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August

Cal Crutchlow better off in WSB for 2011

25 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow better off in WSB for 2011

Cal Crutchlow would be better off delaying his switch to MotoGP until 2012, according to a leading Yamaha boss. The British rider has become hot property since he won both races at the Silverstone WSB...

Valentino Rossi vital for Ducati's new 1000cc project

25 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi vital for Ducati's new 1000cc project

Ducati say Valentino Rossi’s development skills will be a priceless asset when MotoGP switches to a 1000cc four-stroke format in 2012. As well as winning over 100 Grand Prix races, the Italian is...

Casey Stoner critical of Karel Abraham's MotoGP move

25 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner critical of Karel Abraham's MotoGP move

Casey Stoner has criticised Karel Abraham’s Ducati MotoGP move. The Aussie said money should never secure a top MotoGP ride over talent after Abraham’s premier class switch was signed in Brno earlier...

Ben Spies targets career best result at Indianapolis

24 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies targets career best result at Indianapolis

Ben Spies has targeted a career best finish in this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider is hoping to better his stunning third place at the British Grand Prix in June...

Kevin Schwantz keen on full-time management role

23 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz keen on full-time management role

American Kevin Schwantz is hoping his foray into Grand Prix team management this week will be the platform to a permanent role in the future. The 1993 world 500cc champion will lead an American Honda...

Suzuki boss Paul Denning breaks leg

23 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki boss Paul Denning breaks leg

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP boss Paul Denning has broken his leg while motocross riding last Friday. Denning was riding in Dorset when he crashed and broke his fibula bone. He is still in hospital in...

Bradley Smith kicks off Moto2 preparations

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith kicks off Moto2 preparations

The 2011 Moto2 world championship maybe seven months away, but Bradley Smith has already kicked off preparations for next season. The 19-year-old was spotted testing a production Honda CBR600RR at the...

Suzuki dismiss downsize rumours

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki dismiss downsize rumours

Suzuki has dismissed growing speculation that its disastrous results will see the Japanese factory quit or drastically reduce its involvement in MotoGP for 2011. The factory GSV-R is undoubtedly the...

Indy announcement for Ben Spies’ factory Yamaha switch

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Indy announcement for Ben Spies’ factory Yamaha switch

Ben Spies’ move to replace Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad will be made official during the forthcoming Indianapolis MotoGP round. The Texan has been hugely impressive in his rookie...

Dani Pedrosa close to new Honda deal

20 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa close to new Honda deal

Dani Pedrosa insists he will sign a new deal with Honda for 2011, despite protracted talks not yet being finalised. Pedrosa, who finished second behind Jorge Lorenzo for the third time in the last...

Dovizioso’s Honda contract saga drags on

19 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dovizioso’s Honda contract saga drags on

Andrea Dovizoso’s quest to remain a factory Honda rider next season could end up in a bitter courtroom wrangle. MCN sources say lawyers could settle the Italian’s contract dispute with HRC unless an...

Valentino Rossi signing a big risk for Ducati, says Jerry Burgess

19 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi signing a big risk for Ducati, says Jerry Burgess

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons the Italian’s move to Ducati has heaped immense pressure on the Bologna factory for 2011. Rossi will partner Nicky Hayden next year in Ducati’s...

Spencer ’85 double impossible to repeat, says Valentino Rossi

19 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Spencer ’85 double impossible to repeat, says Valentino Rossi

Twenty-five years since Freddie Spencer completed a remarkable Grand Prix double when he won the 250 and 500cc world titles in 1985, Valentino Rossi has dismissed the possibility of that unique...

Kenny Roberts backs Valentino Rossi’s Ducati move

18 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts backs Valentino Rossi’s Ducati move

Kenny Roberts is convinced Valentino Rossi will be a big success for Ducati when he partners Nicky Hayden next season. Rossi’s decision to quit Yamaha was confirmed last weekend in Brno in a move...

Testing boost for Valentino Rossi

18 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Testing boost for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi’s bid to quickly master Ducati’s factory GP11 could be given a boost with MotoGP bosses contemplating increasing the amount of testing permitted ahead of next season. Pre-season...

LCR Honda close to new 2011 deal

18 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

LCR Honda close to new 2011 deal

Randy de Puniet’s LCR Honda squad is close to finalising an agreement with HRC to lease an RC212V machine for next year’s MotoGP world championship. Italian team boss Lucio Cecchinello has been locked...

Valentino Rossi expects to make Ducati debut in Valencia

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi expects to make Ducati debut in Valencia

Valentino Rossi expects to make his eagerly anticipated Ducati debut at Valencia in November. The 31-year-old is confident he will be released from his Yamaha contract to begin testing for Ducati...

Valentino Rossi angry at Yamaha fork ban

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi angry at Yamaha fork ban

Valentino Rossi has criticised Yamaha after he was banned from testing new Ohlins front forks in Brno yesterday. Already barred from testing a 2011 Yamaha prototype YZR-M1 following his decision to...

