2011

Chaz Davies tops off dream season by winning Wales Sports Personality of the Year

14 December 2011 by MCN

World Supersport Champion Chaz Davies capped off what has been a remarkable year by securing BBC Wales Sports Personality of the year. Davies clinched the accolade after a public vote some him receive...

Laverty talks about his first Aprilia crash

30 November 2011 by Michael Guy

Eugene Laverty suffered his first crash onboard his factory Aprilia at Portimao yesterday – and it was a big one. The 25 year old Irishman who finished the day second fastest had a huge high side on...

Haslam from Laverty on day two at Portimao

29 November 2011 by Michael Guy

Leon Haslam maintained his position at the top of the time sheets after posting a 1, 43.2s lap time – 0.4 faster than his day one best. The BMW Motorrad rider continued to work through chassis and electronic changes onboard his 2012 spec S1000RR. “It’s been another good day, I was able to reduce my average time on the hard tyre and then when we used the softer tyre I went quicker even though I...

Haslam and BMW in control on day one at Portimao test

28 November 2011 by Michael Guy

BMW Motorrad rider Leon Haslam ended day one of the three day test at Portimao at the top of the time sheets. The 28 year old completed 56 laps and set a 1.43.6s best shortly before the circuit closed...

WSB make history with 10 year deal to race in Russia

25 November 2011 by Michael Guy

The World Superbike Championship will embark on a new era after announcing a ten year deal with Yakhnick Motorsport to bring WSB to Russia. The first race at the new Moscow Raceway circuit takes place...

Hopkins confirmed at Crescent Suzuki for WSB

19 November 2011 by Michael Guy

John Hopkins has re-signed for the Crescent Suzuki Racing team with a new deal that will see him compete in World Superbikes in 2012. The 28 year old American finished runner-up in the British...

Rea and Aoyama working well in Qatar test

16 November 2011 by Michael Guy

Castrol Honda riders Jonathan Rea and new to WSB, Hiroshi Aoyama are mid way through their second day of testing at the Losail circuit in Qatar. The two men have benefited from near perfect testing conditions with 33 degree air temperature and 50 degree track temperature. Grip levels at the circuit are also good due to the amount of rubber on track following the 8 hour Qatar World Endurance race...

Davies completes two day Aprilia WSB test at Portimao

04 November 2011 by Michael Guy

Newly crowned World Supersport Champion Chaz Davies made his WSB debut at Portimao this week riding an Aprilia RSV4. Davies was expected to make the step up to WSB with his ParkinGO team onboard a...

Camier and Crescent Suzuki form British WSB dream team

01 November 2011 by Michael Guy

Leon Camier will ride for the Crescent Suzuki Racing team in WSB in 2012 after signing a one-year deal with the British team. The deal is a dream signing for Camier, the Crescent team and UK fans who...

Video: Laverty, Melandri, Haslam and Rea testing at Portimão

24 October 2011 by MCN

Following the final race of the season at Portimão, MCN’s WSB reporter Michael Guy was given exclusive access to testing in which Eugene Laverty made his debut on the PATA Aprilia RSV4 and Marco...

A late comfort break?

22 October 2011 by Anonymous

Did Leon Haslam forget something or was it a late comfort break? My photo’s show Leon climbing back over to the grid just before the start of Race one at Portimao.

Crescent Suzuki poised to confirm WSB future

20 October 2011 by Michael Guy

The British-based Crescent Suzuki Racing team are expected to confirm their switch to WSB in 2012. As reported in MCN this week, the current BSB squad have been in on-going discussions with WSB bosses...

Video: Jonathan Rea testing WSB Castrol Honda Fireblade at Portimão

19 October 2011 by MCN

Jonathan Rea chatted to MCN’s WSB reporter Michael Guy during testing at Portimão. Rea set the pace for the majority of the day having set an impressive 1.43.0 time in the morning session before...

Portimao test times: Laverty stuns in first Aprilia outing

18 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Eugene Laverty fired a warning shot to his 2012 WSB rivals in Portugal today by setting the fastest lap time first time out onboard his factory PATA Aprilia. The 25 year old Irishman set an impressive...

Video exclusive: Eugene Laverty gets first ride on Aprilia RSV4

18 October 2011 by MCN

Eugene Laverty got his first ride on the factory Aprilia RSV4 he will campaign in the 2012 World Superbike Championship at Portimao this morning. The 25-year-old completed an out lap before returning...

Melandri tests 2011 and 2012 spec BMW

18 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Marco Melandri begun a new era of his distinguished racing career at Portimao this morning when he got his first ride on the BMW Motorrad S1000RR he will campaign in 2012. Having won the second race...

