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Nicky Hayden confident on Sepang test fitness

10 January 2012 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden is confident he will be fit to make his debut on Ducati’s new GP12 when winter testing resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on January 31. The American is currently...

Valentino Rossi cautious on Ducati future

10 January 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has no plans to quit MotoGP at the end of 2012, but insists it is too early to say whether he will commit his future to Ducati after this season. Rossi endured a nightmare debut...

Valentino Rossi optimistic new Ducati will be competitive

10 January 2012 by Matthew Birt

He may have only seen a virtual version of Ducati’s new GP12 machine on a computer in Bologna, but Valentino Rossi is confident the radically revamped Desmosedici will help him compete for victories...

No GP12 unveiling at Ducati team launch

10 January 2012 by Matthew Birt

The centrepiece of Ducati’s lavish MotoGP team launch in the picturesque Madonna di Campiglio ski resort will be conspicuous by its absence this week. The new GP12 Desmosedici will not be officially...

Dakar Stage 8 - Coma takes control as Despres gets stuck in mud, Watt up to 41st

09 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Marc Coma overturned Cyril Despres’ stranglehold on the 2012 Dakar by winning stage eight of the event – his 20th stage victory of his distinguished career. Coma led from start to finish to end the...

Aztec GP race team robbed

09 January 2012 by MCN Sportsdesk

Aztec GP development and preparation was delivered a blow overnight on Friday, when thieves struck, breaking in to the workshop at Turweston. The team told MCN; “It would appear that part of the wall...

Guy Coulon to crew chief for Andrea Dovizioso

09 January 2012 by Matthew Birt

French engineer Guy Coulon will work as Andrea Dovizioso’s MotoGP crew chief in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad in 2012. The Italian rider had initially wanted former Team Roberts and Suzuki crew...

Dakar Stage 7 – Coma closes down on Despres as Dakar reaches mid way point, Watt up to 42nd

07 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Marc Coma won the seventh stage of the 2012 Dakar to close on overall race leader Cyril Despres. Coma now trails his team-mate by 7m 48s as the race reaches its half way point. In what was another...

Dakar Stage 6 cancelled due to poor weather

06 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Stage six of the 2012 Dakar has been cancelled following heavy snow and rain in the Andes mountain range on the Argentinean – Chile boarder. The competitors were due to cross the Paso de San...

Dakar stage 5 – Despres wins stage to stretch overall lead, Watt up to 46th, Pickering out of race

06 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Frenchman Cyril Despres secured his second stage victory to extend his overall lead of the Dakar. The factory KTM rider spent the day racing with team-mate and arch rival Marc Coma with the two men...

Andrea Dovizioso to undergo surgery on broken collarbone

06 January 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso has joined Nicky Hayden on the MotoGP pre-season injury list after he broke his right collarbone while training on a motocross bike in Italy yesterday (Thursday). The Italian is now...

Dakar Stage 4 - Coma takes second stage win, Despres leads overall, Watt upto 43rd

04 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Marc Coma bounced back from his navigation error, yesterday to win the 326km day fourth stage of the 2012 Dakar. Having lost a massive 13m 03s the 35 year old Spaniard attacked the stage hard from the...

Dakar Stage 3: Coma mistake gives Despres Dakar edge

04 January 2012 by MCN Sportsdesk

Cyril Despres, already a winner in San Juan on the Dakar’s last visit in 2010, won yesterday’s stage, taking advantage of a major navigational error by Coma to take the lead in the general standings.

Top Brit Sam Sunderland out of Dakar

03 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Sam Sunderland the 22 year old, Dubai based Brit has been forced to retire from the 2012 Dakar. The Team Honda Europe rider who claimed a stunning seventh place finish on stage one of the event saw...

Dakar Stage 2 - Coma wins stage two to take control of overall standings

02 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Marc Coma secured an impressive stage victory on day two of the 2012 Dakar to move into the lead of the overall race standings. The factory KTM rider completed the 487km liason stage before entering...

Dakar Stage 1 - Lopez leads. British rider Sam Sunderland claims stunning seventh

01 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Chilean rider Francisco Lopez claimed the early lead of the 2012 Dakar after setting the fastest time onboard his factory Aprilia in Argentina. The 36 year old completed the short 57km special stage...

Argentinean rider Jorge Boero killed on stage one of 2012 Dakar

01 January 2012 by Michael Guy

Jorge Boero from Buenas Aires in Argentina crashed 55KM into the 57KM opening stage of the 2012 Dakar and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest. The 38 year old was treated by helicopter medical...

