2009

Meeting Rea at the Belfast Show

Meeting Rea at the Belfast Show

Met JR last Friday 13/2/09 at Belfast Motorbike show and took a couple of photos of him with my son and his mates , they were all really pleased to meet him ,so thanks and good luck this year,

Neukirchner leads the way in Phillip Island test

Neukirchner leads the way in Phillip Island test

Alstare Suzuki man Max Neukirchner topped the time sheets on the opening day of the final two day test at Phillip Island. The 24 year old German riding the new 2009 GSXR-1000 set a time of 1m 32.5s to...

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 5

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 5

Having spent the last four days on the beach and having BBQ’s it was down to the serious stuff today with the first of a two day Superbike test at Phillip Island. “I made my usual start to the day...

Happy Birthday Rossi

Happy Birthday Rossi

I just want to wish the ‘young’ Mr Rossi a very happy birthday and to thank him and his team manager for the best wishes and the gifts they sent to my brother “Colin” last year. He was recovering...

Rizla to stay with Suzuki’s MotoGP squad

Rizla to stay with Suzuki’s MotoGP squad

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen’s impressive start to 2009 has convinced title sponsors Rizla to remain with Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad, MCN has learned. Negotiations that have been taking...

Credit crunch increases pressure in MotoGP

Credit crunch increases pressure in MotoGP

Factory Suzuki boss Paul Denning believes the impact of the global economic crisis will only intensify the pressure to perform in MotoGP. Denning believes there will be closer scrutiny on teams to...

Team personnel key to Troy Corser’s success at BMW

Team personnel key to Troy Corser’s success at BMW

Troy Corser has put his impressive testing pace onboard the new BMW S1000RR down to the strength of his immediate crew and professionalism of the German team. Get all the latest WSB news Corser is...

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 4

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 4

With the two day World Superbike test at Phillip Island kicking off tomorrow, Jonathan Rea has continued to make the most of his time and has clearly settled into the Australian way of life. He didn’t...

Sete Gibernau withdraws from Qatar test

Sete Gibernau withdraws from Qatar test

Spaniard Sete Gibernau has been ruled out of the night test in Qatar next month after suffering a left shoulder injury in training yesterday (Thursday). Get all the latest MotoGP news The Onde 2000...

Maxtra 125GP team to change name

Maxtra 125GP team to change name

The new Maxtra 125GP team, spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees, looks certain to have change its name less than two months before the start of its maiden world championship...

New-look Hydrex Honda

New-look Hydrex Honda

The new-look Hydrex Honda team was unveiled this morning at their lavish new workshops in Guisborough. Team owner Shaun Muir has pinned his and the team’s hopes of lifting the BSB title on Karl Harris...

Chris Vermeulen confident in 2009 factory Suzuki

Chris Vermeulen confident in 2009 factory Suzuki

Chris Vermeulen reckons Suzuki’s positive start to the 2009 testing campaign has already proven that the new factory GSV-R can be a podium challenger from the first race of the season. Suzuki provided...

Nicky Hayden lacking rear confidence

Nicky Hayden lacking rear confidence

American Nicky Hayden reckons he must adapt to the aggressive pumping from the rear of Ducati’s new factory GP9 as the start of the 2009 MotoGP campaign approaches. One of the biggest issues the 2006...

My son's Bruce Anstey tattoo

My son's Bruce Anstey tattoo

This is my son’s tattoo of Bruce Anstey, who signed it at the TT and gave him his knee sliders. Top bloke!

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 3

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 3

On day three of Jonathan Rea’s WSB countdown diary the young Brit has been talking tactics with his team ahead of this weekends test at Phillip Island. He’s also found time to relax, have another BBQ...

2010 prototype MotoGP bikes to be unveiled in June

2010 prototype MotoGP bikes to be unveiled in June

The two post race tests on the 2009 MotoGP calendar will only permit manufacturers to test 2010 prototype bikes. That means a host of new bikes for the 2010 campaign could be seen as early as June 15...

Blusens Moto2 bike tested in Valencia

Blusens Moto2 bike tested in Valencia

The Spanish-based Blusens squad created a slice of history for itself in Valencia this week when it became the first team to track test a new 600cc bike for the Moto2 class. Dani Rivas tested the new...

Tuxworth talks BSB cost-cutting

Tuxworth talks BSB cost-cutting

In this week’s MCN we go behind the scenes at the HM Plant Honda team workshops in Louth to talk to the team about their 2009 race bikes. We also talked to team boss Neil Tuxworth about what he thinks...

British Eurosport to continue MotoGP coverage?

British Eurosport to continue MotoGP coverage?

British Eurosport has denied clinching a deal to continue showing coverage of the MotoGP world championship in 2009. But MCN understands that a deal is close to being reached with MotoGP rights owners...

