July

Year: 2009

Month: July

British MotoGP: Colin Edwards second after stunning fightback

27 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards produced arguably his best ever MotoGP performance at Donington Park after he clawed his way from the back of the field to claim his first podium in 13 months in a thrilling British...

British MotoGP: Randy de Puniet toasts ‘dream’ podium

27 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

French rider Randy de Puniet hailed only his second MotoGP podium as a ‘dream’ after he claimed third in a dramatic Donington Park clash. After an exciting 10-lap battle with Repsol Honda rider Dani...

British MotoGP: Braking blunder costs Jorge Lorenzo

27 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s world title hopes suffered a big setback at Donington Park yesterday when the Spaniard crashed out of the lead in the British MotoGP race. Having passed Andrea Dovizioso on lap five at...

Silverstone promises ‘cheaper and better’ MotoGP experience in 2010

27 July 2009 by Andy Downes

Just a day after the last British MotoGP round at Donington Park, the 2010 venue Silverstone has promised a cheaper, better day out for race fans next year with a full weekend of...

Toseland passing Pedrosa

26 July 2009 by iain

James Toseland passing Pedrosa on his way to a great 6th place

Yoshimura Suzuki win storm-lashed Suzuka eight hour

26 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Yoshimura Jomo Suzuki team won this weekend’s Suzuka Eight Hour that was battered by storms. Rain and high winds reached typhoon proportions, necessitating deployment of the safety car periods on...

Tech Blog: A question of weather

26 July 2009 by Gary pinchin

Warm –up today was wet, wet enough to mean that everyone got a handle on what would be needed set-up wise if the weather stayed miserable. Bridgestone tyres seem to work better after they have been...

Fans: Keep Toseland in MotoGP

26 July 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Rain soaked James Toseland fans hope his sixth place finish at Donington will be enough to keep him on the MotoGP grid next year. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider has failed to deliver the results this year,...

Casey Stoner on his third bike

26 July 2009 by Tom Webb

Casey Stoner on his 3rd bike during qualifying.

British MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso takes surprise win

26 July 2009 by Liam Marsden

Andrea Dovizioso takes his first MotoGP race victory. Colin Edwards finishes second and Randy de Puniet is third. What odds would you have got on that result for today’s Donington MotoGP race podium?...

British MotoGP: Aoyama takes 250GP win

26 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Hiroshi Aoyama strengthened his grip on the 250cc World Championship with a start-to-finish victory in difficult conditions at Donington Park today. With the track still wet from earlier rainfall, the...

British MotoGP: Redding third in five-lap GP125 dash

26 July 2009 by Liam Marsden

Scott Redding claimed his first 125cc World Championship podium of the season on the Blusens Aprilia in today’s five-lap dash to the flag. Even though Redding won the race last year, he was more than...

WSB promoters issue warning to Dorna

26 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

WSB series promoter Infront Motor Sports has issued a press statement, effectively a shot across the bows, telling Dorna to ditch any idea of introducing production-based 1000cc machinery alongside the existing MotoGP machinery. The reaction comes in the wake of a proposal last week by Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta, suggesting manufacturers might lease 1000cc production-based engines to privateer...

Prince Harry rides Ducati MotoGP bike

26 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Prince Harry has just completed the ride of a lifetime with a flying lap of the Donington Park circuit as pillion to Randy Mamola on Ducati’s two-seater MotoGP bike. The Prince, who bought an £8000 Triumph Daytona last year shortly after passing his test, looked thrilled after his experience, despite the track being soaked after earlier rain. Prince Harry rode in the 1000 mile Enduro Africa...

Brno WSB: Biaggi takes first win on Aprilia RSV4

26 July 2009 by Liam Marsden

Italian Max Biaggi has taken the first race win on the new Aprilia RSV4 at the first WSB race in Brno. American Ben Spies was leading the race on the fourth lap, ahead of Xerox Ducati rider Michel...

Good morning Donington Park: Picture gallery

26 July 2009 by MCN

The last MotoGP race at Donington Park will take place later today before the series moves to Silverstone. Check out our picture gallery to see preparations for the final MotoGP race at the...

Donington MotoGP Sunday Guide

26 July 2009 by Martin Raines

This is Valentino Rossi’s fourth pole at Donington on a MotoGP machine. His three previous MotoGP poles at Donington have all ended in victory. If Valentino Rossi finishes in the top three he will set...

