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KTM RC8 makes track debut

18 February 2008 by Ben Purvis

KTM RC8 makes track debut

The first racing version of KTM’s new RC8 got on track last week for shakedowns at Cartagena in Spain, the factory has revealed. The race bike was piloted by Austrian rider Rene Mahr, who has been...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland in the clear after injury scare

18 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland in the clear after injury scare

Relieved James Toseland has confirmed he has no broken bones after he was involved in a first corner spill in testing at Jerez this afternoon (Monday). X-rays taken in the Clinica Mobile have shown no...

MotoGP: Jerez test: James Toseland undergoing medical checks

18 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Jerez test: James Toseland undergoing medical checks

British rider James Toseland is currently undergoing medical checks at the Jerez circuit after he crashed on only his second lap of the final day of testing this afternoon. The double World Superbike...

Beowulf Racing's Supersport Yamaha R6 makes first appearance

18 February 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Beowulf Racing’s Pat McDougall has been testing the Yamaha YZF-R6 he will be racing in this year’s British Supersport Cup Championship at Snetterton. See Beowulf testing in Cartagena The 22-year-old completed five 20-minute sessions on the motorcycle he will be racing this season after previously testing a fleet of Yamaha R6’s to be used by the European Superstock riders. Pat McDougall said:...

Colchester Kawasaki to run National Junior Superstock 600 team for 2008

18 February 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Colchester Kawasaki to run National Junior Superstock 600 team for 2008

Colchester Kawasaki is to enter this season’s National Junior Superstock 600 class using Kawasaki ZX-6Rs. Robbie Brown, 18, and 19-year-old AJ Johnson will ride for the team in the championship, which...

Isle of Man TT: John McGuinness to race for Padgetts Honda

18 February 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Isle of Man TT: John McGuinness to race for Padgetts Honda

John McGuinness will race a Padgetts Honda Fireblade in the Superbike and Senior TTs this year. Honda Racing in Louth, the same team running the HM Plant Honda for Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow, is...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland rues rain error

17 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland rues rain error

James Toseland was left to rue his decision to wait for track conditions to improve as he finished outside of the top ten in this afternoon’s 40-minute BMW qualifying shootout. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider...

MotoGP Jerez test: Valentino Rossi beaten by Casey Stoner again

17 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: Valentino Rossi beaten by Casey Stoner again

Valentino Rossi said today’s BMW shootout in Jerez was another reminder of why Casey Stoner will start the 2008 MotoGP season next month as the red-hot favourite. Stoner produced another brilliant...

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden third in BMW shootout

17 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden third in BMW shootout

Nicky Hayden saw his hopes of collecting the keys to a new BMW car dashed by rain and the super fast performances of Bridgestone rivals Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi today. Having set the fastest...

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner hammers rivals to win BMW car

17 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner hammers rivals to win BMW car

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner claimed the first big prize of 2008 when he collected the keys to a new BMW in today’s televised 40-minute qualifying shootout. The Aussie started 2008...

MotoGP Jerez test: Birthday boy Valentino Rossi eighth fastest

16 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: Birthday boy Valentino Rossi eighth fastest

Valentino Rossi marked his 29th birthday celebrations by setting the eighth fastest time on the opening day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Returning to the track where he made his...

MotoGP: Danny Webb in injury scare

16 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Danny Webb in injury scare

British teenager Danny Webb suffered a major injury scare today less than a month before the start of the 2008 125GP world championship. The Molenaar Aprilia rider was given the all-clear after...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland boosts confidence on first day

16 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland boosts confidence on first day

James Toseland got a major confidence boost in Jerez today when he posted the fifth fastest time to beat a host of big name MotoGP rivals including Valentino Rossi and reigning world champion Casey...

MotoGP Jerez test: Rain fear for struggling Dani Pedrosa

16 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: Rain fear for struggling Dani Pedrosa

Rain forecast for the final two days of testing in Jerez is likely to end injured Dani Pedrosa’s participation in the penultimate pre-season test. Pedrosa made a painful return to action on home soil...

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden fastest on day one

16 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden fastest on day one

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has topped the timesheets on the opening day of the three-day IRTA test session at a blustery Jerez today. The American posted an impressive best of 1.39.200 on a...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland’s new look for 2008

16 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland’s new look for 2008

These are the first pictures of James Toseland riding his 2008 factory Yamaha YZR-M1 in full livery on the opening day of testing in Jerez today (February 16, 2008). Sporting a striking blue and...

MotoGP Jerez test: John Hopkins will brave the pain

15 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Jerez test: John Hopkins will brave the pain

John Hopkins has confirmed he will ride during this weekend’s IRTA test session at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Factory team boss Michael Bartholemy said the American will be able to take some part in...

World Supersport: Chris Walker on the pace despite two crashes

15 February 2008 by Michael Guy

World Supersport: Chris Walker on the pace despite two crashes

Chris Walker shrugged off two big crashes during the three day test in Qatar last week and is ready and waiting for the opening round of the World Supersport championship. Walker was undeterred by...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden aiming to reclaim MotoGP title in 2008

15 February 2008 by MCN Sports Desk

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden aiming to reclaim MotoGP title in 2008

“It may seem madness, by my aim is to win the title. I will not take this chance lightly” After a tough year wearing No. 1, Nicky Hayden is ready to fight again for the title in the top category.  The...

MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa keen to gauge broken hand progress

15 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa keen to gauge broken hand progress

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa has said he is keen to check how much his broken right hand has recovered when he returns to action tomorrow (Saturday) for the opening day of the IRTA test session in...

Aprilia Superteen Championship supports British MotoGP

14 February 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Aprilia Superteen Championship supports British MotoGP

The Aprilia Superteen Championship will be one of the support races at this year’s British MotoGP at Donington Park. The series, which was the breeding ground for Casey Stoner and James Toseland, will...

ACU Dorset Hare and Hound Race - Pollard robs police

14 February 2008 by Craig Redmond

ACU Dorset Hare and Hound Race - Pollard robs police

Every year the annual Dorset Police hare and hounds event attracts greater numbers with riders now drawn from Lands End, London and South Wales.  This year there was a new forest venue at Bovington,...

Video: Tuning a British Supersport Triumph 675

14 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar, Chris Slade, Gary Pinchin

Paul Young spent the last couple of years developing a Triumph Daytona 675 rider in British Supersport but now he’s joined the Embassy Triumph team and has got the help of engine man John Trigger to work on the bike. We caught up with Trigger to see how he will be developing th bike throughout the year. Click here to see our interview with rider Paul Young

Video: Paul Young - Factory backed Triumph rider

14 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar, Chris Slade, Gary Pinchin

Paul Young spent the last couple of years developing a Triumph Daytona 675 rider in British Supersport but now he’s joined the Embassy Triumph team and has got full factory backing. We caught up with Youngy to see how he is coping with actually having some backing for a change. Click here to watch our interview with engine man John Trigger

MotoGP: Italian tax authorities praise Valentino Rossi

13 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Italian tax authorities praise Valentino Rossi

Italy’s tax authority has praised Valentino Rossi for his full co-operation in the multi-million pound tax probe that the Yamaha star finally resolved this week. Valentino Rossi ends tax saga A...

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha treatment

13 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha treatment

Double world 250 champion Jorge Lorenzo has said he is no doubt that he will get exactly the same treatment as Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in 2008. Rossi and Lorenzo will both run...

MotoGP: Honda rookie’s eye braking improvement

13 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Honda rookie’s eye braking improvement

New Honda MotoGP duo Andrea Dovizioso and Alex de Angelis have both admitted that confidence in braking is still their biggest issue with the new premier class world championship fast...

MotoGP: Randy de Puniet keen to assess new Honda engine

13 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Randy de Puniet keen to assess new Honda engine

French rider Randy de Puniet says he can’t wait to assess Honda’s new V4 motor when the LCR Honda rider resumes his winter testing schedule in Jerez this weekend. All of Honda’s satellite team riders...

MotoGP: Colin Edwards wants more work on new Michelin rear

13 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Colin Edwards wants more work on new Michelin rear

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards says he’s in no rush to race Michelin’s new 16-inch rear tyre until further improvements can be made. The Texan has extensively tested the 16-inch rear tyre during...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy going solo

13 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy going solo

Valentino Rossi has spoken of his delight at being in a ‘one-man’ factory Yamaha team for the 2008 MotoGP world championship. Although Rossi will run under the Fiat Yamaha banner with double world 250...

MotoGP: Traction control key to Casey Stoner's success

12 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Traction control key to Casey Stoner's success

Struggling new factory Ducati rider Marco Melandri believes a huge part of Casey Stoner’s success is down to the Australian’s skill and confidence with the increased influence of rider aids in...

Dakar Rally to move to South America

12 February 2008 by Dave Rawlings

Dakar Rally to move to South America

Dakar organiser, the ASO, has just confirmed that the 2009 Dakar Rally will be joint-hosted by Argentina and Chile, after this year’s race was cancelled. Cyril Despres on the Dakar cancellation Dakar...

MotoGP: Suzuki predict tough challenge in 2008

12 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Suzuki predict tough challenge in 2008

Factory Suzuki team boss Paul Denning believes the task of improving on a brilliant 2007 campaign will be tougher than ever for the Japanese factory. A new engine, chassis, fairing and electronics...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ends tax saga

12 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ends tax saga

Valentino Rossi will start the 2008 season without the added distraction of an on-going tax investigation hanging over his head after the Yamaha rider finally reached a settlement with Italian...

Silverstone British Grand Prix

12 February 2008 by Kerry Green

Silverstone British Grand Prix

Here are a few vintage pictures from the Silverstone British Grand Prix. Can anyone identify the year or the riders? Picture One – The first picture shows a pair of 250cc Yamahas which I think were...

Tyre man Vernon Edwards dies suddenly

12 February 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Tyre man Vernon Edwards dies suddenly

The funeral of Vernon Edwards, father of international racer Mike Edwards, will take place on Friday February 15, at 11:30am at The Crematorium, Cemetery Road, Ince, WN3 4NN. The family say everyone...