2012

Year: 2012

Month: ALL

Lucio Cecchinello not surprised by Stoner’s retirement decision

25 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Lucio Cecchinello, the man who played an integral role in helping Casey Stoner become double MotoGP world champion, says he is not surprised the Australian has decided to retire at the peak of his...

Scott Redding targets consistent podium challenge

25 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Scott Redding believes his first Moto2 podium for over 18 months in Le Mans last weekend will help him become a consistent top three contender in 2012. Redding mastered treacherous...

HRC boss: No way to change Casey Stoner’s mind on retirement

25 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s Repsol Honda boss Livio Suppo says HRC didn’t try and talk the Australian out of his shock decision to retire from full-time racing at the end of 2012. Stoner stunned the racing world...

Cal Crutchlow: Casey Stoner’s retirement took b***s

24 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow reckons Casey Stoner’s shock decision to retire from MotoGP at the end of 2012 took ‘massive b***s’ from the reigning world champion. Stoner confirmed 2012 will be his last...

Valentino Rossi: Too early to ponder 2013 change

24 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi says it is too early to contemplate where his future lies in MotoGP after Casey Stoner’s shock decision to retire sparked rumours the Italian could make a dramatic return to Honda or...

Andrea Dovizioso: Lorenzo holds key to 2013 shake-up

24 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Andrea Dovizioso says current world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo has complete control of the rider market for next season. Casey Stoner’s bombshell decision to...

Paul Bird: “Ellison can kick on now”

24 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Paul Bird believes James Ellison’s confidence will have soared and his results continue to improve after the British rider finished top CRT rider for the first time in Le Mans last weekend. Ellison...

Hillier to race Zytek Kawasaki in TT Zero race

23 May 2012 by Gary Pinchin

British Superbike racer James Hillier is to debut a ZX-10R-framed electric bike in this year’s TT Zero race. Hillier’s BSB team, Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki, and electric powertrain innovators, Zytek...

LCR Honda thrilled with Stefan Bradl’s form

22 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

LCR Honda boss Lucio Cecchinello says he is thrilled with the form of MotoGP rookie Stefan Bradl after the German claimed his best result so far in 2012 during a rain-lashed French Grand Prix on...

Cal Crutchlow: “Rossi still one of the best”

22 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow said Valentino Rossi’s brilliant return to the podium in a rain-hit French Grand Prix on Sunday proved the Italian is still one of the best riders in the world. Rossi claimed his first...

Gino Rea gutted after Le Mans podium challenge ends early

22 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Gino Rea was gutted after his hopes of claiming a shock maiden Moto2 rostrum were wrecked by home crowd favourite Johann Zarco in Le Mans last weekend. The former World Supersport winner has had a...

Poll: Who's going to dominate at the TT?

22 May 2012 by MCN

TT practice starts this weekend and it looks like the field is stronger than ever. Ian Hutchinson and Conor Cummins are back from injury, Michael Dunlop is riding three makes of bike, Cameron Donald...

Celebrating my 50th birthday in Le Mans

22 May 2012 by Tony Hoare

I spent my 50th birthday in Le Mans on race day, watching a great race with rossi looking back to his old self. Later in the evening I met Alvaro Bautista in a restaurant. A great day!

Le Mans MotoGP: Valentino Rossi claims best Ducati result

21 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi came out on top of a captivating late battle with Honda rival Casey Stoner to secure second place and his best Ducati finish in yesterday’s rain-hit French Grand Prix at Le...

Rossi and Stoner recall Jerez 2011 collision

21 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner admitted having flashbacks to their controversial collision in last year’s Jerez MotoGP race after they battled for the podium in an exciting finale to yesterday’s...

Le Mans MotoGP: Tyre temperature issue leaves Casey Stoner third

21 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner lost the lead in the MotoGP world championship in Le Mans after temperature issues with his wet weather Bridgestone tyres left him in third position. The Aussie, who announced he will...

Le Mans MotoGP: James Ellison finishes top CRT

21 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

James Ellison finished top CRT rider in Le Mans yesterday (Sunday), just two weeks after wondering whether he would even be starting the French Grand Prix. A tough start to 2012 caused by a chronic...

Le Mans MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso aims for consistent podium challenge

21 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso is confident he will be a consistent podium threat for Yamaha in the future after he crashed out of top three contention in a rain-hit French Grand Prix at Le Mans yesterday. The...