British GP Tech Blog: Playing catch-up

26 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

After Friday’s rain-hit free practice, the MotoGP teams faced a race against time to fine the perfect set-up for Sunday’s race. There were two dry sessions on Saturday. Free practice in the morning it...

Brits top ten in Red Bull Rookies

26 July 2009

For the second time in eight days Jakub Kornfeil produced a perfect victory and with Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup rival Sturla Fagerhaug crashing out again, the 16-year old Czech goes into his home...

British MotoGP: When Harry met Nicky

26 July 2009 by Laura Kennerley

MCN captured the moment when Prince Harry smiled and chatted with a relaxed Nicky Hayden on the MotoGP pitwall. Ducati rider Hayden sprinted out of his garage when he saw Prince Harry walking towards...

Brno WSB: Spies on pole

25 July 2009 by Liam Marsden

WSB rookie Ben Spies continued his good form to qualify on pole for the two WSB races at Brno tomorrow (Sunday). Yamaha rider Spies dominated all three superpole sessions on his Yamaha YZF-R1. Factory...

Queue chaos at Donington MotoGP

25 July 2009 by Laura Kennerley

There were chaotic scenes at Donington Park as the number of fans arriving for MotoGP qualifying took organisers by surprise. Fans collecting or buying tickets at the venue faced massive queues at the...

Pedrosa makes wish come true

25 July 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Spanish MotoGP star Dani Pedrosa helped provide a sick child with the most memorable day of his life. Bike mad Dillon Chapman, 7, was overwhelmed when he met Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa in the paddock...

British MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects tough title chase

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi reckons his bid to win a ninth world title in 2009 will be one of the toughest of his illustrious career. The Fiat Yamaha rider starts tomorrow’s 30-lap British GP with a slender...

British MotoGP: Crashes blunt Casey Stoner challenge

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner admitted two crashes hit his confidence after he missed the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s British MotoGP race by just 0.044s. Stoner had already suffered a slow speed tumble at the...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith talks home pole position

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has spoken of his relief at snatching a stunning pole position for tomorrow’s British 125GP at Donington Park. The Oxfordshire rider feared he was going to be facing a tough day when he...

British MotoGP: Valentino Rossi surprised at Donington pole

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi said he was ‘surprised’ to have claimed his fourth pole position of 2009 at Donington Park this afternoon. A best lap of 1.28.116 set in the final three minutes of today’s qualifying...

Gregorio Lavilla at Donington MotoGP

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

WSB star Gregorio Lavilla is at the Donington MotoGP round this weekend. MCN caught up with him when he was sat at the back of the press office, dialled to the internet to catch up on the latest WSB...

Sylvain Guintoli throws away his crutches

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB Suzuki star Sylvain Guintoli continues to make rapid progress from the serious leg injuries he sustained at Donington Park back in May. He was back at Donington Park today, limping around the...

British MotoGP: James Toseland eyes home top six

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is confident he can challenge for the top six in tomorrow’s British MotoGP race after he equalled his best qualifying result at Donington Park this afternoon. The 28-year-old will start...

British MotoGP: Valentino Rossi snatches Donington pole position

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning the last British MotoGP race at Donington Park got a massive boost today when the Italian stormed to his fourth pole position of the season. The reigning world...

British MotoGP: Jorge Martinez confirms Ducati deal

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Martinez’s Aspar squad has confirmed today at Donington Park that it will move to MotoGP in 2010 with Ducati. After failed talks previously with Yamaha and Suzuki, the Spaniard also talked with...

Brno WSB: Second Free Practice times

25 July 2009 by Michael Guy

1 19 B. SPIES USA Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 2’00.119 2 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 2’00.132 3 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 2’00.244 4 7 C. CHECA ESP HANNspree...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith storms to home pole position

25 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith produced a stunning final lap to storm to pole position for his home 125GP at Donington Park tomorrow. The Aspar Aprilia rider looked like he might have to settle for second place after...

Brit teenager on pole for Donington Red Bull Rookies

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Brit Danny Kent secured his second pole in a row within the first 10 minutes of practice for this afternoon’s Red Bull Rookies Cup race at the Donington Park British Grand Prix. Kent quickly got down...

Day of Champions raises £177,000

25 July 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Day of Champions raised £177,000 for Riders for Health as the stars of MotoGP joined thousands of fans at Donington on Thursday. This year’s Day of Champions – the last at Donington before the...