Valentino Rossi explains Ducati move

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi explains Ducati move

Valentino Rossi has spoken publicly for the first time about his decision to sign a dream deal with Ducati for next year’s MotoGP world championship. The Italian’s two-year deal with the Bologna...

Ben Spies happy with 2011 prototype Yamaha

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies happy with 2011 prototype Yamaha

American Ben Spies declared himself satisfied with his debut on board Yamaha’s 2011 prototype YZR-M1 in Brno yesterday. With Valentino Rossi banned from testing the new bike because of his big money...

Brno Test: Jorge Lorenzo fast on 2011 prototype Yamaha

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno Test: Jorge Lorenzo fast on 2011 prototype Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo was immediately fast on a 2011 prototype factory Yamaha YZR-M1 in Brno yesterday as the Japanese factory began plotting how to defeat defecting Valentino Rossi at Ducati next...

Brno Test: Casey Stoner second but no major breakthrough

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno Test: Casey Stoner second but no major breakthrough

Casey Stoner finished yesterday’s rain-hit Brno MotoGP test in second place but remains unsure whether new Ohlins front forks have solved some issues with his factory Ducati GP10. The 24-year-old only...

Brno Test: No fork boost for Nicky Hayden

17 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno Test: No fork boost for Nicky Hayden

Nicky Hayden’s hopes that a new Ohlins front fork would help boost his confidence in the front-end of his factory Ducati GP10 failed to materialise in Brno yesterday. The American opted to participate...

Brno MotoGP: Magnificent seven for Jorge Lorenzo

16 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Magnificent seven for Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo’s relentless march towards his first MotoGP world title continued in Brno with the Spaniard romping to a seventh win of 2010. The Fiat Yamaha rider was rarely threatened once he produced...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi puzzled at dismal fifth

16 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi puzzled at dismal fifth

Valentino Rossi was puzzled at his failure to come close to challenging for a podium finish in the Czech Republic MotoGP race at Brno. Optimistic that he could contend for a second successive podium...

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner satisfied but not happy

16 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner satisfied but not happy

A fifth consecutive podium finish left Casey Stoner satisfied rather than happy as his winless streak extended to 11 races in Brno. Stoner took third from Ben Spies on lap nine but by that time...

Brno MotoGP: Front grip issue costs Ben Spies podium

16 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Front grip issue costs Ben Spies podium

A front tyre grip issue that hit several riders in the Brno race was picked out as the main reason for Ben Spies failing to record a second premier class podium finish. The Texan was holding his own...

Brno MotoGP: Lucky escape for Andrea Dovizioso

16 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Lucky escape for Andrea Dovizioso

Andrea Dovizioso had a lucky escape today when he crashed out of podium contention during the Czech Republic MotoGP race. The Italian had passed Casey Stoner on lap three but just one lap later and he...

Ducati confirm Valentino Rossi signing

15 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati confirm Valentino Rossi signing

Ducati has made official the worst kept secret in MotoGP racing by confirming it has captured Valentino Rossi on a big money two-year deal. Valentino Rossi: ‘My work at Yamaha is finished’ As was...

Valentino Rossi: 'My work at Yamaha is finished’

15 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: 'My work at Yamaha is finished’

Valentino Rossi said the time was right for him to complete a lucrative switch to Ducati in 2011. Ducati confirm Valentino Rossi signing The Italian icon will partner Nicky Hayden in the Bologna...

Yamaha confirm Valentino Rossi departure

15 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha confirm Valentino Rossi departure

Yamaha have confirmed that Valentino Rossi will quit at the end of the 2010 MotoGP world championship, the Italian completing a big money switch to rivals Ducati, as was exclusively revealed by MCN at...

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cruises to seventh win

15 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cruises to seventh win

Jorge Lorenzo stamped his authority all over the MotoGP world championship again this afternoon with yet another convincing victory in Brno. The Spaniard became only the third rider in history to...

Brno MotoGP: Elias victorious in Moto2

15 August 2010 by James Keen

Brno MotoGP: Elias victorious in Moto2

Gresini Racing Moto2 rider Toni Elias took the win in the Moto2 race at this weekend’s Brno MotoGP round. Second place went to Yuki Takahashi for Tech 3 Racing, leaving Fimmco Speed Up rider Andrea...

Brno MotoGP: Rain dampens Bradley Smith’s spirits

15 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Rain dampens Bradley Smith’s spirits

Bradley Smith’s hopes of a first 125GP victory in 2010 were ended by a short rain shower just seconds before the start of today’s Brno race in the Czech Republic Starting on pole position for the...

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner hampered by rear grip issue

14 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner hampered by rear grip issue

Casey Stoner said his failure to overcome a rear grip issue cost him the chance to claim a front row start for tomorrow’s Czech Republic MotoGP clash at the Brno circuit. The Aussie logged the fourth...

Brno MotoGP: Ben Spies thrilled with best ever qualifying

14 August 2010 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Ben Spies thrilled with best ever qualifying

Ben Spies was just 40 seconds away from claiming a stunning maiden pole position in MotoGP after a dramatic end to qualifying at the Brno circuit today. A best lap of 1.56.846 clocked in the final...