January

Year: 2007

Month: January

Edwards: 'BHP to spare'

26 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Edwards: 'BHP to spare'

Colin Edwards reckons Yamaha has played it safe so far in the new 800cc MotoGP era and still has plenty more engine performance to come before the start of the 2007 season in Qatar. The Texas Tornado...

Kawasaki after Nakano

25 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki after Nakano

Kawasaki’s technical chief Ichiro Yoda has admitted losing Shinya Nakano at the end of 2006 was a big blow. But Yoda added it shouldn’t seriously hamper development of the new ZX-RR 800cc...

Edwards praises tyre

25 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Edwards praises tyre

Colin Edwards was raving about the performance of Michelin’s new 16- inch front tyre in Sepang this week (January 2007). The French tyre company is pushing all of its top riders to try the smaller...

Loris: Bike at 80 per cent

25 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris: Bike at 80 per cent

Loris Capirossi believes Ducati’s new 800cc contender is only at 80 per cent of its potential as the Italian continues to seek electronic improvements to the V4 GP7. The former world 125 and 250...

Vale's hairy pair

25 January 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Vale's hairy pair

You’ve got to hand it to Rossi, he’s finding more and more ways to be wacky and different. Now he’s wearing boots covered in horse hair. MCN’s GP Reporter Matt Birt spotted the mad footwear as Rossi...

Jezza reveals setback

25 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jezza reveals setback

Jeremy McWilliams is confident he will be able to return to MotoGP action at next month’s Qatar IRTA test. The hope is still there after a blunder by Spanish surgeons could have shattered his dreams...

Guintoli's crash ban

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Guintoli's crash ban

French MotoGP rookie Sylvain Guintoli’s baptism of fire continued in Sepang today when Yamaha barred him from riding after two crashes on the first two days. After a first day spill, the Tech 3 rider...

Vermeulen's experience

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen's experience

Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen believes he can make a big impact in his second MotoGP campaign after another confidence boosting test in Sepang. The Aussie set his best time on a Bridgestone...

Rossi on electronics

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi on electronics

Valentino Rossi topped the timesheets at the Sepang to signal his intent to claim back the MotoGP world crown before denying that the new 800cc machines placed more emphasis back in rider...

Hayden's work ahead

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden's work ahead

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden admitted Honda has plenty of work to do if he has any hope of retaining his world title. The American came to this conclusion after a tough return to the track in...

Sepang: Day 3

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi left his best till last, but ended the three day Sepang MotoGP test fastest after spending the first two days chasing Suzukis. Rossi’s best lap of 2:00.93 was the only one under the...

Yukio's MotoGP holiday

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yukio's MotoGP holiday

Former British Superbike favourite and current factory Suzuki WSB rider Yukio Kagayama has cropped up in the paddock at the Sepang test – on a jolly! Kagayama isn’t riding and has flown to Kuala...

No 16" for Bridgestone

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

No 16" for Bridgestone

Bridgestone has no plans to follow rivals Michelin and begin testing 16-inch front tyres for the new 800cc MotoGP era. Michelin started testing its 16-inch front at this week’s Sepang test in Malaysia...

Blog: Sepang Sauna

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Sepang Sauna

Phew what a scorcher today was. To be honest part of me is pining for some cold weather at home right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of sun as much as the next person, but today here in Sepang...

Blog: Back on the road

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Back on the road

Greetings comrades from a rather baking hot and sunny Malaysia. Happy New Year and all that but yes, after you’ve all had the pleasure of seven weeks without my ramblings, I’m back in blog mode and...

Honda promise power

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Honda promise power

Honda has told its top MotoGP riders that more horsepower is on the way. Several Honda riders including world champion Nicky Hayden voiced their concerns about a lack of power on the new 800cc RC212V...

Smith on form fast

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Smith on form fast

Teen star Bradley Smith has started 2007 with a bang, going second fastest in the 125 GP class’ first major test of the year at Jerez in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider turned 16 before Christmas after...

