January

Year: 2009

Month: January

Fantasy Road Race is go!

04 February 2009 by James Keen

MCN Fantasy Road Race in association with MCE Insurance is back and free to play. Register your team from February 4th to be in with a chance of winning this year’s top prize, a Yamaha R6 worth...

Video: Troy Corser stars at London Motorcycle Show

02 February 2009 by Sarah Carnell

New BMW signing Troy Corser is at the London Motorcycle Show at ExCeL meeting fans and helping out on BMW’s stand. The 37-year-old was having a boys day out with his son Kalani as well as signing...

The last time Sete was involved in MotoGP the boy was very good but valentino totally destroyed his confidence. Vale stated that sete would never win another race as long as he was riding and I believe what he said. It’s good to see Gibernau back, it’s very good for entertainment, we haven’t had much in the way of rivalry between the riders of late, so sete coming back is a bit of a boost to the...

Bimota to build chassis for new Moto2 600 class

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian manufacturer Bimota is planning to become a chassis developer for private teams entering the new Moto2 600cc racing prototype class. It’s a return to the roots of the original company for...

Paul Lewis returns ‘home’ for XR1200 series

30 January 2009 by Sarah Carnell

Former GP500 Skoal Bandit Suzuki works rider and Daytona Twins winner Paul Lewis is at the London Motorcycle Show at ExCeL today promoting the new Harley-Davdison XR1200 series, which he is racing...

See the Fiat Yamaha team launch with MCN

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha squad will launch its 2009 MotoGP factory team on Monday, and you can see all the pictures and video interviews on www.motorcyclenews.com You can view...

Experience key for Casey Stoner, says Ducati boss

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner will be a stronger rival to Valentino Rossi in 2009 because of the experience the Aussie gained in defeat last season. Factory team boss Livio Suppo believes Stoner will bounce back...

Jorge Lorenzo to be more conservative in 2009

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo will adopt a less gung-ho approach in 2009 to strengthen his bid to seriously challenge Fiat Yamaha team-mate for the MotoGP world championship. The 2008 Rookie of the Year produced...

Scott Redding’s team to launch Moto2 600

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s Spanish-based Blusens Aprilia squad will unveil a new Moto2 600cc contender in Spain next week. The bike, which the British sensation could ride in 2010, will be officially unveiled...

Matt Hoyle links up with top MotoGP trainer

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Maxtra 125GP signing Matt Hoyle has been put through his paces for a tough physical assessment by leading MotoGP sports therapist Dean Miller. Miller, who has worked with the likes of Wayne Rainey and...

Daytona entry lacking as deadline looms

29 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Just one day before the deadline to enter for the season-opening AMA superbike round at Daytona in March, there are just 17 entries across the entire racing programme. The number is expected to...

Engine failures to be penalised in MotoGP revamp

29 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi could find themselves docked points or relegated to the back of the grid under proposals to slash costs in MotoGP. Plans to extend engine life by at least 50 per cent...

MotoGP boss not fussed by Valentino Rossi’s World Superbike hopes

29 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s desire to race Troy Bayliss in a dream World Superbike clash has not angered MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta. The Italian’s pre-Christmas comments that he wanted to take on triple WSB...

Bradley Smith second in Jerez 125GP test

29 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s impressive start to the 2009 pre-season testing campaign ended with the British teenager posting the second quickest time at the Jerez circuit. The Aspar Aprilia rider slashed a full...

Fuchs Silkolene continue to back British Supersport

28 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The British Superbike series continues to buck the trend of gloom and doom of the global economic crisis with the announcement that the 2009 British Supersport Championship, will be sponsored for the...

Danny Webb confident ahead of ‘big year’

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP rider Danny Webb is confident he can make a big impact in 2009 as he prepares to ride a factory-backed Aprilia machine for the first time next month. While 125GP testing kicked off in...

Suzuki confirm entry in AMA Superbike series

28 January 2009 by Michael Guy

After wide reaching changes to the American Superbike Championship, Suzuki have confirmed that the Rockstar Makita Suzuki Racing team will compete in the AMA Pro Racing Superbike series for 2009. New...

