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Haga crashes out two laps into Ducati WSB debut

10 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Haga crashes out two laps into Ducati WSB debut

Noriyuki Haga crashed his new Xerox Ducati 1098 F09 on only his second flying lap after a collision with Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea. Riding the Ducati for the first time, Haga was cruising and...

Casey Stoner: No big changes for 2009 Ducati

10 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: No big changes for 2009 Ducati

Former world champion Casey Stoner reckons he isn’t expecting any big changes to Ducati’s factory GP9 machine when winter testing resumes in February. Stoner gave his impressions and feedback on the...

Hard work key to Valentino Rossi’s success

10 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Hard work key to Valentino Rossi’s success

Valentino Rossi’s incredible work ethic played a fundamental part in the Italian winning back the MotoGP world crown for the first time since 2005 last season. That’s the view of his Fiat Yamaha team...

Sykes meets Sykes

09 December 2008 by Martin Sykes

Sykes meets Sykes

Josh Sykes from Huddersfield meets his hero Tom Sykes from Huddersfield at Brands Hatch.

Loris Capirossi wary of single tyre rule

09 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi wary of single tyre rule

Italian veteran Loris Capirossi believes the new single tyre rule won’t inject any new excitement into MotoGP next season. The factory Suzuki rider believes that some of the boring races that have...

Honda considering 2009 MotoGP cuts

09 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda considering 2009 MotoGP cuts

Honda has refused to confirm it will maintain its current level of involvement in MotoGP next season after the Japanese factory’s shock move to quit Formula One. CEO and chairman Takeo Fukui dropped a...

BSB Web Blog: Is Michael Rutter too old for BSB?

09 December 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB Web Blog: Is Michael Rutter too old for BSB?

I understand why Ducati said they wanted to base their BSB assault around a young rider like Brendan Roberts who’s deal to come to the British Championship fell through when the Australian preferred a...

Rossi's GB Rally race suit!

08 December 2008 by Shaun Middlemore

Rossi's GB Rally race suit!

Look what I found at Rally GB Wales- Valentino’s Stobart Motorsport race suit!

Video: Marco Melandri reveals thoughts on 2009 season

08 December 2008

Marco Melandri took time out of his winter training schedule to drop in on the last day of the NEC show on Sunday. The MotoGP racer talked about his hopes for the forthcoming season and about the difficulties of building a relationship with his newKawasaki team. He also revealed that helmet maker Nolan is working on some special new colour schemes for the 2009 season. See the full interview here.

Top WSB teams ready for South Africa test

08 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Top WSB teams ready for South Africa test

WSB’s top teams will kick off testing for the 2009 season at Kyalami on Wednesday for what promises to be the most competitive season of racing in recent years. Xerox Ducati, Ten Kate Honda, Alstare...

TT star Gary Johnson goes under the knife

08 December 2008 by Gary Pinchin

TT star Gary Johnson goes under the knife

Lincolnshire’s Gary Johnson is due to have a knee operation next Monday to repair the ligament damaged he suffered in his high-speed crash at the Skerries this year. Johnson was at the NEC Show on...

Ford boss hails ‘remarkable’ Valentino Rossi

08 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ford boss hails ‘remarkable’ Valentino Rossi

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson hailed Valentino Rossi’s Rally GB performance as the Italian ended the gruelling event in 12th place yesterday. Despite missing his pre-event target of a top ten finish,...

Valentino Rossi scoops rally award

08 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi scoops rally award

Valentino Rossi’s impressive performance in last weekend’s Wales Rally GB earned him the Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally award. Rossi collected the award after he finished 12th in the punishing rally,...

Valentino Rossi claims 12th in Rally GB

08 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi claims 12th in Rally GB

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi ended his second assault on the Wales Rally GB in 12th position yesterday. The 29-year-old, who ended a weather-hit first day down in 24th place, bought his...

Valentino Rossi improves to 16th in Rally GB

06 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi improves to 16th in Rally GB

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has gained eight places on the second day of the Wales Rally GB, the Italian ending 16th overall in the Stobart-backed Ford Focus. Rossi was 24th after an opening...

Valentino Rossi admits ‘lucky’ escape in Rally GB

05 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admits ‘lucky’ escape in Rally GB

Valentino Rossi has admitted he was lucky to escape an early crash as he ended a tough opening day of the Wales Rally GB outside of the top 20. The 29-year-old had a big spin on only the second...

Shane Byrne targets strong start to next years WSB campaign

05 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Shane Byrne targets strong start to next years WSB campaign

Shane Byrne believes that a strong start to next years World Superbike championship will be the key if he wants to fight for podiums and race wins in 2009. The reigning British Superbike Champion has...

Road race stars to try Shorttrack at Scunthorpe

05 December 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Road race stars to try Shorttrack at Scunthorpe

Road racers, grass-trackers and speedway stars line up against the established shorttrack riders for the annual Silkolene Shorttrack UK Christmas Cracker at Scunthorpe speedway on December 27. Top...

