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Sete Gibernau vital for Ducati in 2009

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau vital for Ducati in 2009

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali believes that Sete Gibernau can play a pivotal role in helping the Bologna factory reclaim the MotoGP world crown in 2009. Having dominated in the first 800cc...

Danny Webb made to wait for 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb made to wait for 2009 debut

Danny Webb will have to wait a bit longer to make his 2009 track debut while Aprilia continue to build up and deliver new bikes. Pre-season testing for some of the 2009 125GP grid kicked off in Jerez...

Bradley Smith second fastest on 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith second fastest on 2009 debut

British teenager Bradley Smith made a bright start to his 2009 pre-season preparations when he clocked the second fastest time on the opening day of testing in Jerez. Making his second appearance for...

Crescent Suzuki ready to resume testing

27 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent Suzuki ready to resume testing

Crescent Suzuki team boss Jack Valentine has quashed rumours suggesting the Verwood-based team is about to shut up shop. The rumours, the latest in a never-ending stream in these hard economic times,...

Croft future in doubt after appeal blow

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Croft future in doubt after appeal blow

The Croft circuit has suffered a massive blow today after losing an appeal related to noise pollution at the historic racing venue. The future of the Darlington circuit is now uncertain after the...

HM Plant trio get fighter-pilot experience

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

HM Plant trio get fighter-pilot experience

HM Plant Honda riders John McGuinness, Steve Plater and Glen Richards, swapped two wheels for two wings to get airborne with some of the UK’s flying aces and experience life as a fighter pilot, with...

Picture exclusive: Scott Redding makes 2009 debut

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Picture exclusive: Scott Redding makes 2009 debut

Scott Redding has completed his first laps on the 2009 Aprilia that he hopes will help him build on his incredible rookie 125GP campaign. Redding made an instant impact in his debut season, the...

Picture exclusive: Bradley Smith starts 2009 preparations

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Picture exclusive: Bradley Smith starts 2009 preparations

Bradley Smith has started his 2009 125GP world championship preparations at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. After a cold start to proceedings, the British teenager was able to kick off his ’09...

Bridgestone looking forward to single tyre challenge

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone looking forward to single tyre challenge

Bridgestone bosses say they are looking forward to the 2009 MotoGP single tyre rule with ‘great anticipation’ having agreed the final terms of a three-year tyre exclusive tyre deal with Dorna. Having...

Scott Russell finishes 23rd in Daytona

26 January 2009 by Marc Abbott

Scott Russell finishes 23rd in Daytona

Former WSB and AMA superbike legend Scott Russell turned his hand to four wheels at the weekend, finishing 11th in class and 23rd overall in the prestigious Daytona 24-hour car race. Russell, with...

Matt Hoyle signs for Maxtra 125GP team

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Matt Hoyle signs for Maxtra 125GP team

British rider Matt Hoyle will join Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb in the 125GP world championship next season. As expected, Hoyle’s deal with the new Chinese-backed Maxtra team was...

It’s official – BSB gets younger!

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

It’s official – BSB gets younger!

BSB is getting younger and to prove it here’s the official rider lists with dates of birth and actual ages as of Jan 13th this month, supplied by the series organisers at MCN’s request. The chart...

New look Manx GP

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

New look Manx GP

The Manx Motorcycle Club has made changes to the programme for the 2009 Manx Grand Prix that they claim is going to boost interest in the event. A Post Classic Race has been introduced for the first...

NW200: No SV650s at 2009 races

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

NW200: No SV650s at 2009 races

The Coleraine club, organisers of the North West 200 are looking at the possibility of adding a new class to the race programme as a replacement for the 400s – but it won’t be until 2010. As announced...

Auto 66 Presentation Evening

25 January 2009 by Simon Hunt

After a fantastic night out, I felt compelled to pass on my thanks to everyone at last night’s presentation who made it a great night. After 7 years of racing at club level, in sidecars and now on 2 wheels, its thanks to clubs like Auto 66 that have brought on so many young riders who take their first attempts at racing at some times bleak and wet weekends wobbling around Elvington Airfield who...

The Future of MotoGP with no Kawasaki

25 January 2009 by Dan D

Kawasaki have now pulled out of MotoGP for whatever reason you chose to believe. The reason for pulling out is not important, what is important is how the championship can continue with out them. Since MotoGP became four stroke, the rules have been written to favour works machines and make it very difficult for non-works supported privateers, for the sake of the championship. All bikes had to be...

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne again on final day

25 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne again on final day

Shane Byrne made it three out of three by setting the fastest time once again on the third and final day of the World Superbike test at Parkalgar today (Sunday). Byrne set his best time during the new...

Parkalgar WSB test: Sofuoglu tops rain hit day three

25 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Sofuoglu tops rain hit day three

Former World Supersport champion posted the fastest time of day three on a rapidly drying track at Parkalgar today.   The Turkish rider on-board his 2008 specification Ten Kate Honda set a best time...

