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Nicky Hayden ‘not thrilled’ by tenth

26 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden ‘not thrilled’ by tenth

American Nicky Hayden conceded he had little to be thrilled about as he finished the opening day of testing in Jerez with the tenth quickest time. Get the latest MotoGP news Making his second...

Jerez test: Casey Stoner injury update

26 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez test: Casey Stoner injury update

Former world champion Casey Stoner was a surprised and frustrated spectator at the start of MotoGP testing in Jerez today. The Aussie, who is in the early stages of recovery from major surgery on his...

Jerez test: New engine helps Dani Pedrosa set fastest time

26 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez test: New engine helps Dani Pedrosa set fastest time

A new spec Honda RC212V engine helped Dani Pedrosa clock the best time on the opening day of testing at a cool and windy Jerez. Using two new 2009 prototype machines at the final test session of 2008,...

Michael Rutter stranded in Bangkok airport chaos

26 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Michael Rutter stranded in Bangkok airport chaos

If Michael Rutter thought his week couldn’t get much worse after losing his ride with the North West 200 Ducati team this week, the Blade is reportedly now stranded in Thailand due to the protesting...

Have your say: Is MotoGP doomed?

26 November 2008 by Michael Guy

Have your say: Is MotoGP doomed?

With companies like Aprilia and BMW using the production-based WSB series to develop new motorcycles and technologies, you have to ask why we need such an expensive racing series like MotoGP? BMW...

Jerez test: Valentino Rossi sets early Jerez pace

26 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez test: Valentino Rossi sets early Jerez pace

Valentino Rossi needed just seven laps to move to the top of the timesheets on the opening day of MotoGP testing at a cold but sunny Jerez. The reigning world champion has clocked a best time of...

Mike di Meglio joins Aspar 250 squad

26 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Mike di Meglio joins Aspar 250 squad

Reigning world 125 champion Mike di Meglio will ride for the Aspar 250GP squad alongside Alvaro Bautista in 2009. The Frenchman made his Aprilia 250 debut earlier this week in Valencia having clinched...

Injury plagues John Hopkins in Australia test

26 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Injury plagues John Hopkins in Australia test

American John Hopkins completed a successful but painful first day of testing in Australia today. The factory Kawasaki rider is still struggling with injuries suffered in a massive 175mph practice...

Conor Cummins and Team Blackhorse join forces

26 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Conor Cummins and Team Blackhorse join forces

Conor Cummins will contest the British Superstock 1000 Championship in 2009 with Team Blackhorse Yamaha. The 22-year old Manxman concluded the 2008 championship with two rides for the team at...

Get in to racing with Bemsee

26 November 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Get in to racing with Bemsee

Bikers interested in getting out on track and joining a race series can get some help with the British Motorcycle Racing Club’s new rider support programme. The club, also known as Bemsee, will be...

Shinya Nakano concludes two day Aprilia test on the pace

26 November 2008 by Michael Guy

Shinya Nakano concludes two day Aprilia test on the pace

WSB rookie Shinya Nakano ended his two day test at Valencia satisfied after setting an impressive 1m 35.3 best at the Valencia race track in Spain. Riding the Aprilia RSV4 for the first time, the...

Karl Harris and Guy Martin in at Hydrex Honda

26 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Karl Harris has been named as one of the provisional two-man Hydrex Honda BSB team for 2009. Harris makes the move back to the same team he rode for in 2007 filling in the vacant spot left by James Ellison at the end of 2008. Harris will use Ellison’s side of the garage headed by Mick Shanley and will use the heavily developed Pi Pectel electronics used throughout 2008. Hydrex Honda Team Owner...

Walker is a true champ!

25 November 2008 by bobthedray

I have just read the BSB Blog from a Fella named Rob Hull. Armchair racers are ten a penny, champions are rare. When Chris whas unlucky enough to finish runner up to Neil Hodgson, he took it like a true champ. Since then he hasn’t been blessed with a great seat in any class of the sport. I hope he goes on to prove Mr Hull as wrong as I think he is.

BSB Blog: Chris Walker’s back, but is it too late?

25 November 2008 by Rob Hull

BSB Blog: Chris Walker’s back, but is it too late?

Like most racing fans in Britain I was hugely excited about Chris Walker, a.k.a ‘The Stalker’ coming back to British Superbikes in 2009. I’ve still got an Old Spice Ducati hat from 1996 when Chris...

Chris Walker back in BSB with Rob Mac

25 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Chris Walker back in BSB with Rob Mac

Chris Walker has signed a deal with Rob McElnea to bring him back to British Superbikes on a Yamaha for 2009. Walker will be part of a two-man British Superbike line-up for McElnea’s Yamaha squad next...

North West 200 drop Michael Rutter

25 November 2008 by Rob Hull

North West 200 drop Michael Rutter

Michael Rutter has been pushed into the BSB shadows after being ditched by his 2008 team, North West 200 Ducati. Rutter looked to be the favourite to continue his partnership with the North West 200...

James Toseland looking forward to Bridgestone debut

25 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland looking forward to Bridgestone debut

British rider James Toseland is back on track in Jerez tomorrow (Wednesday), eagerly anticipating his debut on Bridgestone tyres at the Spanish circuit. The 27-year-old missed the post-season test...

Chris Walker to come back to BSB?

25 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Chris Walker to come back to BSB?

Rob McElnea will announce one of the names for his 2009 BSB team line-up tomorrow, and it’s expected to be fans favourite Chris Walker. Walker has been away from BSB for a year after half a season...

