April

Year: 2008

Month: April

MotoGP: Jerry Burgess confident for China clash

30 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess is confident the Italian will be able to register a third successive Bridgestone podium finish when the MotoGP season resumes in China this weekend. Rossi...

MotoGP: Ducati advantage has decreased, says factory boss

30 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati’s factory team boss has said the advantage the Bologna marque held in the inaugural 800c MotoGP world championship last season has been virtually wiped out by rivals Honda and Yamaha. Livio...

British Supersport: Gearlink Kawasaki head to Oulton Park on a high

30 April 2008 by Rob Hull

After securing a podium finish at the first race of the season at Thruxton a fortnight ago, the Gearlink Kawasaki squad is looking to better that result this weekend and Thruxton. Team Owner and...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi believes he has plenty to offer

30 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi believes he still has plenty to offer the MotoGP world championship with talks on extending his Yamaha contract expected to start imminently. Rossi hasn’t...

FIM World Motocross: Cairoli and Philipaerts race to Portuguese victory

30 April 2008 by Paul Harris

One week after the washout of Bellpuig, the Grand Prix season showed signs of returning to a more normal state of affair as the sun smiled on Agueda. In the MX2 class, reigning champion Antonio...

MotoGP: James Toseland hoping to spring Shanghai surprise

30 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland is hoping he can spring a surprise in this weekend’s Shanghai MotoGP clash to continue the brilliant start to his rookie campaign. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider is fifth in the...

AMA Supercross: Jason Lawrence takes West Coast Lites title, Chad Reed closes in on crown

30 April 2008 by Paul Harris

Jason Lawrence has taken the West Coast Lites title at round 16 of AMA Supercross in Seattle, but Chad Reed will have to wait a bit longer as he closes in on the Supercross crown. Lawrence headed into...

British Superbikes: Tom Grant to replace injured Adam Jenkinson

30 April 2008 by Rob Hull

Former Virgin Yamaha R6 Cup champion Tom Grant will replace the injured Adam Jenkinson at Oulton Park about the SMT Honda. Jenkinson’s race two crash at Thruxton left the Mancunian with a broken right...

MotoGP Exclusive: Legend John Surtees to spearhead new GP team

30 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

A new 125GP team spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees will be officially unveiled in Shanghai on Friday, MCN can exclusively reveal. Icon Surtees, who holds the unique distinction of...

MotoGP: John Hopkins praises Kawasaki ahead of 100th race

30 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins has praised his factory Kawasaki team as he prepares to make his 100th MotoGP appearance in Shanghai this weekend. Hopkins, who scored his career first rostrum finish in China last season...

British F2 Sidecar Championship set for the off at Cadwell Park

29 April 2008 by Pat Hamblin

The 2008 Yokohama/ACU/FSRA British F2 Sidecar Championship kicks off at Cadwell Park on May 4-5. This is the same venue where last year’s championship had such an amazing finale in September when...

Video: WSB Press Conference: Haga back at the front

29 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Noriyuki Haga showed that he is back to his best and the only man capable of keeping up with runaway series leader Troy Bayliss at Assen. Throughout practice and qualifying the Japanese star was in good form and started the weekend as one of the favourites. The opening race didn’t go to plan after Haga tangled with Sterilgarda Ducati rider Ruben Xaus with both men crashing out of contention. In...

Video: WSB Press Conference: Checa happy with double podium

29 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Carlos Checa moved to second in the World Superbike championship after taking two podiums at Assen onboard his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda at the weekend. The Spaniard enjoyed his most successful weekend of racing since joining the WSB series after a career in GP’s, but is still yet to record his maiden win in the class. To see Checa at the post race press conference watch the video below.

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi admits quit decision motivated Michelin

29 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has admitted that Michelin used his controversial defection to tyre rivals Bridgestone has played a part in the early races of the 2008 season. Fiat Yamaha rider Rossi goes into this...

MotoGP: Yamaha satisfied with Valentino Rossi’s Bridgestone form

29 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha team boss has declared his satisfaction with two podiums from the first three races after the Italian’s switch to Bridgestone tyres for 2008. Rossi is yet to break his...

Video: WSB Press conference: Bayliss talks double win at Assen

29 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Troy Bayliss took his fourth and fifth win of the 2008 season at Assen to secure a commanding 70 point lead in the World Superbike Championship standings. The 39-year-old Australian was pushed all the way for his race two victory by an on form Noriyuki Haga onboard the Yamaha Italia R1. The Assen circuit has given Bayliss mixed results in the past. In 2000 he crashed out in his first ever ride at...

Colin Edwards crucial to Jorge Lorenzo’s early success

28 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal reckons the key role Colin Edwards played in Yamaha’s early 2008 success should not be underestimated. The Japanese factory has made a brilliant start to 2008, with...

