Motorcycle Sport & Racing News

Year: ALL

Toseland again

23 February 2007 by Michael Guy

James Toseland will be the final rider to head out on to his Superpole lap this afternoon (1pm UK time) after setting provisional pole position with a lap time over two tenths quicker than his nearest...

Pitt waits on new parts

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Pitt waits on new parts

Andrew Pitt is hoping that vital engine upgrades for the struggling Ilmor 800 arrive in time for this weekend’s final IRTA test in Jerez. Pitt and team-mate Jeremy McWilliams are waiting on a new...

Yamaha's 800 edge

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha's 800 edge

Honda duo Marco Melandri and Carlos Checa reckon rivals Yamaha have a clear advantage going into the inaugural 800cc MotoGP world championship next month. Former world champion Valentino Rossi and...

Hayden: Engine still key

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden: Engine still key

Nicky Hayden believes Honda’s new RC212V 800cc motor can improve despite the V4 appearing close to its rivals in testing in Qatar last week. Hayden has been a vocal critic at the lack of performance...

Edwards on Jerez test

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Edwards on Jerez test

In-form factory Yamaha rider Colin Edwards has backed the factory’s YZR-M1 800 machine to continue its blistering winter pace when pre-season testing reaches its climax in Jerez. Edwards said he is...

800 just a tool

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

800 just a tool

Legendary Aussie chief engineer Jerry Burgess says he doesn’t expect MotoGP to change too drastically despite the capacity reduction to 800cc for 2007. Burgess, who is working with Yamaha and...

Rizla Suzuki's 2007 livery revealed

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rizla Suzuki's 2007 livery revealed

This is the first look of the new livery to be run by Rizla Suzuki’s MotoGP team in 2007. The bike was officially unveiled at Jerez moments ago (on Thursday afternoon), and is designated the...

Hopper gets shocked

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper gets shocked

John Hopkins is undergoing intensive electric shock treatment in Jerez to ensure he returns close to 100 per cent fitness for the season’s opening GP in Qatar on March 10, 2007. With the final IRTA...

Webb injured in crash

23 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Webb injured in crash

British teenager Danny Webb will need a late fitness check before deciding whether he can ride in the final 125 winter test session in Qatar next week. The 15-year-old scraped skin off three fingers...

Biaggi on race pace

23 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Biaggi on race pace

Any doubts that Max Biaggi would take time to settle into WSB after a year out were firmly erased today, with the Italian in confident mood. He set the standard by posting easily the most consistent...

Vermeulen rates rivals

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen rates rivals

Aussie Chris Vermeulen reckons Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 has set the early benchmark in the new 800cc MotoGP era with the new season due to kick off in less than three weeks. The factory Suzuki rider...

Smart back to Hawk?

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Smart back to Hawk?

Scott Smart could be on his way back to Hawk Kawasaki, if the team can secure the backing to run a second rider alongside Peter Hickman. Smart, speaking from the WSB paddock in Doha where he’s...

Smart back to Hawk?

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Smart back to Hawk?

Scott Smart could be on his way back to Hawk Kawasaki, if the team can secure the backing to run a second rider alongside Peter Hickman. Smart, speaking from the WSB paddock in Doha where he’s...

Haga from Toseland

22 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Haga from Toseland

The honour of provisional pole position for the opening WSB race in Qatar went to Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga with a lap time 0.6 seconds inside Troy Bayliss’ 2006 lap record. Haga has completed two tests...

Martin for BSB

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Roads hero Guy Martin could be racing a Hydrex Honda in BSB this year. The Ulster GP winner and outright lap record holder was down to race in British Supersport this year but Hydrex team boss Shaun...

Hopper: more speed

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper: more speed

Injured American John Hopkins reckons Suzuki’s new GSV-R 800 needs more power. The 23-year-old believes this is necessary to ensure it will be a competitive force when the new MotoGP world...

Toseland on top

22 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Toseland on top

James Toseland topped the time sheets in first free practice with an impressive 2m 00.029s lap onboard his Ten Kate Honda. The 26-year-old Brit spent the session fine tuning his advanced...

GP blow for Brits

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

GP blow for Brits

British interest in the world championship has been slashed by a third just two weeks before the first race in Qatar. The Winona WCM 250 team, which was to field an all-British line-up with Dan...

