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2007

MotoGP: Colin Edwards supports growing influence of electronics

01 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Colin Edwards supports growing influence of electronics

Colin Edwards believes the growing influence of electronic rider aids in MotoGP is not seriously harming the sport.  Former factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi has been one of the most vocal...

MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen desperate to solve qualifying weakness

31 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen desperate to solve qualifying weakness

Chris Vermeulen has vowed to drastically improve his qualifying performance in 2008 as problems on soft tyres seriously undermine his bid to challenge for more victories. Vermeulen gave himself a...

MotoGP: James Toseland keen to get back on track

31 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: James Toseland keen to get back on track

Tech 3 Yamaha rider James Toseland is looking forward to his first taste of Yamaha’s new 2008 YZR-M1 in Sepang on January 22, 2007. James Toseland’s first two testing appearances in MotoGP in Sepang...

MotoGP: Electronics key for James Toseland says Jerry Burgess

30 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Electronics key for James Toseland says Jerry Burgess

Adapting to the advanced electronic systems on the 800cc MotoGP bikes will be critical for British star James Toseland in his rookie premier class campaign in 2008. Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry...

MotoGP: Sylvain Guintoli eyes style change to suit Ducati

30 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Sylvain Guintoli eyes style change to suit Ducati

French rider Sylvain Guintoli believes he will have to make changes to his riding style to suit Ducati’s GP8 machine when he returns to action in Sepang on January 22, 2007. Sylvain Guintoli has made...

MotoGP: Midnight finish for Qatar night race test

29 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Midnight finish for Qatar night race test

The final dress rehearsal for Qatar’s historic night race will be run between 5pm and midnight. A two-day International Race Teams Association test session on February 28 and 29, 2008 will take place...

Supporting Electronics Ban

28 December 2007 by Jordan Lilley

Supporting Electronics Ban

Everyone who supports and races Moto GP knows the growing Probelm in Electronics making the sport very boring to watch. Moto GP has’nt always been like this but the new addition of Traction Control...

Video: Review of the MotoGP year

28 December 2007

IN the fifth and final of our reviews of the year we take a look back at the 2007 MotoGP season. Check out the video below to see what MCN GP reporter Matthew Birt picks as his highlights of the year.

MotoGP: Horsepower top priority for Yamaha in 2008

26 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Horsepower top priority for Yamaha in 2008

Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa reckons top priority for engineers is to find more horsepower to bolster Valentino Rossi’s hopes of mounting a serious MotoGP title challenge in 2008. Italian Valentino...

MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen relishing partnership with Loris Capirossi

25 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen relishing partnership with Loris Capirossi

Aussie Chris Vermeulen has told MCN he is relishing the prospect of partnering Italian veteran Loris Capirossi in Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad in 2008.  Chris Vermeulen will start his third year in...

MotoGP: Suzuki look to close gap on Ducati

24 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Suzuki look to close gap on Ducati

Suzuki’s 2008 factory GSV-R needs to improve significantly on corner exit acceleration to have a chance of challenging Ducati and reigning world champion Casey Stoner next season. Rizla Suzuki boss...

MotoGP: Rizla Suzuki unconcerned by new engine delay

23 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Rizla Suzuki unconcerned by new engine delay

Suzuki boss Paul Denning has played down fears Suzuki is concerned about the performance of its 2008 factory GSV-R engine. While Chris Vermeulen tested a new 2008 prototype factory GSV-R in Valencia,...

Video: James Toseland gets a nice Christmas present

21 December 2007 by Angus Farquhar

James Toseland’s personal sponsor Bennetts Insurance recently rewarded the riders successful year witha very expensive Christmas present. We caught up with Toseland as he signed autographs for fans to see how he was looking forward to next year.

Moto GP - Merry Xmas to MCN, Contributors & Readers

21 December 2007 by Kerry Green

Moto GP - Merry Xmas to MCN, Contributors & Readers

Merry Xmas to everyone at Motorcycle News, fellow contributors and readers. The attached picture gives an idea of what we are hoping Santa delivers to us for next year, but we are not holding out too...

Support the ban on riders aids

20 December 2007 by Jordan Lilley

Support the ban on riders aids

Many of us know the growing complaint about traction control and so on. These riders aids that are on the bike are making it more boring to watch moto gp, there’s no excitement in the sport...

MotoGP: James Toseland gets new bike for Christmas

20 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: James Toseland gets new bike for Christmas

Christmas came early for double World Superbike champion James Toseland today when personal sponsor Bennetts presented him with a £6,000 bike. The surprise presentation was made to the 27-year-old on...

Bid for MotoGP stars' kit in online charity auction

20 December 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Bid for MotoGP stars' kit in online charity auction

Fancy getting your hands on something different for Christmas – How about Casey Stoner’s boots or Loris Capirossi’s helmet? Well this could be your chance as Former MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau’s wife,...

MotoGP: Colin Edwards - Valentino Rossi no major loss for Michelin

19 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Colin Edwards - Valentino Rossi no major loss for Michelin

Valentino Rossi’s former factory Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards believes Michelin still has a big enough talent pool to win back the MotoGP world championship crown in 2008, despite the Italian’s...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden vows to come our fighting in 2008

19 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden vows to come our fighting in 2008

Former world MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden has admitted he can’t afford to make a sluggish start to next season as he looks to put a nightmare 2007 behind him. The Kentucky rider, currently...

