April

Year: 2016

Month: April

Cluzel takes supersport pole in Imola

01 May 2016 by Gordon Ritchie

Cluzel takes supersport pole in Imola

Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was the last top rider to set a fast time and scored a pole position with his 1’51.132 as a result. It was the 18th pole position of his career. Kenan Sofuoglu...

Iddon leads close fought pack on day one

01 May 2016 by Oli Rushby

Iddon leads close fought pack on day one

Local rider Christian Iddon led the pack at the end of the first day of MCE British Superbike action at Oulton Park as the top 17 riders were covered by less than a second. The Tyco BMW man showed...

‘Marked increase in performance’ for KTM

30 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

‘Marked increase in performance’ for KTM

KTM have seen a ‘marked increase in performance’ for their new RC16 MotoGP machine at this week’s test at Brno, according to project head Mike Leitner. The rain-hit two-day test saw Mika Kallio and...

Davies sets new track best for Superpole win

30 April 2016 by Gordon Ritchie

Davies sets new track best for Superpole win

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured a remarkable new track record of 1’45.598 to take only his second career pole position as he dominated the pre-race results again. His only previous...

Circuit of Wales submits revised funding plan

30 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Circuit of Wales submits revised funding plan

The Circuit of Wales have submitted a revised funding plan to the Welsh government. The new plan reduces the amount of financial guarantee required from the regional assembly by half, covering 50% of...

Yamaha have encouraging day on development Michelins

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Yamaha have encouraging day on development Michelins

The Movistar Yamaha team of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi had an encouraging day on Michelin’s latest development tyres at Monday’s one-day test at Jerez, according to team boss Massimo...

Pedrosa has ‘strange day’ at Jerez test

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Pedrosa has ‘strange day’ at Jerez test

Dani Pedrosa says that the one-day test at Jerez following last weekend’s race at the Spanish circuit was a ‘strange day’ for him, with improved track conditions not brining the improvement in grip...

Video: Valentino Rossi - The Doctor series trailer

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Video: Valentino Rossi - The Doctor series trailer

Everybody knows Valentino Rossi as an icon of motorcycle racing but what is it like to wear his shoes? To deal with expectation, spotlight, judgement and the constant pressure of being an athlete...

Suzuki winglets ‘not a huge improvement’

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Suzuki winglets ‘not a huge improvement’

Suzuki rider Aleix Espargaró has admitted that the GSX-RR’s new front winglets do not make a huge improvement to the handling of his bike – but that with every advantage necessary at the minute in...

Moto3 front-runner Bastianini breaks wrist

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3 front-runner Bastianini breaks wrist

Moto3 front-runner Enea Bastianini has broken his wrist in a training accident, falling on Wednesday while riding off-road. The training crash saw him suffer a fracture to his right wrist. Following...

Reed set to make MXGP wildcards

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Reed set to make MXGP wildcards

Australian Supercross legend Chad Reed will make a sensational return to the MXGP series for the first time in fifteen years, with two wildcard appearances in Italy and at next month’s Matterley Basin...

Crutchlow disappointed with first points-scoring finish

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Crutchlow disappointed with first points-scoring finish

Cal Crutchlow was once again left disappointed with the fourth round of the MotoGP championship in Jerez last weekend, despite the Brit finally managing to get points on the board after finishing his...

Suzuki the key in GP contract talks

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Suzuki the key in GP contract talks

Suzuki and Maverick Viñales have become the focal point of 2016’s contract negotiations, as the young Spaniard considers offers not only to join Valentino Rossi at the Movistar Yamaha squad but also...

GP Commission changes rules on jump-starts

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

GP Commission changes rules on jump-starts

MotoGP rulemaking body the Grand Prix Commission has restructured the system for penalising riders for jump starts following the aftermath of the debacle at the opening Moto2 round at Qatar. There was...

Whatever happened to TT hero Jim Moodie?

26 April 2016 by MCN News

Whatever happened to TT hero Jim Moodie?

Teak-hard racer turned big-bucks motorhome dealer to the stars im Moodie was one of the last of the breed of racers who could emerge victorious from the very different demands of the TT and short...

Chance to win Gary Johnson’s actual Triumph Daytona 675 TT race bike

22 April 2016 by MCN News

Chance to win Gary Johnson’s actual Triumph Daytona 675 TT race bike

The new Team T3 Racing TT squad are providing are offering race fans the chance to win the Triumph Daytona 675 Supersport race bike that Gary Johnson will be riding at the iconic Isle of Man TT race...

Harrison determined to end NW200 bogey in 2016

21 April 2016 by Stephen Davison

Harrison determined to end NW200 bogey in 2016

Bradford racer Dean Harrison is determined to end his Vauxhall International North West 200 bogey at this year’s races. “I have never finished a race at the North West but I am aiming to change that...

2016 ACU 125GP National Championship launched

20 April 2016 by Emma Franklin

2016 ACU 125GP National Championship launched

Riders of 125GP machines will now be able to contest a full national title, as North Gloucester Road Racing club announce the launch of the new ACU 125GP National Championship at Donington Park, May...

