2012

Year: 2012

Month: ALL

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow expects improved pace

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow believes his lowly ninth place on the opening day practice timesheets in Japan today was not a true reflection of his potential ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. The...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa off to flying start in Japan

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa won a personal practice duel with MotoGP world title rival Jorge Lorenzo after the Spanish duo dominated the opening day of action ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner not expecting Honda team orders

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner doesn’t believe Honda will impose controversial team orders in a bid to help Dani Pedrosa win an elusive first MotoGP world title in 2012. The Spaniard trails factory Yamaha rival Jorge...

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow anticipating tough weekend

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow believes he faces a tough task to challenge for the podium in Sunday’s Japanese MotoGP clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. Hard braking points dominate the Honda-owned circuit, and it has...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo unfazed by Stoner return

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo says he’s not worried that the return of Casey Stoner to MotoGP action in Japan this weekend could damage his hopes of securing a second premier class world title in 2012. After missing...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking to restore confidence

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden says his prime focus in Japan this weekend will be to build up his confidence after a crash and injury-hit spell in the 2012 MotoGP world championship. The luckless American missed the...

Jury still out on Ducati progress, say Andrea Dovizioso and Ben Spies

10 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso and Ben Spies believe it is impossible to judge whether Valentino Rossi’s recent second place finish in Misano means Ducati has taken a major step forward with its struggling...

Casey Stoner eager to assess injured ankle in Japan

09 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner says it will be crucial to understand the strength and mobility in his injured right ankle as the Australian prepares for a much-anticipated return to MotoGP action in Japan this...

Nicky Hayden reveals hand fracture after Aragon crash

09 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

$Nicky Hayden reveals hand fracture after Aragon crash$

Nicky Hayden is facing another tough MotoGP weekend in Japan after revealing he suffered a broken bone in his right hand in a horrific crash during the recent Motorland Aragon race in Spain. Hayden...

Loris Capirossi at Silverstone

09 October 2012 by tracy keenan

I met Loris Caprisso at this year’s Silverstone MotoGP. He was a lovely bloke and had time for everybody.

Poll: Should Biaggi have been allowed to benefit from team orders?

08 October 2012 by MCN

Max Biaggi won his second World Superbike championship at the weekend by just 0.5points, ahead of Tom Sykes. Sykes won the final race, while Biaggi finished fifth. Biaggi’s team-mate Eugene Laverty...

Danny Kent joins Tech 3 Moto2 squad

08 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Kent has signed a two-year deal to join the Tech 3 Racing squad in next year’s Moto2 world championship. The 18-year-old will partner French rider Louis Rossi, who confirmed a...

WSB Magny Cours: Sykes win race two, Biaggi wins title by 0.5points

07 October 2012 by Michael Guy

Tom Sykes did everything he could to wrestle the WSB crown away from Italian Max Biaggi, but was ultimately denied the title by just 0.5 points. In a tense finish to the 2012 WSB season, Biaggi...

Magny Cours WSS: Cluzel wins, Lowes second, Linfoot third

07 October 2012 by Michael Guy

Frenchman Jules Cluzel secured his fourth win of his rookie World Supersport season with a convincing victory at Mangy Cours onboard his PTR Honda. Cluzel rode the drying track superbly to make it the...

Magny Cours WSB: Sykes and Melandri closes in on championship lead as Biaggi crashes out

07 October 2012 by Adam Child

Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes closed within 14.5 points of championship leader Max Biaggi after taking third position in damp, tricky conditions at Magny Cours. Factory Aprilia rider Biaggi crashed at the end...

Magny Cours WSB: Sykes takes pole and smashes lap record

06 October 2012 by Adam Child

Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes secured pole position, smashing the lap record with an outstanding Superpole lap, while championship rival Max Biaggi struggled finishing an unexpected 10th. Sykes took his ninth...