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne stays top with fastest ever lap of Parkalgar circuit

24 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Byrne stays top with fastest ever lap of Parkalgar circuit

Shane Byrne fired yet another warning shot to his rivals on day two of the Parkalgar WSB test in Portugal by posting the fastest ever lap of the circuit to stay at the very top of the leader board.

Parkalgar WSB test: Pitt on top as track dries

24 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: Pitt on top as track dries

World Champion Andrew Pitt set an impressive 1M 46.094s lap time to top the time sheets in the opening World Supersport test session of the day at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal. The Hannspree Ten...

Parkalgar WSB test: BMW top first wet session

24 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Parkalgar WSB test: BMW top first wet session

BMW men Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus secured first and second positions in the opening session on day two of the Parkalgar WSB test this morning. Although there has been no rain since lat night the...

Higgs: ‘BSB TV is good – and well targeted’

24 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Higgs: ‘BSB TV is good – and well targeted’

This week’s MCN interview with MSVR boss Jonathan Palmer, discussing how British Superbikes might be affected by the current economic situation, brought a swift reaction from his right-hand man and...

Byrne blitzes first day of Parkalgar WSB test

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Byrne blitzes first day of Parkalgar WSB test

Shane Byrne showed his undoubted pace on day one of the official World Superbike test at Parkalgar to set the fastest time in both wet and dry sessions today. The Sterilgarda Ducati rider picked up...

Cal Crutchlow second fastest at Parkalgar

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Cal Crutchlow second fastest at Parkalgar

Factory Yamaha man Cal Crutchlow started his 2009 season where he finished 2008 by running at the front of the time sheets after day one at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal. The British rider had a...

Ten Kate give Kiyo new paint scheme, but deny it's an HRC bike

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Ten Kate give Kiyo new paint scheme, but deny it's an HRC bike

Ten Kate Honda unveiled an all new paint scheme for Ryuichi Kiyonari’s World Superbike today (Friday). Having raced in Hannspree colours in 2008, Kiyo will race in Honda Accessories colours similar to...

Honda withdraw factory team from Suzuka 8-hour

23 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Honda withdraw factory team from Suzuka 8-hour

Honda have withdrawn their factory teams from the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race in 2009. The Japanese company have sighted budget cuts and the current global financial situation as the reson for...

Norton rotary gets North West 200 go ahead

23 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Norton rotary gets North West 200 go ahead

Michael Dunlop will be granted his dream ride following news that the Norton NRV588 rotary has been granted dispensation to race in the North West 200 alongside the superbike machines. Dunlop had...

Jon Kirkham with BSB Jentin Yamaha team

23 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Jon Kirkham with BSB Jentin Yamaha team

The Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha team has confirmed it will run Jon Kirkham in BSB this year on a new Yamaha R1. The 24-year-old rider certainly impressed many team managers during his campaign last...

Ducati eye Marco Simoncelli swoop for 2010

23 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati eye Marco Simoncelli swoop for 2010

Ducati chief Livio Suppo has reiterated his desire to sign Marco Simoncelli` for the 2010 MotoGP campaign. The Italian factory hotly pursued Simoncelli throughout 2008 as he blossomed into one of...

Casey Stoner: Single tyre rule will help Ducati

23 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: Single tyre rule will help Ducati

Former world champion Casey Stoner believes the controversial single tyre rule will boost his hopes of reclaiming the MotoGP world title in 2009. The Australian rider believes his previous tactic of...

Rain threatens Parkalgar WSB test

22 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Rain threatens Parkalgar WSB test

Heavy rain and blustery wind are threatening any meaningful testing at the planned three day World Superbike and World Supersport test at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal. The test is due to start...

Jentin Racing 2009

22 January 2009 by Anonymous

Anyone know what is happening at Jentin/Lloyds British for 2009? After finishing best Yamaha of 2008 with Simon Andrews, it’s all gone a bit quiet for 2009, lets hope Bernie and the boys are back with a new Young Gun now that Andrews has moved to Kawasaki.

R&G backs GSX-R racers

22 January 2009 by Michael Carroll

R&G backs GSX-R racers

The GSX-R Trophy race series will offer a bumper prize fund in 2009, after organisers agreed a sponsorship deal with R&G Racing. The firm has put up £12,000 in prize money, which will go towards the...

Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

The dividing wall that will continue to split Yamaha’s factory MotoGP garage in 2009 will be beneficial to Jorge Lorenzo, according to his team boss Daniele Romagnoli. Lorenzo was unhappy that Fiat...

Marco Simoncelli not rushing MotoGP decision

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli not rushing MotoGP decision

Reigning world 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli will keep Yamaha and Ducati sweating as he could delay a decision on his future until deep into the 2009 campaign. One key reason for the Italian’s...

Electronics reduction not answer to MotoGP cost cuts

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Electronics reduction not answer to MotoGP cost cuts

Ducati’s MotoGP technical guru Filippo Preziosi believes a reduction on the influence of electronic rider aids is not the answer to helping MotoGP slash costs. Reducing costs has become a focal point...