2017

Year: 2017

Month: ALL

Moto2: Morbidelli finally breaks the duck

27 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli finally breaks the duck

Franco Morbidelli has finally broken his Moto2 duck by doing what he threatened to do in the second half of the 2016 season and taking a dominant victory in the opening race of 2017 at the Qatar Grand...

MotoGP: Crutchlow lucky to escape intact

27 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow lucky to escape intact

Cal Crutchlow was lucky to escape injury last night in the opening race of the 2017 MotoGP season after not one but two crashes, with the second one a direct result of the initial fall for the LCR...

MotoGP: Viñales feeling incredible after debut victory

27 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales feeling incredible after debut victory

Maverick Viñales says he’s feeling incredible after a debut victory for the Movistar Yamaha team last night in Qatar, where he laid down a huge marker to the rest of the field by setting up a perfect...

MotoGP: Viñales delivers on promises with stunning race win

27 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales delivers on promises with stunning race win

Maverick Viñales has delivered on his preseason promises by taking a stunning race victory in the opening round of the 2017 MotoGP world championship, after a rain-delayed race start and a fight to...

Moto2: Morbidelli romps to dominant victory

26 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli romps to dominant victory

Franco Morbidelli has romped to an easy victory in the opening Moto2 race of the 2017 season at the Qatar Grand Prix, never potting a foot wrong to eventually take the win by 2.6 seconds over...

Moto3: Mir wins, McPhee second as normal service resumes

26 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir wins, McPhee second as normal service resumes

Joan Mir has taken a stunning victory in the inaugural Moto3 race of 2017 ahead of Brit John McPhee, resuming normal service in the lightweight class by presiding over a frenetic race at Qatar’s...

MotoGP: Cancelled qualifying gives pole to Viñales

25 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Cancelled qualifying gives pole to Viñales

Maverick Viñales will start the opening race of the 2017 MotoGP season from pole position despite not taking to the track on qualifying day, after heavy rain at the Losail circuit saw the entire day...

MotoGP: New schedule as heavy rain hits Qatar

25 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: New schedule as heavy rain hits Qatar

MotoGP organisers have been forced to put in place a new schedule for this afternoon’s activities at the Losail circuit, after heavy rain hit the Qatari track this morning. The new schedule will see...

MotoGP: ‘Little by little’ take Iannone to second

25 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Little by little’ take Iannone to second

Andrea Iannone has finished the second day of the 2017 MotoGP season in second on the time sheets, after ‘little by little’ improvements helped the Suzuki rider to find his pace after struggling on...

Moto3: McPhee not phased by chances of wet race

25 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee not phased by chances of wet race

British Talent Team Honda rider John McPhee says he’s not phased by the possibility of a wet season-opening race under the floodlights in Qatar – and that the forecast conditions might even give him...

MotoGP: Viñales remains on top despite free practice fall

24 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales remains on top despite free practice fall

Maverick Viñales has remained in control of the MotoGP action at the Qatar Grand Prix, finishing the second day on track still top of the timesheets despite a small fall during the first of two...

Moto2: Marc VDS duo Morbidelli and Marquez lead the way

24 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Marc VDS duo Morbidelli and Marquez lead the way

The Marc VDS duo of Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez have led the way on the second day of action at the Qatar Grand Prix, topping the Moto2 time sheets from a strong performance by former Moto3...

Moto3: Martin and Fenati double up for Honda

24 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin and Fenati double up for Honda

Jorge Martin and Romano Fenati have made it a Honda one-two at the top of the time sheets after the second day of Moto3 action in Qatar, topping the day’s only session to finish 0.172 apart and 0.170...

MotoGP: Crutchlow lucky to escape high speed oil leak

24 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow lucky to escape high speed oil leak

Cal Crutchlow says he’s lucky to have walked away from a high speed incident last night during the opening MotoGP free practice of 2017, when a loose plug caused oil to flow out of his LCR Honda on...

MotoGP: Lorenzo not taking too much from opening night fifth

24 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo not taking too much from opening night fifth

Jorge Lorenzo is keen not to take too much from his fifth placed finish on the opening night of action for the 2017 MotoGP season, coming away reserved despite the strong result ln his opening night...

MotoGP: Viñales not out to change much after flying start

24 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales not out to change much after flying start

Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales says he’s not out to change much on his M1 machine, after making a stunning start to the 2017 season last night under the floodlights, dipping well under the...

Moto2: Luthi edges out Nakagami to top day one

23 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Luthi edges out Nakagami to top day one

Thomas Luthi has edged out Takaaki Nakagami to top the opening day of Moto2 action in 2017, finishing ahead of his fellow Kalex rider by only 0.080 after two sessions under the floodlights at Qatar’s...

Moto3: Oettl a surprise at the top of the time sheets

23 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Oettl a surprise at the top of the time sheets

Philipp Oettl has made a surprise appearance at the top of the time sheets after the opening night of Moto3 action in 2017, finishing ahead of Joan Mir and Gabriel Rodrigo under the floodlights in...

