MCN
Reviews For sale News Insurance

2012

British MotoGP: Danny Kent leads wet first practice

15 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Danny Kent leads wet first practice

Danny Kent splashed his way to the fastest Moto3 time at a wet and cold Silverstone this morning to make the perfect start to his home race. The Red Bull KTM rider clocked a best lap of 2.37.401 to...

Jorge Lorenzo admits rejecting Honda offer

14 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo admits rejecting Honda offer

Jorge Lorenzo rejected a multi-million pound offer to join Honda as Casey Stoner’s replacement before opting to sign a new two-year deal with Yamaha. The Spaniard will remain on board a factory YZR-M1...

Valentino Rossi cagey on 2013 plans

14 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi cagey on 2013 plans

Valentino Rossi has denied his own future in MotoGP is close to being sorted out after Jorge Lorenzo penned a new two-year deal with Yamaha’s factory squad earlier this week. Rossi is keeping his...

Cal Crutchlow: Lorenzo signing changes nothing

14 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow: Lorenzo signing changes nothing

British rider Cal Crutchlow says Jorge Lorenzo’s decision to sign a new two-year contract with Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad has little impact on his own future. Lorenzo has penned a deal for 2013 and...

British MotoGP: Colin Edwards gaining confidence

14 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Colin Edwards gaining confidence

Colin Edwards might be a rank outsider to repeat his brilliant 2011 British Grand Prix podium at Silverstone this weekend, but the popular American believes he will be more competitive on the new...

British MotoGP: Ben Spies looking to transform fortunes

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Ben Spies looking to transform fortunes

Ben Spies has admitted it is essential for him to transform his disappointing form round at the forthcoming Silverstone and Assen MotoGP rounds. The Texan heads to Silverstone this weekend for round...

British MotoGP: Nicky Hayden expects tough weekend

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Nicky Hayden expects tough weekend

Nicky Hayden is anticipating a tough British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend as he goes in search of his first top five finish of the season. Ducati’s new factory GP12 is still not capable of...

British MotoGP: Stefan Bradl exceeding early expectations

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Stefan Bradl exceeding early expectations

German Stefan Bradl says he has exceeded his own expectations with a series of impressive performances in his rookie MotoGP campaign heading to this weekend’s British round at Silverstone. The...

British MotoGP: Chatter fear for Casey Stoner

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Chatter fear for Casey Stoner

The severe chatter issue that has plagued the defence of Casey Stoner’s MotoGP title defence in 2012 is almost certain to play a major factor in the Australian’s bid to claim victory in his final...

British MotoGP: Karel Abraham plans to race at Silverstone

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Karel Abraham plans to race at Silverstone

Karel Abraham has confirmed his intention to compete in this weekend’s British Grand Prix, having initially been a serious doubt with a hand injury. The Czech Republic rider suffered heavy falls in...

Poll: Rossi or Agostini?

13 June 2012 by MCN

Poll: Rossi or Agostini?

Giacomo Agostini is 70 this weekend and MCN will feature an exclusive interview with the 15-times world champion next Wednesday. In the meantime, it seems like the perfect time to revisit that racing...

Jorge Lorenzo signs new two-year deal with Yamaha

12 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo signs new two-year deal with Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo has crushed intense speculation that he would switch to Honda next season to replace Casey Stoner by signing a new two-year deal to remain with Yamaha’s factory squad. The Spaniard has...

Casey Stoner plays down wild card return in 2013

11 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner plays down wild card return in 2013

Casey Stoner has played down the prospect of making special wild card appearances in the future after deciding to retire from full-time racing in MotoGP at the end of 2012. Although the Aussie hasn’t...

Dani Pedrosa: Future speculation no distraction

11 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa: Future speculation no distraction

Dani Pedrosa has denied intense speculation about his MotoGP future will impact on his chances of capturing the premier class world title for the first time this season. The Spaniard’s future at...

Alvaro Bautista aims for Tech 3 battle

11 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista aims for Tech 3 battle

Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista has set his sights on challenging Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow in forthcoming MotoGP races. The Gresini Honda rider enjoyed his best ride...

Rookie rule set to be axed in MotoGP?

08 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Rookie rule set to be axed in MotoGP?

Honda could be on the brink of winning its fight to get the rookie rule abolished in MotoGP, paving the way for Spanish starlet Marc Marquez to move straight into its official factory team in...

Jorge Lorenzo: Front tyre switch is right choice

08 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo: Front tyre switch is right choice

Jorge Lorenzo believes it is the right decision to introduce a new standard front tyre from next weekend’s British Grand Prix onwards. From the Silverstone round, the entire field will have to use a...

Electronics update improves acceleration for Ben Spies

07 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Electronics update improves acceleration for Ben Spies

A revised electronics package helped give Ben Spies improved acceleration performance with his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine during yesterday’s Motorland Aragon MotoGP test. Spies put in more crucial...

