2012

Dani Pedrosa signs new Repsol Honda contract

Dani Pedrosa signs new Repsol Honda contract

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa has signed a new two-year deal to remain with Honda’s official factory MotoGP squad until the end of 2014. As MCN reported two weeks ago, HRC announced Pedrosa’s new deal during...

Colin Edwards to test FTR-Honda in Mugello

Colin Edwards to test FTR-Honda in Mugello

Colin Edwards will test the FTR-Honda MotoGP machine during a one-day test session at the Mugello circuit in Italy on Monday. Although the experienced American’s 12th place finish equalled his best...

Bemsee Premier 1000 racing blog: Brotherly battles

Bemsee Premier 1000 racing blog: Brotherly battles

I guess it had to happen at some point: my little brother is gunning for me on-track. No doubt fuelled by revenge for me balancing him on top of the lounge door when he was five – and leaving him...

Poll: Who was the most exciting GP rider to watch?

Poll: Who was the most exciting GP rider to watch?

1993 world champion Kevin Schwantz is editing MCN this week – out on Wednesday July 18 – and his presence sparked a discussion about why he remains so popular despite ‘only’ winning one world...

Splitlath announce split with Marino

Splitlath announce split with Marino

An official Splitlath Redmond team press statement has announced that the Aprilia BSB team has parted company with Florian Marino. The statement reads: “The Splitlath Redmond team has parted company...

Dunlop wins opening Southern 100 race

Dunlop wins opening Southern 100 race

Michael Dunlop opened the 2012 Steam-Packet.com Southern 100 races with a blistering win in the Corlett’s Trophies 1000cc race last night (Tuesday). The MD Racing Honda rider quickly dispensed with...

Ducati deal hard to refuse, says Cal Crutchlow’s boss

Ducati deal hard to refuse, says Cal Crutchlow’s boss

Cal Crutchlow’s Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal believes the British rider can’t knock back the opportunity to join Ducati’s factory squad in 2013. With the chance of a factory Yamaha ride not...

Jerry Burgess: Cal Crutchlow an asset to any factory

Jerry Burgess: Cal Crutchlow an asset to any factory

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess believes Cal Crutchlow would be a valuable asset to any factory in MotoGP as the British rider contemplates a two-year offer to join Ducati. MCN understands...

Jorge Lorenzo’s engine concerns eased

Jorge Lorenzo’s engine concerns eased

Jorge Lorenzo’s fears that he might have to miss practice sessions or cut back on track time later in the 2012 MotoGP campaign have been calmed by his factory Yamaha squad. Lorenzo lost a nearly new...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner makes last lap blunder

Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner makes last lap blunder

Casey Stoner blew a golden chance to seize the outright lead in the MotoGP world championship yesterday when he crashed out of contention for victory at Germany’s Sachsenring track on the final...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Late mistake costs Cal Crutchlow top five

Sachsenring MotoGP: Late mistake costs Cal Crutchlow top five

British rider Cal Crutchlow saw his chances of recording another top five MotoGP finish ruined by a late mistake in yesterday’s German Grand Prix at the tight and twisty Sachsenring. The Monster...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with best dry result

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with best dry result

Valentino Rossi declared himself satisfied with his first dry weather top six finish of 2012 in yesterday’s German Grand Prix, but the Italian was still almost a second a lap slower than race winner...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Ben Spies slowed by rear grip issues

Sachsenring MotoGP: Ben Spies slowed by rear grip issues

Ben Spies is still searching for his first MotoGP podium of the season after he lost out in a rostrum battle with Andrea Dovizioso for the second time in eight days. A badly chunked rear tyre cost...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa relieved to end victory drought

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa relieved to end victory drought

Dani Pedrosa was relieved to finally end his long-running MotoGP victory drought after a dramatic ending to yesterday’s Sachsenring clash in Germany. The Repsol Honda rider was winless since last...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Luck swings back to Jorge Lorenzo

Sachsenring MotoGP: Luck swings back to Jorge Lorenzo

Eight days after his luck deserted him in the historic Dutch TT at Assen, fortune swung back in favour of factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo in Germany yesterday. Lorenzo was gifted back the lead in...

Oulton Park BSB: Hat Trick for Hill

Oulton Park BSB: Hat Trick for Hill

Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill celebrated his first triple win in the British Superbike Championship by claiming the final race victory of the weekend at Oulton Park ahead of Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes,...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Sandro Cortese storms to home win

Sachsenring MotoGP: Sandro Cortese storms to home win

Red Bull KTM rider Sandro Cortese claimed a priceless home victory in the German Grand Prix this afternoon to seize the lead in the Moto3 world championship. The 27-lap race was delayed after...

