2017 | Page 2

Assen set for grandstand expansion

13 December 2017 by Simon Patterson

The home of the Dutch TT will see a radical expansion of its grandstand seating in the future, as the TT Circuit Assen expands the final corner’s seats to create what should be one of the best viewing...

BSB: Gino Rea to make BSB debut with new OMG Racing team

13 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

World Supersport race winner Gino Rea will make his British Superbike debut in 2018 as he joins the OMG Racing team. Racing a Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the all-new set-up run by former Superstock racer...

Moto-e: Energica selected as one-make manufacturer

12 December 2017 by Simon Patterson

Italian electric bike manufacturer Energica has been selected as the one-make factory supplier for MotoGP’s new electric support class, set to make its debut on the grid at selected rounds of the...

Roads: Sheils joins Penz13 BMW for 2018 TT

12 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

Derek Sheils, multiple Irish road racing champion, will join the Penz13 BMW team for the 2018 Isle of Man TT. The move comes after Riko Penzkofer’s squad enjoyed their best ever TT races in 2017 with...

BSB: Champ Byrne launches special end of season book

11 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

Six-time British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has launched a limited-edition book to celebrate his 2017 title success. ‘Back to back’ tells the story of what Byrne has called his ‘toughest...

Roads: Hutchinson and Johnston confirmed at Honda

11 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

Ian Hutchinson and Lee Johnston will form Honda Racing’s 2018 roads line-up, as reported in MCN last month. 16-time TT winner Hutchinson will make a sensational switch to the squad after parting ways...

Video: Monza Rally victory for Valentino Rossi

08 December 2017 by Simon Patterson

Now the most successful racer in the history of the event after a sixth Monza Rally Show victory this weekend, we caught up with Valentino Rossi just after the race to talk about his success at the...

BSB: 'Seeing Red' season review now on sale!

08 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

‘Seeing Red’, the definitive photographic record of the 2017 British Superbike Championship is now on sale. Published by the series’ official photographers, Double Red, who also work for MCN, Seeing...

WSB: Gagne joins Camier at Red Bull Honda

07 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

American racer Jake Gagne will join Leon Camier to complete the Red Bull Honda line-up for the 2018 Superbike World Championship. The 24-year-old made his World Superbike debut with the squad at...

Podcast: Julian Ryder and the MotoGP riders' rider of 2017

07 December 2017 by Simon Patterson

MCN Sport reporters Simon Patterson and Oli Rushby sit down with special guest Julian Ryder to discuss his career in Grand Prix racing and his riders’ rider of 2017 – a secret ballot to decide who the...

Exclusive Interview: Jonathan Rea on 2017, his competition and MotoGP

07 December 2017 by Gordon Ritchie

After another year of total domination, Jonathan Rea is fast becoming the Valentino Rossi of World Superbikes. Winning three WSB crowns in a row had never been one before – not even by former series...

NW200: Seeley to ride EHA Yamaha in Supersport class

07 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

21-time North West 200 victor Alastair Seeley will race for the EHA Racing Yamaha squad in the Supersport class at the 2018 North West. The British Supersport squad return to the North West for the...

Guintoli: 'I will be racing in 2018'

05 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

Sylvain Guintoli has confirmed he will be racing in 2018 after losing out on rides in both the World and British Superbike championships towards the end of this year. The Frenchman had been hotly...

Opinion: Hutchy to Honda... Will it work?

04 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

Last week news broke that Ian Hutchinson is set to join Honda’s road racing squad for the 2018 season. While it’s yet to be officially confirmed – Honda will be unable to announce the news until...

A pint with Michael Rutter... Fast at 40 something!

04 December 2017 by Oli Rushby

“How long have I even been racing? I think my first year was in 1989,” a perplexed Michael Rutter responded when I asked how he’s still going almost 30 years from that debut season. I’d hazard a guess...

Roads: Two pronged attack from Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2018

30 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing, arguably the top privateer team of motorcycle road racing in recent years, will mount a two-pronged attack in 2018. Dubliner Derek Sheils will ride for the John...

WSB: Rea 'feels better' with 2018 spec bike

29 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Three-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea has said the ZX-10RR Kawasaki have produced for him to suit the 2018 regulations feels better than previous iterations of the bike. World Superbike...

Opinion: Let's get behind Jonathan Rea and make it count

28 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

For the first time in ten years a motorcycle racer has been recognised by the BBC with a nomination for the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award. Three-time World Superbike champion...

