March

Year: 2012

Month: March

Michael Laverty fastest in Snetterton test

23 March 2012

Michael Laverty set the pace in the official BSB test at Snetterton today (Thursday) on his Samsung Honda, setting a best time of 1:48.5 that was full second quicker than his closest rivals Tommy Hill...

Cal Crutchlow shows off new Tech 3 Yamaha livery

22 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow has shown off the new Monster Yamaha Tech 3 livery he will race in the 2012 MotoGP world championship at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. The former World Supersport...

Yamaha unveils 2012 factory YZR-M1 bike

22 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

This is the new factory YZR-M1 1000cc machine that Yamaha hopes will claim back the MotoGP world title from rivals Honda in 2012. Unveiled during a special presentation on the eve of the final winter...

Ben Spies targets consistent victory challenge in 2012

22 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies is confident he can challenge for more podiums and victories in 2012 after a series of impressive winter testing performances on Yamaha’s new factory 1000cc YZR-M1 machine. The Texan has...

Jorge Lorenzo expects title challenge from Ben Spies in 2012

22 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo believes factory Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies will pose a serious title threat in the inaugural 1000cc MotoGP world championship in 2012. The Texan has won only one race in MotoGP but...

James Ellison: “I need to be thrown in at deep end”

22 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

James Ellison says he’s ready to be thrown in at the deep end in Jerez this weekend when he takes to the track with the likes of Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi for the first time...

Danny Webb aggravates old shoulder injury in Jerez spill

22 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

A disastrous Moto3 test in Jerez ended in painful fashion for British rider Danny Webb after he aggravated an old right shoulder injury in a crash on the final day of winter testing. Webb, who turns...

Danny Kent storms to superb second after big crash

21 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent bounced back superbly from a high-speed crash on the final day of Moto3 testing in Jerez to finish second quickest on the overall timesheets. Kent was three-quarters into a planned...

Gino Rea delighted with set-up progress in Jerez

21 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Gino Rea declared himself delighted with progress made with the set-up of the Gresini Moriwaki Moto2 machine he will campaign in 2012 at the end of a three-day test at the Jerez circuit in Spain. The...

Bradley Smith escapes injury in 120mph Jerez crash

21 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith was fortunate to walk away with just bumps and bruises after his winter testing schedule ended with a 120mph crash at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. The Tech 3 Racing rider had just...

Tech 3 surprised by Andrea Dovizioso’s early Yamaha pace

21 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso’s fast and encouraging start to his Yamaha career has surprised his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal and Japanese factory engineers. The Italian finished third quickest in...

Colin Edwards unveils 2012 Forward Racing livery

21 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards unveiled the new Forward Racing MotoGP livery in Jerez last night ahead of the final winter test session at the Spanish circuit this weekend. The American might have been nearly two...

Scott Redding and Bradley Smith make big progress in Jerez

20 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding and Bradley Smith made big moves up the Moto2 timesheets in Jerez today. Redding climbed up from 11th yesterday to fourth fastest this afternoon, despite a late crash at Turn 10 that he...

Danny Kent third but seeking more confidence

20 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent maintained his impressive pre-season testing form in the new Moto3 four-stroke class today when he ended the second day of the final test in Jerez with the third quickest time. The British...

Nicky Hayden: “I believe in myself and Ducati”

20 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes Ducati’s GP12 will be competitive to help the American and team-mate Valentino Rossi become consistent podium contenders in the 2012 MotoGP world championship. Ducati is looking...

Colin Edwards: “We’ve got 18 tests ahead”

20 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards reckons each race during the 2012 MotoGP campaign will be like an extension of winter testing as he tries to make the Suter-BMW CRT project a competitive package in the new...

Danny Kent: Jerez test good gauge for early season prospects

19 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Kent believes this week’s final Moto3 test at the Jerez track in Spain will give a clear indication of who is going to be competitive in the early part of the inaugural 250cc...

New chassis boost for Bradley Smith in Jerez

19 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Bradley Smith declared himself satisfied with the latest heavily revamped Tech 3 Moto2 machine in Jerez today, despite having to settle for a lowly 17th position on the timesheets. The...

Thomas Luthi sets pace as final Moto2 test begins in Jerez

19 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Swiss rider Thomas Luthi clocked the best time on the opening day of Moto2 testing at a sun-drenched Jerez circuit in Spain today, with Scott Redding, Bradley Smith and Gino Rea all outside the top...

