April

Jerez MotoGP: Danny Webb eyes podium challenge

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb has targeted a career first podium finish in this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez. The British rider’s confidence has soared after he led for more than half of last weekend’s Japanese GP at...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith expects fierce Spanish challenge

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith expects Spanish team-mates Julian Simon and Sergio Gadea to pose the biggest threat to his hopes of a maiden 125GP victory in Jerez this weekend. The Oxfordshire rider has had an...

Jerez MotoGP: Scott Redding looking for confidence boost

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Scott Redding is hoping this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez will help fire his season into life after a disappointing start. Redding finished outside the top ten in the shortened Qatar...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo aiming to build on Motegi success

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can build on his brilliant start to the 2009 MotoGP campaign in front of a massive home crowd in Jerez this weekend. His second premier class victory in...

Jerez MotoGP: Honda still not competitive, says Dani Pedrosa

29 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has played down his hopes of victory in this weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez, the Repsol Honda rider insisting his factory RC212V is still not competitive enough. The triple world champion...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects Casey Stoner backlash

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is expecting a backlash from Ducati rival Casey Stoner in this weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez. The Italian is still chasing his first win of the 2009 campaign having been beaten by...

Jerez MotoGP: Bridgestone investigate Dani Pedrosa tyre issue

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa will find out the result of a Bridgestone investigation in Jerez this weekend after the Spaniard managed to claim a podium finish in the Japanese GP, despite serious front tyre wear. An...

Jerez MotoGP: Honda and Yamaha await Moto2 engine decision

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda and Yamaha have submitted bids to be the exclusive engine supplier to the new Moto2 600cc four-stroke class in 2010, MCN can reveal. Kawasaki had been installed as early frontrunners but didn’t...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hoping for change in fortune

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden is hoping some good fortune will finally go his way in this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez after a nightmare start to his factory Ducati career. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner expects strong Jorge Lorenzo challenge

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner is expecting another strong challenge from Japanese GP winner Jorge Lorenzo when the European leg of the MotoGP campaign gets underway in Jerez this weekend. Fiat Yamaha rider...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner disagree on tyre rule

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner have clashed over the controversial single tyre rule introduced for the 2010 MotoGP world championship. Fiat Yamaha rider Rossi has been a vocal opponent of the limit...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland boosted by top ten

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland believes his first top ten finish of 2009 has given him the perfect platform to become a consistent top six contender in MotoGP. The 28-year-old shrugged off a disastrous...

Motegi MotoGP: Tyre gamble backfires on Danny Webb

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb’s gamble on running full wet Dunlop front and rear tyres backfired as he had to settle for 11th in the Japanese 125GP – despite leading for over half the race. The Degraaf Aprilia rider...

Motegi MotoGP: Brake issue slows Casey Stoner

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

A front brake vibration ruined any hopes Casey Stoner had of continuing his stunning start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship in Japan. The runaway winner of the season’s opening race in Qatar...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden unhappy with Yuki Takahashi

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden blasted home rookie Yuki Takahashi as his factory Ducati nightmare continued in Japan. Scot Honda RC212V rider Takahashi torpedoed Hayden out of the 24-lap race at just the third...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins in Japan

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo won only his second MotoGP race in Japan yesterday with a brilliant ride to defeat Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in a captivating Twin Ring Motegi race. The Spaniard, who hadn’t...

You only have yourself to blame

26 April 2009 by baldy28

With all the arguments being made about the cost of GP racing and racing being a boring spectacle I put the blame firmly in the factory’s hands for this. There is no way factories should be charging race teams ie 250 teams £800,000 to lease a race bike. Their biggest mistakes is pricing out the private race teams. 250cc & 125cc racing is some of the best you would see at a GP but because of...

Motegi MotoGP: Matt Hoyle’s Haojue team withdraw from 125GP race

25 April 2009 by Matt Birt

Matt Hoyle’s Haojue 125GP team has withdrawn from tomorrow’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. Undisclosed technical issues with new engine parts hand carried to the Far East were cited as the...

Motegi MotoGP: Moto2 engine supplier decision delayed

25 April 2009 by Matt Birt

The decision on which manufacturer will supply engines for the new Moto2 four-stroke class has been delayed until next weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta spent two days in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Qualifying scrapped after Motegi monsoon

25 April 2009 by Matt Birt

Torrential rain that battered the Twin Ring Motegi circuit today forced the cancellation of all qualifying sessions for the Japanese Grand Prix. This morning’s free practice sessions all took place in...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi stops Casey Stoner’s charge

24 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi stopped Casey Stoner’s early season domination by clocking the fastest time in opening practice for Sunday’s Japanese GP. The Italian lapped the Twin...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland fights back in Japan

24 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland proved that his motivation and determination haven’t suffered after a torrid start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship. A bitterly disappointing 16th place finish in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Moriwaki unveil latest Moto2 contender

24 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Japanese engineering specialists Moriwaki unveiled the third version of its MD600 bike today ahead of a proposed 2010 assault on the new Moto2 class. The latest version of the bike, which has yet to...

Donington British MotoGP round in doubt

23 April 2009 by Andy Downes

Donington Park operator Simon Gillett’s company Donington Ventures Leisure Limited has been issued with legal proceedings over £2.47million in unpaid rent. The legal proceedings mean Gillett’s company...

Motegi MotoGP: No new parts for Dani Pedrosa in Japan

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has confirmed his factory Honda RC212V will not receive an early parts upgrade for this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. Honda’s V4 has struggled on the new...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi concerned about gloomy forecasts

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has expressed concern that gloomy weather forecasts could seriously hamper crucial bike set-up time during this weekend’s Japanese GP. Forecasts for...

Motegi MotoGP: Loris Capirossi determined to bounce back

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Twin Ring Motegi specialist Loris Capirossi is determined to forget a disastrous start to the 2009 campaign in this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP clash. The veteran Italian crashed out of the top six in...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden eyes more Ducati improvement

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is hopeful he can continue his Ducati improvement at the Twin Ring Motegi this weekend in the first Japanese MotoGP race he will contest not riding for Honda. Despite a nightmare debut in...

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith confident in podium challenge

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith is confident he can mount a podium challenge in this weekend’s Japanese 125GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Aspar Aprilia rider had to settle for fifth place in the...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland looking for luck change

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP rider James Toseland is hoping his rotten bad luck will change in Yamaha’s home race in Japan this weekend. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider has had a torrid start to 2009 with massive...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner plays down Valentino Rossi contest

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has refused to place too much emphasis on his MotoGP title scrap with chief rival Valentino Rossi. Stoner’s crushing win over the Fiat Yamaha rider in the season’s opening race in Qatar...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner ready to ram home early advantage

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner is confident he can ram home his early advantage at this weekend’s Japanese GP. The 23-year-old made the perfect start to 2009, dominating the opening race in Qatar...

Motegi MotoGP: Practice to revert back to one-hour format

20 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP bosses will sanction a return to the one-hour practice and qualifying format at this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi, MCN can reveal. The Grand Prix Commission is expected to pass...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi anticipates strong Casey Stoner challenge

20 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has predicted another strong challenge from Ducati rival Casey Stoner in this weekend’s Japanese GP. Sunday’s race sees a quick return to the Twin Ring Motegi circuit for the...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa nearing 100 per cent fitness

20 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa is confident he will be much closer to 100 per cent fitness for this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Spaniard missed most of winter testing when he suffered left leg...

Colin Edwards hails impressive Casey Stoner

17 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards has hailed the current form of Ducati star Casey Stoner after the Australian’s dominant victory in the season’s opening race in Qatar. Stoner humbled reigning world champion...