November

Year: 2003

Month: November

Byrne debut washed-out

25 November 2003

Bad weather has delayed Shane Byrne’s debut factory Aprilia MotoGP test. Both the Ducati and Aprilia factory GP teams are at the Jerez circuit in Spain for a three-day test. Intermittent rain meant...

Checa tests at Sepang

25 November 2003

Carlos Checa continued the development of the new Deltabox chassis for the 2004 Fortuna Yamaha YZR-M1 at Sepang this weekend. The Spanish rider was at the Malaysian track to work on the new chassis...

Byrne makes Aprilia MotoGP debut

25 November 2003

Shane Byrne made his debut for the Aprilia MotoGP team on the second day of a three-day test shared with the Ducati team at Jerez in Spain. The 26-year-old was forced to sit out the first day due to...

New signings in 250GPs

18 November 2003

The second and third-placed riders in the 2003 250cc championship will join forces next year for the Fortuna Honda squad. Roberto Rolfo will remain with the team after narrowly missing out on the...

McWilliams likely to sign for Aprilia

18 November 2003

Britain’s Jeremy McWilliams is looking likely to partner Shane Byrne in the factory Aprilia MotoGP squad in 2004. McWilliams is due to fly to Italy on Wednesday to finalise a deal after being faxed a...

Xaus joins Hodgson in Ducati GP team

11 November 2003

Ruben Xaus will continue as Neil Hodgson’s team-mate next year after signing for the d’Antin Ducati MotoGP squad for 2004. The deal has been on the cards for Xaus since Hodgson signed with the team at...

MotoGP Scalextric unveiled

04 November 2003

Model and toy firm Hornby has announced a new MotoGP Scalextric slot racing package. Scalextric has secured the MotoGP licence from Dorna, allowing the series to include every rider and manufacturer in the championship. The first deliveries are expected in Spring 2004 to coincide with the opening rounds of the 2004 championship. The bikes will be powered by a small electric motor driving the rear...

Edwards tests Honda RC211V

04 November 2003

Colin Edwards has completed his first test on the Honda RC211V he will race in 2004. The American rode in a private test at the Catalunya circuit in Spain for half a day on Tuesday, November 4. MCN’s...

GP testing starts for 2004

04 November 2003

The MotoGP squads have started preparation early for next season with many of the teams staying on after this year’s final race in Valencia for two days of hard testing. After a brief rest on Monday...

Yamaha confirms Rossi switch

04 November 2003

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has signed a two-year contract with Yamaha. The deal will see Rossi ride a factory YZR-M1 in the 2004 and 2005 MotoGP world championships and was confirmed in a...

Rossi leaves Honda; Edwards joins

01 November 2003

Valentino Rossi has confirmed that he is not riding for Honda in 2004. Meanwhile Colin Edwards has signed to ride alongside Sete Gibernau under Telefonica Movistar colours. Rossi said that the reason...

Poggiali third seals 250cc title

01 November 2003

Manuel Poggiali took the 2003 250cc title with a third place at Valencia behind Randy De Puniet and Toni Elias. Title challenger Roberto Rolfo saw his championship hopes fade with a sixth place. Britain’s Chaz Davies finished in 13th place. 1) De Puniet. 2) Elias. 3) Poggiali. 4) Guintoli. 5) Nieto. 6) Porto. 7) Rolfo. 8) Battaini. 9) Bataille. 10) Debon 11) Matsudo. 12) Heidolf. 13) Davies. 14)...

Valencia victory for Rossi, Stoner and De Puniet

01 November 2003

The tension continues to build towards Honda’s official announcement this afternoon, following Valentino Rossi’s win at Valencia. Rossi underlined why there is so much interest in his future, triumphing over Sete Gibernau. Loris Capirossi took third on the Desmosedici Ducati. Jeremy McWilliams took 12th on the Proton KR bike. 1) Rossi. 2) Gibernau. 3) Capirossi. 4) Biaggi. 5) Checa. 6) Barros. 7)...

Stoner takes debut 125cc win

01 November 2003

Casey Stoner has taken his first-ever 125cc win at Valencia. The 18-year-old Australian overcame the best efforts of Hector Barbera to hold the lead to the flag. Barbera eventually finished third after an attempt to snatch the lead at the last corner saw him run wide and let Steve Jenkner past. 1) Stoner. 2) Jenkner. 3) Barbera. 4) Simoncelli. 5) Giansanti. 6) Bautista. 7) Nieto. 8) Dovizioso. 9)...