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John Hopkins buoyed by Colin Edwards advice

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins buoyed by Colin Edwards advice

John Hopkins has told MCN of his excitement and anticipation at joining up with the Stiggy Honda WSB squad for the first time having spoken to fellow American Colin Edwards about the move. Some of the...

Yamaha happy with new anti-wheelie strategy

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha happy with new anti-wheelie strategy

Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Daniele Romagnoli is confident a new electronic anti-wheelie system will help the 2009 YZR-M1 defeat Ducati’s factory GP9 this season. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Mika Kallio learning fast about MotoGP

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio learning fast about MotoGP

Finnish rookie Mika Kallio believes adapting more to the stopping power of carbon brakes is his biggest margin for improvement ahead of his MotoGP debut next month. Kallio, who will ride for the...

Watanabe first test on Relentless Suzuki

24 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Watanabe first test on Relentless Suzuki

Atsushi Watanabe got his first laps in on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki today at Kirkistown but any chance of meaningful testing was wrecked by torrential rain and freezing cold temperatures. The...

Dani Pedrosa absent from Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa absent from Jerez test

New Honda test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi will replace Dani Pedrosa at this weekend’s final MotoGP winter test session in Jerez. The Spaniard is still recovering from left arm and leg injuries suffered...

Valentino Rossi confident for Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi confident for Jerez test

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is confident he will end his winter testing campaign on a high at the Jerez circuit in Spain this weekend. The Italian has yet to top the timesheets in a...

Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has said he is revelling in his partnership with new factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden. The pair have immediately formed a good rapport together and have...

Yamaha boss ‘scared’ by Casey Stoner threat

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss ‘scared’ by Casey Stoner threat

Yamaha’s MotoGP boss Masao Furusawa has admitted he is ‘scared’ by the threat Aussie Casey Stoner poses to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning a seventh premier class title in 2009. Despite a slow and...

MSS Kawasaki test at Brands Hatch

24 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

MSS Kawasaki test at Brands Hatch

MSS Colchester Kawasaki have ditched plans to test in Spain this week and instead new signings Simon Andrews and Julien DaCosta are heading to Brands Hatch on Thursday for the initial shakedown of...

Ian Lowry rides TAS Suzuki superbike

24 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Ian Lowry rides TAS Suzuki superbike

BSB rookie Ian Lowry gave the 2009-spec Relentless by TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000 its first shakedown test at Kirkistown last week and is out again at the same venue this week. Plans to test the new...

Neil Hodgson on the road to recovery

24 March 2009 by Henny Ray Abrams

Neil Hodgson on the road to recovery

Neil Hodgson was released from Loma Linda University Medical Center on Sunday, March 22, one week after being admitted with a collapsed lung, five broken ribs and a dislocated left shoulder, following...

Randy Mamola’s son scores debut podium

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Randy Mamola’s son scores debut podium

Motorcycle racing has already produced its fair share of father and son racing successes. There was Kenny Roberts and Kenny Roberts Junior, Graziano and Valentino Rossi, Ron and Leon Haslam. And now...

AMA Superbikes: Suzuki dominate Fontana

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

AMA Superbikes: Suzuki dominate Fontana

Rockstar Makita Suzuki team mates Mat Mladin and Tommy Hayden dominated both days of racing in the AMA Superbike Championship race at Fontana in California. On Saturday less than a second separated...

BSB blog:The battle of the BSB Yamahas

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB blog:The battle of the BSB Yamahas

I’m not surprised that GSE racing issued a press statement, saying they’ve ‘postponed’ their planned testing schedule in Europe. Things have been very quiet on the Airwaves Yamaha front this winter...

Young finds new Triumph BSS backer

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Young finds new Triumph BSS backer

TAG Racing will field a new-look two-man Triumph team in British Supersport in conjunction with Paul Young Racing and Hinckley-based Triumph Motorcycles. Young will again challenge for British...

Colin Edwards stunned by Bridgestone endurance

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards stunned by Bridgestone endurance

Texan Colin Edwards has admitted he has been stunned by the endurance of Bridgestone tyres as he prepares to wrap up 2009 winter testing in Jerez this weekend. Get all the latest MotoGP news The...

John Hopkins cagey on Kawasaki settlement

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins cagey on Kawasaki settlement

John Hopkins has refused to discuss whether he turned down the chance to ride the re-branded factory Kawasaki in this year’s MotoGP world championship. It has been rumoured that the Californian was...

Hayate team not looking for extra technical support

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hayate team not looking for extra technical support

The new Hayate MotoGP team will not work in partnership with an external engineering company to help develop the re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in 2009. Kawasaki will cease development on the...

Racing results round-up: March 21-22

23 March 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Each week we will have a full list of the racing results from the previous weekend. Click on the name of the championship you wish to see the results of. AMA SUPERBIKES, FONTANA, CALIFORNIA, USA, SATURDAY-SUNDAY BRANDS HATCH, KENT, SATURDAY-SUNDAY BISHOPSCOURT, CO DOWN, SATURDAY MONDELLO PARK, CO KILDARE, SATURDAY-SUNDAY MALLORY PARK, LEICS, SUNDAY ANGLESEY, WALES, SUNDAY CADWELL PARK, LINCS,...

