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Benelli pulls out of WSB for first three rounds

04 March 2002

Benelli is out of the opening WSB races in Valencia on Sunday citing cash shortages. Essentially, they have blown up too many engines and don’t have enough left to compete. The factory, which has been showing off its road bike in Valencia, says it will have to miss the first three rounds of the season, but is confident it will be back for the Monza WSB round. MCN learned of the decision on...

And this is my thoughtful look

04 March 2002

And this is my thoughtful look

Nori thought that looking deep and meaningful was the way to impress the brolly babes

Foggy in Valencia to reveal more on Petronas project

04 March 2002

Foggy in Valencia to reveal more on Petronas project

IT may be four months before we’re due to see Carl Fogarty’s new Petronas World Superbike contender on the track, but Foggy will be at this weekend’s opening round in Valencia to reveal more details...

Whitham banned from morning practice

04 March 2002

Jamie Whitham was seething after having to sit out the Friday morning practice session in Valencia while his World Supersport rivals got a head start on their set-ups. Whitham was banned from the morning session by an FIM official because he had missed the riders briefing held on Thursday. He was angry because a representative of his Belgarda Yamaha team had been granted permission by SBK...

Win a KBC Chrome helmet

04 March 2002

Win a KBC Chrome helmet worth £229. Entry costs 50p per competition, per entry. This competition runs from May 29-June 5. Other entry mechanisms are published in MCN. South Korea-based manufacturer KBC claims to be the first company to make a completely chrome-coated helmet after perfecting the process to cover lids with the shiny metal – and you can win one. MCN has teamed up with the firm to...

Sorry love, just not interested

04 March 2002

Sorry love, just not interested

He appreciated the flowers, but he just didn’t like her in that way

Bayliss socks it to ‘em in Valencia

04 March 2002

Bayliss socks it to ‘em in Valencia

WSB champion Troy Bayliss got the perfect start to his title defence with two wins in Valencia on Sunday afternoon…thanks to his lucky socks. Bayliss had worn the same pair in his successful...

Play MCN Fantasy Racing online – and win a ZX-7

04 March 2002

Play MCN Fantasy Racing online – and win a ZX-7

THERE’S more than £10,000 worth of prizes – including a new Kawasaki ZX-7R – up for grabs in the biggest ever MCN Fantasy Road Race competition. And for the first time this year you can play the game...

Hislop and Reynolds clash ruined by weather

04 March 2002

Hislop and Reynolds clash ruined by weather

The eagerly awaited first clash of the year between Steve Hislop and John Reynolds was something of a damp squib. Saturday’s Oulton Park testing was badly hit by rain and snow. It wasn’t much of a...

Walker WILL ride in WSB opener

04 March 2002

Walker WILL ride in WSB opener

Chris Walker is looking better and will ride in Sunday’s opening WSB round in Valencia, Spain. Walker still has partial facial paralysis as the result of a bout of Bells Palsy and is struggling to...

Just one of the benefits of being a registered user

04 March 2002

Just one of the benefits of being a registered user

Just one of the benefits of being a registered user

Smiling is often used to cover shyness. Don’t know if that applies to the outfit

04 March 2002

Smiling is often used to cover shyness. Don’t know if that applies to the outfit

Smiling is often used to cover shyness. Don’t know if that applies to the outfit

So… er, do you come here often?

04 March 2002

So… er, do you come here often?

So… er, do you come here often?

Crafar tests R1 in Spain

04 March 2002

Crafar tests R1 in Spain

Simon Crafar has been riding his Virgin Yamaha R1 for the first time in a test in Almeria, Spain, alongside team mate Steve Plater. The team started testing on Wednesday and will finish on...

Honda Britain to race in superbikes

04 March 2002

Honda Britain to race in superbikes

Honda Britain is backing a team in BSB this year. The firm has announced it will back Lee Jackson on a privateer 2002 FireBlade in the Superbike series. Jackson’s bike is being prepared by Paul Bird...

MacPherson lands Riba’s WSS ride

04 March 2002

MacPherson lands Riba’s WSS ride

Scot Iain MacPherson has landed Pere Riba’s vacant Honda World Supersport ride. MacPherson clinched a deal with the Dutch-based Ten Kate team on Monday morning after Riba quit on Friday to take up...

Rossi & co head-to-head this weekend

04 March 2002

Rossi & co head-to-head this weekend

Valentino Rossi will clash with his major GP rivals on Saturday in the first meeting of all the new four-strokes at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona. The reigning world champion though will be...

Is there no end to Schwantz’s talents?

04 March 2002

Is there no end to Schwantz’s talents?

Is there no end to Schwantz’s talents?

