February

Year: 2010

Month: February

Valentino Rossi ends on top in Sepang

26 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi ends on top in Sepang

Valentino Rossi’s domination of the 2010 MotoGP pre-season continued today when the Italian topped the timesheets at a scorching hot Sepang circuit. The Italian has now topped each of the four days of...

Marco Simoncelli suffers second big Sepang crash

26 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli suffers second big Sepang crash

Marco Simoncelli’s baptism of fire in MotoGP continued at the Sepang circuit today after the Italian suffered a second massive high-side crash in three weeks at the Malaysia venue. The former 250GP...

Yamaha plan to continue racing 800cc YZR-M1 in 2012

25 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha plan to continue racing 800cc YZR-M1 in 2012

Yamaha intends to continue racing its prototype 800cc YZR-M1 machine in the MotoGP world championship in 2012, MCN can reveal. The Japanese factory is the first of the big four to signal its intention...

Has anyone seen FB Corse?

25 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Has anyone seen FB Corse?

The future of the FB Corse squad still remains shrouded in mystery with the Italian-based team yet to be seen in track testing ahead of a planned 2010 MotoGP assault. But it seems that the FB Corse...

Moto2 engine well short of performance target

25 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Moto2 engine well short of performance target

Honda’s official Moto2 engine will produce a miserly 125bhp. That is nearly 30bhp lower than initial targets and makes the spec CBR600RR motor around 20 to 25bhp less powerful than current World...

Valentino Rossi continues Sepang winter domination

25 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi continues Sepang winter domination

Having dominated the opening winter test session of 2010 in Sepang, Valentino Rossi picked up where he left off earlier this month to comfortably head the timesheets in Malaysia today. The reigning...

FTR team up with Talmacsi and Iannone

25 February 2010 by MCN Sports Desk

FTR team up with Talmacsi and Iannone

FTR Moto has extended its 2010 Moto2 World Championship involvement by supplying machinery to the Speed Up Team of former 125cc World Champion Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary and Italian star Andrea...

Ben Spies looking to build on impressive Sepang debut

24 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies looking to build on impressive Sepang debut

Ben Spies is confident he can impress again when MotoGP winter testing resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia tomorrow (Thursday). The Texan was a superb fifth quickest on the final day and seventh...

Bridgestone begin talks on MotoGP future

24 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone begin talks on MotoGP future

Internal discussions have started at Bridgestone about whether the Japanese factory will quit MotoGP at the end of 2011, MCN can reveal. Bridgestone has a contract to be the single tyre supplier in...

Casey Stoner poised to test new carbon swingarm

24 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner poised to test new carbon swingarm

Former world champion Casey Stoner will evaluate a new stiffer carbon fibre swingarm when MotoGP winter testing resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia tomorrow (Thursday). Designed to improve...

Jorge Lorenzo’s crew chief enters secrecy debate

24 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s crew chief enters secrecy debate

Jorge Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha crew chief Ramon Forcada has stepped into the debate about the ban on information sharing between the Spaniard and team-mate Valentino Rossi in 2010. Yamaha confirmed...

Budgets will decide 2012 MotoGP capacity choice

24 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Budgets will decide 2012 MotoGP capacity choice

Money will be the prime factor in determining whether Yamaha, Ducati, Honda and Suzuki roll out new 1000cc factory prototype machines in MotoGP in 2012. Although unanimously supporting proposals to...

Debon vows to be fit for next Moto2 test

23 February 2010 by MCN Sports Desk

Debon vows to be fit for next Moto2 test

Spaniard Alex Debon insists he’ll be fit to ride the British-built FTR M210 in the official Moto2 tests as Valencia on March 1-3. Debon crashed in testing at Catalunya last week and fractured his left...

Danny Webb given 2010 lifeline

23 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb given 2010 lifeline

British teenager Danny Webb has flown to Spain today (Monday) to finalise what he hopes will be a season-saving 125GP ride. Webb’s 2010 plans were thrown into turmoil last week when the Aprilia WRB...

Suzuki ready to evaluate 2010 motor

22 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki ready to evaluate 2010 motor

Having surprisingly failed to rollout its new 2010 factory GSV-R motor in testing earlier this month in Sepang, Suzuki is preparing for the debut of this year’s V4 contender in Malaysia this...

Valentino Rossi expertise helping Scott Redding

22 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi expertise helping Scott Redding

Scott Redding’s hopes of success in the inaugural Moto2 world championship have been given another massive boost after it was confirmed Valentino Rossi’s Ohlins suspension technician will work with...

Scott Redding confident after rain-hit Catalunya test

19 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding confident after rain-hit Catalunya test

Scott Redding was satisfied with his progress at the conclusion of a weather-hit three-day Moto2 test at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona today. Overnight rain meant that testing didn’t get...

Roberto Rolfo suffers injury blow

19 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Roberto Rolfo suffers injury blow

Experienced Italian Roberto Rolfo’s Moto2 preparations suffered a blow in Catalunya yesterday when he dislocated his left shoulder after a heavy testing crash. The former MotoGP, 250GP and World...