Video: A quick look at Marc Marquez's Allianz Junior Motor Camp

28 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

Every year, six-time world champion Marc Marquez and sponsor Allianz organise the Allianz Junior Motor Camp at the Rufea circuit near his home, with the goal of helping to develop the next generation...

Moto2: Suter to take a year out in 2018

28 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

Swiss chassis manufacturer Suter have announced that they will sit out the 2018 Moto2 season, as they concentrate on developing a new machine built especially for the Triumph 765cc engine that will...

WSB: Andrew Pitt joins Lowes as crew chief

27 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Last week’s Jerez test saw a big change for Alex Lowes with double World Supersport Champion Andrew Pitt joining the PATA Yamaha team as his crew chief. Lowes will be joined by Pitt, who won the World...

MotoGP: Last chance to win a stunning Scott Redding replica Pramac Ducati 959

27 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

British MotoGP racer Scott Redding has launched a raffle to be in with the chance to win a stunning Ducati 959 replica of his Pramac Ducati Desmosedici GP16 machine, with tickets now on sale to be in...

Roads: Hutchinson set to make shock Honda switch

25 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Ian Hutchinson is set to make a shock move to Honda for the 2018 road racing season. MCN understands the 16-time TT winner is in advanced negotiations with the Louth-based squad, which endured a...

McWilliams and Edwards set to rip it up Down Under

24 November 2017 by Michael Neeves

Former MotoGP legends Jeremy McWilliams and Colin Edwards will battle it out at Phillip Island in the 2018 International Challenge match races, alongside stars, past and present, from WSB, BSB, TT,...

Rea outpaces MotoGP bikes on final day in Jerez

24 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Jonathan Rea again turned heads as the final day of the joint MotoGP and World Superbike test in Jerez concluded with the fourth quickest time of the week. Only Andrea Dovizioso, Cal Crutchlow and...

BSB: GP2 prototype 600 class introduced for 2018

24 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

British Superbike bosses have announced the introduction of a new prototype category for 2018 to race alongside the British Supersport series. Following two years of research and evaluation, including...

WSB: Melandri quickest as Camier impresses in Jerez

23 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Marco Melandri led the way as the Kawasaki Racing Team took a rest on the penultimate day of this week’s joint Superbike and MotoGP test at Jerez. With KRT at the Andalusian circuit for all five days,...

MotoGP: Dovizioso blitzes circuit record to top Jerez test

23 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Andrea Dovizioso was quickest on the fourth day of the joint MotoGP and Superbike test, blitzing the outright circuit record on Thursday afternoon. The Italian’s quickest lap of 1’37.663 is almost 0.3...

WSB: Camier positive after Red Bull Honda debut

22 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Leon Camier has said he was pleasantly surprised by Honda’s Fireblade after testing with his new Red Bull Honda team for the first time in Jerez today. Swinging his leg over his new steed for the...

Iannone quickest in Jerez with Kawasaki in the mix

22 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Andrea Iannone led the way as most of MotoGP field joined the party at this week’s joint Grand Prix and World Superbike test at Jerez. After two days of just ten bikes on track, things were a lot...

BSB: Ryde joins CF Motorsport for 2018 Superbike attack

22 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Former British Supersport runner-up Kyle Ryde is the latest young talent to join the British Superbike grid full time as he returns from the Supersport World Championship. The 20-year-old will ride...

Jonathan Rea collects MBE from Prince William

21 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Jonathan Rea was awarded an MBE by Prince William in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today. The now three-time World Champion was awarded the honour in the Queen’s birthday honours list back in June,...

WSB: Baz sees BMW's potential after first test

21 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Loris Baz enjoyed a productive debut with the Althea BMW squad as he makes his return to the Superbike World Championship at this week’s Jerez test. Having spent most of his career on superbikes, Baz...

WSB: Sykes takes control in Rea's absence at Jerez

21 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Tom Sykes topped the second day of this week’s World Superbike test in Jerez in the absence of team-mate Jonathan Rea. Rea had to head back to London on Monday evening to collect his MBE, leaving...

Rea, Haslam and Sunderland shortlisted for prestigious award

20 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam and Sam Sunderland have been shortlisted for the 2017 Torrens Trophy, a prestigious accolade awarded each year by the Royal Automobile Club. Last year the trophy went to Cal...

BSB: Haslam returns to action after Brands Hatch crash

20 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Leon Haslam returned to action today just over a month after the crash that put pay to his 2017 British Superbike title chances. The JG Speedfit Kawasaki star broke his ankle, wrist and dislocated his...