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Valentino Rossi unsure on Qatar night race

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Valentino Rossi unsure on Qatar night race

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi has spoken about his reservations about the historic night race in Qatar that will start the 2008 MotoGP world championship. Rossi’s first chance to gauge...

Yamaha bosses play down risk of F1-style spy row

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Yamaha bosses play down risk of F1-style spy row

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio has played down any possibility of spying amongst the factory Yamaha team next season, similar to that which tarnished last year’s Formula One...

Ten Kate finally get to test 2008 Honda Fireblade

18 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Ten Kate finally get to test 2008 Honda Fireblade

Ten Kate Honda will finally get to test their all new 2008 specification Honda CBR1000RR’s this week at Almeria in Spain. The Dutch team have been flat out for the last month preparing the new bikes...

Alstare test 2008 bikes

18 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Alstare test 2008 bikes

The Alstare Suzuki squad completed a further three days testing at Phillip Island this week despite persistent rumours that the teams 2008 plans could be in doubt due to a sponsorship shortfall. See...

Beowulf switch to Yamaha

18 January 2008 by MCN Sports team

Beowulf switch to Yamaha

Beowulf Racing has decided to switch to Yamaha for their 2008 UK and European campaigns. The team has run Suzuki machinery since 1997 but the change is down to machinery availability. Joint Team Owner...

Dakar could move to Chile

18 January 2008 by Dave Rawlings

Dakar could move to Chile

After 30 yerars in Africa the Dakar may be moved to South America from next year. The Chilean government has backed a proposal to host the Dakar after the cancellation of this year’s event due to...

World Superbike entry list confirmed

18 January 2008 by Michael Guy

World Superbike entry list confirmed

The 2008 WSB entry list has been announced with 28 permant riders confirmed in this years 15 round championship. WSB regulars will be joined by MotoGP men Carlos Checa and Makoto Tamada with BSB...

Casey Stoner expects Marco Melandri to star in 2008

16 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner expects Marco Melandri to star in 2008

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has backed new Ducati recruit Marco Melandri to make the Bologna factory an even bigger threat in 2008. Aussie Stoner was the outstanding Ducati rider last...

Marco Melandri looking to tame Ducati

16 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri looking to tame Ducati

Marco Melandri is hoping engine modifications he will try for the first time in Malaysia next week will help him improve his confidence and speed on Ducati’s new 2008 MotoGP contender. The former...

Max Biaggi sets the pace in Australian World Superbike test

16 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi sets the pace in Australian World Superbike test

Max Biaggi continued his impressive transition to his Sterilgarda Ducati 1098 F08 in the second three day Phillip Island test that ended today (January 16). Biaggi completed three days on the bike...

Video: Jonathan Rea lighting up his 600

15 January 2008 by Michael Guy, Gary Price (Video)

Jonathan Rea may be a World Supersport rider now, but nobody told him that he shouldn’t be lighting up his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda at Phillip Island. With the current crop of World Supersport bikes behaving like mini Superbikes Rea has been able to bring his committed all action riding style from BSB to the World Championship with spectacular results. At the awesome turn one in Australia Rea...

MotoGP: Seven up for Chris Vermeulen

15 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Seven up for Chris Vermeulen

Chris Vermeulen will finally get to pay further homage to British legend Barry Sheene in 2008 after securing the number seven plate for this year’s MotoGP world championship. The Rizla Suzuki rider...

John McGuinness signs HM Plant Honda deal for North West 200

15 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

John McGuinness signs HM Plant Honda deal for North West 200

John McGuinness has just confirmed that he will ride a HM Plant-backed factory spec Honda FireBlade in the North West 200 later this year. The fastest man ever to lap the famous Isle of Man TT...

