2008

MotoGP: John Hopkins still short of full fitness

MotoGP: John Hopkins still short of full fitness

Factory Kawasaki rider John Hopkins says he still hasn’t fully recovered from the torn abductor muscle he suffered in a massive 100mph testing crash as he prepares for this weekend’s Jerez...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ready for Jerez

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ready for Jerez

Valentino Rossi says he is looking forward to getting his 2008 MotoGP title bid firing on all cylinders at this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. Rossi is looking to bounce back from a somewhat low...

MotoGP: Tech 3 Yamaha switch helping Colin Edwards

MotoGP: Tech 3 Yamaha switch helping Colin Edwards

Tech 3 Yamaha chief Herve Poncharal believes Colin Edwards will be a stronger proposition in 2008, even though the American is no longer in Yamaha’s factory team. The double World Superbike champion...

MotoGP: Riders request night race date change

MotoGP: Riders request night race date change

Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi have made a formal request to get the date of next year’s Qatar night race pushed further back in the world championship calendar. Although Qatar...

MotoGP: Bridgestone boss hails Casey Stoner

MotoGP: Bridgestone boss hails Casey Stoner

Senior Bridgestone boss Hirohide Hamashima has spoken of his delight after Casey Stoner made the perfect start to the defence of his MotoGP crown in Qatar recently. Having won 10 races to easily...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner keen for European season to start

MotoGP: Casey Stoner keen for European season to start

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner says he is looking forward to the world championship starting its European phase in Jerez later this month. And the Aussie reckons it will be five or six races into...

MotoGP: James Toseland eager to get engine upgrade

MotoGP: James Toseland eager to get engine upgrade

British rider James Toseland says he can’t wait to get his hands on the latest spec Yamaha MotoGP motor after he made a stunning start to his MotoGP career in Qatar. Toseland qualified on the front...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hopeful on new chassis for Jerez

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hopeful on new chassis for Jerez

Nicky Hayden is hoping he will get his hands on a new spec chassis for the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez later this month after his nightmare start to 2008. The American was woefully off the pace in the...

Go Casey

Go Casey

Can’t sleep unless I have an MCN, Casey Stoner’s biggest fan!

MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed about front qualifying tyre

MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed about front qualifying tyre

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner says it is not vital that Bridgestone rolls out a new front qualifying tyre in 2008. One area where Michelin has a clear advantage over Bridgestone at present is...

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso plays down 2008 hopes

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso plays down 2008 hopes

Honda rookie Andrea Dovizioso has played down his hopes of mounting a serious MotoGP title threat despite the impressive start to his premier class career in Qatar. The former world 125 champion...

MotoGP: Night race talks held for Sepang

MotoGP: Night race talks held for Sepang

The company behind the multi-million pound lighting project in Qatar have confirmed preliminary discussions have taken place with Sepang circuit officials about hosting a night race. The Malaysian...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi pushing for Bridgestone front qualifier

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi pushing for Bridgestone front qualifier

Valentino Rossi is continuing to push for Bridgestone to roll out a new front qualifying tyre to help bridge the soft rubber advantage held by rivals Michelin. Michelin has dominated winter testing on...

MotoGP: Safety Commission numbers swell

MotoGP: Safety Commission numbers swell

World champion Casey Stoner has helped swell the numbers on the MotoGP Safety Commission to six riders. Until the middle of last season, only Italian duo Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and American...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner tough to beat says John Hopkins

MotoGP: Casey Stoner tough to beat says John Hopkins

Factory Kawasaki rider John Hopkins believes reigning world champion Casey Stoner is going to be tough to beat after the Aussie’s blistering start to the 2008 MotoGP series. Casey Stoner’s title...

MotoGP: Danny Webb reflects on career best finish in Qatar

MotoGP: Danny Webb reflects on career best finish in Qatar

Just four days after celebrating his best ever world 125GP championship finish, British teenager Danny Webb has been looking back on his brilliant start to 2008. Webb finished sixth in the floodlit...

Alex Hofmann undergoes successful surgery

Alex Hofmann undergoes successful surgery

German Alex Hofmann has undergone successful surgery to remove a plate and 15 screws from the left hand he seriously injured eight months ago at the Laguna Seca MotoGP in America. Hofmann suffered...

MotoGP: Michelin - Racing technology key for road bike development

MotoGP: Michelin - Racing technology key for road bike development

Michelin boss Jean-Philippe Weber believes the rapid development in MotoGP technology must not be stifled, with advances in electronics vital to improve production bikes on the road. Weber believes...

Video: James Toseland talks after his Qatar MotoGP debut

Video: James Toseland talks after his Qatar MotoGP debut

James Toseland finished an incredible sixth in his first ever MotoGP race last weekend and now you can see how he felt after the race as he talks for the camera. Check out the video below to see the...

MotoGP: Night delight after Qatar’s historic race

MotoGP: Night delight after Qatar’s historic race

One of the key figures behind the mammoth Qatar night race project has spoken of his relief and satisfaction after the historic first night race passed off without any problems or major complaints...