Nicky Hayden suffers fresh injury blow

30 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is facing a race to be fit for the first MotoGP test of 2012 in Sepang at the end of January after he suffered another injury blow while training two days after Christmas. The American...

Valentino Rossi has no regrets over Ducati switch

23 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi says he has no regrets about moving to Ducati after a tough debut season with the Bologna factory saw the Italian icon fail to claim at least one victory in a season for the first time...

Casey Stoner happy to silence Rossi and Burgess criticism

23 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has said his domination of the 2011 MotoGP world championship was made sweeter after the criticism he faced from Valentino Rossi and Jerry Burgess when he was riding for Ducati. Stoner...

New contract for Jorge Lorenzo top priority for Yamaha

21 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Signing Jorge Lorenzo on a new contract will be a key priority for Yamaha at the start of the 2012 MotoGP world championship campaign. The 2010 world champion is out of contract at the end of next...

Tough to let Colin Edwards leave, admits Tech 3 boss

21 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal has said the decision not to offer a new deal to popular American Colin Edwards for 2012 was one the toughest he’s ever had to make. The 37-year-old left...

Hutchy in BSB with Hill at Swan Yamaha

21 December 2011 by Gary Pinchin

Ian Hutchinson’s fightback from career-threatening leg injuries has been rewarded with a superbike ride in the title-winning Swan Yamaha team, alongside defending champion Tommy Hill. Hutchinson had...

Steve Mercer signs to ride Ducati 1199 Panigale at 2012 TT

20 December 2011 by Liam Marsden

Road racer and part-time MCN road tester Steve Mercer has signed with Millsport Racing to ride a new Ducati 1199 Panigale at the Isle of Man TT in 2012. Mercer, who made his debut at the Mountain...

Jerry Burgess welcomes new MotoGP testing rules

19 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

New MotoGP testing rules that allow factories to use their contracted riders much more in 2012 will be a major boost for Ducati, according to Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess. Under previous...

Dorna gauging factory opinion on future MotoGP rules

16 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta is in the process of staging individual meetings with senior management from Honda, Yamaha and Ducati over plans to introduce radical changes to technical rules in...

21 bikes on 2012 MotoGP grid

16 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

At least 21 bikes, including nine 1000cc machines featuring tuned production-based engines with prototype chassis, will contest the 2012 MotoGP world championship. Next year’s grid will be made up of...

Casey Stoner energised Honda, says HRC boss

16 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s blistering speed from the moment he made his factory Honda debut at the end of 2010 injected fresh drive and motivation inside the Japanese factory, according to HRC boss Livio...

New date for 2012 MotoGP season opener

14 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

The 2012 MotoGP world championship campaign will kick off one week earlier than anticipated after the Qatar night race was moved to April 8. The traditional season opening clash at the Losail...

Bradley Smith: ‘Marquez not unbeatable’

14 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith believes overwhelming 2012 Moto2 world championship favourite Marc Marquez won’t be unbeatable next season. The Spaniard will go into next season as a red-hot favourite after he won...

Chaz Davies tops off dream season by winning Wales Sports Personality of the Year

14 December 2011 by MCN

World Supersport Champion Chaz Davies capped off what has been a remarkable year by securing BBC Wales Sports Personality of the year. Davies clinched the accolade after a public vote some him receive...

Ducati will be stronger in 2012, vows Nicky Hayden

13 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes Ducati will bounce back stronger next season after a tough 2011 saw the Bologna factory score just two podium finishes all year. Ducati’s campaign fell well below expectations...

Lorenzo boss: ‘Casey Stoner took Honda to another level’

13 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

The talent of Casey Stoner lifted the performance of Honda’s factory RC212V machine to a new level in 2011, according to Jorge Lorenzo’s Yamaha boss Wilco Zeelenberg. Zeelenberg reckons Honda’s 2011...

Beech signs for Blackhorse Kawasaki

09 December 2011 by Laura Stevens

Blackhorse Kawasaki have signed Triumph Triple Challenge race winner Ashley Beech and Victor Cox for their Metzeler National Superstock 1000 campaign next season. Beech finished fourth in the Triumph...

Coghlan in British Supersport with Appleyard R6

09 December 2011 by MCN Sportsdesk

Team Appleyard Macadam have signed Scot Kevin Coghlan to race in British Supersport alongside existing team regular Deane Brown. Coghlan comes to the Appleyard team after three very successful seasons...

Burgess: Valentino Rossi still fast enough to win in MotoGP

09 December 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has not lost his winning touch and with a competitive bike could still be challenging Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo at the front in MotoGP. That’s the view of the 32-year-old’s...

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