Czech MotoGP 2016

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Estoril MotoGP: Valentino Rossi chasing grip

03 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Valentino Rossi chasing grip

Having solved braking stability issues that plagued Valentino Rossi in Estoril yesterday, the Italian blamed traction issues for costing him the chance of claiming his seventh pole position of the...

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo to go for broke

03 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has vowed to go for broke in tomorrow’s Estoril MotoGP race to try and reduce Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi’s title advantage. Lorenzo ended his six race quest for a pole position with a brilliant performance in today’s qualifying session, the Spaniard clocking a best lap of 1.36.214 to claim his fifth pole of the season. With Rossi one place further back on the grid,...

Estoril MotoGP: Casey Stoner exceeds expectations

03 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Casey Stoner exceeds expectations

Casey Stoner admitted his stunning front row start for tomorrow’s Estoril MotoGP race exceeded his expectations after he missed pole position by just 0.3s. The Aussie, who has missed the last three...

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes Portugal pole

03 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes Portugal pole

Jorge Lorenzo romped to his fifth pole position of the season in Estoril today. The Spaniard, who won his first ever MotoGP race at the Estoril circuit in 2008, produced a brilliant qualifying...

Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith storms to front row

03 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith storms to front row

British teenager Bradley Smith shrugged off a massive practice yesterday to surge to a brilliant front row start for the Portuguese 125GP. In bright and sunny conditions for this afternoon’s...

Ben Spies to race Valentino Rossi and James Toseland in Valencia

03 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies to race Valentino Rossi and James Toseland in Valencia

Ben Spies will make a shock Yamaha MotoGP debut in the season’s final race in Valencia next month. MCN learned that Yamaha has submitted an entry application to Dorna and the International Race Teams...

Estoril MotoGP: Casey Stoner faster and fitter than expected

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Casey Stoner faster and fitter than expected

Casey Stoner admitted he was faster and fitter than he expected as he ended his self-imposed exile in impressive fashion in Estoril today. Back on board his factory Ducati GP9 for the first time...

Chris Vermeulen signs Kawasaki World Superbike deal

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen signs Kawasaki World Superbike deal

Aussie Chris Vermeulen has signed a two-year deal to ride for Kawasaki in the 2010 World Superbike championship. As was widely expected, the current factory Suzuki rider penned his deal in Estoril...

Estoril MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied with eighth

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied with eighth

James Toseland kicked off the last part of his MotoGP career with the eighth quickest time in Estoril this afternoon. Shrugging off the bitter disappointment at losing his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 ride...

Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith escapes injury after heavy practice spill

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith escapes injury after heavy practice spill

Bradley Smith has been given a clean bill of health after a big high-side crash in opening practice for Sunday’s Estoril 125GP. Just under 15 minutes of the session remained when the 18-year-old was...

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tops MotoGP practice

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tops MotoGP practice

Jorge Lorenzo’s love affair with the Estoril circuit continued today after the Spaniard returned from the summer break with the fastest time in opening MotoGP practice. Lorenzo, who won his first...

Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith suffers big practice crash

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Bradley Smith suffers big practice crash

Bradley Smith suffered a massive high-side crash during opening 125GP practice in Estoril today. The British teenager had slipped down the rankings to tenth having earlier held third spot when he...

Estoril MotoGP: Rossi and Lorenzo to race in special livery

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Rossi and Lorenzo to race in special livery

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will sport a special one-off livery on their factory Yamaha YZR-M1 bikes in Estoril this weekend. The livery is designed by Centro Stile Fiat and Aldo Drudi to...

Valentino Rossi issues warning to Ben Spies

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi issues warning to Ben Spies

Valentino Rossi believes Ben Spies can make a big impact in MotoGP in 2010 but warned the American star his hugely anticipated switch from World Superbikes will not be easy. Spies will quit World...

Colin Edwards deserves 2010 deal, says Tech 3 boss

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards deserves 2010 deal, says Tech 3 boss

Colin Edwards thoroughly deserved his chance to stay in MotoGP in 2010. That’s the view of Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal after the Frenchman confirmed yesterday (Thursday) in Estoril that he will...

Bradley Smith to sacrifice 2010 Moto2 ambitions?

02 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith to sacrifice 2010 Moto2 ambitions?

Bradley Smith could be willing to sacrifice his Moto2 aspirations to ensure he remains with the influential Aspar squad in 2010. The Oxfordshire rider, who has won two races in a brilliant...

Ben Spies admits MotoGP switch decision was ‘difficult’

01 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies admits MotoGP switch decision was ‘difficult’

Ben Spies has admitted his decision to quit World Superbikes and move to MotoGP was a ‘difficult’ one. Tech 3 Yamaha delighted to capture Ben Spies The 25-year-old Texan has agreed to join...

Tech 3 Yamaha boss praises James Toseland

01 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha boss praises James Toseland

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal has praised the efforts of James Toseland after it was confirmed in Estoril today that the British rider will be replaced by Ben Spies in 2010. Toseland will move...