Picture exclusive: Laverty gets first ride on Aprilia RSV4

18 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Eugene Laverty got his first ride on the factory Aprilia RSV4 he will campaign in the World Superbike Championship in 2012. Riding at Portimao this morning the 25 year old completed an out lap before...

Portugal WSB: Melandri and Laverty secure final Yamaha 1-2

16 October 2011 by MCN

Yamaha end their official participation in the World Superbikes championship with a 1-2, thanks to Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty securing the top steps of the podium at Portimao. The team mates...

Davies confirmed to ride ParkinGO Ducati in 2012

16 October 2011 by Michael Guy

As reported in MCN last week, Chaz Davies will be graduating to WSB in 2012 onboard a Ducati with his current ParkinGO squad. The six time WSS race winner and 2011 World Supersport champion is set to...

Portugal WSS: Chaz Davies wins at Portimao

16 October 2011 by MCN

Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO Team) completed his championship-winning season by securing his sixth victory of the year at the final round in Portugal, making a strong start to lead thoughout the race...

Portugal WSB: Checa wins fifteenth race of season

16 October 2011 by Tom Cambio

2011 WSB champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) took his fifteenth race win of the season at Portimao, passing Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) with three laps remaining to take...

Laverty confirmed at Aprilia for 2012

16 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Eugene Laverty will become a factory Aprilia rider in 2012 after signing a two year deal with the Italian manufacturer this morning. It remains unclear the exact structure of the team, but it seems...

Portugal WSS: Kawasaki dominate with Salom and Parkes leading grid

15 October 2011 by MCN

Kawasaki Motocard.com team mates David Salom and Broc Parkes secured the top two positions on the grid, with Salom taking pole for the final round of the season. Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO), the...

Portugal WSB: Rea secures pole position at Portimao

15 October 2011 by MCN

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) secured a pole position start for tomorrow’s race at Portimao with a storming first lap in the final super pole session, going straight out to set the fastest lap and...

Aoyama confirmed at Ten Kate Honda

15 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Hiroshi Aoyama has been confirmed as the second rider to join Jonathan Rea in the Ten Kate Honda squad to race in WSB in 2012. Aoyama is currently competing in MotoGP with the San Carlo Honda Gresini...

Checa weighing up big money BMW deal

14 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Carlos Checa has until the tomorrow to accept a lucrative offer from the BMW Motorrad Italia team to ride the S1000RR in 2012. MCN understands that the 2011 world champion has been offered in the...

Checa takes control in first qualifying at Portimao

14 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Carlos Checa ended the opening day of qualifying at the top of the time sheets in Portimao today. The newly crowned world champion held off a late charge from Irishman Eugene Laverty who enjoyed one...

Aoyama to Castrol Honda – decision imminent

14 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Current Gresini Honda MotoGP man Hiroshi Aoyama is set to join the Castrol Honda squad in WSB in 2012. Long time GP rider and 250 world champion, Aoyama will line up alongside multiple race winner...

Biaggi cautious about weekend ahead

13 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi has revealed to MCN that he won’t know if it will be possible to race this weekend at Portimao until he has completed a full day on the bike tomorrow. The 2010 world champions has a broken...

Fourteen round 2012 WSB calendar confirmed

13 October 2011 by Michael Guy

The FIM has released the 2012 WSB calendar today with the series swelling to fourteen races next season. New to the calendar is the Russian race at Moscow International Raceway in August. Other...

Laverty poised for Aprilia future, but not yet signed

11 October 2011 by Michael Guy

Eugene Laverty is on course to become an Aprilia rider in 2012, but contrary to reports on Italian websites has told MCN that he is yet to sign any contract. The 25 year old Irishman was in advanced...

Chaz Davies crowned WSS champion

03 October 2011 by MCN

Chaz Davies was crowned World Supersport champion at Magny Cours on Sunday after a brilliant and accomplished season-long championship campaign. The 24-year-old Brit has proved himself as the...

Rea secures pole at Magny Cours

01 October 2011 by MCN

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) secured pole at Magny Cours with a new track best of 1’34.490. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha WSB Team) qualified in second place, whilst Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) and Leon...

Melandri to BMW Motorrad deal imminent

30 September 2011 by Michael Guy

Marco Melandri is expected to sign a deal to ride for the factory BMW Motorrad team in 2012 later today. The 28 year old Italian currently rides for the factory Yamaha squad but following news that...

End of the road for factory Yamaha WSB squad

30 September 2011 by Michael Guy

Any chance of Yamaha continuing its factory World Superbike team beyond the end of the 2011 season have ended. MCN has learned that team and staff have been informed that the operation will close...

Imola WSB: Checa wins race two as Rea retires

25 September 2011 by Liam Marsden

Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa moved to within a whisker of securing his first World Superbike championship with victory in race two at Imola after Jonathan Rea suffered a mechanical problem while...