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2015

Lowes finishes Jerez test fastest

19 March 2015 by Steve English

Lowes finishes Jerez test fastest

Sam Lowes topped the final test of the pre-season after rain interrupted running at Jerez throughout the week. Lowes finished the week one second faster than Jonas Folger but with so little dry...

Hayden: Front straight is definitely a lot better here compared to what we had last year!

19 March 2015 by Steve English

Hayden: Front straight is definitely a lot better here compared to what we had last year!

Nicky Haden came away from Qatar pleased to have been able to get closer to the front on the Open Honda but once again disappointed to have finished down the timesheets in 16th position. The new bike...

Bridgestone adds two new tyres to 2015 allocation

19 March 2015 by Steve English

Bridgestone adds two new tyres to 2015 allocation

Bridgestone might be quitting MotoGP at the end of 2015 but the Japanese manufacturer has made new developments available throughout this season. Teams and riders will now have six different...

Marquez: Ducati can win in Qatar

19 March 2015 by Steve English

Marquez: Ducati can win in Qatar

Marc Marquez wrapped up winter testing with the second fastest time of the Qatar test after spending time trying to improve front feel and eke out more top speed from the Honda RC213v. On the opening...

JR Racing turmoil explained

18 March 2015 by Gordon Ritchie

JR Racing turmoil explained

After the realisation that the required funds to get the entire JR Racing WSB team up and running in 2015 have still not appeared, and do not look likely to according to Team Manager Gemma Voces Pons,...

Kiyonari makes second outing on Buildbase BMW

18 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Kiyonari makes second outing on Buildbase BMW

Ryuichi Kiyonari has taken to the track for the second time this year on his new BMW1000RR, as he attempts to catch up on his rivals after missing pre-season testing with visa issues. The Buildbase...

Winter testing offically draws to a close

17 March 2015 by Steve English

Winter testing offically draws to a close

The MotoGP paddock can now fully turn its attention towards next weekend’s season opening Qatar Grand Prix after the final day of testing was completed at the Losail International Circuit today. The...

Chris Walker to make TT circuit debut – on Kawasaki H2R!

17 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Chris Walker to make TT circuit debut – on Kawasaki H2R!

The Kawasaki H2R will take to the Isle of Man TT course later this year for the very first time, with Kawasaki legend Chris Walker scheduled to ride a parade lap on the supercharged machine during the...

Watch the Isle of Man TT launch live at 7.30pm!

17 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Watch the Isle of Man TT launch live at 7.30pm!

This year’s Isle of Man TT launch is scheduled to get underway at 7.30pm tonight, and will be live on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. The event, live from Douglas’ Villa Marina, will be hosted by...

Bayliss: The Return II

17 March 2015 by Gordon Ritchie

Bayliss: The Return II

With a second round to compete in after his surprise WSB return at Phillip Island with the official Aruba.it Racing Ducati squad, Troy Bayliss feels he is even more prepared for the challenge of...

Yamaha 2015 WSB wildcard plans as yet unknown

17 March 2015 by Gordon Ritchie

Yamaha 2015 WSB wildcard plans as yet unknown

With an all-new Yamaha R1 and R1M in its stable for 2015 the Yamaha Road Racing arm of the reorganised Yamaha Europe racing effort features a whole portfolio of strong entries in domestic and World...

Rain postpones final day of testing

16 March 2015 by Steve English

Rain postpones final day of testing

Rain ended play early in the desert with the final day of pre-season testing washed out after heavy rain in Losail. The night session means that riding is impossible in the wet due to the floodlights...

"Lots of effort" on day two for Rossi

16 March 2015 by Steve English

"Lots of effort" on day two for Rossi

Having struggled for most of the day with a lack of rear grip Valentino Rossi was able to find a solution in the final hour of the second day of testing to vault himself from the midpack into the top...

Lack of feel holding back Lorenzo

16 March 2015 by Steve English

Lack of feel holding back Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo wound up with the fourth fastest time on Day Two of the Qatar test but afterwards the double MotoGP champion was disappointed with the handling of his Yamaha M1 and surprised to have...

Davies escapes carjacking attempt

16 March 2015 by Gordon Ritchie

Davies escapes carjacking attempt

Factory Aruba.it Racing Ducati WSB rider Chaz Davies was the victim of an attempted carjacking in Barcelona recently, on the day he went to watch a friend compete in an Indoor Enduro event. As he went...

Dungey dominates again for third consecutive win

16 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Dungey dominates again for third consecutive win

Ryan Dungey has once again dominated the AMA Supercross championship to take his third consecutive win and extend his championship lead further. The Red Bull KTM rider made an opening lap pass on...

Lack of rear grip holds back Lorenzo

15 March 2015 by Steve English

Lack of rear grip holds back Lorenzo

Track conditions and a lack of rear grip hurt Jorge Lorenzo yesterday in Qatar with the Yamaha rider only able to set the sixth fastest time of the opening night. The dusty track surface is always a...

Positive start for Vinales despite crashes

15 March 2015 by Steve English

Positive start for Vinales despite crashes

Maverick Vinales crashed twice on the opening night of the Qatar test and while it cost him track time he was upbeat afterwards as he assessed his day and looked forward to another two days of testing...

No feeling for Espargaro

15 March 2015 by Steve English

No feeling for Espargaro

Pol Espargaro struggled throughout the first night in Qatar with the Tech3 rider having a miserable day with a lack of feeling on the front end leaving him at a loss to explain his performance. The...