Video: Medd gets BSS Virgin Yamaha ride

14 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Nick Medd has spent the best part of two seasons on the sidelines. Now fully recovered from an horrific crash at Silverstone testing his own Ducati, he’s landed a ride with the Virgin Media Yamaha team in British Supersport. In this video interview he tells MCN about his aspirations for 2008. Video Interview with Joe Dickinson Karl Harris video interview Karl Harris gets Yamaha British...

Video: Dickinson and Tucklinks with Yamaha

14 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

British Supersport rider Joe Dickinson is still backed by Trucklinks in 2008 but now he’s part of Rob McElnea’s official Yamaha set-up. He talks to MCN about his forthcoming season.  Nick Medd talks to MCN Karl Harris video interview Karl Harris gets Yamaha British Superbike ride R1 Cup ready to Rock

Video: Harris with Yamaha

14 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

It’s been rumoured for some time but now it’s official.  Karl Harris is riding for Yamaha in BSB this year. Harris talks exclusively to MCN about his hopes for the season ahead. Nick Medd talks to MCN Video Interview with Joe Dickinson Karl Harris gets Yamaha British Superbike ride R1 Cup ready to Rock

It’s official: Karl Harris gets Yamaha British Superbike ride

14 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

It’s official: Karl Harris gets Yamaha British Superbike ride

Rob McElnea’s official Yamaha race team have a busy season ahead of them. Karl Harris and potentially a second rider in BSB, BJ Toal, Nick Medd and Joe Dickinson in British Supersport plus the...

Chris ‘Teach’ McNeil wins Stuntwars ’08; Chris Pfeiffer crashes

14 January 2008 by rob Hull

Chris ‘Teach’ McNeil wins Stuntwars ’08; Chris Pfeiffer crashes

Chris Pfeiffer crashed during the final of the Suntwars competition for the second year on the trot yesterday, preventing him from retaking the title he won back in 2006. Click here to see footage of...

Cyril Despres to race in the UK

14 January 2008 by Dave Rawlings

Cyril Despres to race in the UK

Cyril Despres, the Dakar Rally competitor and two-time winner, is coming to the UK to race in Wor Events ‘The Tough One’ After the cancellation of the 2008 Dakar organiser Steve Ireland has been sweet...

R1 Cup ready to rock

14 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

R1 Cup ready to rock

The new Yamaha R1 Cup that blasts into action next year at BSB rounds is being backed  by Henderson Insurance Brokers. Rob McElnea, the man who gave us the Virgin Yamaha R6 Cup to allow young riders...

Supercross champion Stewart fights back

14 January 2008 by Paul Harris

Supercross champion Stewart fights back

Reigning AMA Supercross champion James Stewart fought back from his second place at the opening round last weekend by leading round two at Phoenix almost from start to finish. It was Mike Alessi who...

Video: World Superbike and supersport testing at Phillip Island

14 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Last week saw many of the World Superbike and Supersport riders out on their 2008 motorcycles for the first time. We’ve already brought you an exclusive interview with Ten Kate rider Johnathan Rea, but now you can see some highlights of the WSB and WSS bikes in action around the Aurstralian circuit. Watch the player below to see several compilations of Troy Bayliss, Chris Walker, and Max Biaggi in...

Video: James Toseland talks about his BKS leathers deal

11 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Two-time WSB Champion James Toseland has signed to wear British-made BKS leathers in MotoGP this year. The firm is now owned by Frank Thomas and was relaunched today, with Toseland carrying the torch on the world stage. Watch the video to hear an excluisve interview with Toseland on the matter.

Gearlink becomes official Kawasaki team in British Supersport

11 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

This week the Gearlink Kawasaki team announced their two rider British Supersport line-up of Chris Martin and Steve Neate, as well as stepping up to become the official Kawasaki team in the class. MCN spoke to Michael de Bidaph about this latest step up the ladder for his team … Click here to read our interview with Chris Martin MCN: Why Martin and Neate? de Bidaph: We were approached by ten...