Jorge Lorenzo not convinced by new Yamaha motor

07 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo not convinced by new Yamaha motor

Jorge Lorenzo remains unconvinced about the performance potential of a new Yamaha YZR-M1 motor, despite topping the timesheets at the end of a one-day MotoGP test session at the Motorland Aragon track...

Cal Crutchlow happy with Yamaha upgrades

07 June 2012

Cal Crutchlow happy with Yamaha upgrades

Cal Crutchlow finally got chance to make a thorough assessment of a new Yamaha engine and revised electronics package during a successful one-day test at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain...

Jorge Lorenzo fastest at Motorland Aragon test

06 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo fastest at Motorland Aragon test

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo topped the timesheets in scorching hot conditions at the end of a one-day MotoGP test at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today. The factory Yamaha rider clocked a best time...

James Ellison vindicated as Shane Byrne finds chatter in Catalunya

06 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

James Ellison vindicated as Shane Byrne finds chatter in Catalunya

Shane Byrne struggled with the same chatter issues that have plagued James Ellison on the Paul Bird Motorsport Aprilia ART machine when he rode during the Catalunya MotoGP test earlier this...

Casey Stoner bemused by front tyre switch

06 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner bemused by front tyre switch

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner says he can’t understand why the MotoGP field will switch to a new softer construction front tyre from next weekend’s British Grand Prix onwards. The Australian...

New swingarm confusion for Valentino Rossi

05 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

New swingarm confusion for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi admitted he is struggling to explain why a new aluminium swingarm he tested with positive results in Mugello recently created major chatter issues during yesterday’s Catalunya...

No gain from new Yamaha engine, say Lorenzo and Spies

05 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

No gain from new Yamaha engine, say Lorenzo and Spies

Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies reported only minimal improvements from a new factory Yamaha YZR-M1 motor they tested at the Catalunya track near Barcelona yesterday. After repeated requests for better...

Dani Pedrosa blasts front tyre change

05 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa blasts front tyre change

Dani Pedrosa has launched a scathing attack on the decision to introduce a new softer construction Bridgestone front tyre from the British Grand Prix onwards. Pedrosa and Repsol Honda team-mate Casey...

New electronics help Andrea Dovizioso top Catalunya test

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

New electronics help Andrea Dovizioso top Catalunya test

A new electronics package on Andrea Dovizioso’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine helped the Italian top the timesheets at the end of today’s MotoGP test at the Catalunya track. Boosted by his...

Cal Crutchlow escapes injury in high-speed test crash

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow escapes injury in high-speed test crash

Cal Crutchlow has walked away from a high-speed fourth gear crash in the early stages of today’s MotoGP test session at the Catalunya circuit in Spain. The British rider was on only his second fast...

Andrea Dovizioso thrilled with first Yamaha rostrum

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso thrilled with first Yamaha rostrum

Andrea Dovizioso held off a fierce late challenge from Casey Stoner to record his first podium for Yamaha in yesterday’s Catalunya MotoGP race. Dovizioso was never outside of the top three after the...

Casey Stoner not worried by Lorenzo’s lead

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner not worried by Lorenzo’s lead

Casey Stoner says he’s not worried about Jorge Lorenzo’s healthy points lead in the MotoGP world championship after the Australian saw his quest for a 20th successive podium end in Catalunya...

No seventh heaven for Valentino Rossi

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

No seventh heaven for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi got a stark reminder of how difficult it is to challenge for the podium on Ducati’s factory GP12 machine yesterday when he finished the Catalunya Grand Prix in seventh place. Rossi...

Ben Spies reflects on missed podium chance

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies reflects on missed podium chance

Ben Spies wasted a golden opportunity to claim a much-needed first podium finish of 2012 in Catalunya yesterday. Spies had just passed Dani Pedrosa for the lead on lap three when he ran wide and...

Dani Pedrosa frustrated as winless run continues

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa could not hide his frustration after his winless streak in the MotoGP world championship extended to seven races in Catalunya. Without a win since last October’s Twin Ring Motegi race in Japan, Pedrosa led his home race for long spells, only to be denied by a stunning late charge from fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo. Pedrosa led for the opening six laps before Lorenzo seized the...

Cal Crutchlow still searching for first MotoGP podium

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow still searching for first MotoGP podium

Cal Crutchlow blamed a lack of rear grip as he failed for the third time in 2012 to convert a front row start into a podium finish in yesterday’s Catalunya MotoGP race. The British rider held fourth...

Jorge Lorenzo wins home race at Catalunya

03 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo wins home race at Catalunya

Jorge Lorenzo showed why Yamaha is so desperate to keep and why Honda might have to break the bank to sign him for 2013 after he claimed a third win of the season in his home race at Catalunya...

Andrea Iannone wins Moto2 thriller in Catalunya

03 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Iannone wins Moto2 thriller in Catalunya

Andrea Iannone claimed his first win of 2012 at the end of thrilling and controversial Catalunya Moto2 race today. The Italian held off the relentless challenge of Thomas Luthi and home crowd...