2008

Year: 2008

Month: ALL

Motegi MotoGP: MotoGP to adopt one-make tyre rule for 2009

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

The 2009 MotoGP world championship will adopt a one-make tyre rule with Bridgestone winning the exclusive contract, as was exclusively revealed by MCN earlier this week. Despite yesterday’s dramatic...

Motegi MotoGP: Stefan Bradl takes 125GP victory

28 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

German Stefan Bradl has taken only the second ever win of his career at Motegi ahead of pole man and championship leader Mike Di Meglio. Nicolas Terol got the holeshot in to the first corner where, in...

Silverstone British Superbike: Cal Crutchlow scores pole number four

27 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Cal Crutchlow has added to his two poles at Oulton Park and last time out at Croft this weekend to start tomorrow’s BSB races from the front. Crutchlow set the fastest time of the weekend with under...

Silverstone British Supersport: MAP Embassy Triumph ’09 future in doubt

27 September 2008 by Rob Hull

British Supersport Championship leaders MAP Embassy Triumph has announced today that they have had their funding for the 2009 season withdrawn. The majority funding from EFS Group that finances both...

Silverstone British Superbikes: Leon Haslam half second faster

27 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Leon Haslam has put an emphatic touch on the final Free Practice session of the weekend at Silverstone by setting a time over half a second faster than his rivals. Haslam set a 1.25.963, the only...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi frustrated by fourth

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi had to settle for a frustrating fourth place on the grid for tomorrow’s Japanese GP, but the Italian believes he can still fight for the victory to seal the 2008 world title. With a...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden continues revival despite late drama

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden continued his welcome return to form at the Twin Ring Motegi today when he claimed his third front row start of the season. The Ducati-bound American posted a best time of 1.45.971 to...

Motegi MotoGP: Bug ruins Casey Stoner’s pole bid

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s hopes of claiming an eighth pole position of the season were ruined by a bug that smashed into his visor on his last flying lap of today’s Japanese GP qualifying session. The Aussie had...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo hails ‘amazing’ lap

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo described his stunning pole position lap in Japan today as ‘amazing’. The Fiat Yamaha rider claimed his first pole since the Estoril GP in Portugal way back at the third race of the...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied with top ten

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland reckons he could not have done much more to improve on his top ten qualifying result in Japan today. The British rider will start tomorrow’s 24-lap Japanese GP from 10th place on the...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes surprise pole

27 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Michelin rider Jorge Lorenzo has surprised everybody by taking pole position at Motegi with a record time of 1.45.543. Lorenzo, who tomorrow will run a Lupin III tribute paint scheme will be looking...

Motegi MotoGP: Di Meglio takes 125GP pole

27 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Current 125GP championship leader Mike Di Meglio has taken his first ever pole position at Motegi, Japan with a best time of 1.58.678. Alongside Di Meglio on the front row will be Stefan Bradl and...

Motegi MotoGP: Ducati in shock Michelin talks for 2009

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

In an incredible late twist, Ducati and Casey Stoner could make a shock switch to Michelin tyres in 2009 as the MotoGP world championship might now avoid adopting a one-make tyre rule after an amazing...

Silverstone British Superbikes: HM Plant double top in FP2

26 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow completed this afternoon’s second free practice session at the top of the time sheets in a shortened session. Haslam set the fastest lap of the weekend so far, a...

The days of the Gamma men

26 September 2008 by john roach

I sit at my PC looking at the sport section of MCN, for me personally the only section worth reading. The reason, like many of your readers, is because I used to road race. In the days of the Lc/gamma/rgv many men, and the odd woman, would take to the battle fields on a cold and wet March day- snett, brands, cadwell- all full of cf bedfords. After a greasy breakfast you would then try to befriend...

Left wrist injury plagues Russell Holland

26 September 2008 by James Keen

World Supersport rider Russell Holland is suffering from a left wrist injury he sustained after his spectacular crash at the Donington round. After a Magnetic Resonance taken early in the week,...

Silverstone British Superbikes: Minimum weight lowered for Ducati’s

26 September 2008 by Rob Hull

The MCRCB has revised the minimum weight ruling for V-twin machinery to 172kg from 175. Way back in May at Donington Park the race organizers announced the minimum weights for the twins would be upped...