Nova Racing boss dies

19 March 2012 by MCN

MCN is sad to report that Nova Racing boss Graham Dyson has died after a short illness. Nova Racing build gearboxes for many of the top British and World Superbike teams, as well as supplying dozens of top drag and classic racers. Graham’s expertise will be much missed in race paddocks around the world. Funeral details are yet to be announced. Please see www.novaracing.co.uk for details.

Factory Ducati MotoGP livery unveiled

19 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

This is the new factory Ducati GP12 1000cc machine that the Bologna factory hopes will catapult nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi back to winning ways in MotoGP in 2012. This year’s new...

NGMCC meeting at Brands Hatch

18 March 2012 by Rod Tietjen

I attended a cold and sometimes wet NGMCC meeting at Brands Hatch on Saturday 17 March. The event was well organised and there was some good close racing considering the conditions.

Jorge Lorenzo hints at long Yamaha career

16 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha’s desire to ensure Jorge Lorenzo remains on board a factory YZR-M1 beyond 2012 has been given a massive boost after the Spaniard indicated he’d be happy to end his career with the Japanese...

Yamaha ready to embrace lease price cap in MotoGP

16 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha believes it wouldn’t have to drastically reduce the technical specification of its YZR-M1 1000cc machine if new MotoGP rules mean factories can only lease machinery for a maximum price of...

Facebook launch for Ducati GP12

16 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will officially unveil the Ducati GP12’s new livery with a special web launch on Facebook next Monday. MotoGP and Ducati fans will be able to watch live streaming of...

Gresini admits love for racing affected by Marco Simoncelli death

15 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Italian MotoGP team boss Fausto Gresini has admitted his love for motorcycle racing has been affected by the tragic death of his star rider Marco Simoncelli in Malaysia last October. Simoncelli was...

Colin Edwards: CRT pace not dangerously slow

15 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has denied the gap in performance between the factory prototype machines and new CRT 1000cc projects will be dangerous in the 2012 MotoGP world championship. Several top riders like...

Alvaro Bautista looking to tap into Honda potential

15 March 2012 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista believes he is yet to tap into the full potential of the new Honda RC213V machine as he prepares for the final pre-season MotoGP test in Jerez next week. The Spaniard, who launched the...

Honda teams step up testing at Snetterton

15 March 2012 by Gary Pinchin

Honda Racing and Padgetts Honda BSB teams braved the cold conditions at Snetterton yesterday as their pre-season testing programme intensified. Both teams had a shakedown run at Cadwell last week, but...

Byrne and Easton positive after wrapping up Spanish tests

13 March 2012 by Laura Stevens

The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki pairing of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Stuart Easton have today (Monday) completed their Spanish pre-season testing schedule at Almeria as the team now return to the UK for...

Swan Yamaha boosted by Spanish test progress

13 March 2012 by Laura Stevens

Reigning MCE Insurance British Superbike champion Tommy Hill has completed his Spanish pre-season test ahead of schedule in Almeria as the Swan Yamaha rider now returns to the UK to evaluate the work...

MCN man to race at TT

12 March 2012 by MCN

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam Child will compete in this year’s lightweight TT race aboard a Kawasaki ER-6 with help from road racing expert Ryan Farquar. Child – or Chad as he’s known at MCN – has...

Hottrax bikes at Brands Hatch

12 March 2012 by Rod Tietjen

The first Hottrax bike meeting at Brands Hatch on 10th March had packed grids in most of the races with close racing throughout. Pity the event was not better attended on the Saturday.

PBM Kawasaki and Swan Yamaha wrap up Cartagena test

12 March 2012 by Gary Pinchin & Laura Stevens

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki and Swan Yamaha have today (Sunday) completed their pre-season test at Cartagena as the teams now pack up and head to Almeria for their final track time in Spain before...

Aragon complete as Byrne and Easton head for Cartagena

12 March 2012 by Laura Stevens

The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team have completed their opening two days of testing at Aragon in Spain as the former MCE BSB champions now pack up and head to Cartagena to join Swan Yamaha on circuit...

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki arrive at Cartagena

10 March 2012 by Gary Pinchin

The Rapid Solictors Kawasaki team truck has arrived at Cartagena this morning after the late night 350-mile drive from Aragon. Team manager Paul Risbridger said that Shane Byrne was in good form and...