2010 | Page 17

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden struggles for grip

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Baking hot conditions and a lack of rear grip left Nicky Hayden languishing down in eighth place on the timesheets at the end of first practice for this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP race in Spain. ...

Catalunya MotoGP: Fifth place for fast learner Ben Spies

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

American Ben Spies made a mockery of his inexperience of the technical Catalunya circuit this afternoon to clock the fifth quickest time on his first ever appearance at the Spanish venue. Spies...

Catalunya MotoGP: Arm pump no concern for Casey Stoner

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner was relieved to end opening practice for the Catalunya MotoGP today without a return of the arm pump issues that dogged him at Silverstone and Assen last month. The 2007 world champion...

Catalunya MotoGP: Casey Stoner slams Loris Capirossi

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner blasted former factory Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi after an incident during opening MotoGP practice in Catalunya this afternoon. The Aussie was on a fast lap on his factory Ducati...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy with early speed

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo was satisfied with his early speed after topping the timesheets in Catalunya today. The 23-year-old clocked a best time of 1.43.259 to make the perfect...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fastest on home soil

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s charge towards his first MotoGP world title continued this afternoon at a sun-drenched Catalunya circuit in Spain. The overwhelming favourite for the 2010 world title claimed top spot...

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith second in 125GP opener

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith ended an opening 125GP practice run in baking hot conditions at the Catalunya circuit in Spain today with the second fastest time. The British rider was once again the only rider to haul...

Catalunya MotoGP: Ben Spies waiting for future decision

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies says he can do nothing but wait to see whether he will move to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in 2011. The Texan will be the automatic choice to partner Jorge Lorenzo next season with...

Catalunya MotoGP: Casey Stoner undaunted by Honda talk

02 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner insists he won’t let constant speculation about his future distract him from trying to regain his winning touch with Ducati in MotoGP. The Australian looks certain to quit Ducati at the...

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hoping to mount stronger challenge

01 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden might have dragged himself closer to contending for a podium on a regular basis in 2010 but the American is still searching for a big improvement. Four fourth places in the opening six...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo aims to continue golden run

01 July 2010 by Mathew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can continue his fantastic form in 2010 as he chases a fifth win in seven races during this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP clash near Barcelona. Lorenzo has yet to finish...

Catalunya MotoGP: Casey Stoner hopeful on arm pump issue

01 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Casey Stoner is hopeful an arm pump issue that hindered his challenge at Silverstone and Assen will not strike again during this weekend’s Catalunya clash. The Australian...

Catalunya MotoGP: Ben Spies back in learner mode

01 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has admitted it will be tough to revert back to learner mode as he tries to continue his purple patch of form in this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP. Spies scored his first premier class podium...

Honda plan ‘super team’ for 2011

30 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Honda is considering assembling a star-studded factory ‘super team’ for 2011 in a desperate attempt to win back the MotoGP crown. HRC management confirmed recently they are locked in talks with...

MotoGP needs rider shake-up, says Colin Edwards

30 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards reckons a big shake-up of the rider line-up for 2011 would inject massive interest into the MotoGP world championship. Former factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi is being strongly...

Ben Spies could have handled factory Yamaha switch

29 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies could have handled the pressure of being promoted to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad as cover for injured star Valentino Rossi. The Texan will find himself in the Fiat squad in 2011 if intense...

Suzuki and Tech 3 dismiss ‘ridiculous’ Loris Capirossi

29 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Speculation that Loris Capirossi would break his Suzuki contract and take a Yamaha ride while Valentino Rossi is out injured has been dismissed as ‘ridiculous’. When Yamaha was seeking a replacement...

MCN World Exclusive: Rossi to Ducati

29 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will drop a transfer bombshell by quitting Yamaha to sign a shock deal with Ducati. Paddock insiders say the move might even be officially announced at the Catalunya GP this...

Honda and Ducati confirm new bikes for 2012

29 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Honda and Ducati will develop new four-stroke prototype bikes having opted to ditch their current 800cc machines when premier class rules change in 2012. Fears that the impact of the global financial...