Chris Martin gets a ride in new British Supersport Kawasaki team

11 January 2008 by Gary Pinchin

Chris Martin was the 2006 BSB Cup champion. Now he’s one of two riders in the exciting new-look  Gearlink Kawasaki team in British Supersport. MCN spoke to him about his new ride. Read our interview with team boss Michael de Bidaph MCN: Chris, superbike to superposrt. How do you see this, as a step backwards or a positive career move? Martin: Very positive. People might view it as a backward...

Phillip Island WSB: Bayliss on way to Italy with fractured collarbone and sternum

11 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Phillip Island WSB: Bayliss on way to Italy with fractured collarbone and sternum

Troy Bayliss is currently on his way back to Italy following his day three crash at Phillip Island that saw him break his right collarbone. It has also emerged that the Australian has fractured the...

Race Triumph for Costello

10 January 2008 by MCN Sports Desk

Race Triumph for Costello

Maria Costello will race a Triumph Daytona 675 in the major road races this year as well as competing in the Triumph Triple Challenge on a machine provided by Philip Youles Motorcycles of...

Toseland to wear BKS in MotoGP

10 January 2008 by MCN Sports Desk

Toseland to wear BKS in MotoGP

Two-time WSB Champion James Toseland has signed to wear British-made BKS leathers in MotoGP this year. BKS has been bought by Frank Thomas and was relaunched today, with Toseland carrying the torch...

Video: Ducati launch 2008 MotoGP bike

10 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champions Ducati kicked off the defence of the premier class crown with an official team launch in Italy on Tuesday 8th Janurary. Watch the video as MotoGP champion Casey Stoner and new Ducati team-mate Marco Melandri unviel the bike against the spectacular mountain backdrop at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort.

Phillip Island WSS: Parkes makes it three out of three

10 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Phillip Island WSS: Parkes makes it three out of three

Broc Parkes continued his domination of the Phillip Island test by topping the time sheets on all three days onboard his SSP Yamaha R6. The Australian worked on race simulations in the scorching...

Phillip Island WSB: Kagayama on top, Bayliss breaks collarbone

10 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Phillip Island WSB: Kagayama on top, Bayliss breaks collarbone

Alstare Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama took the final day of the WSB test in Phillip Island by storm after topping the time sheets with a 1m 32.1 second lap. Kagayama had been fast at every day of the test...

Phillip Island WSB: Bayliss out with broken collarbone

10 January 2008 by Michael Guy

Phillip Island WSB: Bayliss out with broken collarbone

Troy Bayliss has broken his right collarbone after high siding his Xerox Ducati 1098 F08 on the final day of the official Pirelli test at Phillip Island. MCN has learned that that Bayliss crashed...

Video: Johnathan Rea talks about his first outing on the Ten Kate World Supersport bike

09 January 2008 by Michael Guy, Angus Farquhar

Johnathan Rea has had an impressive start to his World Supersport career comiing third fastest in the first day of the Phillip Island test. We caught up with the Ulsterman after the first day’s testing to see how he was getting on with the new bike, new team, and new circuit.

WSB Phillip Island: Bayliss stays in control at Phillip Island

09 January 2008 by Michael Guy

WSB Phillip Island: Bayliss stays in control at Phillip Island

Troy Bayliss stayed at the top of the time sheets on day two of the official Pirelli WSB test at Phillip Island after taking a further 0.3 seconds off his day one best. The 38 year old Australian...

WSS Phillip Island: Parkes again as Rea goes second

09 January 2008 by Michael Guy

WSS Phillip Island: Parkes again as Rea goes second

Yamaha’s Broc Parkes dipped under the World Supersport lap record on day two of the official Pirelli test at Phillip Island. Riding the 2008 specification R6, Parkes found a good set-up at the end of...

Ducati launch 2008 MotoGP effort

08 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati launch 2008 MotoGP effort

Reigning MotoGP world champions Ducati kicked off the defence of the premier class crown with an official team launch in Italy today. Against the spectacular mountain backdrop at the Madonna di...