2012

Year: 2012

Month: ALL

Colin Edwards poised for mid-season machine change?

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has cast doubt on the future of the Suter-BMW CRT project after revealing to MCN that his Forward Racing squad could be poised for a mid-season machinery switch after a disastrous start...

Danny Kent and Sandro Cortese told to race hard but fair

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Danny Kent and Red Bull KTM Moto3 team-mate Sandro Cortese have been told to avoid a repeat of the aggressive battle they engaged in during a thrilling Moto3 race in Assen last...

Dani Pedrosa to sign new Honda deal by Mugello?

03 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

The MotoGP paddock might be awash with rumours that Valentino Rossi will be back in Honda’s official factory squad in 2013, but HRC bosses publicly at least are saying that a new deal for Dani Pedrosa...

Scott Redding ecstatic with 2012 form

03 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding believes he will be a consistent podium threat for the remainder of this year’s Moto2 world championship after the British rider’s brilliant start to 2012. A bitterly disappointing 2011...

Nicky Hayden unsure Cal Crutchlow’s style will suit Ducati

03 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden says he is not convinced that Cal Crutchlow’s aggressive and all-action riding style will match with Ducati’s factory Desmosedici like some people have predicted. Crutchlow himself has...

Lorenzo boss: Alvaro Bautista’s punishment justified

02 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha team boss Wilco Zeelenberg believes the decision to relegate Alvaro Bautista to the back of the grid for this weekend’s German Grand Prix is fully justified. Bautista...

Honda returns to Dakar

02 July 2012 by Andy Davidson

Honda has announced it’s to re-enter the Dakar Rally after 23 years of absence. The four-man team including Brit Sam Sunderland will ride a prototype based on Honda’s CRF450X developed by HRC. From...

Cortese criticised for Kent collision in Moto3 thriller

02 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Red Bull KTM rider Sandro Cortese’s aggressive tactics in last weekend’s Assen Moto3 race have been criticised after he hit team-mate Danny Kent on more than one occasion in a thrilling podium...

Aragon WSB Race Two; Melandri wins epic race two battle from Laverty and Davies

01 July 2012 by Michael Guy

BMW Motorrad rider Marco Melandri rode a stunning race to finally come out on top of an intense four rider battle for the win in race two at Aragon today. The 28 year old had to use every piece of his...

Aragon WSB Race One: Biaggi secures classy win ahead of Melandri

01 July 2012 by Michael Guy

Max Biaggi extended his lead at the top of the WSB championship standings with another race win at Aragon. His victory made it three in a row for the 41 year old Italian after his impressive double at...

Assen MotoGP: Valentino Rossi 13th after rear tyre disaster

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi went from challenging for his best dry weather result of 2012 to finishing in a disastrous 13th after he suffered a major rear tyre failure in Assen. Rossi was locked in a battle for...

Assen MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista sorry for Jorge Lorenzo collision

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista could not have been more apologetic after a reckless move at the first corner in yesterday’s Dutch TT at Assen wiped out compatriot Jorge Lorenzo. Bautista made a complete hash of...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner pounces for vital victory

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner hauled himself right back into contention to retire from MotoGP at the end of 2012 as world champion after he triumphed in a controversial Dutch TT at Assen yesterday. With Jorge Lorenzo...

Assen MotoGP: Ben Spies denied podium by serious rear tyre issue

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies was cruelly denied a first podium of 2012 in yesterday’s Dutch TT at Assen after being forced to slow dramatically by a serious rear tyre issue in the final stages of the 26-lap clash. Spies...

Assen MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow reflects on lost podium chance

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow found himself fighting his way through into the top six from the back of the field for the second MotoGP race in succession at the end of an eventful encounter in Assen. The 26-year-old...

Aragon WSB: Sykes dominates to take pole

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Brit Tom Sykes took his sixth pole position of the season in spectacular fashion at Aragon today. Sykes was 0.708secs faster than second quickest man Max Biaggi. Biaggi’s team-mate Eugene Laverty...

Assen MotoGP: Stoner eases to victory

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has taken his first victory since announcing his retirement ahead of team-mate Dani Pedrosa. It’s the first Honda victory at Assen since Nicky Hayden in 2006. Stoner...

Assen MotoGP: Marquez takes Moto2 win

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Suter rider Marc Marquez has extended his championship lead with victory in the Moto2 race at Assen after two of his championship rivals failed to score points. Fellow Spaniard Pol Espargaro – who was...