Tech 3 Yamaha delighted to capture Ben Spies for 2010

01 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha delighted to capture Ben Spies for 2010

Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team boss Herve Poncharal has spoken of his delight at the signing of Ben Spies for 2010. Spies will make Tech 3 the Texan 2 team as he joins compatriot Colin Edwards on board a...

Mika Kallio signs new Ducati deal

30 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio signs new Ducati deal

Finn Mika Kallio has penned a new deal with the Pramac Ducati squad for the 2010 MotoGP world championship. The 12-times GP winner has done enough to impress Ducati bosses having claimed a best...

James Toseland poised to unveil 2010 plans

30 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland poised to unveil 2010 plans

James Toseland’s departure from the Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP team will be confirmed tomorrow (Thursday). And MCN understands the 28-year-old will complete a straight job swap with Ben Spies with the...

Estoril MotoGP: Casey Stoner looking forward to return

29 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Casey Stoner looking forward to return

Casey Stoner has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of returning to MotoGP action in this weekend’s Portuguese GP in Estoril. As was first reported by MCN yesterday (Monday), the Aussie will be...

Casey Stoner to ride in Estoril

28 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner to ride in Estoril

Casey Stoner will be back in action at this weekend’s Estoril MotoGP clash in Portugal, MCN can reveal. Ducati boss Livio Suppo has confirmed that the 23-year-old will end his self-imposed exile...

Estoril MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

28 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi insists he will be taking nothing for granted as he aims to take a giant stride towards his seventh world title in Portugal this weekend. Rossi leads a...

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo looking to keep title hopes alive

28 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo looking to keep title hopes alive

Jorge Lorenzo reckons his main target in this weekend’s Portuguese MotoGP clash will be ensuring he keeps his world title hopes alive. The Spaniard returns to the scene of his stunning maiden MotoGP...

Valentino Rossi expects more Yamaha dominance

25 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi expects more Yamaha dominance

Valentino Rossi expects Yamaha to continue dominating the MotoGP world championship after a hugely successful 2009 campaign. The 30-year-old Italian, who has won six races on board the Fiat Yamaha...

James Toseland assessing 2010 options

25 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland assessing 2010 options

James Toseland is assessing a number of opportunities for 2010 after his release from the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP squad. The double World Superbike champion, who is expected to be replaced at...

Mattia Pasini crashes twice during Ducati test

25 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mattia Pasini crashes twice during Ducati test

Mattia Pasini ended his second test on Ducati’s GP9 MotoGP machine with glowing praise from Bologna bosses despite two crashes in the three-day outing. The Italian impressed on the factory GP9 at the...

Honda Moto2 engine not ready until early March

23 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda Moto2 engine not ready until early March

Honda will not deliver its highly-tuned new Moto2 600cc engine until the beginning of March, MCN has learned. Delays in development of the Moto2 engine project has seen HRC scrap plans to make...

Jorge Lorenzo is victim of his own success

23 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo is victim of his own success

Jorge Lorenzo’s eye-catching performances in MotoGP have made his job of defeating Valentino Rossi even tougher. According to Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio, Lorenzo’s success has only...

Colin Edwards deserved 2010 deal, says Yamaha boss

22 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards deserved 2010 deal, says Yamaha boss

Colin Edwards thoroughly deserved a new Tech 3 Yamaha contract because of his impressive performances in 2009, says factory boss Lin Jarvis. The Texan will stay with the Tech 3 squad in 2010 having...

Marco Simoncelli to race Aprilia in Imola WSB clash?

22 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli to race Aprilia in Imola WSB clash?

Speculation is increasing that reigning 250GP world champion Marco Simoncelli could make a shock World Superbike debut on a factory Aprilia RSV4 in Imola this weekend. The Italian is reportedly...

Randy de Puniet signs new LCR Honda deal

22 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Randy de Puniet signs new LCR Honda deal

Randy de Puniet has signed a new contract with the LCR Honda squad. Despite lengthy discussions about a move to the Tech 3 Yamaha squad as replacement for James Toseland, the French rider will remain...

Nicky Hayden expecting Estoril return for Casey Stoner

21 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden expecting Estoril return for Casey Stoner

American Nicky Hayden is confident he will be reunited with factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner at next month’s Estoril MotoGP encounter in Portugal. Stoner has missed the last three races while he...

Mattia Pasini back in test action for Ducati

21 September 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mattia Pasini back in test action for Ducati

Mattia Pasini has been handed another chance to impress Ducati having been handed a second test on board a factory GP9 in Mugello this week. The Italian, who has won ten world championship races in...

MCN in Indianapolis

21 September 2009 by Ken Aicken

MCN in Indianapolis

I Went to Indianapolis MotoGP 2009. Me (Ken) and my mates Stevie and Mark. This is me holding MCN. This is us with King Kenny. We saw him at the Indy Mile. These are photos of Moriwaki’s new moto GP2...