Moto3 to replace 125GP class in 2012

29 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dwindling grids, high costs and a worsening quality of entries will spell the end of the 125cc world championship by the end of next year. MotoGP bosses approved a new four-stroke class called Moto3...

Valentino Rossi remains hopeful of Brno return

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi remains confident he will be back in MotoGP at the Czech Republic round at Brno in mid-August. The Italian is making good progress from the broken right leg he...

Assen MotoGP: Bradley Smith disappointed with fourth

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British rider Bradley Smith failed to score his second 125GP podium in a week when he had to settle for a disappointing fourth place at Assen. The Aspar Aprilia rider was second on the opening lap but...

Assen MotoGP: Poor start costs Randy de Puniet

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

A shocking start to Saturday’s Dutch MotoGP race at the iconic Assen circuit cost Randy de Puniet hopes of a season best finish. The LCR Honda rider had qualified in second place on the grid for the...

Assen MotoGP: Loris Capirossi deflated after Dutch disaster

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi struggled to hide his frustration after Suzuki’s dismal 2010 season continued at Assen. The veteran Italian struggled to a morale-crushing 13th in Holland and was just over a minute...

Assen MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso slowed by front-end issue

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizoso’s 2010 MotoGP title aspirations suffered a blow in Assen when the Italian slumped to fifth place in the legendary Dutch TT. The former world 125GP champion never looked in contention...

Assen MotoGP: Fantastic fourth for Ben Spies

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies’ brilliant first full MotoGP campaign continued in Assen after the Texan rode to a superb fourth place in front of nearly 100,000 fans. Starting from his career best grid position in fourth,...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner ends podium drought

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s long quest for a MotoGP podium ended in Assen when the factory Ducati rider claimed a hard fought third place in the Dutch TT, The 24-year-old hadn’t been on a premier class rostrum...

Assen MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa salvages surprise second

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa put nightmare preparations for the Assen MotoGP race behind him to finish in a surprise second place at the legendary Dutch circuit. The Repsol Honda rider looked out of sorts all weekend...

Assen MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo survives late scare

28 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo survived a late scare to coast to his fourth MotoGP win of 2010 and move a step closer to winning his first premier class crown. Only a third of the 18-round series might have been...

Mallory Park BSB: Ryuichi Kiyonari on pole

26 June 2010 by Liam Marsden

HM Plant Honda rider Ryuichi Kiyonari will start tomorrow’s first BSB race at Mallory Park from pole position ahead of Relentless Suzuki rider Michael Laverty. BSB championship leader Tommy Hill will...

Assen MotoGP: Dutch delight for Jorge Lorenzo

26 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo strengthened his iron grip on the 2010 MotoGP world championship with a commanding start-to-finish success at Assen this afternoon. Lorenzo grabbed the holeshot from Monster Yamaha Tech...

Assen MotoGP: Andrea Iannone cruises to easy Moto2 win

26 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Iannone obliterated the Moto2 field for the second time in three races today with a commanding victory at the iconic Assen circuit. The Italian, who romped to a dominant win earlier this month...

Assen MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in Holland

26 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith had to settle for a lonely fourth place in today’s sun-drenched Assen 125GP. The British rider made a solid start in his bid to add to his first podium of the season at Silverstone last...

Assen MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo exuding confidence

25 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo reckons he’s confident he can claim a fourth MotoGP victory of the season tomorrow in the 80th running of the legendary Dutch TT in Holland. Lorenzo preserved his 100 per cent front row...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner doubts victory challenge

25 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Australian rider Casey Stoner doubts he will be able to seriously threaten runaway world championship Jorge Lorenzo in tomorrow’s Dutch TT at Assen. The 2007 world champion will start the 26-lap clash...

Assen MotoGP: Ben Spies storms to career best qualifying

25 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies followed up his maiden MotoGP podium at Silverstone last weekend with a career best qualifying performance in Assen this afternoon. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider will start from fourth...