December | Page 2

Roads: Rider of the Year: Fourth

21 December 2016 by MCN Sport

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most on the roads in 2016. Number 4 – Peter Hickman 2016 was without a doubt a difficult year for Hickman, but he should still be...

MotoGP: Michelin tyres go wireless for 2017

21 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Michelin, the MotoGP sole tyre manufacturer, and the Grand Prix Commission, the sport’s rulemaking body, have announced that they will press ahead with the introduction of embedded wireless technology...

BSB: Kiyonari leaves BSB to return to Japan

21 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Three-time MCE British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari will not return to the series next year, instead opting to race in the All Japan Road Race Championship. The Japanese ace, who won the...

Superprestigio: Bad night for the Brits in Barcelona

20 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

This year’s Superprestigio flat track race in Barcelona saw a bad night for the five-man British contingent, with only Oli Brindley making it out of the heat stages and into the open class finals –...

MCN's WSBK rider of the year: 4th Nicky Hayden

20 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most in the World Superbike Championship during the 2017 season. 4th – Nicky Hayden Best result: 1st Wins: 1 Podiums: 4 Championship...

Is Ian Hutchinson your MCN Man of the Year 2016?

20 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Each year, we award the motorcycle racer you think has most impressed with their results from across the year with the MCN Man of the Year trophy. With voting for the 2016 Man of the Year now open, we...

MCN's MotoGP rider of the year: 5th Maverick Viñales

19 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most in the MotoGP World Championship during the 2017 season. 5th – Maverick Viñales Best result: 1st Wins: 1 Podiums: 4 Championship...

Superprestigio: Marquez admits ‘Honda know the risks’

19 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has admitted that his Repsol Honda MotoGP bosses are well aware of the risks of his off-season training, including the dangers of taking part in his...

BSB: Rider of the Year - Fifth

19 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most in the MCE British Superbike Championship during the 2017 season. Number 5 – Dan Linfoot Best result: 2nd (x4) Wins: 0 Podiums: 6...

Roads: Rider of the Year - Fifth

18 December 2016 by MCN Sport

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most on the roads in 2016. Number 5 – Alastair Seeley While Seeley only competes in one of the international road races, his 2016...

Superprestigio: Baker ‘might need to stop sharing with the Europeans’

18 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Former AMA Pro Flat Track Champion Brad Baker has jokingly admitted that he might need to stop sharing his knowledge with his European rivals, after MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez beat him to the...

MCN's WSBK rider of the year: 5th Michael van der Mark

18 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most in the World Superbike Championship during the 2017 season. 5th – Michael van der Mark Best result: 2nd Wins: 0 Podiums:...

Superprestigio: Marquez beats Baker for second flat track win

17 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Marc Marquez has beaten flat track nemesis Brad ‘the Bullet’ Baker for the first time at Barcelona’s Superprestigio race, making it two wins apiece for the duo at the race as their friendly rivalry...

Superprestigio: Marquez leads Elias in qualifying practice

17 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Reigning MotoGP world champion has topped the time sheets at Barcelona’s Superprestigio flat track race after this morning’s qualifying practice from fellow world champion Toni Elias, as they prepare...

MotoGP: Davies set for Ducati GP test

16 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo won’t be the only rider to step onto a factory Ducati MotoGP machine in 2017, with Ducati confirming to MCN that World Superbike racer Chaz Davies will be rewarded for his 2016 success...

At home with the Mackenzies

16 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Twenty years ago, at the ripe old age of 35, former 500cc Grand Prix racer Niall Mackenzie stormed to the first of three British Superbike titles. Now, two decades on, the Mackenzie name is popping...

MotoGP: Calendar reshuffle sees Assen and Sachsenring go back-to-back

16 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

A reshuffling of the 2017 MotoGP calendar will see the Dutch TT and German Grand Prix go back to back, after the Sachsenring race was moved forwards two weeks to avoid a clash with Formula One. The...

Moto2: Team Sky unveil 2017 colours on Italian X-Factor

16 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Valentino Rossi’s Team Sky VR46 Moto2 and Moto3 teams have pulled the covers off their 2017 machines live on Italian TV, with the link-up with broadcaster Sky giving the four riders the chance for a...