Valentino Rossi 33rd after tough start to Rally GB

05 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi 33rd after tough start to Rally GB

Valentino Rossi is currently lying in 32nd position after the first two stages of the Wales Rally GB today. Icy conditions forced the cancellation of the first special stage on safety grounds, with...

Neil Tuxworth: Honda motorcycle racing safe

05 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Neil Tuxworth: Honda motorcycle racing safe

In the wake of Honda’s announcement last night that they have pulled their Formula One project and are selling the team, Honda Racing UK Manager for bikes Neil Tuxworth has spoken about the future of...

John Hopkins begins four-week rehab

05 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins begins four-week rehab

John Hopkins has started a four-week recovery period after he underwent successful surgery in California yesterday (Thursday). The factory Kawasaki rider had metal plates removed from his left ankle...

Tommy Hill on the pace in first test back

04 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Tommy Hill on the pace in first test back

Tommy Hill finished the final day of the two day test in Cartagena in Spain delighted with his pace after dropping nearly a second off his day one lap time with a string of consistent 1m 35.4s...

Valentino Rossi 17th in Rally GB shakedown

04 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi 17th in Rally GB shakedown

MotoGP world championValentino Rossi clocked the 17th best time during Thursday’s shakedown stage for this weekend’s Wales Rally GB. Driving a Ford Focus WRC car, the Italian clocked a best time of...

British Supersport 2009: Who to look out for

04 December 2008 by Rob Hull

British Supersport 2009: Who to look out for

The 2009 British Supersport paddock is starting to take shape. But who should you be looking out for next season? The 2008 Champion, Glen Richards, has been rewarded with a spot in the factory HM...

Tommy Hill satisfied after first day of Superbike test

04 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Tommy Hill satisfied after first day of Superbike test

Tommy Hill got his first taste of the Hannspree Altea Honda CBR1000RR Superbike he’ll be racing in WSB next season in a test at Cartagena in Spain on Wednesday. The 23 year old Brit was forced to sit...

Bradley Smith gets early confidence boost for 2009

04 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith gets early confidence boost for 2009

Bradley Smith is confident his bid to break his 125GP victory duck in 2009 has already been given a major boost. The Oxfordshire rider, who celebrated his 18th birthday last week, made his Aspar...

Suzuki still waiting on Rizla decision for 2009

04 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki still waiting on Rizla decision for 2009

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP team is still awaiting a decision on whether Rizla will remain as its title sponsor in next year’s MotoGP world championship. The Japanese factory has yet to finalise its...

World Superbike 2009 dates confirmed

04 December 2008 by Rob Hull

World Superbike 2009 dates confirmed

The FIM has released the final calendar for the World Superbike Championship for 2009. WSB will be a big focal point for British motorcycle racing fans with an influx of home-grown talent wading into...

MCN Awards: Man of the year as voted by you

03 December 2008 by Liam Marsden

MCN Awards: Man of the year as voted by you

Eight times MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi received the Man of the year award at the MCN Awards. The award was voted for by users of motorcyclenews.com and included such stars as Troy Bayliss, James...

Yamaha boss: Criticism stung Valentino Rossi

03 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss: Criticism stung Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio believes the Italian was driven to new levels of determination and desire last season by the stinging criticism he received at the end of 2007. After a...

KTM deny 600cc GP assault

03 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

KTM deny 600cc GP assault

KTM management have again denied the shock decision to quit the 250GP class at the end of 2008 was to focus on a new factory effort for the future 600cc four-stroke class. A controversial new 600cc...

Kawasaki UK end rumours of new official Kawasaki BSB team

03 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Kawasaki UK end rumours of new official Kawasaki BSB team

Kawasaki Motors UK Communications and PR Manager Martin Lambert has ruled out any rumours of a new ‘factory’ Kawasaki British Superbike team emerging on the scene in 2009. It’s been reported that Nick...

MCN online exclusive: Andrews and Da Costa join MSS Colchester Kawasaki

03 December 2008 by Rob Hull

MCN online exclusive: Andrews and Da Costa join MSS Colchester Kawasaki

MSS Colchester Kawasaki has signed the pairing of Simon Andrews and Julien Da Costa for 2009 motorcyclenews.com can exclusively reveal. Both Andrews and Da Costa made the journey to new MSS sponsor...

Jonathan Palmer talks BSB 2009

02 December 2008 by Rob Hull

Jonathan Palmer talks BSB 2009

If you pick up a copy of this week’s Motorcycle News you’ll get a first-hand look at who is lining up where in British Superbikes for 2009. We’ve compiled the top teams in both BSB and British...

Ducati ready for life without Troy Bayliss

02 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Ducati ready for life without Troy Bayliss

The Xerox Ducati squad have spent the last four weeks since the season finale in Portugal preparing for life without Troy Bayliss and are about to begin a new chapter with Japanese start Noriyuki Haga...

Nicky Hayden sad to lose qualifying tyres

02 December 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden sad to lose qualifying tyres

American Nicky Hayden reckons one of the most exciting aspects of riding in MotoGP has been sacrificed because of the introduction of the single tyre rule for 2009. The factory Ducati rider, who...