2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

James Toseland undergoing hospital checks after crash

29 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland has been taken by ambulance to a Cadiz hospital for precautionary checks following a massive crash in Jerez this afternoon. The British rider momentarily lost consciousness when he...

James Toseland suffers spectacular crash in Jerez

29 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland is currently undergoing checks in the Jerez circuit medical centre after a huge high-side crash during this afternoon’s televised BMW car shootout. Toseland lost the rear...

Fiat Yamaha dominate in Jerez

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Fiat Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi dominated the opening day of the Jerez test in Spain today. Spaniard Lorenzo showed he is finally getting accustomed to the Bridgestone tyres after he...

James Toseland finds form in Jerez

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland put a turbulent winter behind him to finish just outside of the top ten on the opening day of testing in Jerez today. A best lap of 1.41.122 in a long 83-lap stint left...

Bradley Smith second in Jerez test

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith ended the three-day 125GP test session in Jerez with the second fastest time as he finally narrowed the gap to dominant Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon. The Oxfordshire...

No factory MotoGP ride for Ben Spies or Marco Simoncelli in 2010

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies or Marco Simoncelli will be barred from moving to MotoGP and riding for a factory team in their rookie campaign under controversial new rules on entry to the premier class. Fiat Yamaha,...

MotoGP rules for 2009 and 2010 unveiled

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP bosses have confirmed a raft of new rules aimed at MotoGP surviving the current global economic crisis. As has been widely expected, Friday practice has been cancelled for all free practice...

Single engine proposal for Moto2 class tabled

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The new Moto2 class for 600cc four-strokes that will replace the current 250GP two-stroke in 2011 is now likely to feature a single engine rule. MotoGP bosses are poised to discuss the proposal, which...

Haojue 125GP boss happy with testing progress

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Haojue 125GP boss Garry Taylor admitted the new squad had enjoyed a ‘baptism of fire’ after its official testing debut at the Jerez circuit in Spain. British rookie Matt Hoyle and Austrian team-mate...

Chris Vermuelen and Loris Capirossi show off 2009 Suzuki colours

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi have shown off their 2009 factory Suzuki GSV-R machines in full Rizla livery for the first time in Jerez today. This morning’s unveiling ended long negotiations...

Scott Redding satisfied with 12th in Jerez

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding declared himself satisfied with his Jerez testing performance despite finishing outside of the top ten. The 2008 British GP winner, who became the youngest rider in history to win a...

Danny Webb gaining confidence with new Aprilia

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

DeGraaf Aprilia rider Danny Webb is confident he is finally mastering Aprilia’s 2009 125GP contender after he finished the Jerez test in a disappointing 17th place. The British teenager has struggled...

Matt Hoyle makes more progress in Jerez

28 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rookie Matt Hoyle believes he is making big progress with the unproven Chinese-backed Haojue machine as he concluded the Jerez test in Spain. The Bradford rider ended with a best time of...

Ducati try cast ally chassis at Jerez

28 March 2009 by Neil Spalding

Before their revolutionary carbon ‘stressed airbox’ chassis has even raced, Ducati arrived at the Jerez preseason test with another new idea, the cast aluminium version!! Ducati aren’t saying anything...

Playboy backs Randy de Puniet

27 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Playboy will sponsor French rider Randy de Puniet’s LCR Honda MotoGP squad for the first three races of 2009. Italian team boss Lucio Cecchinello confirmed the deal today on the eve of the final...

James Toseland unveils 2009 MotoGP colours

27 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s Tech 3 Yamaha squad has unveiled its new livery for the 2009 MotoGP world championship at the Jerez circuit this morning. Featuring a striking black, yellow and white colour scheme,...

Scott Redding improving in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding is confident he is finally mastering the new factory spec 2009 Aprilia 125GP bike after an improved performance on the second day of testing in Jerez. The Gloucestershire rider made big...

