2008

Ben Spies: “I wish I could have raced Bayliss”

30 December 2008 by Michael Guy

American Ben Spies has revealed that he would have loved to have raced with Troy Bayliss sighting the Australian as one of his all time favourite riders. Since arriving in the WSB paddock, the three...

Ruben Xaus welcomes British young guns in to WSB

29 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Ruben Xaus has revealed that he can’t wait to race with the influx of young British riders entering World Superbikes next year after getting to see Tom Sykes, Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea up close...

Haslam under lap record in Cartagena test

26 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Leon Haslam finished off his 2008 season in the best way possible with a positive two day test at Cartagena last week. The 25 year old Brit got to ride the newly prepared Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR in...

Bayliss and Rossi agree WSB is more fun than MotoGP

25 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Three times WSB champion Troy Bayliss says he agrees with seven times GP Champion Valentino Rossi that WSB is more fun than MotoGP. Rossi made the controversial comments over the closeness of racing...

BMW focussed on 2009 World Superbike campaign

24 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Following the first official top teams Pirelli test in South Africa, BMW have revealed their intentions to be fighting for top five finishes by the end of the 2009 season. The German manufacturer will...

Bayliss tips Haga for 2009 WSB crown

23 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Troy Bayliss believes that Noriyuki Haga is one of three men capable of fighting for the World Superbike Championship in 2009. Haga has replaced Bayliss in the factory Xerox Ducati squad for 2009 and...

Kawasaki satisfied after first round of testing

22 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Broc Parkes and Makoto Tamada got their first taste of the 2009 specification Kawasaki ZX-10R’s they will be campaigning in the World Superbike championship in 2009. The factory Kawasaki squad now run...

Video: Biaggi satisfied with new Aprilia RSV4 at Kyalami test

19 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi finished the Kyalami test an encouraging eighth fastest onboard the all new Aprilia RSV4. The Italian remained satisfied with the progress he and the team had made, but sighted corner entry...

Bayliss: ‘I’d need £1million to race Rossi’

19 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Troy Bayliss has revealed he’s tempted by the gauntlet thrown down by MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi for a one off race on Superbikes in 2009, but he’d need a lot of money to do it. Bayliss who...

Sofuoglu talks about his blistering pace at Kyalami test

18 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Kenan Sofuoglu was in stunning form at last weeks Pirelli tyres test in Kyalami. The 2007 World Supersport champion has been reunited with the Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR after a tough season in World Superbike with the one goal of retaining the title. During the three day test, Sofuoglu was significantly quicker than his team mate and 2008 World Supersport Champion, Andrew Pitt, but the humble Turk...

Video: Rea on the pace in World Superbike Kyalami testing

17 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Jonathan Rea made his mark on the World Superbike paddock by finishing his first official test onboard the Ten Kate Honda fourth fastest. The 22 year old Brit lapped faster than his experienced team-mates Carlos Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari on the final day having spent the opening two days establishing a base setting for the Superbike. MCN spoke with the 2008 World Supersport runner-up for his...

Video: World Superbike Kyalami video blog

16 December 2008 by Michael Guy

MCN’s World Superbike reporter, Michael Guy spent three days at the first official top team Pirelli test in South Africa last week. With Noriyuki Haga riding the Xerox Ducati for the first time, Brits Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes on track, plus the first public appearance of the BMW Superbike there was a lot going on at the Kyalami track. Watch the video below to hear Guy’s thoughts on the test...

Video: First look at Haga on 2009 Xerox Ducati

15 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Noriyuki Haga completed a successful debut onboard the 2009 specification Xerox Ducati at Kyalami. The Japanese rider overcame three crashes on the first day to end the test third fastest and finally feel comfortable on the 1200cc v-twin Ducati. Although the 2009 bike doesn’t look any different to Troy Bayliss’ title winning machine it has a number of changes including new fly by wire throttle,...