MotoGP: Ducati won't roll out 2007 motorcycle

28 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati bosses have denied they are considering rolling out last year’s world championship-winning factory GP7 machine to help Casey Stoner understand some of his early season problems. The Aussie...

Revised calendar for British F2 Championship

28 April 2008 by Pat Hamblin

With the cancellation of the British Superbike meeting at Brands Hatch earlier this month, the knock on effect of this has resulted in round five of the Yokohama/ACU/FSRA British F2 Championship at...

MotoGP: John Hopkins happy with Kawasaki progress

28 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins says he is happy that Kawasaki is now making big strides with the performance of its factory ZX-RR after his injury disrupted pre-season. Hopkins, who scored his best result of...

Nicky Hayden 2007 leathers!!!!!!!!

28 April 2008 by Anonymous

I was looking at the Powersport.co.uk website and to my surprise saw Nicky Hayden’s Repsol Honda suit advertised in their marketplace!!!

MotoGP: Casey Stoner doubts Ducati test plan

28 April 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner has doubted whether Ducati engineers will learn anything significant from veteran duo Troy Bayliss and Max Biaggi testing his factory GP8 machine. Ducati want...

Racing results round-up: April 26-27

28 April 2008 by MCN Sportsdesk

Each week we will have a full list of the racing results from the previous weekend. Click on the name of the championship you wish to see the results of. WORLD SUPERBIKES, ASSEN, HOLLAND NATIONAL ROAD...

WSB Portimao (Pourtugal)

27 April 2008 by Ian Sowersby

Having just got back from watching the Moto GP at Estoril, which we loved, we thought we would go and get some tickets for the last round of the World Superbikes! After asking for directions about...

Assen World Superbikes: Bayliss does the double

27 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Troy Bayliss has taken the double race win at the Assen round of the World Superbike championships despite a concerted effort from Noriyuki Haga. Haga was the only man to seriously worry Bayliss’...

Assen World Superbikes: Pitt takes win from Rea

27 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Andrew Pitt has taken the win away from Jonathan Rea in the Assen World Supersport race after and incredibly close 22 laps. Rea and Pitt dominated the race, continuously swapping the lead between...

Assen World Superbikes: Lanzi out due to injury

27 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Valencia race one winner Lorenzo Lanzi had a disastrous Assen weekend and has been forced out of the two races due to injury. The Italian RG Ducati rider crashed twice during second qualifying and...

Assen World Superbikes: Bayliss takes race one

27 April 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Troy Bayliss has taken the win in the first World Superbike race at Assen despite a seriously bruised back-side from a bicycle crash on Wednesday. Bayliss lead most of the race but only managed get...

Assen World Superbikes: WSB Warm-up – Neukirchner fastest, Kiyonari ups his pace

27 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Alstare Suzuki man Max Neukirchner showed that he will be a force again this weekend after setting the fastest lap in morning warm-up. The young German was followed home by rival Carlos Checa who...

Rutter at Thruxton

27 April 2008 by roryntp

Michael Rutter celebrating his podium in the second race at Thruxton with a huge burnout.

Cookstown 100

27 April 2008 by Alan McKeeman

The 2008 Irish National Road Racing season got underway today at Cookstown, but the first Superbike race came to a premature end for Adrian Archibald (13) and Andrew Brady (23), when they had a...

Assen World Superbikes Video: Bayliss takes pole and predicts two tough races

26 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Troy Bayliss secured pole position ahead of Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga for tomorrow’s two WSB races at Assen. The current championship leader has been in impressive form all weekend but has predicted a...

Assen World Superbikes: Bayliss again in final free practice

26 April 2008 by Michaell Guy

Troy Bayliss set the fastest time and dipped under James Tosleands official best lap record in final free practice today and looks like the man to beat in tomorrows two 22 lap races. Bayliss was...

Assen World Superbikes: Rea and Jones line up on front row

26 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Brits Jonathan Rea and Craig Jones have qualified on the front row in second and third place respectively for tomorrow’s 21 lap World Supersport race at Assen. In one of the best qualifying sessions...

Assen World Superbikes: Smrtz fastest, Biaggi out of Superpole

26 April 2008 by Michael Guy

Ducati man Jacob Smrtz was the surprise fastest man in final qualifying today and will be the last man on track in this afternoons Superpole session. Smrtz has been a front runner all weekend and it...

Steve Plater group on bebo

26 April 2008 by foggy-52

Just set up a Steve Plater supporters’ group on a social networking site. If you are a beboer the add the group, and show your support for the best road race to come from Lincolnshire, England ever simpily go onto http://www.bebo.com/steve-plater become a member, add your photos and leave a comment. Let’s try and drum up support for the greatest road racer in recent years, in what could be his...