2009

World Supersport, Valencia: Crutchlow Takes His First Win

World Supersport, Valencia: Crutchlow Takes His First Win

The 23-year-old British rider Cal Crutchlow scored his first World Supersport win in only the third race of his first full season in the series when he crushed Australian Anthony West in a 23-lap...

World Superbikes, Valencia: Haslam Leads Brit Charge

World Superbikes, Valencia: Haslam Leads Brit Charge

With a strong ride into fifth place in the first race at Valencia, Leon Haslam continues to reign as top Brit in this year’s World Superbike championship. Noriyuki Haga leads the points table after...

World Superbikes Valencia, Race 1: Spies Falls, Haga Wins

World Superbikes Valencia, Race 1: Spies Falls, Haga Wins

Ben Spies reversed everyone’s assumptions about the outcome of the opening World Superbike race in Valencia when he slid gracefully off his Yamaha R1 on the tenth lap on the Ricardo Tormo circuit. The...

WSB Valencia: Shakey down but not out

WSB Valencia: Shakey down but not out

Shane Byrne saw his chances of a front row qualifying position disappear in Superpole 2 when he high sided his Sterilgarda spectacularly. The 33 year old Brit was on a fast lap, holding second...

World Superbikes, Valencia: Super Spies Rocks to Third Superpole

World Superbikes, Valencia: Super Spies Rocks to Third Superpole

With just over five minutes of Superpole action remaining on the Ricardo Tormo circuit, the quiet American Ben Spies rolled his Yamaha out of pit lane. At the end of sector one on the 2.487-mile he...

World Supersport, Valencia: Crutchlow Blazes to Second Pole

World Supersport, Valencia: Crutchlow Blazes to Second Pole

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow scored his second pole position in three races in qualifying for tomorrow’s World Supersport race at Valencia. The 23-year-old factory Yamaha rider bounced to the front with...

Valencia WSB: Nakano out with broken collarbone

Valencia WSB: Nakano out with broken collarbone

Factory Aprilia rider Shinya Nakano is out of tomorrows two WSB races at Valencia after sustaining a broken collarbone during this mornings second qualifying session. Nakano’s Aprilia RSV4 engine...

World Superbikes Valencia: Spies Quickest, but BMW Edges Closer

World Superbikes Valencia: Spies Quickest, but BMW Edges Closer

American sensation Ben Spies headed the timesheets for the first time this weekend when he lapped his Yamaha in 1m 34.709s in the final qualifying session for tomorrow’s World Superbike round in...

WSS Valencia: Lascorz Pips Crutchlow in Final Practice

WSS Valencia: Lascorz Pips Crutchlow in Final Practice

Kawasaki’s Joan Lascorz just beat Britain’s Cal Crutchlow to head the timesheets in the final practice session for the World Supersport race at Valencia today. The Spaniard ripped his ZX-6R round the...

Valencia WSB: Hopkins one second off in first qualifying

Valencia WSB: Hopkins one second off in first qualifying

John Hopkins declared himself happy with his lap but disappointed with his position at the end of the opening his first ever day in WSB at Valencia. The former MotoGP man ended the first timed session...

Valencia WSB Biaggi's Aprilia heads Yamaha and Ducati

Valencia WSB Biaggi's Aprilia heads Yamaha and Ducati

Max Biaggi underlined the amazing out-of-the-box speed of Aprilia‘s new RSV4 by finishing the first qualifying session for the third round of the World Superbike championship in first place. On the...

WSS Valencia McCoy and Triumph Chase Glory

WSS Valencia McCoy and Triumph Chase Glory

Veteran MotoGP and World Superbike rider Garry McCoy, 36, could be on the verge of giving Britain’s Triumph factory a top six finish in Sunday’s World Supersport race at Valencia. The Australian was...

WSS Valencia - Crutchlow Hot, Laverty Cruises, in First Session

WSS Valencia - Crutchlow Hot, Laverty Cruises, in First Session

Spaniard Joan Lascorz benefited from a recent test session on the Valencia circuit to record fastest time in the first World Supersport practice session on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. His best lap of 1m...

Checa Hits Back for Ten Kate Honda

Checa Hits Back for Ten Kate Honda

Carlos Checa gave a hint in the first free practice session that the chatter problems that have plagued the Ten Kate Hondas in early rounds of the World Superbike Championship may have been overcome...

Xaus: “Spies is on fire”

Xaus: “Spies is on fire”

BMW man Ruben Xaus has praised WSB rookie Ben Spies ahead of this weekends third round of the championship at Valencia. The Spanish WSB veteran remains confident in the potential of his own BMW...

John Hopkins looking forward to Valencia debut

John Hopkins looking forward to Valencia debut

John Hopkins reckons he can’t wait to make his World Superbike debut in Valencia this weekend. The American made his first appearance on the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR in wet conditions at the Almeria...

Hopkins satisfied with first test – Exclusive pictures

Hopkins satisfied with first test – Exclusive pictures

John Hopkins heads to Valencia WSB this weekend satisfied after completing a one day test at Almeria, Spain on Monday. Riding the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR for the first time, Hopkins had to acquaint...

Hopkins in Almeria for first WSB test –Exclusive Pictures

Hopkins in Almeria for first WSB test –Exclusive Pictures

John Hopkins is minutes away from getting his first taste of the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade he’ll campaign in the World Superbike Championship this year. The former Kawasaki MotoGP rider is...