Tom Sykes suffers broken foot on final day of Kyalami test

15 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Tom Sykes has broken his right foot and sustained tissue damage in his right shoulder after crashing at the end of the final day of testing in Kyalami on Friday. The Yamaha Italia rider who had been...

Kyalami Test: Michel Fabrizio finishes on top

12 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Xerox Ducati man Michel Fabrizio maintained his dominance of the three day Kyalami test by topping the time sheets for the third consecutive day. The young Italian has been in sublime form throughout...

Rea holds second with less than two hours of test remaining

12 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Jonathan Rea made the most of his qualifying tyre to jump up the leader board with a blistering lap first thing this morning, good enough for the second fastest time of the test in Kyalami. Rea has so...

Kyalami latest: Troy Corser becomes latest crash victim

12 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Troy Corser became the latest crash victim of the three day WSB test at Kyalami. The Australian BMW rider lost the front at turn eight in what was his first ever crash on the BMW S1000R. Fortunately...

Kyalami latest: Fabrizio sets the pace, Rea goes second

12 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Michel Fabrizio became the first man to break the 1m40s bracket with a blistering 1m 39.714s on the final day of the three day test at Kyalami. The young Italian made the most of the cooler...

Michel Fabrizio keeps top spot at Kyalami WSB test

11 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Michel Fabrizio held on to his advantage to end the second day of testing at the top of the table in Kyalami today. The 24 year old Italian set a benchmark 1m 40.7s lap at the beginning of the day...

Michel Fabrizio still on top in Kyalami

11 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Italian Michel Fabrizio became the first man to dip into to the 1m 40s bracket at Kyalami this morning. The Xerox Ducati rider topped the timesheets at the end of day one and took less than ten laps...

Fabrizio tops timesheets, whilst Haga suffers third crash of the day in Kyalami

10 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

The new look Xerox Ducati team suffered mixed fortunes at the first day of the three day test in Kyalami. Italian Michel Fabrizio ran consistently at the front throughout the day before putting his...

Latest lap times from Kyalami WSB test

10 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Despite two crashes this morning Xerox Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga is at the top of the time sheets mid way through the afternoon session of the opening day. Yamaha Italia rider Tom Sykes sits at the...

Second crash for Noriyuki Haga at Kyalami

10 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Noriyuki Haga has crashed his Xerox Ducati for the second time during testing at the Kyalami circuit this morning. In his first crash the former Yamaha man collided with Briton Jonathan Rea in only...

Haga crashes out two laps into Ducati WSB debut

10 December 2008 by Michael Guy in Kyalami

Noriyuki Haga crashed his new Xerox Ducati 1098 F09 on only his second flying lap after a collision with Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea. Riding the Ducati for the first time, Haga was cruising and...

Shane Byrne targets strong start to next years WSB campaign

05 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Shane Byrne believes that a strong start to next years World Superbike championship will be the key if he wants to fight for podiums and race wins in 2009. The reigning British Superbike Champion has...

Tommy Hill on the pace in first test back

04 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Tommy Hill finished the final day of the two day test in Cartagena in Spain delighted with his pace after dropping nearly a second off his day one lap time with a string of consistent 1m 35.4s...

Tommy Hill satisfied after first day of Superbike test

04 December 2008 by Michael Guy

Tommy Hill got his first taste of the Hannspree Altea Honda CBR1000RR Superbike he’ll be racing in WSB next season in a test at Cartagena in Spain on Wednesday. The 23 year old Brit was forced to sit...

World Superbike 2009 dates confirmed

04 December 2008 by Rob Hull

The FIM has released the final calendar for the World Superbike Championship for 2009. WSB will be a big focal point for British motorcycle racing fans with an influx of home-grown talent wading into...

Ducati ready for life without Troy Bayliss

02 December 2008 by Michael Guy

The Xerox Ducati squad have spent the last four weeks since the season finale in Portugal preparing for life without Troy Bayliss and are about to begin a new chapter with Japanese start Noriyuki Haga...