Ben Wylie is latest young gun TT rookie

28 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

British Supersport Championship rider Ben Wylie is the latest in a line of talented young riders set to take part in the 2009 Isle of Man TT Races. The 25-year old from Market Drayton, Shropshire,...

Ten Kate Honda test Kayaba suspension

28 January 2009 by Michael Guy

After years of highly successful collaboration, Ten Kate Honda’s long term relationship with suspension specialists WP could be coming to an end. Ten Kate have won seven consecutive World Supersport...

Suzuki MotoGP team gets green light for 2009

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki will definitely race its factory team in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, killing off persistent rumours the Japanese company would join Kawasaki as a casualty of the global economic...

Bradley Smith stays in second place in Jerez

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith impressed again on the second day of 125GP testing in Jerez, the Aspar Aprilia rider holding onto second place. Smith slashed 0.5s off his best time from the first day...

Fantasy Road Race: Rider list

28 January 2009 by James Keen

This year’s MCN Fantasy Road Race competition kicks of on February 4th, but it’s not too early to start thinking about who you’re going to choose for your team. Here’s a run down of all the riders and...

Scott Smart in Superstock on a Ducati

28 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Former BSB rider Scott Smart is switching to the National superstock series, riding a Ducati 1198S for Winchester-based dealers Moto Rapido. Smart, currently in Dubai, is flying home early to attend...

Party with James Toseland

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is staging another one of his successful pre-season send-off parties ahead of his second assault on the MotoGP world championship. The double World Superbike champion will be...

Parkalgar WSB test news in brief

27 January 2009 by Michael Guy

Ten Kate Honda rider Ryuichi Kiyonari had two steering dampers one under the other fitted to his Ten Kate Honda in Portugal. Kiyonari likes his steering heavily damped and because he had to have his...

Sete Gibernau vital for Ducati in 2009

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali believes that Sete Gibernau can play a pivotal role in helping the Bologna factory reclaim the MotoGP world crown in 2009. Having dominated in the first 800cc...

Danny Webb made to wait for 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb will have to wait a bit longer to make his 2009 track debut while Aprilia continue to build up and deliver new bikes. Pre-season testing for some of the 2009 125GP grid kicked off in Jerez...

Bradley Smith second fastest on 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith made a bright start to his 2009 pre-season preparations when he clocked the second fastest time on the opening day of testing in Jerez. Making his second appearance for...

Crescent Suzuki ready to resume testing

27 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent Suzuki team boss Jack Valentine has quashed rumours suggesting the Verwood-based team is about to shut up shop. The rumours, the latest in a never-ending stream in these hard economic times,...

Croft future in doubt after appeal blow

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

The Croft circuit has suffered a massive blow today after losing an appeal related to noise pollution at the historic racing venue. The future of the Darlington circuit is now uncertain after the...

HM Plant trio get fighter-pilot experience

26 January 2009 by Gary Pinchin

HM Plant Honda riders John McGuinness, Steve Plater and Glen Richards, swapped two wheels for two wings to get airborne with some of the UK’s flying aces and experience life as a fighter pilot, with...

Picture exclusive: Scott Redding makes 2009 debut

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding has completed his first laps on the 2009 Aprilia that he hopes will help him build on his incredible rookie 125GP campaign. Redding made an instant impact in his debut season, the...

Picture exclusive: Bradley Smith starts 2009 preparations

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has started his 2009 125GP world championship preparations at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. After a cold start to proceedings, the British teenager was able to kick off his ’09...

Bridgestone looking forward to single tyre challenge

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone bosses say they are looking forward to the 2009 MotoGP single tyre rule with ‘great anticipation’ having agreed the final terms of a three-year tyre exclusive tyre deal with Dorna. Having...

Scott Russell finishes 23rd in Daytona

26 January 2009 by Marc Abbott

Former WSB and AMA superbike legend Scott Russell turned his hand to four wheels at the weekend, finishing 11th in class and 23rd overall in the prestigious Daytona 24-hour car race. Russell, with...

Matt Hoyle signs for Maxtra 125GP team

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider Matt Hoyle will join Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb in the 125GP world championship next season. As expected, Hoyle’s deal with the new Chinese-backed Maxtra team was...