November

Year: 2011

Month: November

Andrea Dovizioso satisfied with Yamaha debut

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso satisfied with Yamaha debut

Andrea Dovizioso was satisfied with the start to his Yamaha career in Valencia today after he posted the seventh best time on the opening day of 2012 testing at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. The Italian...

Dani Pedrosa fastest while adapting 1000cc riding style

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa fastest while adapting 1000cc riding style

Dani Pedrosa topped the timesheets at the end of the opening day of 1000cc MotoGP testing in Valencia today, the Spaniard working on adapting his riding style to suit the more powerful RC213V...

Broken wrist rules Nicky Hayden out of Valencia test

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Broken wrist rules Nicky Hayden out of Valencia test

Nicky Hayden was forced to withdraw from today’s crucial MotoGP test in Valencia after discovering he has broken his right wrist in two places after a first corner crash in Sunday’s race. The American...

Suzuki set Friday deadline to commit to MotoGP in 2012

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki set Friday deadline to commit to MotoGP in 2012

Suzuki has until Friday to commit to the 2012 MotoGP world championship, MCN can reveal. Suzuki team boss Paul Denning and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta met in Valencia yesterday (Monday) to discuss the...

First pic: Valentino Rossi tests Ducati GP12 with new frame

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

First pic: Valentino Rossi tests Ducati GP12 with new frame

Valentino Rossi has started evaluating Ducati’s new twin spar aluminium frame at the Valencia circuit in Spain this morning. The nine-times world champion was one of the first on to the Ricardo Tormo...

First pic: Cal Crutchlow makes Yamaha 1000cc debut

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

First pic: Cal Crutchlow makes Yamaha 1000cc debut

British rider Cal Crutchlow has completed his first laps on board Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 1000cc MotoGP machine in Valencia today. The 26-year-old waited for small damp patches to dry out before he...

First pic: Ducati’s new twin spar aluminium frame

08 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

First pic: Ducati’s new twin spar aluminium frame

This is Ducati’s radical new twin spar aluminium frame that Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will test on the GP12 Desmosedici MotoGP bike over the next two days in Valencia. The Bologna factory has...

Improved safety must be Simoncelli's legacy

08 November 2011 by Ryan Eckford

Marco Simoncelli was a character and a great aggressive rider who was willing to give his all to the cause, even if it meant crashing out of races, or causing controversy. But his talent and success on the track, which included a 250cc World Championship should not be his only legacy. Safety must be improved significantly to prevent incidents like the one in Malaysia. I know present and former...

Hector Barbera joins Pramac Ducati

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Hector Barbera joins Pramac Ducati

Spaniard Hector Barbera has signed a deal with the Pramac Ducati squad for 2012 and he will make his debut on the new GP12 machine in Valencia tomorrow. The Italian squad will cut its involvement to...

Melissa Paris to test Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP bike in Valencia

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Melissa Paris to test Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP bike in Valencia

Melissa Paris, the racer wife of double American Superbike champion Josh Hayes, will test Yamaha’s YZR-M1 800cc MotoGP bike in Valencia tomorrow (Tuesday). Paris was due to test Bradley Smith’s Tech 3...

Jorge Lorenzo ruled out of 1000cc test in Valencia

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo ruled out of 1000cc test in Valencia

Jorge Lorenzo will miss this week’s crucial 1000cc MotoGP test in Valencia having failed to recover from a serious left hand injury sustained in Australia last month. The Spaniard lost 8mm off the tip...

Ducati to test twin spar aluminium chassis in Valencia

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ducati to test twin spar aluminium chassis in Valencia

Ducati has confirmed that Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will give a public debut to Ducati’s new twin spar aluminium frame during the traditional post race test in Valencia tomorrow...

Cal Crutchlow eager to assess Yamaha’s new 1000cc bike

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow eager to assess Yamaha’s new 1000cc bike

Cal Crutchlow says he can’t wait to make his debut on Yamaha’s new 1000cc MotoGP bike in Valencia tomorrow (Tuesday) after witnessing the new machine dive under lap record pace in Misano recently. The...

Valencia MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista sorry for first corner chaos

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista sorry for first corner chaos

Alvaro Bautista’s hopes of ending a tough 2011 MotoGP campaign with a rostrum in the season’s final race in Valencia ended less than 10 seconds into Sunday’s 30-lap race. The factory Suzuki rider lost...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner ends 800cc era in style

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner ends 800cc era in style

Casey Stoner ended the 800cc MotoGP era in Valencia yesterday just as he started it in 2007 – blasting past a factory Yamaha to take another impressive victory. The awesome Aussie won the first race...

Andrea Dovizioso keen to debut new Yamaha

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso keen to debut new Yamaha

Andrea Dovizioso’s focus immediately turned to 2012 and his much anticipated Yamaha 1000cc debut after he secured third place in the MotoGP world championship in Valencia yesterday. The Italian’s...

Valencia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden fit for 1000cc test

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden fit for 1000cc test

Nicky Hayden has been passed fit to take part in this week’s crucial 1000cc test in Valencia after he was caught up in a four-rider collision at the first corner of yesterday’s final Grand Prix of...

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies happy despite last gasp defeat

07 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies happy despite last gasp defeat

Ben Spies came within inches of claiming a slice of history for himself when he suffered a last gasp defeat to 2011 world champion Casey Stoner in the final race of the 800cc in Valencia yesterday...