BSB: Stuart Easton to retire from racing

15 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Double British Supersport Champion and multiple MCE British Superbike and Macau GP race winner Stuart Easton has announced his retirement from racing. The diminutive Scotsman, who turned 33 this year,...

MotoGP: Scott Redding launches Monkey Fresh clothing brand

14 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

British MotoGP racer Scott Redding has launched his own clothing brand, branching out from motorbike racing into commercial opportunities to unveil the Monkey Fresh range. Coming together with a group...

MotoGP: Riders’ rider of the year results released

14 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

The Official MotoGP Season Review, edited by BT Sport commentator Julian Ryder, has released the details of their riders’ rider of the year competition, with some interesting results from the secret...

BSB: Series bosses confirm no new grid format for 2017

14 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

MCE British Superbike bosses have opted against adopting a controversial new Race 2 grid format for the 2017 season. An idea to shake-up race two grids, similar to the one recently announced by World...

Christmas fun! Where's Jorge Lorenzo's helmet?

14 December 2016 by MCN Fun

You’ve heard of spot the ball, so now welcome Spot the Helmet! Study the photo above and, using your skill and judgement, determine where you think Jorge Lorenzo’s helmet was before it was Photoshop’d...

BSB: Mackenzie completes Bennetts Suzuki line-up

14 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Taylor Mackenzie will step up to the MCE British Superbike class for 2017 as he joins Sylvain Guintoli in the new-look Bennetts Suzuki team. The 23-year-old was confirmed to be remaining with the...

Enduro: Blazusiak bows out in style

13 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Enduro legend Taddy Blazusiak has finished his career in winning style, taking victory in the first round of the new SuperEnduro World Championship at home in Poland as his final competitive venture...

MotoGP: Marquez returns to his roots with enduro entry

13 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and brother Alex have returned to their childhood roots by competing in an enduro race in their hometown of Lleida over the weekend, with the duo competing off-road for...

Gallery: A day with BSB champ Shane 'Shakey' Byrne

12 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

We’re sitting outside a café in a small Spanish town, “Tres cafés por favor” says the familiar voice of MCE British Superbikes star Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. It confuses me for a second, we’re so used to...

WSB: Hayden admits concern over new Fireblade delay

12 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Nicky Hayden has admitted he is concerned with how late Honda’s new Fireblade will be available to the Ten Kate Racing team ahead of next year’s World Superbike Championship. The 2006 MotoGP World...

Moto3: McPhee secures factory Honda in Team GB

12 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Czech Grand Prix winner John McPhee will line up on the 2017 Moto3 grid as part of a new Dorna-supported team that will see the Scotsman on a factory Honda machine as he looks to build upon the...

MotoGP stars gear up for Superprestigio

12 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Some of MotoGP’s top stars are gearing up for this weekend’s traditional season-ender, Barcelona’s Superprestigio flat track race. Once again led by Marc Marquez, the race features some of the top...

Roads: Mar-Train quit racing

09 December 2016 by Stephen Davison

Northern Ireland based team, Mar-Train Yamaha have announced their retirement from road racing. In a shock move Tim Martin’s squad, which ran Manxman Dan Kneen on the roads in 2016, have turned down...

BSB: Tommy Hill confirms team won't continue in 2017

06 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Tommy Hill has confirmed to MCN that his team will not be on the MCE British Superbike grid in 2017. The former British Champion was left searching for backing after title sponsor ePayMe decided to...

Racing: Brookes to make one-off Aussie Superbike appearance

06 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Josh Brookes is set to compete in the final round of the Australasian Superbike Championship following a last-minute call-up to replace injured rider Ben Burke. The 2015 MCE British Superbike Champion...

BSB: Superstock shake up confirmed for 2017

06 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

MCE British Superbike’s Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship will be beefed up for the 2017 with the introduction of new, ‘endurance’ style races. BSB bosses have confirmed that they will...

WSB: Radical second race grid shake up introduced for 2017

05 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

World Superbike bosses have announced a radical shake up to how the grid is formed for a weekend’s second Superbike race in an effort to spice the championship up. The sharp end of the grid for race...

BSB: Updated: 2017 grid so far

05 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

The 2017 MCE British Superbike grid is starting to take shape and it looks set to be star-studded year. Reigning champion Shane Byrne will be out to defend his title after signing a two-year deal...