Oulton Park BSB: Sunday Race One, Hill Victorious

Oulton Park BSB: Sunday Race One, Hill Victorious

Tommy Hill successfully made it two wins from two at Oulton Park on Sunday when he dominated the second British Superbike Championship race of the weekend. Leading from start to finish, the Swan...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa victorious after late drama

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa victorious after late drama

Dani Pedrosa’s love affair with Germany’s Sachsenring track continued today after the Spaniard survived intense pressure from Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner to win for the first time since last...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Marc Marquez extends title lead

Sachsenring MotoGP: Marc Marquez extends title lead

Marc Marquez took complete control of the Moto2 world championship today, the Spaniard surging to a fourth win of 2012 at a sun-drenched Sachsenring. The Suter rider opened up a comfortable 43-point...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expected more than ninth

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expected more than ninth

Valentino Rossi admitted he was disappointed not to have capitalised on Ducati’s previous strong wet weather performances in Germany today after he ended a rain-lashed Sachsenring qualifying session...

Oulton Park BSB: Hill successfully converted his pole position into a race win

Oulton Park BSB: Hill successfully converted his pole position into a race win

Tommy Hill successfully converted his pole position into a race win when he dominated Saturday’s British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park. The Swan Yamaha rider led from start to finish and...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Marc Marquez claims Moto2 pole position

Sachsenring MotoGP:  Marc Marquez claims Moto2 pole position

Spaniard Marc Marquez will start tomorrow’s German Moto2 Grand Prix at Sachsenring from pole position after a rain-hit qualifying session this afternoon. Marquez left it late to post a best lap of...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner tops thrilling wet qualifying

Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner tops thrilling wet qualifying

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner will start tomorrow’s German MotoGP race from pole position after a rain-lashed but thrilling qualifying session. The tight and twisty Sachsenring circuit was...

Oulton Park BSB: Hill on Pole

Oulton Park BSB: Hill on Pole

Tommy Hill set pole position for Saturday’s opening British Superbike race at Oulton Park with a flying lap of 1m35.742s, the only rider to post a lap time in the 1’35s. With the threat of rain...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Danny Kent splashes to second successive front row

Sachsenring MotoGP: Danny Kent splashes to second successive front row

British teenager Danny Kent splashed his way to a second successive Moto3 front row in monsoon conditions at Germany’s Sachsenring this afternoon. The Red Bull KTM rider mastered treacherous...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happier with wet race

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happier with wet race

It won’t come as a big surprise considering Valentino Rossi’s struggle to make Ducati’s factory GP12 machine a consistent podium threat in the dry that the Italian won’t shed any tears if Sunday’s...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Mattia Pasini collides with mechanic in pit lane

Sachsenring MotoGP: Mattia Pasini collides with mechanic in pit lane

Mattia Pasini and a mechanic working for the AB Cardion Ducati squad were fortunate to escape injury after a scary collision in pit lane during this morning’s opening practice session at Germany’s...

Sachsenring MotoGP: First two corners costing Cal Crutchlow

Sachsenring MotoGP: First two corners costing Cal Crutchlow

Cal Crutchlow reckons he needs to improve his pace in the tight first two corners at Germany’s Sachsenring after he posted competitive times in wet and dry conditions today. The British rider was...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa fastest in practice

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa fastest in practice

Dani Pedrosa’s best lap of 1.22.357 in a dry morning practice session secured him top spot on the timesheets at Germany’s Sachsenring today after this afternoon’s session took place on a wet...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Danny Kent continues impressive form

Sachsenring MotoGP: Danny Kent continues impressive form

Fresh from a career first Grand Prix podium in Assen just six days ago, British rider Danny Kent was third quickest on the opening day of Moto3 practice at Germany’s Sachsenring today. The Red Bull...

Bridgestone explains Assen tyre issues

Bridgestone explains Assen tyre issues

Bridgestone has revealed the findings of a detailed analysis of the badly chunked rear tyres that struck Valentino Rossi and Ben Spies during last weekend’s historic Dutch TT at Assen. Rossi was...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dutch disaster spurs on Jorge Lorenzo

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dutch disaster spurs on Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo is looking to bounce back quickly from his Dutch disaster in Assen last weekend with a strong performance to get his 2012 MotoGP title tilt back on course in Germany. Last Saturday’s...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi pins hopes on Mugello test

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi pins hopes on Mugello test

Valentino Rossi is hoping a crucial test immediately after his forthcoming home race in Mugello will deliver the progress and improvements he wants to be convinced his future lies with Ducati. The...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow plays down podium hopes

Sachsenring MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow plays down podium hopes

British rider Cal Crutchlow has played down his chances of breaking his MotoGP podium duck in Germany this weekend. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider believes his lack of experience at the tight and...

Scott Redding in talks with Ducati for 2013

Scott Redding could join Cal Crutchlow on a Ducati MotoGP bike in 2013. The Bologna factory’s 2013 line-up could be dominated by fast and young British talent after Redding’s manager Michael Bartholemy had talks with Ducati management in Holland last weekend. Redding finished third to claim his third Moto2 podium in the last four races and he made it clear to MCN that he aims to secure a MotoGP...