MotoGP: Viñales makes his mark on opening night

23 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales makes his mark on opening night

Maverick Viñales has once again made his mark on the 2017 MotoGP world championship by topping the opening night of the season under the floodlights at Qatar’s Losail circuit, finishing ahead of the...

MotoGP: Rea rates the Ducati riders

23 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rea rates the Ducati riders

MCN has recruited the help of double and reigning World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea for this year’s MotoGP preview, to get some real expert opinion from a man who’s not only at the top of his game...

MotoGP: Extra sessions planned as rain set to hit opening night

23 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Extra sessions planned as rain set to hit opening night

MotoGP organisers are making contingency plans for an extra session tonight on the opening night of the 2017 season, with rain set to hit Qatar and riders preparing to take to the Losail circuit for...

MotoGP: Lorenzo going to Qatar ‘confident and optimistic’

22 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo going to Qatar ‘confident and optimistic’

Jorge Lorenzo says he’s going into the opening round of the 2017 MotoGP season ‘confident and optimistic,’ after coming away from the final preseason test at the Losail circuit last week delighted...

MotoGP: Rea rates the Repsol Honda riders

22 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rea rates the Repsol Honda riders

MCN has recruited the help of double and reigning World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea for this year’s MotoGP preview, to get some real expert opinion from a man who’s not only at the top of his game...

MotoGP: Rossi ready to race after ‘challenging’ winter

22 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi ready to race after ‘challenging’ winter

Valentino Rossi says he’s glad we’re finally at the opening round of the 2017 MotoGP season after a winter of testing that the nine-time world champion described as ‘challenging,’ after struggling to...

MotoGP: Qatar ‘not the best circuit’ for Marquez’s riding style

21 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Qatar ‘not the best circuit’ for Marquez’s riding style

Marc Marquez has admitted that the home of the opening round of the 2017 MotoGP world championship is very definitely not the place that he wants the season to be kicking off. A track where both rider...

Video: 42 questions with Alex Rins

21 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: 42 questions with Alex Rins

Which was his worst subject at school? Which is his favourite social network? What does he feel in a Grand Prix Sunday? Or which superpower would he like to have? These are some of the 42 questions...

MotoGP: Race control clarifies new aero rules

21 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Race control clarifies new aero rules

MotoGP race director Mike Webb has clarified the series’ new rules on aerodynamic fairings, after a number of teams rolled out new fairings at last week’s Qatar test in an attempt to get around last...

Moto2: Marc VDS duo set for title challenge

20 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Marc VDS duo set for title challenge

The Marc VDS duo of Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez say they’re ready to challenge for the Moto2 world title, after a strong series of preseason tests for the pair concluded last night in...

MotoGP: Qatar ‘won’t run in wet conditions unless every rider agrees’

20 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Qatar ‘won’t run in wet conditions unless every rider agrees’

Plans to ride on if it rains for this weekend’s opening round of the MotoGP championship under the floodlights in Qatar have not yet been confirmed, according to race director Mike Webb – and won’t be...

Moto2: Morbidelli tops shortened day, Nakagami stays in overall control

19 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli tops shortened day, Nakagami stays in overall control

Franco Morbidelli has topped the final day of winter testing on the Marc VDS Kalex machine, finishing ahead of Miguel Olivera and Thomas Luthi but unable to go faster than Takaaki Nakagami’s time from...

Moto3: Guevara fastest in high winds as Fenati top overall

19 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Guevara fastest in high winds as Fenati top overall

Juanfran Guevara has topped the final day of Moto3 testing at Losail, finishing 0.1 ahead of Ayumu Sasaki but unable to beat Romano Fenati’s times from yesterday as high winds hit the Qatari...

Moto3: Strong finish to second day for McPhee

19 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Strong finish to second day for McPhee

John McPhee has come away from his first full day of testing at Qatar’s Losail circuit pleased with a strong finish to the day, taking ninth overall and feeling positive with the pace at which he’s...

Moto2: Too much grip causing tyre problems for Kent

19 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Too much grip causing tyre problems for Kent

Former Moto3 world champion Danny Kent says that the design of the new Suter chassis that he’ll ride for Kiefer Racing in Moto2 this year seems to favour cooler conditions, after a strong opening...

Moto3: Fenati takes top spot on first full day at Losail

18 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Fenati takes top spot on first full day at Losail

Romano Fenati has topped all three sessions on the first day of action at Qatar’s Losail circuit to top the time sheets on the first full day of testing, finishing with a 2:06.690 to fractionally hold...

Moto2: Nakagami tops first sessions of Qatar test

18 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Nakagami tops first sessions of Qatar test

Takaaki Nakagami has topped the delayed opening sessions of the final Moto2 preseason test of the year at Qatar, finishing ahead of the Marc VDS duo of Frankie Morbidelli and Alex Marquez after rain...

Video: Ice Day with Loris Baz

18 March 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Ice Day with Loris Baz

While flat track racing has become the new norm for winter training for a host of MotoGP stars since Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez proved the benefits of it, Frenchman Loris Baz has taken the...