sportsdesk

FTR and Speed Up continue in Moto2

British manufacturer FTR Moto and the Italian Speed Up Team will challenge for the 2011 Moto2 World Championship with the youthful line-up of 19-year-old Spaniard Pol Espargaro and 18-year-old French...

Rossi tests 1198: full gallery

26 January 2011 by Dan Aspel

Rossi tests 1198: full gallery

Ducati has released the following pictures of Valentino Rossi riding the new 1198 superbike this afternoon at Misano. The multiple world champ is reportedly using the WSB testing session to evaluate...

Rossi tests 1198 superbike at Misano

26 January 2011 by MCN

Rossi tests 1198 superbike at Misano

Valentino Rossi is currently testing the new Ducati 1198 superbike at Misano. The Italian is using the WSB testing session to evaluate the state of his shoulder before MotoGP testing gets underway in...

Relentless boost for NW200

25 January 2011 by MCN Sports Desk

Relentless boost for NW200

This year’s Relentless-backed NW200 takes place on Saturday May 21 with Race Week Festival kicking off on May 15. The 2011 event was launched this morning at the Belfast’s Merchant Hotel and leading...

Danny Kent lands top 125GP ride

24 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent lands top 125GP ride

Danny Kent has landed a top 125GP ride in the team that won last year’s crown with Spanish sensation Marc Marquez. Kent, who impressed during selected wild card appearances at the end of the 2010...

Eight Brits in Grand Prix in 2011

24 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Eight Brits in Grand Prix in 2011

British talent in the Grand Prix world championship will be at its highest level in years in 2011 with eight riders confirmed for the forthcoming season. Cal Crutchlow will lead the challenge in the...

Scott Redding heads triple British Moto2 attack

24 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding heads triple British Moto2 attack

Scott Redding will be hoping to emerge as a serious title threat in 2011 as he heads a three-pronged British challenge in the successful Moto2 class. The Gloucestershire rider will again ride for the...