Australian Grand Prix 2016

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reflects on 9th world title

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has been reflecting on his ninth world championship triumph and seventh in MotoGP after a dramatic rain-hit race in Malaysia. Third place was enough to clinch the title for the...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominates after Malaysia monsoon

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s stunning return to the MotoGP world championship continued in breathtaking fashion at Sepang, the Aussie romping to a crushing victory in a weather-hit Malaysian clash. Making only...

Sepang MotoGP: James Toseland humbled in downpour

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland had an instantly forgettable Malaysian MotoGP race, the British rider enduring a nightmare in the treacherously wet conditions to finish last. Woefully off the pace in the dry all...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo rues key crashes

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo was left to reflect on four costly crashes after his slim MotoGP world title hopes finally disappeared in Sepang. Lorenzo surrendered precious points with falls in Jerez, Donington,...

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa thrilled to end rain jinx

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa made a major breakthrough in a rain-lashed Malaysian MotoGP as the Spaniard celebrated his first ever wet weather premier class podium. Wet weather riding has been a real weakness for the...

Sepang MotoGP: Mistake costs Andrea Dovizioso podium chance

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso blew his hopes of a second successive Sepang MotoGP podium when he crashed out of third place in Sunday’s rain-hit 21-lap encounter. Surging through from 11th on the grid, the Italian...

Sepang MotoGP: Brave Bradley Smith claims second

25 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith rode through the pain barrier to claim a deserved second place in Sepang that secured the British teenager the runner-up slot in the world 125GP championship. Riding with two broken...

MCN at Estoril MotoGP

25 October 2009 by Colin Kennedy

Picture taken at Estoril motogp 2009 Friday timed practice. The gent in the pic is Graham Farquharson We are both from Aberdeen

Sepang MotoGP: Stoner wins race, Rossi claims title

25 October 2009 by James Keen

Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner took the win in a wet Sepang MotoGP battle, but third was enough to secure this year’s world title for Valentino Rossi and the Fiat Yamaha team. Repsol Honda rider...

Sepang MotoGP: Aoyama takes 250 win

25 October 2009 by James Keen

Scot Racing rider Hiroshi Aoyama claimed victory in the 250 race in Malaysia. Second place went to Spaniard Hector Barbera of the Pepe World team – his last minute surge for 2nd meant a photo finish...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith on the podium in Malaysia

25 October 2009 by James Keen

Bancaja Aspar rider Bradley Smith claimed 2nd place on the podium behind team mate Julain Simon in the Sepang 125 race. Bradley’s performance is enough to earn him second spot in the championship...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fears difficult race

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has cast doubt on his Malaysian MotoGP victory hopes after he was easily beaten by Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in today’s qualifying session. Lorenzo was struggling to post...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi hails ‘great’ lap

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi smashed the pole position record at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia to give his hopes of clinching a seventh MotoGP world title tomorrow a massive boost. A stunning last lap of 2.00.518...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith to ride with broken foot

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith will brave the pain of a small break in his right foot to fight for a third 125GP victory in Malaysia tomorrow. Smith confirmed he had broken his fifth metatarsal after...

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa struggles on soft tyre

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa admitted he didn’t get the maximum performance out of the softer compound Bridgestone rear tyre in qualifying today as he had to settle for third place on the grid for tomorrow’s 21-lap...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner happy with race pace

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner reckons he’ll be a serious contender for victory in tomorrow’s Malaysia MotoGP clash, despite missing the front row of the grid in a record-breaking qualifying session. The 24-year-old...

Sepang MotoGP: James Toseland dejected with dismal 16th

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s hopes of bowing out of MotoGP in style suffered a massive blow today in Malaysia, the British rider cutting a disconsolate figure in the Sepang paddock after he qualified in a...

Sepang MotoGP: Aoyama sets new sepang 250 record

24 October 2009 by James Keen

Scot Racing rider Hiroshi Aoyama set a new 250cc record at Sepang during qualifying and claimed pole for tomorrow’s race. Jules Cluzel took second on the grid for the Matteoni Racing team ahead of...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi aiming for seventh heaven

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

A seventh pole position of the season in Sepang today has given Valentino Rossi a great chance to clinch his seventh MotoGP world title after a breathtaking qualifying performance in Malaysia.

Sepang MotoGP: Rossi claims pole in Malaysia

24 October 2009 by James Keen

Fiat Yamaah rider Valentino Rossi has claimed pole position for the Malaysian MotoGP clash tomorrow and broken the track record in the process. Rossi’s team mate Jorge Lorenzo will start from second...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith on front row despite crash

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith secured his eighth front row start of 2009 despite a massive late crash during 125GP qualifying at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The British teenager was lying in second place and...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner uncomfortable but fast

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner might not have been entirely happy with the performance of his factory Ducati GP9 on the opening day of action in Malaysia today. But the 2007 world champion was still a major threat as...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy to bounce back

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo said he was delighted to quickly shrug off the disappointment of his Australian MotoGP disaster, the Spaniard bouncing back in impressive fashion in Sepang today. Lorenzo’s world title...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with fourth

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted he was content with setting the fourth fastest time on the opening day of the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang. The 30-year-old can wrap up his ninth world championship success in...

Sepang MotoGP: James Toseland bemoans engine performance

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland and Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards bemoaned a lack of engine power as both former World Superbike champion’s struggled on the opening day of the Malaysian...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo makes fast start

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo might have given up any hope of clinching the 2009 MotoGP world crown, but the Spaniard proved he will go down fighting after topping the timesheets in the opening practice session for...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in 125GP opener

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith made a fast start in searing hot conditions at the Sepang circuit today to clock the fastest 125GP time ahead of this weekend’s penultimate race of the 2009 campaign. A...

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa targets Honda improvement

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa reckons Honda must solve a corner entry issue with its factory RC212V if he is to have any chance of consistently challenging Yamaha and Ducati for MotoGP wins. The Spaniard, who is...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed by third place

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Clinching third place in the MotoGP world championship will mean nothing to former world champion Casey Stoner. The Aussie, who claimed a brilliant home success in Phillip Island last weekend, is...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is trying to keep a lid on expectations that he will clinch a seventh MotoGP crown in Malaysia this weekend, the Italian insisting he is taking nothing for granted. The 30-year-old...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo resigned to title defeat

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has conceded his MotoGP world title hopes are over, but refused to single out his four crashes as the prime reason for his likely defeat to Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo...

Aleix Espargaro to replace Niccolo Canepa in Sepang

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro will get another chance to gain crucial experience ahead of his first full MotoGP campaign in 2010 during this weekend’s Malaysian GP at Sepang. Espargaro, who will ride for...

Mick Doohan: Jorge Lorenzo will get stronger

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Five-times MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan believes Jorge Lorenzo will be a stronger opponent for Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in 2010. A first corner crash at last weekend’s Australian...

Valentino Rossi hopes to avoid Valencia decider

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has told MCN he hopes to clinch his seventh MotoGP world title in Malaysia this weekend to avoid a final race decider against Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. A ninth career...

Valentino Rossi’s experience vital, says Wayne Gardner

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Wayne Gardner believes Valentino Rossi’s vast experience has proven pivotal in the Italian’s 2009 MotoGP title fight against rising star Jorge Lorenzo. The Aussie legend reckons Lorenzo has simply...

Casey Stoner not worried by Sepang heat

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner is confident he will be able to cope with the punishing heat and humidity at this weekend’s Malaysia GP in Sepang. This weekend’s penultimate round of the 2009 MotoGP campaign will...