2013 WSB Calendar confirmed

06 October 2012 by Michael Guy

The 15 round World Superbike Calendar has been confirmed in Magny Cours today. The unconfirmed race on 23 June is expected to take place in Brno, Czech Republic. 24 February Australia Phillip Island 10 March India Buddh Circuit 7 April Spain Aragon 28 April The...

Magny Cours WSB: Marco on top in the last qualifying before Superpole

06 October 2012 by Adam Child

Marco Malandri, improved from yesterday’s third position to top the time sheets in second qualifying knocking Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes back to second. Sykes couldn’t improve on Friday’s time and had to...

Magny Cours WSB: Tom Sykes on top in first qualifying

06 October 2012 by Adam Child

In perfect sunny conditions Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes set the fastest time of the first 45 minute qualifying session, with a 1.38.200. Althea Ducati’s Carlos Checa joins him on the provisional front row...

Magny Cours WSB: Cluzel on provisional pole at home race

05 October 2012 by Michael Guy

Frenchman Jules Cluzel ended the opening day at Magny Cours by setting provisional pole position for Sunday’ 22 lap World Supersport race. The three time WSS race winner set a pole time of 1’41.886 – 0.406s clear of his closest rival. Ten Kate Honda rider Broc Parkes secured second spot ahead of Kawasaki Fabien Foret who made it two French riders on the front row. Britain’s Sam Lowes claimed...

Magny Cours WSB: Rea leads Brit charge at final round

05 October 2012 by Adam Child

Jonathan Rea topped the first free practice time sheets at Magny Cours, setting a 1.39.064 on a drying tack. PATA Ducati rider Sylvain Guintoli finished second with in form Brits Leon Camier and Tom...

Ducati boss not surprised Valentino Rossi rejected 2013 offer

05 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss Filippo Preziosi has admitted that he wasn’t surprised that Valentino Rossi rejected a multi-million pound offer to finish his MotoGP career with the Bologna factory. Not even the weight...

Tech 3 Yamaha crew unchanged for Bradley Smith in 2013

05 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s challenge to become a competitive force in MotoGP next season will be masterminded by vastly experienced crew chief Guy Coulon. The 21-year-old had expressed interest in moving to Tech...

Magny Cours WSB: Lowes on top in damp free practice

05 October 2012 by Michael Guy

PTR Honda rider Sam Lowes topped the opening free practice session at Magny Cours this morning. On a wet, but drying track, Lowes left it late to even venture out of his pitbox to allow the track...

My boys and Shane Byrne

04 October 2012 by Tracy Clack

Here’s a photo of my two youngest boys meeting shane Byrne at Brands Hatch. They were over the moon and he was such a nice guy. We also met other great riders including Haga, Chris Walker and Danny...

Honda powerless to influence MotoGP switch for Jonathan Rea

04 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

HRC has admitted it was powerless to sway satellite team boss Fausto Gresini towards signing Jonathan Rea in 2013. Honda is consulted on rider selection for its satellite teams but has no right to...

America to host three races in 2013 as Texas gets green light

04 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Three MotoGP races will be held in America in 2013 after it was confirmed the Circuit of the Americas clash in Texas will definitely go ahead. The race will be staged on April 21 and is likely to be...

Bemsee Premier 1000 racing blog: A rollercoaster end to the season

04 October 2012 by Michael Neeves

I thought it would be a nice easy end to the season, but the final round of Bemsee’s Respro Premier 1000 championship at Brands Hatch, turned out to be a real rollercoaster. Friday Just two sessions...

Dorna to run MotoGP and World Superbikes

03 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

A major reshuffle of the organisation of MotoGP and World Superbikes will see Dorna manage both championships in the future. Bridgepoint, the private equity firm that invested in Dorna in 2006 and...

Casey Stoner confirms Motegi return

03 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner has confirmed he will be back in MotoGP action at next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Australian has been out of action since he badly...

Poll: Are the British Superbike Championship rules too hard to understand?

01 October 2012 by MCN

The BSB season is now in to the Showdown stage, which means only six riders are in with a shot at the 2012 title. Are the current rules too complicated? pollcomment