Foret fastest after opening WSS qualifying

04 March 2002

Honda rider Fabien Foret was fastest after first qualifying at Valencia in WSS. He took provisional pole on a CBR600, more than half a second ahead of Italian Yamaha rider Alessio Corradi. Stephane Chambon was third quickest and Stefano Cruciani completes the provisional front row. German Yamaha riders Christian Kellner and Jorg Teuchert are fifth and sixth with Aussie Chris Vermeulen seventh.

Why’s she laughing? Ah, someone’s just bet against Rossi…

04 March 2002

Why’s she laughing? Ah, someone’s just bet against Rossi…

Why’s she laughing? Ah, someone’s just bet against Rossi…

Just how good is Rossi?

04 March 2002

Just how good is Rossi?

With the big GP tests coming up at Barcelona this weekend, Valentino Rossi remains THE man to beat this season. But what gives him the edge? We’ve got all the datalogging info to reveal exactly where...

McCrae firm signs up schoolboy Chaz

01 March 2002

McCrae firm signs up schoolboy Chaz

British teenager Chaz Davies has been signed by a new sports management company run by former world rally champion Colin McRae. The 15-year-old, who will ride a kitted Aprilia in this year’s world 125...

You must be having a laugh

01 March 2002

You must be having a laugh

The lesson is to never tell a brolly babe you’re faster than Rossi when you’re trying to impress her

Don’t look behind you Troy

01 March 2002

Don’t look behind you Troy

Although I suppose she is being quite complimentary

Riba quits WSS to take Criville ride

01 March 2002

Riba quits WSS to take Criville ride

Spanish World Supersport star Pere Riba has quit his Honda team to take Alex Criville’s vacant works Yamaha GP slot. It was confirmed on Friday morning in Spain that negotiations between Riba and team...

Look at the steak of that

01 March 2002

Look at the steak of that

Fortunately Haga only uses organic, free-range brolly babes

Carmichael does it again

25 February 2002

Carmichael does it again

Ricky Carmichael took his second victory on the trot in the AMA supercross 250 class, in front of 69,471 in the Georgia Doma, Atlanta. Now, the defending champion is 20 points behind leader David...

Where’s the beach?

25 February 2002

Where’s the beach?

They thought they would be auditioning for Baywatch, not watching motorbikes in the rain

Criville up all night to solve fainting fits

25 February 2002

Criville up all night to solve fainting fits

Alex Criville will be locked in a room and made to stay awake for over two days in a bid to pinpoint the cause of the fainting fits which forced him to take a break from GPs this season. One of the...

Walker 14th fastest despite partially paralysed face

25 February 2002

Walker 14th fastest despite partially paralysed face

The effects of Bell’s Palsy have left Chris Walker with blurred vision and unable to complete more than a handful of laps at a time. Yet he toughed it out to rack up 72 laps and end up 14th fastest...

Jefferies misses out on superbike ride

25 February 2002

Jefferies misses out on superbike ride

David Jefferies’ dream of a return to British Superbikes is over for another year. His V&M team has failed to come up with the cash to run so the six-times TT winner will be stuck in the Superstock...

Best test times of Saturday and Sunday

25 February 2002

Valencia, Spain, WSB test, February 23-24, 2002 1. T Bayliss: 1’34.922. 2. N Haga: 1’34.957. 3. C Edwards: 1’35.168. 4. B Bostrom: 1’35.260. 5. R Xaus: 1’35.260. 6. P Chili: 1’35.668. 7. S Martin: 1’35.962. 8. L Pedercini: 1’35.962. 9. H Izutsu: 1’36.032. 10. J Toseland: 1’36.305. 11. N Hodgson: 1’36.358.12 G Lavilla: 1’36.595. 13. J Borja: 1’36.728. 14. C.Walker: 1’36.930. 15. A Antonello:...

Neil Hodgson: In his own words

25 February 2002

Jo d: You were very pleased with the Philip Island test but seemed more frustrated during the Valencia test. Do you think this is essentially down to your style being incompatible with the circuit rather than a more wide-ranging problem? NeilHodgson: Erm, yes. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. I do have a slight problem with the set-up of the bike, but I think it’s more a case of my...

Hodgson reveals his go-faster diet

25 February 2002

Hodgson reveals his go-faster diet

We’ve now added the full transcript from Neil Hodgson’s Thursday lunchtime web chat in which he reveals his recipes for success. Neil starts a WSB race day with porridge, tucks into bananas and fig...

Smets first at Beaucaire

25 February 2002

Smets first at Beaucaire

Joel Smets won the 2002 pre-season motocross international at Beaucaire, France, at the weekend in front of 15,000 fans. Jamie Dobb finished 12th overall. Here are the results: First heat: 1.Smets...

Hislop and Reynolds to test together

25 February 2002

Hislop and Reynolds to test together

Steve Hislop and John Reynolds will ride together this weekend for the first time since they collided at Rockingham last year. That resulted in Hislop crashing to hand Reynolds the title. This year’s...