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April

A sample of Friday's Practice sessions

05 April 2008 by peter wilson

A sample of Friday's Practice sessions

A few pics from Friday’s (sunny) practice sessions at brands ready for Sunday’s (wet) race

Valencia World Superbikes: Max Neukirchner takes maiden pole position

05 April 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Valencia World Superbikes: Max Neukirchner takes maiden pole position

Max Neukirchner has taken his first superpole ahead of tomorrow’s World Superbike races in Valencia. The German just pipped his Alstare Suzuki team-mate Yukio Kagayama to the top spot with his lap of...

Brands Hatch British Supersport: Hudson Kennaugh to start from pole

05 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Brands Hatch British Supersport: Hudson Kennaugh to start from pole

After a less than emphatic first day on practice, Hudson Kennaugh appears to have found a winning setup up jumping from 17th in the first free practice session from yesterday up to the front in the...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne tops rain-hit qualifying

05 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne tops rain-hit qualifying

Shane Byrne will head-off from the first position on the grid tomorrow with a blisteringly fast pole lap that was some three tenths faster than anyone else in the field. Byrne set a best of 1:25.832...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Michael Laverty and Relentless Suzuki's electronic demons

05 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Michael Laverty and Relentless Suzuki's electronic demons

Relentless Suzuki’s Michael Laverty is finding it difficult to replicate his outstanding form in pre-season testing at the British Superbike season opener due to an electronics issue. The current...

Valencia World Supersport: Craig Jones stays on front row, Jonathan Rea takes sixth

05 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Valencia World Supersport: Craig Jones stays on front row, Jonathan Rea takes sixth

Craig Jones remained on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s World Supersport race at Valencia after showing no ill effects of his high speed crash this morning. Like a number of other riders,...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Bradley Smith pays BSB a visit

05 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Bradley Smith pays BSB a visit

Looking like he was still dressed for the sunny Spanish conditions after returning from last weekend’s 125 GP race at Jerez, Bradley Smith took time out to visit Brands Hatch for this weekend’s...

Valencia World Superbikes: Carlos Checa takes top spot in second qualifying

05 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Valencia World Superbikes: Carlos Checa takes top spot in second qualifying

Carlos Checa dislodged the dominant Suzuki pairing of Max Neukirchner and Yukio Kagayama to take provisional pole position in another fiercely contested qualifying session at Valencia this...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne and Cal Crutchlow lead Saturday practice

05 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne and Cal Crutchlow lead Saturday practice

You wouldn’t have been able to separate HM Plant Honda’s Cal Crutchlow and Shane Byrne aboard the Airwaves Ducati with a fag paper in this morning’s third free practice session of the weekend. Both...

Valencia World Supersport: Joan Lascorz dominant in second free practice

05 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Valencia World Supersport: Joan Lascorz dominant in second free practice

Spaniard Joan Lascorz dipped under the Valencia track record on his way to setting the fastest time in this morning’s second Free Practice session. Lascorz has already impressed in 2008 by taking a...

Valencia World Supersport: Craig Jones suffers big crash in Saturday free practice

05 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Valencia World Supersport: Craig Jones suffers big crash in Saturday free practice

Top Brit Craig Jones walked away from a high speed crash just minutes into the second free practice session this morning. The 22-year-old tucked the front at the fast right kink before the hairpin...

Jerez just the best GP

04 April 2008 by Trevor

Jerez just the best GP

Just got back from a wicked week at the Jerez GP, if you’ve not been, get yourself there next year. Your seats are so close to the track you can take pics like these even on a poxy camera like mine.

Brands Hatch BSB: Airwaves Ducati wary of first weekend form

04 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Brands Hatch BSB: Airwaves Ducati wary of first weekend form

Airwaves Ducati Team Manager Colin Wright told MCN he’s happy with how things have gone so far in testing and the first day of the opening race weekend at Brands Hatch, but he isn’t confident for the...

Suzuki dominate fiercely contested first qualifying

04 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Suzuki dominate fiercely contested first qualifying

Less than one second separated the top 15 riders in Friday first qualifying with the Suzuki pairing of Max Neukirchner and Yukio Kagayama securing the top two spots on the provisional front row.

British Superbikes: Shane Byrne sets Brands Hatch pace

04 April 2008 by Rob Hull

British Superbikes: Shane Byrne sets Brands Hatch pace

He was tipped to be at the top this season and so far Shane Byrne hasn’t disappointed, dominating the first day of riding at Brands Hatch. Video: Airwaves Ducati testing in Almeria Byrne, who has...

British Superbikes: Late Spain test a success for Hydrex Bike Animal Honda

04 April 2008 by Rob Hull

British Superbikes: Late Spain test a success for Hydrex Bike Animal Honda

The Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team has managed to return from a late testing spell out in Spain in time for Brands, and confident to be on the pace. The team looked to be heading into the first race...

Andrew Pitt Secures top spot, Craig Jones takes second

04 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Andrew Pitt Secures top spot, Craig Jones takes second

Phillip Island race winner Andrew Pitt made his intentions clear by topping the time sheets in first qualifying with a lap 2/10th under the provisos Supersport circuit record. Pitt’s time of 1m36.773...

