May | Page 2

No time to celebrate for schoolboy Bradley

21 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith had little time to celebrate his brilliant career first 125 GP podium as he jetted back to England today to begin his last week at school. The 16-year-old became the youngest British...

Vermeulen triumphs in wet Le Mans chaos

20 May 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Chris Vermeulen has won the French MotoGP round in a chaotic race due to wet weather conditions. Vermeulen finished the race ahead of Marco Melandri and Casey Stoner, followed by Dani Pedrosa,Alex...

Lorenzo extends title lead with 250cc win

20 May 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Jorge Lorenzo nows leads the 250cc GP championship by 32 points as he defended his title with a win in France. Lorenzo had to overcome a strong challenge from Alex de Angelis and Andrea Dovizioso to...

Smith takes third as Gadea wins 125GP

20 May 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Britain’s Bradley Smith claimed his first podium, by taking third in the 125cc French GP. Smith finished behind winner Sergio Gadea, who took his first ever GP win for the Bacaja Asapr team, whilst...

First two-stroke premier class winner passes away

20 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

A minute’s silence was held this morning at the Le Mans circuit in memory of Australian Jack Findlay, who passed away last night. Findlay set several world championship landmarks in a distinguished career that spanned 21 years from 1958 to 1978. He was the first rider to take a premier class victory on a two-stroke machine in the 1971 Ulster GP. And he was the first rider to claim victory on...

Edwards: 'Win or crash' in Le Mans

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans pole setter Colin Edwards reckons tomorrow’s French GP is win or bust as he bids to put forgettable races in Turkey and China behind him. The Texan was taken out on the first lap in Istanbul...

Suppo: Stoner is making the difference

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Livio Suppo has praised Casey Stoner saying it is the Australian’s talent and not Ducati’s top speed advantage that has carried the 21-year-old to the top of the MotoGP world championship. The...

Edwards pips Stoner to claim first pole

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards claimed his first ever MotoGP pole position on an afternoon full of surprises at the Le Mans circuit in France. The double World Superbike champion finally got his hands on a...

Smith storms to French front row

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith produced a stunning last lap to claim his best ever world 125 championship qualifying position for tomorrow’s French GP in Le Mans. The 16-year-old claimed a brilliant...

Hopkins ups pace in Le Mans

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

In-form John Hopkins topped the timesheets in this morning’s third practice session at the French GP in Le Mans. A best time of 1.35.128 was good enough to claim top spot from Gresini Honda rider Toni...

Brit Smith continues to shine in Le Mans

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith continued his brilliant display in the French GP at Le Mans this morning by claiming the third fastest time in second free practice. The British teenager clocked a best of 1.44.224 to...

Hopkins happy with new Suzuki engine

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins declared himself happy with the performance of a new factory Suzuki GSV-R engine at the end of the first day in Le Mans. Hopkins finished fifth quickest today running an upgraded...

New Bridgestone front tyre helps Melandri

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri reckons a new construction Bridgestone front tyre was the major reason why he clocked the fastest time on the opening day of the French GP at Le Mans. The Italian shrugged aside his...

Melandri finds form for Le Mans

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri enjoyed his best day of a nightmare 2007 campaign when he set the fastest time in this afternoon’s second free practice session in Le Mans. The former world 250 champion has...

Smith claims provisional front row

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s hopes of a career best world 125 championship finish in Le Mans were given a massive lift this afternoon when the Repsol Honda claimed a place on the provisional front row. Smith ended...

Pedrosa heads first practice

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa got his 100th GP off to a perfect start by claiming the fastest time in this morning’s opening free practice session at the Le Mans circuit in France. The Spaniard topped the timesheets...

Smith off to flying start in Le Mans

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith topped the timesheets in this morning’s opening free 125 practice session at a grey and gloomy Le Mans. With light drizzle falling throughout the 45-minute session after...

Foot injury no concern for Vermeulen

17 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen says the right foot injury he suffered in a Shanghai qualifying collision with Loris Capirossi earlier this month won’t be a problem in this weekend’s French GP at Le...