Rockstar Farquhar at NW200

Ryan Farquhar at the NW200. The biggest crowd puller in road racing!

Haslam satisfied with Phillip Island WSB test

Leon Haslam believes he is ready to race after completing a two day test at Phillip Island. The Stiggy Honda rider has continued to work on machine set-up ended the test happy with his result after slashing a full second off his day one best lap time. He said: “It’s been good, we’ve worked a lot on set-up and been able to eliminate a lot of things. Phillip Island is different to where we’ve tested...

Fantasy Road Race: MCN sports reporters choose their teams

Fantasy Road Race: MCN sports reporters choose their teams

What do our globetrotting MCN sports reporters know about talent-spotting in racing? To find out, we got them to pick their teams for this year’s MCN Fantasy Road Race Competition, run in association...

Biaggi fastest in three day Phillip Island WSB test

Biaggi fastest in three day Phillip Island WSB test

Aprilia’s Max Biaggi has ended the first round of testing at Phillip Island with the fastest time. Riding the Aprilia RSV4, Biaggi survived a day two fall at Honda Hairpin to get his pre season...

Practice reduced as MotoGP bosses agree 2009 cost cuts

Practice reduced as MotoGP bosses agree 2009 cost cuts

Friday morning free practice sessions for all three MotoGP classes will be axed as part of a range of cost-cutting measures agreed for the 2009 season today. Electronic and hydraulic launch control...

Casey Stoner ‘disappointed’ with wrist operation

Casey Stoner ‘disappointed’ with wrist operation

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has said he disappointed with the outcome of the left wrist operation that has still not fully recovered from. Despite topping the timesheets on his comeback...

Silverstone provides fresh start for British MotoGP

Silverstone provides fresh start for British MotoGP

Silverstone bosses believe commitment to make radical on and off track changes convinced Dorna to move the British MotoGP race away from its long established home at Donington Park. Asked why he...

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 2

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 2

Jonathan Rea touched down in Australia yesterday ahead of the opening round of WSB at Phillip Island in nine days time. While Aprilia, Stiggy Honda and Altea continue to test Rea has had a much easier...

Silverstone happy with British MotoGP deal

Silverstone happy with British MotoGP deal

Silverstone Managing Director Richard Phillips believes the Northamptonshire circuit has got value for money with its five-year British MotoGP deal. When Silverstone won the rights to host the British...

MCN Exclusive: Silverstone unveils £5m British MotoGP revamp

MCN Exclusive: Silverstone unveils £5m British MotoGP revamp

Silverstone’s £5m revamp for the 2010 British MotoGP will have two prime goals – close racing and a better viewing experience for the paying public. That is the blueprint for Silverstone Managing...

Kop Hill Climb is back

Historic Kop Hill Climb to be revived in 2009! Kop Hill, Princes Risborough, is one of the oldest Hill Climb venues in England. In the period between 1910 and 1925 Kop Hill was one of several hill climbs in the Chilterns along with Aston Clinton. Kop Hill, where the first open hill climb was held, was a major event on the motor sports car and motorcycle calendar at that time. One of the fastest...

Why Is Racing So Expensive?

Why Is Racing So Expensive? Teams and organisers often comment about how expensive racing is, but what makes it so expensive? There’s no written rule that says how much you have to spend to race, it’s all down to how competitive you want to be, and who you want to beat. As an example let’s look at World Superbikes, a supposed less expensive formula. When this Championship started in 1988, no one...

Waiting game continues for Marco Melandri

Waiting game continues for Marco Melandri

Italian Marco Melandri still has no clear idea whether he will be able to take his place in the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Left with the prospect that he would not have a ride following the...

Let it shine says Suzuki’s top technician

Let it shine says Suzuki’s top technician

Crescent Suzuki’s chief technician Les Pearson has a great theory on the forthcoming BSB season. He reckons the weather runs in three-year cycles, two bad ones and one good. And here’s how he worked...

Valentine’s BSB future

Valentine’s BSB future

In this week’s MCN (Feb 18) we reveal the full story behind Crescent Suzuki’s one-man British Superbike team with Sylvain Guintoli and talk to team manager Jack Valentine about the new Suzuki...

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 1

Jonathan Rea – WSB countdown diary – Day 1

With just ten days until the World Superbike championship kicks off in Australia MCN will be following the build up to the race with Hannspree Ten Kate man Jonathan Rea. The 22 year old Brit has...

2009 MotoGP cost cuts to be agreed

2009 MotoGP cost cuts to be agreed

Cost-cutting measures for the 2009 season to help theMotoGP world championship ride out the global economic crisis should be finalised tomorrow (Wednesday). The Grand Prix Commission will convene in...