Pedrosa: Track needs to clean

15 March 2015 by Steve English

Pedrosa: Track needs to clean

Dani Pedrosa was not too worried after setting the fifth fastest time of the opening night’s running in Qatar. With track conditions dusty the Repsol Honda rider felt that the potential of the Honda...

Strong showing from Espargaro

15 March 2015 by Steve English

Strong showing from Espargaro

Returning to the scene of his stunning start to the 2014 season Aleix Espargaro showed the potential of the Suzuki once again with the fourth fastest time of the opening night of the Qatar test. The...

Early crash for Rossi in Qatar

15 March 2015 by Steve English

Early crash for Rossi in Qatar

Valentino Rossi’s Qatari test got off to the worst possible start with the Italian crashing on his third lap of the opening night’s running of the final pre-season test. Rossi crashed at turn eight...

Ducatis lead the way on opening night at Qatar

14 March 2015 by Steve English

Ducatis lead the way on opening night at Qatar

The Ducati’s led the way on the opening day of the final pre-season test with Andrea Iannone outpacing Andrea Dovizioso by one tenth of a second in Qatar. The pace of the Ducati’s was impressive on...

Pramac Racing show off 2015 Ducatis

14 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Pramac Racing show off 2015 Ducatis

Pramac Racing have unveiled the Ducati GP14 machines that Danilo Petrucci and Yonny Hernandez will ride in the 2015 MotoGP championship. The bikes were revealed in a ceremony near the team’s base in...

Yamaha confirm full seamless shift gearbox

14 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Yamaha confirm full seamless shift gearbox

As first reported by MCN last month, Yamaha have now officially confirmed the debut of a new seamless sift gearbox in the factory M1s of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo for the upcoming GP...

Suzuki to test race ready bike at Qatar

14 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Suzuki to test race ready bike at Qatar

Suzuki riders Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro will have the race ready version of their new GSX-RR machine for the first time at the final pre-season test of the winter, which gets underway today...

Biaggi tests Aprilia WSB machine again

14 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Biaggi tests Aprilia WSB machine again

Former world champion Max Biaggi has once again tested the Aprilia RSV4 World Superbike machine, taking to his local track of Vallelunga for three days. The double WSB winner, who took the Aprilia to...

Column: Can Michael Dunlop make the new R1 a TT winner?

14 March 2015 by Stephen Davison

Column: Can Michael Dunlop make the new R1 a TT winner?

I was reminded of a famous tale told about Joey Dunlop last week. I was in Spain to watch Joey’s nephew, Michael, have his first ride on the new Milwaukee YZF R1 Yamaha at Alcarras that he hopes will...

Crutchlow doesn't expect heavy running in Qatar

14 March 2015 by Steve English

Crutchlow doesn't expect heavy running in Qatar

Testing in Qatar will begin today but Cal Crutchlow has told MCN that he will sit out the majority of the running due to the track conditions not being reflective of what we can expect when the MotoGP...

Gary Johnson saves Supersport TT campaign with Martrain Yamaha

13 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Gary Johnson saves Supersport TT campaign with Martrain Yamaha

Just weeks after failing to agree terms with Smiths Triumph – despite the combination racing to victory at last year’s Isle of Man TT – Gary Johnson has saved his 2015 supersport plans with an...

Final test of the winter gets underway

13 March 2015 by Steve English

Final test of the winter gets underway

The final test of the winter takes place this weekend in Qatar with three days of running for the full time MotoGP riders and another one day test for Michelin with the factory contracted test...

Honda unveil colours for BSB return

13 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Honda unveil colours for BSB return

Honda Racing have unveiled the colours that the Fireblade machinery of Dan Linfoot, Jason O’Halloran and Jenny Tinmouth will carry as the MCE British Superbike championship’s only manufacturer-backed...

Supersport title favourite Gowland breaks leg

12 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Supersport title favourite Gowland breaks leg

British Supersport title favourite Graeme Gowland has broken his leg in a testing crash at Spain, potentially jeopardising the Northumberland rider’s best chance to lift the supersport crown. Gowland...

MCN Exclusive: Milwaukee Yamaha duo break cover

11 March 2015 by Stephen Davison

MCN Exclusive: Milwaukee Yamaha duo break cover

The Milwaukee Yamaha squad have had their first test of the 2015 season at Alcarras in Spain. Aussie duo Josh Brookes and Broc Parkes tested the new YZF R1 they will ride in this year’s series as part...

MCN Exclusive: Michael Dunlop makes Milwaukee Yamaha debut

11 March 2015 by Stephen Davison

MCN Exclusive: Michael Dunlop makes Milwaukee Yamaha debut

Michael Dunlop, Milwaukee Yamaha’s new road race signing for 2015, has had his first outing on the R1 Yamaha he will race at the North West 200 and TT in Spain. The 11 times TT winner wasn’t scheduled...

Kawasaki boss: 'I expect a clean fight between Rea and Sykes'

11 March 2015 by Simon Patterson

Kawasaki boss: 'I expect a clean fight between Rea and Sykes'

Kawasaki WSB team boss Guim Roda says he expects a clean fight this season between former world champion Tom Sykes, now in his fourth year with the team, and new boy Jonathan Rea, who won the first...