Airwaves Yamaha cancel testing

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Airwaves Yamaha cancel testing

Reigning British Superbike Champions, GSE Racing, the team running the Airwaves Yamahas for Leon Camier and James Ellison in BSB this year, has announced the postponement of their European test...

Norasport Round One 450 Championship

22 March 2009 by suzi314

Norasport Round One 450 Championship

In the first race of the 450A group race James Addy had the lead, and after a few place changes with Andy Mitchell, he settled into the front spot for the latter half of the race with no challenge on...

Norasport Round One Open Championship

22 March 2009 by suzi314

Norasport Round One Open Championship

The Spring Sunshine saw really good entries for the first round on the Gimoto National Supermoto Championship. All classes were well represented and enjoying the fine race conditions. With a Trophy...

Julian and Toby back covering MotoGP

22 March 2009 by Pete Grant

Julian and Toby back covering MotoGP

Just like to add my appreciation of Julian and Toby’s return to Moto GP coverage with Eurosport! Their mixed and informed commentary makes the sport even more enjoyable! I look forward to Hearing...

My daughter with Valentino Rossi

21 March 2009 by troyhonda46

My daughter with Valentino Rossi

Took my daughter to the Day of Champions 2006. Paige with Valle – the man is a god. True gent.

John Hopkins targets World Superbike wins

21 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins targets World Superbike wins

John Hopkins is confident he will be fighting for victories in World Superbikes having finally signed a deal with the Stiggy Honda squad. The 25-year-old will try and rebuild his career in World...

John Hopkins signing a ‘dream’ for Stiggy Honda

21 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins signing a ‘dream’ for Stiggy Honda

Stiggy Honda boss Johan Stigefelt reckons the capture of high profile American John Hopkins is like a ‘dream’ for the WSB squad. Hopkins will join British rider Leon Haslam for the rest of the 2009...

Hopkins first test date confirmed

21 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Hopkins first test date confirmed

John Hopkins will get an initial shake down test onboard the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade superbike before he arrives at Valencia for round three of the championship on 3rd to 5th April. Hopkins...

Mika Kallio bemoans practice cuts

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio bemoans practice cuts

MotoGP rookie Mika Kallio fears the big reduction in practice time will seriously hinder his bid to be immediately competitive in 2009. As part of a range of cost-cutting measures to counter the...

Bradley Smith happy with engine performance tweaks

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith happy with engine performance tweaks

Bradley Smith reckons engine performance tweaks have significantly improved his Aspar Aprilia 125GP machine after a successful test in Estoril this week. His Spanish team ran different engine...

Leon Haslam unfazed by John Hopkins’ arrival

20 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Leon Haslam unfazed by John Hopkins’ arrival

Leon Haslam has told MCN that he is unfazed by the arrival of high profile MotoGP star John Hopkins as his team-mate in the Stiggy Honda WSB squad. Hopkins will race an identical Honda CBR1000RR...

Qatar WSB

20 March 2009 by Sandy Morrison

Hi Folks, I work in Qatar and took the opportunity of going along to the SBK meeting at Losail. The racing was great and the riders put on an excellent show for the very small crowd which bothered to come along. Also I was pleasantly surprised that, although not running at the front, the BMW’s didn’t disgrace themselves either. It keeps the series alive when another manufacturer comes in,...

John Hopkins signs Stiggy Honda WSB deal

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins signs Stiggy Honda WSB deal

MotoGP exile John Hopkins has signed a deal to race for the Stiggy Honda World Superbike team, as was first reported by MCN four months ago. The 25-year-old, who was left without a ride following...

KTM offer race bike hire for RC8 Super Cup

19 March 2009 by Michael Guy

KTM offer race bike hire for RC8 Super Cup

KTM are giving racers the opportunity to hire a bike and support package to compete in the Focused Events KTM RC8 Super Cup on a round by round basis. Riders will get a race ready KTM 1190 RC8,...

John Hopkins to announce 2009 plans

19 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins to announce 2009 plans

American John Hopkins is expected to announce his racing plans for the 2009 season tomorrow (Friday). Frozen out after Kawasaki’s shock decision to quit MotoGP in early January because of the global...

Spies’ Crew Chief: “Ben will be really good in a couple of years”

19 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Spies’ Crew Chief: “Ben will be really good in a couple of years”

American sensation Ben Spies has taken the WSB paddock by storm winning three out of the opening four races of 2009 and the man that knows him best, his crew chief and mentor Tom Houseworth believes...

Neil Hodgson still hospitalised after crash

19 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Neil Hodgson still hospitalised after crash

Following a heavy motocross crash on Sunday, Britain’s Neil Hodgson remains in the Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. The 35 year old suffered a collapsed lung, cracked ribs and a...