WSS carnage

22 February 2007 by Michael Guy

Within eight minutes of the start of the first World Supersport Free Practice of the season in Qatar there was a four bike pile up which brought out the red flags. The crash was caused when Hungarian...

Kawasaki: Fuel no problems

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki: Fuel no problems

Kawasaki bosses have confirmed they have no worries about the new fuel capacity regulations that will come into force for the 2007 MotoGP world championship. Tank capacity has been cut from 22 to 21...

Stoner happy with Rossi

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Stoner happy with Rossi

Casey Stoner says he was delighted when he heard that seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi had extended his Yamaha contract until the end of 2008– because he wants to beat the Italian! Stoner is...

Team NB on Pirelli

22 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Team NB on Pirelli

Devizes-based bothers Ollie and Tommy Bridewell will race Team NB Suzuki GSX-R1000s in BSB this year. And the team, essentially the re-branded Vivaldi outfit from 2006, have switched from Dunlop...

Elias reluctant to push

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Elias reluctant to push

Toni Elias has admitted he won’t push too hard on tyres he’s not 100 per cent happy with because he’s scared of getting injured for the new season. The Spaniard has struggled in winter testing while...

Yamaha chatter finished

22 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha chatter finished

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons the chatter problems that dogged Yamaha in the early part of last season are now a long and distant memory. Yamaha engineers have ensured the new...

WSB auction update

21 February 2007

WSB auction update

WSB rights holders FG Sport have issued a press statement following rumours that the series may be up for auction with a price tag of £50m. The statement says: “With reference to the articles...

Barros: Good to be back

21 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Barros: Good to be back

Alex Barros is hoping he can repay the faith Ducati has shown in him in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. The 36-year-old South American made a surprise return to the premier class having thought...

No tyre issue for Edwards

21 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

No tyre issue for Edwards

Colin Edwards has backed the new tyre restrictions that will come into force for the 2007 MotoGP world championship. In a cost-cutting move, Michelin, Bridgestone and Dunlop agreed to limit the number...

Wind problmes for Checa

21 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Wind problmes for Checa

Carlos Checa is still hoping that a new fairing will arrive for his LCR Honda 800 machine before the new MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar on March 10 to give him more protection. The Spaniard, who...

Burgess happy at Yamaha

21 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Burgess happy at Yamaha

Aussie crew chief Jerry Burgess says he has got no intention of ending his formidable partnership with seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi. Rossi recently extended his Yamaha contract to run...

Classic Endurance

20 February 2007 by MCN

Classic Endurance

Phase One Endurance aren’t just chasing the World Endurance title this year. The West Country-based team are also preparing a 1978 Peckett & McNab Kawasaki in conjunction with Kevin and Chris Jones at...

WSB up for sale

20 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

WSB up for sale

The new World Superbike championship campaign gets underway this Saturday in Qatar, but it could be news off the track hitting the headlines after rumours emerged that Italian owners could be willing...

Milan win for Cabestany

20 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Milan win for Cabestany

Sherco’s Albert Cabestany came out on top in a three-way Spanish final in the Milan round of the World Indoor Trials Champion on Saturday night. Adam Raga topped the qualifying round by cleaning every...

Blog: Desert Storm

19 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Desert Storm

MCN’s MotoGP Matt Birt gives an update on what’s happening behind the scenes midway through the IRTA tests in Qatar. Greetings all from the barren desert landscape that is the Losail circuit in...

Aoki on Jerez standby

19 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aoki on Jerez standby

Japanese rider Nobuatsu Aoki has been placed on standby by Suzuki with American John Hopkins a major doubt for this weekend’s IRTA test session in Jerez. American Hopkins will be in Spain for the...

Reed's first win

19 February 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Reed's first win

Chad Reed won his first AMA Supercross Series race of the year aboard a Yamaha at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego in front of 60,529 fans. Although Suzuki’s Ivan Tedesco won the race to the first corner...

Stoner: 'Happy now?'

19 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Stoner: 'Happy now?'

Casey Stoner has had a sarcastic crack at those who said he crashed too much last year in his MotoGP debut season. The works Ducati star had his first off on the Italian bike at Qatar’s major IRTA...