Ciao Marco #58

07 November 2011 by Jill Elliott

I don’t really have a story, I just wanted to send this tribute picture for Marco Simoncelli.

Valencia MotoGP: Stoner snatches victory from Spies

06 November 2011 by Tom Cambio

Valencia MotoGP: Stoner snatches victory from Spies

2011 MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) stole his tenth win of the year from Ben Spies on the finish line, having managed to get the drive out of the final corner to power past Spies...

Valencia Moto2: Pirro wins first GP race for Gresini

06 November 2011 by Tom Cambio

Valencia Moto2: Pirro wins first GP race for Gresini

Michele Pirro took his first Moto2 race win for the Gresini Racing team at the final race of the season in Valencia, providing a fitting and emotional tribute to Marco Simoncelli. Pirro and team mate...

Valencia MotoGP: Terol last ever 125 GP world champion

06 November 2011 by Tom Cambio

Valencia MotoGP: Terol last ever 125 GP world champion

Nicolas Terol (Bankia Aspar) is the last ever 125 Grand Prix world champion, as the era of two-stroke draws to a close in Valencia. Terol’s championship win was secured early on when outside title...

Valentino Rossi explains Marco Simoncelli tribute helmet

05 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi explains Marco Simoncelli tribute helmet

Valentino Rossi has explained his personal tribute to close friend Marco Simoncelli on his AGV helmet in Valencia today. Rossi unveiled his special paintjob for this morning’s free practice session at...

58 Forever

05 November 2011 by keyboardwarrior

I just wanted to share this pic with everyone as I was lucky enough to meet Marco at Silverstone this year. He was just as you see him on TV – such a charismatic fella. I don’t mind admitting to...

Kevin Schwantz to lead Marco Simoncelli tribute lap

05 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz to lead Marco Simoncelli tribute lap

Kevin Schwantz will ride Marco Simoncelli’s factory Honda RC212V at the front of a special tribute lap in honour of the late Italian ahead of tomorrow’s final race in Valencia. Schwantz was a boyhood...

Valencia Moto2: Pirro and Takahashi lead for Gresini

05 November 2011 by MCN

Valencia Moto2: Pirro and Takahashi lead for Gresini

Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi secured first and second place on the grid at Valencia, a fitting qualifying result for the Gresini Racing team who have been dealing with the tragic loss of San Carlo...

Valencia MotoGP: Stoner secures twelfth pole of season

05 November 2011 by Tom Cambio

Valencia MotoGP: Stoner secures twelfth pole of season

2011 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner has continued his dominant form to secure his twelfth pole position of the season, equalling Mick Doohan’s record, and will start from the front of the grid for...

Valencia MotoGP: Stefan Bradl crowned Moto2 world champion

05 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Stefan Bradl crowned Moto2 world champion

German rider Stefan Bradl is the new Moto2 world champion after title rival Marc Marquez was forced to withdraw from the final round of the season in Valencia this morning. The Spaniard was forced to...

Valencia 125GP - Danny Webb takes pole for final 125 GP race

05 November 2011 by Tom Cambio

Valencia 125GP - Danny Webb takes pole for final 125 GP race

Danny Webb (Mahindra Racing) will start the last ever 125 GP race from the front of the grid, having secured his first ever GP pole position at a wet Valencia. The Brit went fastest on a damp track...

Suzuki poised to confirm 2012 MotoGP deal

04 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki poised to confirm 2012 MotoGP deal

Suzuki is close to confirming it will stay in the MotoGP world championship in 2012 to end months of speculation about the future of the British-based team. The Japanese factory will remain with at...

Valencia MotoGP: Stoner fastest overall, Bautista quickest in wet

04 November 2011 by Liam Marsden

Valencia MotoGP: Stoner fastest overall, Bautista quickest in wet

2011 MotoGP champion Casey Stoner set the fastest time during a damp free practice one at Valencia today, with Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista the unlikely pace setter in a wet second practice...

My tribute to Super Sic

04 November 2011 by Spas Genev

My tribute to Super Sic

The day after Marco’s accident, my band had a gig and the best way I could think to honour him was to play my heart out and to have a big, red #58 on my chest. The Sepang race was one of the very few...

Loris Capirossi to race Marco Simoncelli’s number 58 in Valencia

03 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi to race Marco Simoncelli’s number 58 in Valencia

Loris Capirossi will honour close friend Marco Simoncelli by racing the late Italian’s number 58 in Sunday’s Valencia MotoGP race. Capirossi, who will retire after Sunday’s 30-lap clash, revealed he...

Ben Spies speaks of shock at witnessing Simoncelli crash

03 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies speaks of shock at witnessing Simoncelli crash

Ben Spies has spoken of the moment he had to walk out of a TV commentary box in Sepang when he witnessed the crash that claimed the life of popular Italian rider Marco Simoncelli. Spies was...

Valentino Rossi speaks about Marco Simoncelli crash

03 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi speaks about Marco Simoncelli crash

Valentino Rossi has spoken about the crash in Sepang that claimed the life of close friend Marco Simoncelli on the eve of an emotional final MotoGP round in Valencia today. The 32-year-old factory...

Jorge Lorenzo unfit for Valencia race

02 November 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo unfit for Valencia race

Jorge Lorenzo will miss this weekend’s final race of the 2011 MotoGP world championship in Valencia having failed to recover from the serious left hand injury he sustained in Australia last month. The...