Tommy Hill on target for more points in Valencia

Tommy Hill on target for more points in Valencia

Tommy Hill has already scored points in three of the four opening World Superbike races this year and is targeting round three at Valencia for even better results. Onboard the Altea Honda CBR1000RR...

Shakey welcomes Hopkins to WSB

Shakey welcomes Hopkins to WSB

The last time Shane Byrne rode against John Hopkins was in MotoGP in 2004 and 2005. Now four years on the reigning British Superbike Champion is relishing the opportunity of racing against the...

Photos from Qatar WSB

Photos from Qatar WSB

Here’s a few photos I took at the Qatar WSB round – great racing, especially the supersports!  Facilities at Losail are non-existent, but at least it’s cheap (once you’re here!).

John Hopkins buoyed by Colin Edwards advice

John Hopkins buoyed by Colin Edwards advice

John Hopkins has told MCN of his excitement and anticipation at joining up with the Stiggy Honda WSB squad for the first time having spoken to fellow American Colin Edwards about the move. Some of the...

John Hopkins targets World Superbike wins

John Hopkins targets World Superbike wins

John Hopkins is confident he will be fighting for victories in World Superbikes having finally signed a deal with the Stiggy Honda squad. The 25-year-old will try and rebuild his career in World...

John Hopkins signing a ‘dream’ for Stiggy Honda

John Hopkins signing a ‘dream’ for Stiggy Honda

Stiggy Honda boss Johan Stigefelt reckons the capture of high profile American John Hopkins is like a ‘dream’ for the WSB squad. Hopkins will join British rider Leon Haslam for the rest of the 2009...

Hopkins first test date confirmed

Hopkins first test date confirmed

John Hopkins will get an initial shake down test onboard the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade superbike before he arrives at Valencia for round three of the championship on 3rd to 5th April. Hopkins...

Leon Haslam unfazed by John Hopkins’ arrival

Leon Haslam unfazed by John Hopkins’ arrival

Leon Haslam has told MCN that he is unfazed by the arrival of high profile MotoGP star John Hopkins as his team-mate in the Stiggy Honda WSB squad. Hopkins will race an identical Honda CBR1000RR...

Qatar WSB

Hi Folks, I work in Qatar and took the opportunity of going along to the SBK meeting at Losail. The racing was great and the riders put on an excellent show for the very small crowd which bothered to come along. Also I was pleasantly surprised that, although not running at the front, the BMW’s didn’t disgrace themselves either. It keeps the series alive when another manufacturer comes in,...

John Hopkins signs Stiggy Honda WSB deal

John Hopkins signs Stiggy Honda WSB deal

MotoGP exile John Hopkins has signed a deal to race for the Stiggy Honda World Superbike team, as was first reported by MCN four months ago. The 25-year-old, who was left without a ride following...

Spies’ Crew Chief: “Ben will be really good in a couple of years”

Spies’ Crew Chief: “Ben will be really good in a couple of years”

American sensation Ben Spies has taken the WSB paddock by storm winning three out of the opening four races of 2009 and the man that knows him best, his crew chief and mentor Tom Houseworth believes...

WSB boss outlines cost cutting future

WSB boss outlines cost cutting future

WSB boss Paolo Flammini has vowed to make only considered and rational changes to his championship in light of the current economical down turn. Two weeks ago it was confirmed that WSB race weekends...

WSB Qatar: Haga and Spies Open Points Gap

WSB Qatar: Haga and Spies Open Points Gap

Noriyuki Haga and Ben Spies look like making the battle for the 2009 World Superbike Championship a two-man shootout after both edged away from rivals in today’s two races in Qatar. Haga holds onto...

WSB Qatar: Spies Batters Haga Again

WSB Qatar: Spies Batters Haga Again

American new boy Ben Spies again drubbed the World Superbike Championship old guard when he won the second race at the second round of the series in Qatar on his Yamaha R1. The former AMA  Superbike...

WSS Qatar: How Laverty Climbed from Grand Prix Obscurity

WSS Qatar: How Laverty Climbed from Grand Prix Obscurity

Eugene Laverty’s success in topping the rostrum in the World Supersport race at Qatar today is a wonderful reward for a young rider who could so easily have sunk into the obscurity suffered by so many...

WSS Qatar: Laverty Hammers Ten Kate Pair

WSS Qatar: Laverty Hammers Ten Kate Pair

Eugene Laverty emerged from two years of despair in 250cc grand prix racing to win his first World Supersport Championship race in an extraordinary sprint to the line on his Parkalgar Honda CBR600 in...

WSB Qatar: Byrne Backs up Words with Strong 6th

WSB Qatar: Byrne Backs up Words with Strong 6th

British champion Shane Byrne lived up to his confident pledge to bounce back in the second round of the World Superbike series by scoring a strong sixth place in the opening leg on the Losail circuit...

WSB Qatar: Spies Cuts into Haga's Lead

WSB Qatar: Spies Cuts into Haga's Lead

American Ben Spies sent a chill through the Ducati Xerox pitbox in Qatar today when he won his second consecutive World Superbike Championship race on the new Yamaha R1 on the desert circuit. Noriyuki...