Dovi stakes claim for remaining Ducati seat

20 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Dovi stakes claim for remaining Ducati seat

Andrea Dovizioso has staked his claim for the remaining seat at Ducati next season alongside new signing Jorge Lorenzo, hitting out at teammate (and rival for the spot) Andrea Iannone. Iannone is...

Upgrades for Aprilia as MotoGP returns to Europe

20 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Upgrades for Aprilia as MotoGP returns to Europe

Aprilia will have further upgrades to the new RS-GP machines of Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista this weekend as MotoGP returns to Europe, with the pair hoping to continue a strong start to 2016 at...

Lorenzo: My focus remains with Yamaha

19 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo: My focus remains with Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo has spoken publically for the first time since his new Ducati deal for the 2017 and 2018 season was announced yesterday, posting a short video message to social media to thank his fans...

Smith hoping for better form on European return

19 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Smith hoping for better form on European return

Bradley Smith is hoping for a return to better for this weekend when MotoGP returns to Europe, after a difficult start to the season for the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha racer. Struggling since before the...

Marquez: Rivals will be strong at Jerez

19 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Marquez: Rivals will be strong at Jerez

Marc Marquez says it’s more important than ever that him and the Repsol Honda squad make a strong start this weekend at Jerez, a track he expects title rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo to be...

Manx Grand Prix winner Billy Redmayne dies after Scarborough Spring Cup crash

19 April 2016 by Stephen Davison

Manx Grand Prix winner Billy Redmayne dies after Scarborough Spring Cup crash

Billy Redmayne, the Manx racer who was injured in a crash during last Sunday’s Spring Cup race at Scarborough, has died. The 25 year old had been seriously injured when he crashed his Kawasaki ZX-10R...

Confirmed: Lorenzo makes Ducati switch for 2017

18 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Confirmed: Lorenzo makes Ducati switch for 2017

As reported by MCN weeks ago, reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will make the switch from Yamaha to Ducati for the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP seasons. The news was confirmed this afternoon only...

What next for Yamaha?

18 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

What next for Yamaha?

With the news that reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will move to Ducati for the 2017 season, one big question mark that remains to be answered in the aftermath of the move is who exactly...

Yamaha and Lorenzo part ways for 2017

18 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Yamaha and Lorenzo part ways for 2017

Movistar Yamaha have announced that they will part ways with Jorge Lorenzo for the 2017 season, partly confirming that, as reported by MCN weeks ago, that the reigning world champion will switch to...

Smith wins six-lap sprint in Assen

17 April 2016 by Gordon Ritchie

Smith wins six-lap sprint in Assen

British rider Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) won what was a final six lap wet race, from his countryman Gino Rea (GRT Racing Team MV Agusta) and four-time champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki...

Rea from Sykes after crazy second race

17 April 2016 by Gordon Ritchie

Rea from Sykes after crazy second race

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) won the second race at Assen in a contest that had started wet, but finished on a dry line, making for a tyre change midway through the 21 laps. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki...

Rea wins as Hayden takes first podium

16 April 2016 by Gordon Ritchie

Rea wins as Hayden takes first podium

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) won the first race of the Assen WorldSBK weekend after 21 laps of drama and determination, too much in some notable cases. After running with the front group for...

Assen WSB: Lowes fastest after wet opening day

15 April 2016 by Gordon Ritchie

Assen WSB: Lowes fastest after wet opening day

Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) topped the combined best times on day one at a wet Assen, posting a strong lap of 1’52.701 near the end of the second one hour long practice session in...

Crutchlow left struggling with gout in Austin

15 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Crutchlow left struggling with gout in Austin

Cal Crutchlow’s difficult start to the 2016 MotoGP season – failing to score points in the opening three races of the year – was left even worse last weekend in Austin when travel chaos from Argentina...

Viñales left kicking himself after testing pace

15 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Viñales left kicking himself after testing pace

Suzuki rider Maverick Viñales has been left kicking himself after discovering his pace on the 2016 GSX-RR chassis at the Circuit of the Americas – in a test a day after using the 2015 version for the...

Dorna pledge support to British Grand Prix

15 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Dorna pledge support to British Grand Prix

Dorna events director Javier Alonso has pledged support to the British Grand prix, regardless of what happens in the future with the beleaguered Circuit of Wales project. Currently the rights holders...

Ten more years of racing at Phillip Island

11 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Ten more years of racing at Phillip Island

MotoGP and World Superbike rights holders Dorna have signed a ten-year extension to both deals that will see both series return to Australia’s iconic Phillip Island track until at least 2026. The...

SRC Kawasaki dominate Le Mans 24 Hour

11 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

SRC Kawasaki dominate Le Mans 24 Hour

The SRC Kawasaki squad of Gregory Leblanc, Matthieu Lagrive and Fabien Foret have dominated the opening round of the 2016 Endurance World Championship at the Le Mans 24 Hours, taking maximum...