Shinya Nakano gets first ride of WSB Aprilia RSV4

24 November 2008 by Michael Guy

Shinya Nakano gets first ride of WSB Aprilia RSV4

Shinya Nakano got his first taste of the Aprilia RSV4 he will campaign in next years World Superbike Championship at Valencia today. The Japanese rider has spent his career racing in 250, 500 and...

Bradley Smith makes Aspar debut in Valencia

24 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith makes Aspar debut in Valencia

Bradley Smith kicked off his 2009 125GP world title bid in Valencia today, the British rider getting his first chance to work with the highly regarded Aspar Aprilia squad. Smith, who joined Jorge...

Chris Vermeulen desperate for engine upgrade

24 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen desperate for engine upgrade

Chris Vermeulen is hoping Suzuki will have another upgraded version of its factory GSV-R motor ready to test in Phillip Island this week. Improving engine performance is one of the key targets for the...

Loris Capirossi: Phillip Island test is ‘massive’ for Suzuki

24 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi: Phillip Island test is ‘massive’ for Suzuki

Italian Loris Capirossi insists his next winter test session will be crucial to the 2009 prospects of Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad. Capirossi will make his final track appearance at a three-day test...

Hug from Rossi

21 November 2008 by wilf cook

At the Valencia GP this year Valentino Rossi put his arm over my shoulder, I put mine over his and gave him a right hug. It was fantastic meeting the KING. It was so emotional, I never got a photo, my wife Anne was so excited she never worked the camera for shouting ‘Valentino!’. He signed my Mike Hailwood book, I Also caught his righthand man Jeremy Burgess- the greatest, very down to earth and...

Jerry Burgess: Valentino Rossi tougher to beat in 2009

21 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess: Valentino Rossi tougher to beat in 2009

Valentino Rossi’s legendary Aussie crew chief Jerry Burgess believes the eight-times world champion will be tougher to beat in 2009 than at any other stage in his successful career. The 29-year-old...

Rossi tests a Ferrari F1 car at Mugello

21 November 2008 by James Keen

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi tested a Ferrari Formula One car at Mugello yesterday as a gift from the Italian team for achieving his eighth championship title. Rossi apparently completed nearly 30 laps of the famous Italian circuit and recorded a respectable fastest lap time of 1 min 22.5 seconds.  Rossi’s lap time wasn’t bad at all, considering that at Ferrari’s last Mugello test F1...

Phillip Island MotoGP pics

21 November 2008 by Howard & Jacky

Phillip Island MotoGP pics

Just got back from a brill holiday over in OZ. Had a fanastic day at the track on Phillip Island. It was so well organised, no rip off, food and merchandise ‘good price’, met some great Aussie bikers.

Yamaha MotoGP boss plays down Ben Spies swoop

20 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha MotoGP boss plays down Ben Spies swoop

Senior Yamaha race boss Lin Jarvis has insisted that the Japanese factory has no deal already in place to bring triple American superbike champion Ben Spies to MotoGP in 2010. Spies has made it clear...

Sete Gibernau to step up training regime

20 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau to step up training regime

Spaniard Sete Gibernau will step up an intensive training regime in a bid to regain the fitness levels needed to compete in MotoGP next season. Gibernau, who will return to action for the first time...

Special Birthday Treat

19 November 2008 by PAULJOHNSCOTT

Special Birthday Treat

James Toseland made my son Aaron’s 12th Birthday very special on Saturday 8th November. Aaron was invited into a private room at Donnington park to meet his idol and have his picture taken with the GP...

Is Rossi really the best?

19 November 2008 by Al Rackham

I’ve been thinking about all the bike racing i’ve watched this year and it set me thinking about who really is the best. It seems to me that valentino rossi ain’t bad, but is he the best? yeah he might be the world champion at motogp, but it seems that he hasn’t had to work half as hard as troy bayliss to become champ this year (who, by the way, kicked all the motogp boys asses in his last...

Valentino Rossi: Dani Pedrosa must improve overtaking

19 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: Dani Pedrosa must improve overtaking

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi believes Honda rival Dani Pedrosa must become more ruthless in the heat of battle to stake a claim to the 2009 MotoGP world crown. One weakness Pedrosa has yet...

Aprilia wheel out liveried-up RSV4 WSB racer

19 November 2008 by Andy Downes

Aprilia wheel out liveried-up RSV4 WSB racer

MCN has exclusively witnessed the next step in the story of Aprilia’s awesome new RSV4 superbike. The full race version, which is due to be campaigned by Max Biaggi in World Superbikes next year, was...

Jerry Burgess: 2004 still Valentino Rossi’s best MotoGP title win

19 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess: 2004 still Valentino Rossi’s best MotoGP title win

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons the Italian’s maiden world title for Yamaha back in 2004 still beats his impressive comeback in 2008. Rossi roared back to form last season with nine...

Hawk Kawasaki sign Tristan Palmer

19 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Hawk Kawasaki sign Tristan Palmer

Tristan Palmer will ride for Hawk Kawasaki in 2009. 26-year old Palmer was one of the surprise packages of 2008 with the Tena for Men Honda, regularly causing problems for the factory supported...

Colin Wright: “It’s all going to come down to time”

18 November 2008 by Rob Hull

Colin Wright: “It’s all going to come down to time”

GSE Racing Team Manager Colin Wright told MCN it’s going to be a battle against the clock to get ready for the 2009 season following the team’s recent visit to the Factory Yamaha World Superbike...

Scott Redding stars in Blue Peter

18 November 2008 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding stars in Blue Peter

What do you do if you want to find out how the likes of Valentino Rossi learned the skills that made him one of the greatest riders on the planet? Get riding lessons from British sensation Scott...