MotoGP: Kawasaki's John Hopkins ties the knot

18 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Kawasaki's John Hopkins ties the knot

New factory Kawasaki rider John Hopkins ended his fantastic 2007 by tying the knot to stunning British bride Ashleigh last Saturday (December 15). The American wed at a luxury ceremony at the Hard...

MotoGP: Danny Webb happy with Aprilia switch

17 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Danny Webb happy with Aprilia switch

British teenager Danny Webb has spoken of his delight at securing a switch to Aprilia machinery for his second 125GP world championship campaign in 2008. Danny Webb extended his contract with the...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi under pressure to perform on Bridgestone tyres

17 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi under pressure to perform on Bridgestone tyres

Valentino Rossi will be under extra pressure to deliver a sixth premier class in 2008 after his controversial switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres. Factory Suzuki boss Paul Denning believes the...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner to run number one plate in 2008

14 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Casey Stoner to run number one plate in 2008

As expected, MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner will run the number one plate on his factory Ducati in 2008, while five British riders will compete in the three MotoGP world championship classes next...

MotoGP: World Superbike success means nothing in MotoGP, admits James Toseland

13 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: World Superbike success means nothing in MotoGP, admits James Toseland

James Toseland has conceded his World Superbike success and experience counts for nothing as he gears up for his rookie MotoGP campaign in 2008. The British rider has completed two tests for the Tech...

MotoGP: Tech 3 impressed with James Toseland’s approach

12 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Tech 3 impressed with James Toseland’s approach

James Toseland’s new Tech 3 Yamaha boss has said he is impressed with the British rider’s s attitude, willingness to learn and work ethic as he sets about the massive task of becoming a competitive...

MotoGP: Ducati man scoops top prize

12 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Ducati man scoops top prize

One of the key men behind Ducati’s phenomenal success in the 2007 MotoGP world championship has claimed a prestigious award. Aerodynamicist Alan Jenkins collected the Sir Jackie Stewart Award at the...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi renews criticism of rider aids

12 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi renews criticism of rider aids

Valentino Rossi has again slammed the growing influence of electronics in MotoGP, renewing his fears rider skill is playing less and less of a pivotal role in the premier class. Rossi has been highly...

MotoGP: James Toseland fourth in prestigious BBC Sports Personality Award

10 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: James Toseland fourth in prestigious BBC Sports Personality Award

James Toseland finished in an amazing fourth place in last night’s prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The double World Superbike champion missed out on claiming a brilliant top three...

MotoGP: Qatar night race schedule unveiled

06 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Qatar night race schedule unveiled

Qatar’s historic MotoGP race under floodlights at night will get underway at 11pm local time. MCN has got hold of a copy of the schedule for the clash on March 9, which will create history by becoming...

MotoGP: 250 new boys to learn quicker than James Toseland

05 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: 250 new boys to learn quicker than James Toseland

MotoGP new recruits Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso should be at a more competitive level quicker than James Toseland. Toseland’s new Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards believes double world 250...

Ducati celebrates GP title in Bologna

03 December 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Over 30,000 Ducatisti converged on the centre of the firm’s hometown of Bologna to celebrate Casey Stoner’s 2007 MotoGP championship triumph. The weekend-long celebration was held in the Piazza Maggiore in the centre of Bologna. As well as the Ducati factory and museum being opened for the whole weekend, Italy’s top DJ, DJ Ringo, and TV presenter Gerry Scotti provided entertainment throughout...

MotoGP: Support James Toseland for BBC Sports Personality - Tonight at 7pm

03 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Support James Toseland for BBC Sports Personality - Tonight at 7pm

James Toseland’s 2007 keeps getting better and better after he made the shortlist for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. The 27-year-old, who will ride for the Tech 3 Yamaha...

Audio: Herve Poncharal talks about Toseland in MotoGP

30 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Audio: Herve Poncharal talks about Toseland in MotoGP

MCN MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt grabbed James Toseland’s Tech 3 team boss Herve Poncharal to see how well his new rider coped on the Yamaha at the recent Jerez test. Check out the interview by...

Audio: Interview with Davide Brivio

30 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Audio: Interview with Davide Brivio

MCN MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt caught up with Rossi’s Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio to see how he thought the Italian rider got on at the recent test in Jerez ad how he rates the teams chances for...

MotoGP Jerez test: Michelin looking forward to 2008

30 November 2007 by Sarah Carnell

MotoGP Jerez test: Michelin looking forward to 2008

Michelin bosses are in confident mood following the results from the final MotoGP test of the winter after taking the top four places on the final day yesterday (Thursday). Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa...

MotoGP Jerez test: Bridgestone boss Hiroshi Yamada happy with progress

30 November 2007 by MCN Sport

MotoGP Jerez test: Bridgestone boss Hiroshi Yamada happy with progress

Hiroshi Yamada, Manager of Bridgestone’s Motorcycle Sport Unit, has been keeping a watchful eye on the progress being made at the MotoGP test in Jerez. Many riders have been busy acquainting...