Silverstone British Superbikes: Strong start for Leon Camier

26 September 2008 by Rob hull

Leon Camier has topped the opening Free Practice session of the penultimate BSB weekend at Silverstone this morning. Camier, who won in race one at Croft a fortnight ago, continued his resurgence in...

Silverstone British Superbikes: Steve Brogan focuses on Superstock title

26 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Steve Brogan will concentrate fully on taking the British Superstock crown this weekend by withdrawing from competing in this weekend’s Supersport race. Brogan broke two bones in his right foot a...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with third

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi made a solid start to the Japanese GP today to finish third quickest on the opening day of a weekend that could see him claim a sixth MotoGP world crown. Rossi goes into Sunday’s race...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident after fast start

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s reign as MotoGP world champion might be close to ending, but the Aussie showed he intends to go down fighting after he topped the timesheets on the opening day of free practice for the...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa finds form on Bridgestone tyres

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa made a positive start to his second appearance on Bridgestone tyres today, with the Spaniard clocking the second best time on a rain-hit start to the Japanese GP. The Repsol Honda rider...

Schumacher tests Hanspree Ten Kate Honda Fireblade

26 September 2008 by Andy Downes

Michael Schumacher tested the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Fireblade alongside World Superbike racers Carlos Checa at Magny Cours in France yesterday. Seven-time Formula 1 Drivers’ champion, Michael...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland 14th but happy with breakthrough

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland might have ended up the opening day of practice for the Japanese GP down in a lowly 14th place, but the British rider was still delighted with his performance on his Twin Ring Motegi ...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest after day one

26 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Casey Stoner has showed no sign of slowing down in Motegi as he set the fastest lap in free practice on the factory Ducati. Stoner set a fastest lap of 1.48.121 with Dani Pedrosa only seven hundredths...

Tom Sykes headlines Race of the Year

26 September 2008 by Rob Hull

Tom Sykes’ final competitive performance for the Rizla Suzuki team will come at the Race of the Year at Mallory Park before he heads off to begin his WSB assault. 23-year old Sykes will race in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Yuki Takahashi makes MotoGP switch

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi has confirmed he will quit the world 250 championship at the end of the year to join MotoGP. Takahashi will ride for the Scot Racing Team Honda, which is a new outfit...

Motegi MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso joins Repsol Honda

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso will join Honda’s official factory for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The long-awaited announcement was made on the opening day of the Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi today,...

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith nearing Aspar deal

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s move to the Aspar Aprilia team moved a step closer to being finalised today, with the major backers of his current squad withdrawing from the world 125GP championship for 2009. Get...

Motegi MotoGP: JIR confirms Honda split

26 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

JIR team boss Gianluca Montiron has confirmed his squad will split from Honda at the end of the season, as was reported by MCN earlier this week. Get the latest MotoGP news The decision comes after...

Haga's leathers up for auction

25 September 2008 by Sarah Carnell

A set of Noriyuki Haga leathers, which he wore for the Donington Park WSB round, are up for auction to raise money for motorcycling charity Riders for Health. The Alpinestars leathers were a special...

Motegi MotoGP: Title defeat no concern for Casey Stoner

25 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner reckons he won’t dwell for long on what seems to be certain defeat in the 2008 MotoGP world championship. The Aussie’s reign as premier class champion is likely to be ended by Yamaha...

BMW signs Troy Corser for WSB 2009

25 September 2008 by James Keen

As MCN predicted and previously reported, BMW have officially announced that Australian Troy Corser has signed to ride the all new BMW S1000RR in next year’s Superbike World Championship. The former...

Valentino Rossi confirms Rally GB assault

25 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has confirmed to MCN he will contest the Rally GB in December, but he’s yet to decide which car he will drive in the famous event. The 29-year-old has targeted a top ten finish after...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi targets more success

25 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is confident he can add to his already impressive CV by wrapping up his sixth MotoGP world title in Japan this weekend. Chasing his first ever four-stroke victory at the Twin Ring...

Motegi MotGP: John Hopkins sets sights on 2009 revival

25 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

American rider John Hopkins has already set his sights on Kawasaki’s 2009 MotoGP assault as he heads into this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. Hopkins will treat the last four races...