Assen MotoGP: Vinales wins hard fought Moto3 battle

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Spaniard Maverick Vinales has increased his championship lead after taking a hard fought victory in an incredible battle with championship rival Sandro Cortese. Cortese finished second, with team-mate...

Assen MotoGP: Valentino Rossi urges Ducati action

29 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi urged Ducati to devise a clear plan for future development of the struggling Desmosedici machine after he qualified in 10th position for tomorrow’s Dutch TT at Assen. The Italian...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner bounces back from huge crash

29 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner bounced back from what he described as one of the biggest crashes of his career to snatch a dramatic pole position at Assen today. The Australian was...

Aragon WSB: Melandri ups the pace to take provisional pole

29 June 2012 by Michael Guy

Factory BMW man Marco Melandri demonstrated his affinity with the Aragon circuit to secure provisional pole ahead of fellow Italian and rival Max Biaggi. Last year Melandri and Biaggi shared the...

Assen MotoGP: Barbera cost me front row, says Cal Crutchlow

29 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow blasted Spanish rival Hector Barbera for costing him the chance to score a fourth front row start of 2012 at the historic Assen circuit in Holland this afternoon. Crutchlow...

Assen MotoGP: Stoner storms to pole

29 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner will start tomorrow’s MotoGP race from pole position after a last minute fast lap bumped team-mate Dani Pedrosa off the top spot. It looked as though Pedrosa would claim...

Assen MotoGP: Cortese claims Moto3 pole

29 June 2012 by MCN

KTM rider Sandro Cortese will start Saturday’s Moto3 race at Assen from pole position ahead of team-mate Danny Kent, who secured his first front row start. Gresini rider Niccolo Antonelli also claims...

Aragon WSB: Biaggi makes ominous start to top first session

29 June 2012 by Michael Guy

World Superbike championship leader Max Biaggi made an ominous start to the Aragon race weekend by setting the fastest time in the opening Free Practice session at Aragon. Biaggi, traditionally a slow...

Assen MotoGP:Cal Crutchlow could suit Ducati, says Valentino Rossi

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believes British rider Cal Crutchlow could be competitive on Ducati’s struggling factory Desmosedici machine. The 26-year-old Midlander has been offered a two-year deal to join the...

Assen MotoGP: Nicky Hayden uncertain of Ducati future

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has admitted his future at Ducati is an uncertain one after the Bologna factory offered British rider Cal Crutchlow a two-year factory deal. With Ducati also stating its intention to keep...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner launches fresh attack on Bridgestone

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s frustration with the performance of Bridgestone’s 2012 tyres continued on the opening day of the Dutch TT at Assen today. The Australian was languishing down in seventh position on the...

Assen MotoGP: Injured Cal Crutchlow aims for top six

28 June 2012

Cal Crutchlow says he will be happy to finish Saturday’s historic Dutch TT inside the top six, despite a heroic ride to set the second fastest time on the opening day of practice at Assen today. Only...

Assen MotoGP: Ben Spies sets practice pace ahead of heroic Cal Crutchlow

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies proved once again today why the legendary Assen circuit in Holland is one of his favourites after he ended the opening day of practice on top of the timesheets. The Texan, who claimed his...

2013 speculation no distraction for Cal Crutchlow

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow is adamant that intense speculation about his MotoGP future is not a distraction as he ponders a two-year offer to join Ducati’s factory squad. The British rider was due to sit down with...

Ben Spies not worried about future speculation

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has said he is not worried about intense speculation about his future as he aims for a second successive victory in Assen’s legendary Dutch TT this weekend. The Texan’s place next to...

Ducati making little progress, admits Nicky Hayden

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati is no closer to challenging Honda and Yamaha than it was at the start of the new 1000cc era, according to factory rider Nicky Hayden. The Bologna factory has only scored one rostrum in the...

Valentino Rossi: ‘I hope I can race next year with a competitive bike’

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has again insisted his prime focus is on making Ducati’s struggling Desmosedici a race-winning package. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta was quoted in a recent interview saying that the...

Bemsee Premier 1000 racing blog: A weekend to forget

27 June 2012 by Michael Neeves

Lap four of the final race of the weekend and I’m vainly trying to hunt down race leader Danny Fowler. Up to second place from the third row of the grid and I’m on a good lap. The little green light...