March

Year: 2009

Month: March

Scott Redding improving in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding is confident he is finally mastering the new factory spec 2009 Aprilia 125GP bike after an improved performance on the second day of testing in Jerez. The Gloucestershire rider made big...

Matt Hoyle crashes unhurt in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rookie Matt Hoyle has escaped injury in a crash on the second day of 125GP testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Hoyle lost the front end of his Chinese-backed Haojue machine at Turn 10 in...

Danny Webb finding speed in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb believes he is finally getting to grips with the new 2009 factory Aprilia 125GP bike after a positive second day of testing in Jerez. The British rider has struggled in his short time on...

Simon Andrews sidelined after Mallory crash

26 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

MSS Kawasaki rider Simon Andrews missed today’s BSB test at Brands Hatch and will also miss Friday’s test at Snetterton after crashing at Mallory yesterday. The 24 year-old from Evesham crashed on the...

MotoSix Nations Challenge March 28-29

26 March 2009 by James Keen

The all-new MotoSix Nations Motorcycle Racing Challenge takes place at Donington Park on March 28-29. Riders representing England, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Eire will be...

Suzuki sad but not sorry at Ben Spies departure

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies’ stunning start to his World Superbike career has posed one major question. How must Suzuki be feeling at letting the American slip through its grasp, when all he wanted do was stay with the...

Julian Simon dominates in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon continued his domination of the 125GP pre-season in Jerez yesterday as the Oxfordshire rider ended seventh quickest. Smith posted a best time of...

Scott Redding searching for chassis confidence

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP sensation Scott Redding has admitted he still needs to gain more confidence with Aprilia’s 2009 machine after he ended the opening day of testing in Jerez in 10th place. Get all the...

Wall to split James Toseland and Colin Edwards’ Tech 3 pit

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The tension between Colin Edwards and James Toseland over the controversial winter crew chief switch will see a dividing wall split the pair in the Tech 3 Yamaha garage, MCN exclusively reveal. The...

Clue to James Toseland’s new look

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

This striking new black, yellow and white paint scheme on the Tech 3 Yamaha truck in Jerez gives a clue to how James Toseland and Colin Edwards’ YZR-M1 machines will look in 2009. The French-based...

Danny Webb confident in new Aprilia potential

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb is confident he can tap into the potential of Aprilia’s new 2009 125GP bike after he ended the opening day of testing in Jerez languishing down in 19th place. The DeGraaf...

Tommy Hill on target for more points in Valencia

26 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Tommy Hill has already scored points in three of the four opening World Superbike races this year and is targeting round three at Valencia for even better results. Onboard the Altea Honda CBR1000RR...

Shakey welcomes Hopkins to WSB

26 March 2009 by Michael Guy

The last time Shane Byrne rode against John Hopkins was in MotoGP in 2004 and 2005. Now four years on the reigning British Superbike Champion is relishing the opportunity of racing against the...

Photos from Qatar WSB

25 March 2009 by Gavin Stevenson

Here’s a few photos I took at the Qatar WSB round – great racing, especially the supersports! Facilities at Losail are non-existent, but at least it’s cheap (once you’re here!).

Nicky Hayden looking for more top speed

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati’s GP9 might be consistently the fastest bike in MotoGP, but American Nicky Hayden is still looking for more top speed ahead of the first race in Qatar next month. Pre-season testing so far has...

John Hopkins buoyed by Colin Edwards advice

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins has told MCN of his excitement and anticipation at joining up with the Stiggy Honda WSB squad for the first time having spoken to fellow American Colin Edwards about the move. Some of the...

Yamaha happy with new anti-wheelie strategy

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Daniele Romagnoli is confident a new electronic anti-wheelie system will help the 2009 YZR-M1 defeat Ducati’s factory GP9 this season. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Mika Kallio learning fast about MotoGP

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Finnish rookie Mika Kallio believes adapting more to the stopping power of carbon brakes is his biggest margin for improvement ahead of his MotoGP debut next month. Kallio, who will ride for the...

Watanabe first test on Relentless Suzuki

24 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Atsushi Watanabe got his first laps in on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki today at Kirkistown but any chance of meaningful testing was wrecked by torrential rain and freezing cold temperatures. The...