MotoGP: Estoril test return for 2008 Honda motor

MotoGP: Estoril test return for 2008 Honda motor

Honda hopes the issues with its problematic pneumatic valve engine have been solved after confirming Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa will test the V4 again after the Estoril MotoGP in Portugal next...

MotoGP: Exclusive James Toseland video diaries coming to MCN and Bennetts

MotoGP: Exclusive James Toseland video diaries coming to MCN and Bennetts

Motorcyclenews.com and Bennetts have joined together to bring James Toseland fans and MotoGP enthusiasts the chance to see the British star behind the scenes at a race weekend. Toseland starting...

MCN Daily 10/03/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

In episode 60 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we cover all of the action from the Qatar 125, 250 and MotoGP races yesterday, Chaz Davies was a shock winner at the Daytona 200 after a technical violation thwarted Josh Hayes and Neil Hodgson tries his hand at fire fighting.  Subscribe to this podcast with RSS  Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in...

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland 'happy and still learning' as he finishes an impressive sixth

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland 'happy and still learning' as he finishes an impressive sixth

Britain’s James Toseland put in a fantastic battling performance in his first ever MotoGP race to finish in the top six in Qatar. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider has been in outstanding form throughout...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner's title defence on track with win, James Toseland gets top six finish

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner's title defence on track with win, James Toseland gets top six finish

Casey Stoner’s title defence began in the best fashion possible by winning the historic night race at the Losail Circuit in Qatar by a massive 5.323 seconds. Rookie of the day award must go to Jorge...

Qatar MotoGP: Debutant Mattia Pasini makes dream start to 250GP career with a win

Qatar MotoGP: Debutant Mattia Pasini makes dream start to 250GP career with a win

Polaris world Aprilia’s Mattia Pasini made a dream start to his 250GP career by winning on his debut at a floodlit Losail Circuit in Qatar. The Italian rode a soundly throughout the race and looked...

Qatar MotoGP: Sergio Gadea takes emotional win as Brits Scott Redding and Danny Webb finish in top six

Qatar MotoGP: Sergio Gadea takes emotional win as Brits Scott Redding and Danny Webb finish in top six

An emotional Serio Gadea won his first 125GP race at the opening round of the season under the Qatar floodlights after a tough battle which saw reigning champion lose a clear lead with mechanical...

Qatar MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo dreaming, Valentino Rossi screaming

Qatar MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo dreaming, Valentino Rossi screaming

Jorge Lorenzo became the first rider to claim a debut MotoGP pole position for a decade in Qatar tonight as Valentino Rossi had to watch Yamaha and Michelin dominate the first qualifying session of...

Qatar MotoGP: Scott Redding hails 'amazing' debut 125 front row

Qatar MotoGP: Scott Redding hails 'amazing' debut 125 front row

Scott Redding became the youngest rider in history to qualify on the front row of the grid for a world championship GP on a memorable night for British riders in Qatar. The Blusens Aprilia rider, who...

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland talks stunning debut front row

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland talks stunning debut front row

British rider James Toseland came tantalisingly close to becoming only the third rider in history to claim a debut MotoGP pole position at the end of a dramatic qualifying session in Qatar...

Qatar MotoGP: Alex Debon takes pole position on return to 250s

Qatar MotoGP: Alex Debon takes pole position on return to 250s

Lotus Aprilia’s Alex Debon has put himself on pole position for tomorrow’s 250 race on his first attempt since returning to 250GP racing.   Debon, back as a full-time 250 rider, was a late challenger...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith toasts stunning 125 pole position

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith toasts stunning 125 pole position

Bradley Smith was delighted and relieved after he became the first British rider to claim a 125GP pole position in over three decades tonight in Qatar. The 17-year-old was the first Brit to top 125...

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland starts first MotoGP from second, fellow rookie Jorge Lorenzo pole

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland starts first MotoGP from second, fellow rookie Jorge Lorenzo pole

Britain’s James Toseland put in a fantastic performance in his first ever MotoGP qualifying session to start second in tomorrow’s historic floodlit MotoGP.  The Tech 3 Yamaha rider was at the top of...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith on pole despite crash scare

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith on pole despite crash scare

Bradley Smith became the first British rider to claim a 125GP pole position for 36 years tonight in Qatar as three Brits qualified in the top five for tomorrow’s opening race of 2008. But it was...

Qatar MotoGP: Alvaro Butista fastes once again in Qatar 250 second practice

Qatar MotoGP: Alvaro Butista fastes once again in Qatar 250 second practice

Aprilia rider Alvaro Bautista topped the timesheets in the second free practice session for the 250s this evening in Qatar. The Spaniard recorded a best time of 1:59.585, which was 0.3secs faster tha...

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland 10th as Casey Stoner tops practice

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland 10th as Casey Stoner tops practice

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner has ended free practice for tomorrow’s historic floodlit Qatar MotoGP clash with the fastest time. A 1:55.186 set with six minutes of the third and final session...