February

Year: 2007

Month: February

Barros cautious on tyre

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Barros cautious on tyre

Alex Barros reckons the forthcoming IRTA test in Qatar will give him the chance to properly assess Bridgestone tyres on his new Ducati GP7. The South American was third fastest recently at the Phillip...

Tyre boost for Melandri

06 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Tyre boost for Melandri

Marco Melandri has praised Bridgestone’s front tyre after his shock winter switch from Michelin. The Gresini Honda rider has added to the many plaudits of the Bridgestone front, which has a reputation...

Rossi 2nd in Sepang

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi 2nd in Sepang

With Honda and Ducati skipping this week’s Malaysia test, it was no surprise to see former world champion Valentino Rossi close to the top of the timesheets on the opening day in Sepang today. Fastest...

No plane, no gain

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

No plane, no gain

Factory Yamaha rider Colin Edwards will show dedication beyond the call of duty this week to catch a round of the American supercross series. This week’s Sepang test is quickly followed up with the...

Hoffman promises more

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hoffman promises more

Alex Hofmann says he’s got plenty more to come in the build up to the new MotoGP season after he finished the recent Phillip Island test in Australia with the sixth fastest time. Hofmann is desperate...

Rossi on new Yam deal

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi on new Yam deal

Valentino Rossi has spoken in public for the first time today about his new contract with Yamaha on the first day of testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The 27-year-old Italian caught the...

Ilmor off pace in Sepang

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Ilmor off pace in Sepang

The British-built new Ilmor 800cc machine got a rude awakening today in Malaysia when Andrew Pitt finished a massive 6.4s off the pace on day one at Sepang. The Ilmor, which raced twice at the end of...

Edwards ousts Rossi

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Edwards ousts Rossi

American Colin Edwards edged out factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi to end the opening day of testing in Malaysia fastest. Edwards left it late to take the honours today, his best time of...

Nicky grabs 16 inch

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nicky grabs 16 inch

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has already made his mind up that he will start the defence of his MotoGP world title in Qatar on March 10 using Michelin’s new 16-inch front tyre on his Honda 800...

Nakano motivated

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nakano motivated

New Honda recruit Shinya Nakano is determined not to blow his big MotoGP chance on board the new RC212V after quitting Kawasaki’s factory team at the end of 2006. Nakano spent three years as...

Barros backs Biaggi

05 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Barros backs Biaggi

Alex Barros believes former MotoGP rival Max Biaggi will find it easier in World Superbikes than he did because the Italian is lining up in Suzuki’s official factory squad. Barros raced for the Klaffi...

Vermeulen confident

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen confident

Chris Vermeulen is confident that Suzuki’s new GSV-R 800 will return to form in testing at Qatar next week. The Australian’s brilliant winter testing displays stalled recently on home soil at Phillip...

Race focus for Melandri

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Race focus for Melandri

Honda rider Marco Melandri says he is not concerned about being at the top end of the winter testing timesheets with the new MotoGP season just five weeks away. Melandri has finished 2007 tests in...

Loris: Smaller is better

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris: Smaller is better

Factory Ducati number one Loris Capirossi is likely to shun the chance to race with Bridgestone’s big profile 16.5-inch rear tyre when the new MotoGP campaign gets underway in Qatar. Capirossi said...

Hopper to bounce back

04 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper to bounce back

Factory Suzuki rider John Hopkins reckons he will bounce back from the recent disappointment of his poor showing in Phillip Island when he continues his 2007 MotoGP preparations in Qatar. Hopkins had...

800 corner speed concern

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

800 corner speed concern

Faster corner speeds run by the new generation 800cc machines could be an issue in certain high-speed corners in 2007. That’s the view of factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who reckons tracks like...

Melandri's weight issue

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Melandri's weight issue

Marco Melandri reckons he will be in better form at the IRTA test in Qatar having resolved a front-end problem he suffered in Phillip Island recently. Melandri was complaining of front-end grip...

PI hid Honda problems

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

PI hid Honda problems

Marco Melandri reckons the fast and flowing nature of the Phillip Island circuit masked some of the horsepower problems on Honda’s new RC212V 800 machine. Melandri was only 10th quickest overall at...

Elias backs Honda

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Elias backs Honda

Spaniard Toni Elias has backed Honda to turn its new RC212V 800cc machine into a race winner from the start of the 2007 MotoGP season. The Gresini rider, who played a massive role in the destiny of...

Checa's special delivery

03 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Checa's special delivery

Spaniard Carlos Checa believes Honda’s new RC212V 800cc is getting competitive at the right time with just two more tests before the 2007 MotoGP world championship gets underway next month. The LCR...

Tyre question for Dani

02 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Tyre question for Dani

Dani Pedrosa is still to be convinced that Michelin’s new 16-inch front tyre is the way forward in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. The French tyre manufacturer has asked all of its riders to...

Barros happy with style

02 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Barros happy with style

Brazilian veteran Alex Barros said he has had no trouble in quickly adapting to the new riding style required on the 800cc MotoGP machines. Having spent a year away from the MotoGP arena in World...

Blog: Sepang over

02 February 2007 by Matthew birt

Blog: Sepang over

Howdy folks, sorry I didn’t blog last night but I didn’t get back from the track until 10pm, grabbed some room service and crashed out in a crumpled heap. Firstly a quick update on the sunburn, which...

Fitness boost for Stoner

02 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Fitness boost for Stoner

Aussie Casey Stoner will go into his debut season with Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad confident a punishing winter training regime will help make him a more formidable opponent in 2007. Stoner was...

Hoffman: 800s no safer

02 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hoffman: 800s no safer

Alex Hofmann reckons the switch to smaller capacity 800cc machines won’t significantly improve safety in the MotoGP world championship for 2007. Capacity was slashed from the old 990cc limit and fuel...

Checa in comfort zone

01 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Checa in comfort zone

Carlos Checa admitted he is finally comfortable and adapted to Honda’s new 800cc MotoGP contender after he finished the Phillip Island test with the fourth fastest time on race tyres. Checa has so far...

Hopper struggles in Oz

01 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper struggles in Oz

John Hopkins’ blistering start to the new 800cc MotoGP era stalled in Phillip Island. The American, who was only just beaten to being fastest by seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi last week in...

Rossi extends Yam deal

01 February 2007 by MCN

Rossi extends Yam deal

Valentino Rossi has surprised racing by extending his Yamaha contract by a year to the end of 2008, making sure the season is free from speculation about his future plans. The 2005 season was filled...

Hayden fastest in Oz

01 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden fastest in Oz

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden refused to get carried away despite topping the final timesheets at the Phillip Island test in Australia today. The American set a best time of 1.29.52 on a soft...

Ducati ready to race

01 February 2007 by Matthew Birt

Ducati ready to race

Loris Capirossi believes Ducati’s new GP7 is ready to race and be at the front after he finished the Phillip Island test with fourth fastest time. The veteran Italian was second quickest on race tyres...

Video: KR Snr

01 February 2007 by MCN

Matt Birt, MCN’s dedicated MotoGP reporter manages to get a few moments with Kenny Roberts Snr at the Sepang test in Malaysia. Watch this clip to hear what Roberts has to say about testing, the teams...

Video: Rizla GP boss

01 February 2007 by MCN

Video: Rizla GP boss

The MotoGP Rizla Suzuki squad suprised many last last week setting blistering times at the Sepang tests. Matt Birt, MCN’s MotoGP reporter grabbed a quick interview with the man running the GP Suzuki...