Hayden denies Melandri new parts claim

17 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has denied his struggling factory Honda RC212V 800 will be equipped with a range of new parts for this weekend’s French GP in Le Mans. In the pre-event press...

Stoner not fazed by Le Mans challenge

17 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has shrugged off suggestions his factory Ducati will struggle to continue its stunning pace in Le Mans this weekend. Two of Stoner’s three victories in...

Hopkins targets podium in France

16 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins reckons a new Suzuki motor will significantly bolster his hopes of an instant return to the podium at the French GP in Le Mans. The Rizla Suzuki rider claimed his maiden premier...

Edwards targets recovery in Le Mans

16 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards believes he will be able to get his MotoGP world championship season back on track in France after his nightmare in the last two races. Taken out on the first lap in last month’s Turkish...

Nieto confirmed for Le Mans showdown

16 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki have confirmed that Fonsi Nieto will replace injured rider Olivier Jacque in this weekend’s Le Mans GP. Complications from the right arm injury Jacque suffered in Shanghai earlier this month...

Bayliss surprised but happy at Stoner form

15 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss has spoken of his surprise and delight at fellow Aussie Casey Stoner’s brilliant start to the MotoGP world championship. Stoner has won plaudits around...

Nieto to be confirmed as Jacque replacement

15 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nieto to be confirmed as Jacque replacement Fonsi Nieto will be confirmed as Olivier Jacque’s replacement in this weekend’s French GP in an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday). Confirmation of Nieto’s...

Stoner warns Elias for Le Mans

14 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has warned Honda rival Toni Elias to stop following him to set a fast lap time ahead of round five in Le Mans on May 20, 2007. Stoner’s patience snapped...

Jacque states desire to race in Le Mans

14 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Injured French rider Olivier Jacque is ready to declare himself fit to ride in his home GP at Le Mans this weekend, even though doctors believe he should withdraw. Jacque’s doctors are understood to...

Burgess: Stoner's success not all about Ducati

13 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess said Ducati’s incredible top speed advantage is not the lone reason why the Bologna manufacturer has made such a dominant start to the new 800cc MotoGP...

Rossi, Capirossi and KRJR give green light to Indy

12 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Safety improvements at the world famous Indianapolis circuit have been endorsed by the three-rider MotoGP Safety Commission. Safety plans for Indianapolis were presented to Valentino Rossi, Loris...

Electronics key to Ducati success

11 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Electronics are now the most important element in mounting a serious challenge in the MotoGP world championship, according to Ducati chief Claudio Domenicali. Domenicali said intricate engine...

Rossi: 'Bridgestone has made a big step'

11 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Valentino Rossi has praised the efforts of Michelin’s main tyre rival Bridgestone after the Japanese factory won three out of the opening four races in 2007. Rossi admitted...

Suzuki poised to begin talks with Hopkins and Vermeulen

10 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki bosses will begin formal discussions with factory duo John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen within the next five weeks. The Barcelona GP on June 10, 2007 will be when discussions commence, with a...

Pedrosa praises Stoner form

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has praised former world 250 championship rival Casey Stoner following the Australian’s storming start to his Ducati MotoGP career. Pedrosa and Stoner are long term rivals having faced...

Melandri joins Checa and Hayden in Eight-Hour frame

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri is the latest big-name MotoGP rider to be linked with a ride in the prestigious Suzuka Eight-hour endurance race. This year’s race is the 30th anniversary and Honda is...

Bridgestone boss hails Stoner performance

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone boss Hiroshi Yamada has spoken of his admiration for Aussie Casey Stoner after the factory Ducati rider claimed a hat-trick of victories in the first four races of 2007. Stoner has made an...

Martinez talks 2008 MotoGP plans

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Martinez, boss of the biggest team operating outside of the MotoGP world championship, has revealed he is locked in negotiations to join the premier class next season. Martinez, who runs five...