Le Mans MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow baffled by speed issue

21 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow said he was baffled by a speed deficit with his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine before he crashed out of podium contention in a rain-affected French MotoGP...

Seeley dominates North West 200

21 May 2012 by Gary Pinchin

At one stage during Saturday’s North West 200 it looked like Alastair Seeley might have to be content with just his Thursday Superstock race win on the Tyco TAS Suzuki. In the first Supersport race...

Le Mans MotoGP: Lorenzo takes victory and championship lead

20 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

2010 MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has won the wet race at Le Mans by 9.9 seconds and taken the lead in the championship by eight points. Lorenzo got an excellent start to lead from flag to flag,...

Le Mans MotoGP: Luthi dominates wet Moto2 race

20 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

Swiss rider Thomas Luthi dominated the wet Moto2 race at Le Mans to comfortably take his second Moto2 victory. It was Pol Espargaro who lead in to the first corner, with Brit Scott Redding making a...

Le Mans MotoGP: Louis Rossi takes first Moto3 win in torrential rain

20 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

Frenchman Louis Rossi has taken his first Moto3 win at his home circuit of Le Mans in torrential rain after three other riders crashed out of the lead. Spaniard Maverick Vinales got a good start from...

Le Mans MotoGP: Marquez on pole despite crash

19 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

Championship leader Marc Marquez has taken his third pole position in a row at Le Mans despite crashing with 25 minutes of the session remaining. The rain started to fall with five minutes of the...

Le Mans MotoGP: Pedrosa steals pole

19 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa will start tomorrow’s MotoGP race at Le Mans from pole position. Pedrosa stole pole position with only a few minutes remaining of the session. The session started in...

Le Mans MotoGP: Vinales takes first pole of 2012

19 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

Spaniard Maverick Vinales has taken his first pole position of 2012 during a wet qualifying session at the Le Mans circuit today. Efren Vasquez qualified second, just under one second behind Vinales,...

Le Mans MotoGP: Stoner on top after FP2

18 May 2012 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has ended the first day at Le Mans at the top of the timesheets. The Aussie – who yesterday announced he is to retire at the end of the season – posted a best time of...

North West 200: Farquhar claims supertwins victory

18 May 2012 by Gary Pinchin

Ryan Farquhar claimed an historic victory in the first ever North West 200 Supertwins race this evening (Thursday). Ireland’s top road racer led the four-lap race from start-to-finish in the...

North West 200: Seeley claims Superstock victory

18 May 2012 by Gary Pinchin

As many expected, Alastair Seeley was a class apart in the opening race of the 2012 Relentless International North West 200. The Tyco TAS Suzuki rider dominated the LiveWire Solutions Superstock...

Casey Stoner: “I've lost the passion for MotoGP”

17 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner will retire at the end of 2012, the Australian saying he’s lost his passion and love for racing at a time when the Repsol Honda rider is arguably at the peak of...

Valentino Rossi vows to race on until end of 2014

17 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will not be joining Casey Stoner in quitting the MotoGP world championship at the end of 2012. Double MotoGP world champion Stoner stunned the paddock in Le Mans tonight when he...

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo shocked at Stoner’s retirement decision

17 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo – two of the biggest rivals in Casey Stoner’s career – have spoken of their shock at the Australian’s decision to retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 world...

Casey Stoner announces retirement

17 May 2012 by Michael Guy

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2012 season. The shock announcement was delivered to a packed press conference at Le Mans ahead of this weekend’s...

Joan Lascorz injury update from Kawasaki

17 May 2012 by Michael Guy

After the last statement issued on April 27, Joan has been recovering respiratory capacity after post-traumatic complications after the accident. A few days ago the medical team at Hospital Vall...

Injured Hopkins set to race at Miller Motorsports Park

17 May 2012 by Michael Guy

Following his crash at Monza and subsequent hip and foot injury, John Hopkins is set to make a return to the World Superbike Championship at Miller Motorsports Park in America on 26th to 28th May. The...

Chris Vermeulen excited ahead of MotoGP return

16 May 2012 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen is hoping to show the racing world that he is over his two-year injury nightmare when he makes a return to action in this weekend’s French Grand Prix at Le Mans. The Australian will...