Yukio Kagayama back with a bang

04 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Yukio Kagayama back with a bang

Alstare Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama made an impressive return to the WSB paddock by posting the fastest time in this mornings free practice session. Kagayama broke his collarbone at Qatar in February and...

Strong start for Brits at Valencia

04 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Strong start for Brits at Valencia

Craig Jones, Jonathan Rea and Chris Walker made it three British riders in the top ten during the opening World Supersport Free Practice session at Valencia this morning. Parkalgar Honda rider, Jones...

Pre-race tips !

04 April 2008 by Fleetham

Pre-race tips !

I took this picutre of my boyfriend Russell giving this bloke some racing tips at the Moto GP in Jerez last weekend! I think he must of been one of Rossi’s mechanics, it seemed to work as Valentino...

MotoGP: Michael Schumacher plays down wild card rumour

03 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Michael Schumacher plays down wild card rumour

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has again ruled out making a shock wild card appearance in a MotoGP race in 2008 after he made a surprise appearance on Ducati’s GP8 machine in Mugello today. The...

MotoGP: ‘Fire’ won’t affect Estoril TV coverage

03 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: ‘Fire’ won’t affect Estoril TV coverage

TV coverage of next weekend’s Estoril GP in Portugal is expected to be unaffected after a vital Dorna production truck suffered extensive damage at last weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez. The hi-tech...

James Toseland Superstar

02 April 2008 by Guido

James Toseland Superstar

Double world superbike star gone Moto GP star James Toseland has impressed us all with his two 6th places at Qatar and Jerez. The Yamaha Tech 3 team couldn’t be happier with his performance even when...

Leon Haslam answers your questions here live

02 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Leon Haslam answers your questions here live

If you could ask a question to British Superbike star Leon Haslam, what would you say? Well now you can. Click back here tomorrow and you’ll be able to see a live web chat with the HM Plant Honda...

World Superbikes: Max Biaggi to race in Valencia

02 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

World Superbikes: Max Biaggi to race in Valencia

Injured Italian Max Biaggi has confirmed this morning that he will brave the pain of his broken left wrist to try and compete in this weekend’s Valencia World Superbike clash. Max Biaggi breaks wrist...

MotoGP: Jerry Burgess impressed with Jorge Lorenzo

02 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Jerry Burgess impressed with Jorge Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons MotoGP rookie sensation Jorge Lorenzo is destined for a great premier class future after being impressed by the Spaniard’s start to 2008. The double...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy to be competitive

02 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy to be competitive

Valentino Rossi has spoken of his joy and relief that his 2008 factory Yamaha machine is a vast improvement on last year after he recorded his 100th MotoGP podium in Jerez. Rossi had a torrid time in...

MotoGP: Honda boss surprised by Andrea Dovizioso

02 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Honda boss surprised by Andrea Dovizioso

Andrea Dovizioso’s new MotoGP boss has admitted he has been surprised by the Italian’s start to his rookie premier class campaign. The former world 125 champion started 2008 in brilliant fashion,...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden grateful for Michelin recovery

02 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden grateful for Michelin recovery

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has praised Michelin after the French factory continued its 2008 retaliation with victory in last weekend’s Spanish GP. Hayden’s factory Honda team opted to stay on...

MotoGP: Suzuki oppose performance restrictions

02 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Suzuki oppose performance restrictions

Suzuki will oppose any future plans to introduce further performance restrictions in the MotoGP world championship. Further reducing the fuel tank capacity from 21 litres and introducing a rev limit...

Video: James Toseland's Jerez video diary

01 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Video: James Toseland's Jerez video diary

In the second of his exclusive MotoGP video diaries, James Toseland reports back after a weekend in Jerez that saw him take sixth place despite suffering from a heavy bout of Bronchitis. Check out the...

MCN Daily 01/04/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

01 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 76 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show Casey Stoner has finally made a breakthrough while testing at Jerez, Valentino Rossi is happy with his progress with Bridgstone and John Hopkins is impressed by Kawasaki’s new Screamer engine.  Subscribe to this podcast with RSS  Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in just three minutes then email us...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi wary of Dani Pedrosa threat

01 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi wary of Dani Pedrosa threat

Valentino Rossi has backed Spanish GP winner Dani Pedrosa to pose a bigger MotoGP title threat than factory Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in 2008. Rossi believes Pedrosa’s better premier class...

Positive first test on 2008 Honda Fireblade for Gregorio Lavilla

01 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Positive first test on 2008 Honda Fireblade for Gregorio Lavilla

Gregorio Lavilla completed a successful two day test onboard the all new 2008 specification VentAxia VK Honda CBR1000RR this week. Riding at the Albacete circuit in central Spain on Sunday and...

Jonathan Rea fired up for Valencia

01 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Jonathan Rea fired up for Valencia

Jonathan Rea is targeting an improvement in his qualifying performance at this weekend’s third round of the World Supersport championship at Valencia. Rea showed impressive race pace at Phillip...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner makes Jerez breakthrough

01 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Casey Stoner makes Jerez breakthrough

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner had mixed emotions after he made a major set-up breakthrough during a one-day test session in Jerez yesterday. Relieved to have big progress with the set-up issues...