Shoya Tomizawa springs Moto2 surprise

19 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Shoya Tomizawa springs Moto2 surprise

It might be difficult to gauge the performance potential of anybody in the new Moto2 class until the arrival of Honda’s spec CBR600RR engine, but Japan’s Shoya Tomizawa was the surprise pacesetter in...

Scott Redding makes progress in Catalunya

19 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding makes progress in Catalunya

Scott Redding said he was delighted with his progress on the second day of Moto2 testing at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona. Unable to complete any meaningful testing on a weather-hit opening...

MotoGP bosses reveal 2012 rule plan

18 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP bosses reveal 2012 rule plan

MotoGP fans could be watching the world’s elite riders racing on three different machines in 2012, as was exclusively revealed by MCN earlier this month. A mixed grid of 800cc prototypes, 1000cc...

Rain hits Scott Redding’s 2010 Moto2 debut

18 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Rain hits Scott Redding’s 2010 Moto2 debut

Rain and a slow drying track at Catalunya restricted British rider Scott Redding to just 11 laps on his first Moto2 appearance of 2010 yesterday. Making his debut for the Belgian-based Marc VDS Racing...

Valentino Rossi still motivated at 31

16 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi still motivated at 31

Valentino Rossi reckons his motivation to stay on top in MotoGP is stronger than ever as the Italian icon celebrates his 31st birthday today (Tuesday). Rossi recently struck a crucial early...

Yamaha chase grip with 2010 YZR-M1

16 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha chase grip with 2010 YZR-M1

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons Yamaha has achieved one of its major 2010 targets by improving rear grip with a new YZR-M1 chassis. As well as increasing performance and durability...

Scott Redding excited ahead of Moto2 test

16 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding excited ahead of Moto2 test

British rider Scott Redding has told MCN of his excitement and anticipation as he prepares to begin his 2010 Moto2 preparations tomorrow (Wednesday). Scott Redding’s Moto2 bike Redding will get his...

Ben Spies boosted by Colin Edwards advice

15 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies boosted by Colin Edwards advice

Ben Spies reckons the help and advice offered by Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards is proving invaluable in helping him make a quick transition to MotoGP. Spies and Edwards were constantly...

Loris Capirossi unfazed by Suzuki engine delay

15 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi unfazed by Suzuki engine delay

Loris Capirossi has shrugged off Suzuki’s surprise failure to roll out its 2010 factory GSV-R motor in Sepang earlier this month. The veteran Italian, poised to make his 300th Grand Prix appearance...

Scott Redding’s Moto2 bike unveiled

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s Moto2 bike unveiled

This is the first look at the stunning new Marc VDS Moto2 bike that British rider Scott Redding will debut in Catalunya next week. The youngest rider in history to win a Grand Prix, the...

Jorge Lorenzo breaks right hand

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo breaks right hand

Jorge Lorenzo has suffered a massive pre-season blow after the 2009 MotoGP world championship runner-up broke his right hand in a motocross training accident yesterday (Thursday). The 22-year-old was...

FB Corse unveils MotoGP contender

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

FB Corse unveils MotoGP contender

The FB Corse squad unveiled its new three-cylinder MotoGP machine in Italy yesterday (Thursday). But future plans for the team remain shrouded in mystery with the new bike still to make its track...

Nicky Hayden fit after arm surgery

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden fit after arm surgery

Nicky Hayden will be fit to ride his factory Ducati GP10 in Sepang later this month after a successful right arm operation in Spain this week. The 2006 MotoGP world champion underwent routine surgery...

Yamaha secrecy no big issue, insists Jerry Burgess

11 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha secrecy no big issue, insists Jerry Burgess

Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess has brushed off Yamaha’s decision to ban data sharing between the Italian and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in 2010. Yamaha confirmed during last week’s...

Marco Melandri happy with new Honda policy

11 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri happy with new Honda policy

Marco Melandri has said Honda’s new policy of starting the 2010 MotoGP campaign with all six RC212V machines at the same spec will significantly aid bike development. HRC has scrapped its usual...

MotoGP boss impressed as Silverstone revamp takes shape

11 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP boss impressed as Silverstone revamp takes shape

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta said he was ‘hugely impressed’ having caught a first look at the multi-million pound revamp of the Silverstone circuit today. Although the majority of the famous...

Silverstone MotoGP race gets title sponsor

10 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Silverstone MotoGP race gets title sponsor

The 2010 British MotoGP race at Silverstone will be sponsored by AirAsia after a three-year deal was announced today at the Northamptonshire circuit. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezepeleta flew in to sign the...

Colin Edwards motivated by Ben Spies threat

10 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards motivated by Ben Spies threat

Colin Edwards reckons the battle to be number one American in MotoGP this year will give him all the motivation he needs as he prepares for his eighth premier class campaign. Last season Edwards...