Hopper remains on top

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper remains on top

Suzuki’s John Hopkins stayed at the top of the timesheets at the major Sepang MotoGP test today, day two of the three day test there. Hopkins and Suzuki team-mate Chris Vermeulen went quickest...

Pedrosa crashes

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Pedrosa crashes

Dani Pedrosa walked away from a crash on Honda’s new RC212V 800cc bike at the second day of testing here in Sepang today. The Spaniard crashed just before 2pm to bring out the red flags though damage...

Video: Sepang: day 1

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Video: Sepang: day 1

MCN’s MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt has sent back footage of day one of testing in Sepang. Take a look below as you see the likes of former champion Valentino Rossi and current champion Nicky Hayden...

Video: Ducati GP7

23 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Video: Ducati GP7

The bike is now making its mark on the track in Sepang, but here’s your chance to get up close to the all-new Ducati GP7 Desmosedici. This video walk-round of the bike launched last week for all to...

Yamaha to unveil colours

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha to unveil colours

Yamaha will only officially unveil its 2007 factory MotoGP livery at the final winter test in Jerez next month. It still remains a mystery though whether Valentino Rossi will have a sponsor as he aims...

Vermeulen's new chassis

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen's new chassis

Aussie Chris Vermeulen will test a brand new tailor-made chassis built just for him tomorrow at the Sepang MotoGP test. Vermeulen, who was second quickest on the opening day of 2007 winter testing in...

Hayden fifth

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden completed just 38 laps of the opening day of testing in Malaysia today as he made his first track appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in November. The...

New chasis for KRJR

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

New chasis for KRJR

Kenny Roberts will try a new chassis on only his second day of testing the all-new KR212V 800cc machine tomorrow at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The new chassis was only finished last Wednesday at...

Rossi third after break

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi third after break

Valentino Rossi finished third fastest on the opening day of the Sepang test as he revealed his seven-week break saw his wretched run of bad luck continue. After a season of misfortune in 2006 that...

Suzuki fastest in Sepang

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki fastest in Sepang

Suzuki started where they left off last year, with Rizla men John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen first and second fastest on day one today of the major Sepang MotoGP test which ends the winter testing...

Checa and Guintoli crash

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Checa and Guintoli crash

Carlos Checa and Sylvain Guintoli both escaped injury after crashing out at the opening day of testing in Sepang as the MotoGP grid returned to the track after a seven-week lay-off. Checa crashed...

Capirossi talks '07

18 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Capirossi talks '07

Loris Capirossi has admitted 2007 will be the biggest of his long and successful racing career as time runs out for him to realise of his ambition of becoming MotoGP world champion. Speaking at...

Vermeulen Q&A

18 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen embarks on his second year in the MotoGP world championship next week when testing resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The former World Superbike runner-up had a...

Interview: Casey Stoner

18 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Interview: Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner reckons he needs more critical testing time before he’ll be able to show the potential threat he could pose as a factory Ducati rider in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. The...

Nakano looking for wins

17 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nakano looking for wins

Honda new boy Shinya Nakano has targeted breaking his premier class victory duck and becoming a consistent podium challenger in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese rider is preparing for...

New Roberts 800

17 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

New Roberts 800

This is the world’s first look at the gorgeous new Kenny Roberts-built 800cc MotoGP bike. This was designed and built in less than 90 days in readiness for the 2007 world championship. The bike is the...

Hayden needs to refocus

16 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden needs to refocus

MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden should abandon plans to shed weight to help him make the transition to Honda’s new RC212V 800cc contender. The American recently said he would need to lose weight to...

FIM wants MotoGP growth

16 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

FIM wants MotoGP growth

New FIM president Vito Ippolito has vowed to have a more global MotoGP world championship in the future, with more riders emerging from countries not known for being hotbeds of motorcycling...

Jacque's happiness

15 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jacque's happiness

France’s Olivier Jacque has spoken of his joy at being given the chance to make a full-time return to the MotoGP world championship next season. The former world 250 champion has been plucked out of...