Matt Hoyle crashes unhurt in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rookie Matt Hoyle has escaped injury in a crash on the second day of 125GP testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Hoyle lost the front end of his Chinese-backed Haojue machine at Turn 10 in...

Danny Webb finding speed in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb believes he is finally getting to grips with the new 2009 factory Aprilia 125GP bike after a positive second day of testing in Jerez. The British rider has struggled in his short time on...

Suzuki sad but not sorry at Ben Spies departure

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies’ stunning start to his World Superbike career has posed one major question. How must Suzuki be feeling at letting the American slip through its grasp, when all he wanted do was stay with the...

Julian Simon dominates in Jerez

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon continued his domination of the 125GP pre-season in Jerez yesterday as the Oxfordshire rider ended seventh quickest. Smith posted a best time of...

Scott Redding searching for chassis confidence

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP sensation Scott Redding has admitted he still needs to gain more confidence with Aprilia’s 2009 machine after he ended the opening day of testing in Jerez in 10th place. Get all the...

Wall to split James Toseland and Colin Edwards’ Tech 3 pit

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The tension between Colin Edwards and James Toseland over the controversial winter crew chief switch will see a dividing wall split the pair in the Tech 3 Yamaha garage, MCN exclusively reveal. The...

Clue to James Toseland’s new look

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

This striking new black, yellow and white paint scheme on the Tech 3 Yamaha truck in Jerez gives a clue to how James Toseland and Colin Edwards’ YZR-M1 machines will look in 2009. The French-based...

Danny Webb confident in new Aprilia potential

26 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb is confident he can tap into the potential of Aprilia’s new 2009 125GP bike after he ended the opening day of testing in Jerez languishing down in 19th place. The DeGraaf...

Nicky Hayden looking for more top speed

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati’s GP9 might be consistently the fastest bike in MotoGP, but American Nicky Hayden is still looking for more top speed ahead of the first race in Qatar next month. Pre-season testing so far has...

Yamaha happy with new anti-wheelie strategy

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Daniele Romagnoli is confident a new electronic anti-wheelie system will help the 2009 YZR-M1 defeat Ducati’s factory GP9 this season. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Mika Kallio learning fast about MotoGP

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Finnish rookie Mika Kallio believes adapting more to the stopping power of carbon brakes is his biggest margin for improvement ahead of his MotoGP debut next month. Kallio, who will ride for the...

Dani Pedrosa absent from Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

New Honda test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi will replace Dani Pedrosa at this weekend’s final MotoGP winter test session in Jerez. The Spaniard is still recovering from left arm and leg injuries suffered...

Valentino Rossi confident for Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is confident he will end his winter testing campaign on a high at the Jerez circuit in Spain this weekend. The Italian has yet to top the timesheets in a...

Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has said he is revelling in his partnership with new factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden. The pair have immediately formed a good rapport together and have...

Yamaha boss ‘scared’ by Casey Stoner threat

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha’s MotoGP boss Masao Furusawa has admitted he is ‘scared’ by the threat Aussie Casey Stoner poses to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning a seventh premier class title in 2009. Despite a slow and...

Colin Edwards stunned by Bridgestone endurance

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Texan Colin Edwards has admitted he has been stunned by the endurance of Bridgestone tyres as he prepares to wrap up 2009 winter testing in Jerez this weekend. Get all the latest MotoGP news The...

John Hopkins cagey on Kawasaki settlement

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins has refused to discuss whether he turned down the chance to ride the re-branded factory Kawasaki in this year’s MotoGP world championship. It has been rumoured that the Californian was...

Hayate team not looking for extra technical support

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The new Hayate MotoGP team will not work in partnership with an external engineering company to help develop the re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in 2009. Kawasaki will cease development on the...

Julian and Toby back covering MotoGP

22 March 2009 by Pete Grant

Just like to add my appreciation of Julian and Toby’s return to Moto GP coverage with Eurosport! Their mixed and informed commentary makes the sport even more enjoyable! I look forward to Hearing...