Dani Pedrosa absent from Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

New Honda test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi will replace Dani Pedrosa at this weekend’s final MotoGP winter test session in Jerez. The Spaniard is still recovering from left arm and leg injuries suffered...

Valentino Rossi confident for Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is confident he will end his winter testing campaign on a high at the Jerez circuit in Spain this weekend. The Italian has yet to top the timesheets in a...

Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has said he is revelling in his partnership with new factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden. The pair have immediately formed a good rapport together and have...

Yamaha boss ‘scared’ by Casey Stoner threat

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha’s MotoGP boss Masao Furusawa has admitted he is ‘scared’ by the threat Aussie Casey Stoner poses to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning a seventh premier class title in 2009. Despite a slow and...

MSS Kawasaki test at Brands Hatch

24 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

MSS Colchester Kawasaki have ditched plans to test in Spain this week and instead new signings Simon Andrews and Julien DaCosta are heading to Brands Hatch on Thursday for the initial shakedown of...

Ian Lowry rides TAS Suzuki superbike

24 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB rookie Ian Lowry gave the 2009-spec Relentless by TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000 its first shakedown test at Kirkistown last week and is out again at the same venue this week. Plans to test the new...

Neil Hodgson on the road to recovery

24 March 2009 by Henny Ray Abrams

Neil Hodgson was released from Loma Linda University Medical Center on Sunday, March 22, one week after being admitted with a collapsed lung, five broken ribs and a dislocated left shoulder, following...

Randy Mamola’s son scores debut podium

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Motorcycle racing has already produced its fair share of father and son racing successes. There was Kenny Roberts and Kenny Roberts Junior, Graziano and Valentino Rossi, Ron and Leon Haslam. And now...

AMA Superbikes: Suzuki dominate Fontana

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Rockstar Makita Suzuki team mates Mat Mladin and Tommy Hayden dominated both days of racing in the AMA Superbike Championship race at Fontana in California. On Saturday less than a second separated...

BSB blog:The battle of the BSB Yamahas

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

I’m not surprised that GSE racing issued a press statement, saying they’ve ‘postponed’ their planned testing schedule in Europe. Things have been very quiet on the Airwaves Yamaha front this winter...

Young finds new Triumph BSS backer

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

TAG Racing will field a new-look two-man Triumph team in British Supersport in conjunction with Paul Young Racing and Hinckley-based Triumph Motorcycles. Young will again challenge for British...

Colin Edwards stunned by Bridgestone endurance

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Texan Colin Edwards has admitted he has been stunned by the endurance of Bridgestone tyres as he prepares to wrap up 2009 winter testing in Jerez this weekend. Get all the latest MotoGP news The...

John Hopkins cagey on Kawasaki settlement

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins has refused to discuss whether he turned down the chance to ride the re-branded factory Kawasaki in this year’s MotoGP world championship. It has been rumoured that the Californian was...

Hayate team not looking for extra technical support

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The new Hayate MotoGP team will not work in partnership with an external engineering company to help develop the re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in 2009. Kawasaki will cease development on the...

Racing results round-up: March 21-22

23 March 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Each week we will have a full list of the racing results from the previous weekend. Click on the name of the championship you wish to see the results of. AMA SUPERBIKES, FONTANA, CALIFORNIA, USA, SATURDAY-SUNDAY BRANDS HATCH, KENT, SATURDAY-SUNDAY BISHOPSCOURT, CO DOWN, SATURDAY MONDELLO PARK, CO KILDARE, SATURDAY-SUNDAY MALLORY PARK, LEICS, SUNDAY ANGLESEY, WALES, SUNDAY CADWELL PARK, LINCS,...

Airwaves Yamaha cancel testing

23 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Reigning British Superbike Champions, GSE Racing, the team running the Airwaves Yamahas for Leon Camier and James Ellison in BSB this year, has announced the postponement of their European test...

Norasport Round One 450 Championship

22 March 2009 by suzi314

In the first race of the 450A group race James Addy had the lead, and after a few place changes with Andy Mitchell, he settled into the front spot for the latter half of the race with no challenge on...