2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

KTM’s Johnson tops Wannerroo practice

06 November 2009 by Phil Wain

Honours were even in the practice results on the opening day of the Kings of Wanneroo event in Perth, Western Australia as GB and Australia shared the top ten positions at the end of Friday’s three...

McDougall teams with East Coast Racing for BSB

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Pat McDougall will race Phil Reed’s ex-Karl Harris Yamaha R1 in BSB next year. Discussions started after McDougal rode successfully for Reed’s East Caost Racing team at the Silverstone British...

Valencia MotoGP: James Toseland just edges out Ben Spies

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland started his final race for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad by clocking the 13th best time in opening practice at Valencia. And much to the relief of the 28-year-old, his best lap of...

Tardozzi open to offers

06 November 2009 by Michael Guy

Former Xerox Ducati WSB team boss Davide Tardozzi has told MCN that he is open to offers from other factories to continue his distinguished career as one of the worlds most successful team...

Tech 3’s new Moto2 entry

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Alex Hofmann just posted this pic on Twitter of the new Tech 3 Moto2 bike that’s on display at Valencia this weekend. He said: ”So 250s gonna die this weekend! Just had a seat on the Tech 3 moto2...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest with late attack

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner comfortably set the fastest time in Valencia today after producing a brilliant series of fast laps in the final minutes of opening practice for Sunday’s final MotoGP race. In...

Haslam ready for second Suzuki test

06 November 2009 by Michael Guy

New Alstare Suzuki signing Leon Haslam is currently on his way to Phillip Island in Australia for his second round of testing. Haslam along with team-mate Sylvan Guintoli will get three days of track...

Camier still waiting for Aprilia decision

06 November 2009 by Michael Guy

British Superbike champion Leon Camier is still facing an agonising wait to hear if he will be partnering Max Biaggi on the factory Aprilia WSB squad in 2010. Camier rode for the Italian manufacturer...

Whyte appointed NW200 Race Director

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Mervyn Whyte MBE has been appointed NW200 Race Director and oversee the overall operation of the event, working alongside a management team of seven personnel who will be responsible for the areas of...

Ben Spies at Portimao

06 November 2009 by Fireblade65

Thought you would like these two pictures at Portimao. One, me with Ben Spies and the other caught Nori Haga and Ben Spies shaking hands before commencing battle!

Valencia MotoGP: Danny Webb signs top Aprilia 125GP deal

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb has landed a top Aprilia deal for next year’s 125GP world championship. The 18-year-old has signed a deal to join the Jack & Jones Aprilia squad, which has run highly-rated...

Valencia MotoGP: Lowly 13th for Bradley Smith

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith was a lowly 13th fastest in 125GP practice this afternoon as the final race of 2009 kicked off at a sunny but windy Valencia circuit. Having secured second place in the world...

2010 Race Dates

06 November 2009 by MCN

2010 race dates MotoGP Dates Grand Prix Circuit April 11 * – Qatar – Doha/Losail April 25 – Japan – Motegi May 2 – Spain – Jerez de la Frontera May 23 – France – Le Mans June 6 – Italy – Mugello June 20 – Great Britain – Silverstone June 26 ** – Netherlands – Assen July 4 – Catalunya – Catalunya July 18 – Germany – Sachsenring July 25 *** – United States – Laguna Seca August 22 – Czech...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ‘curious’ about Ben Spies

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has told MCN he is ‘curious’ to gauge the performance of reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies during his Yamaha MotoGP debut in Valencia. The Texan, who has raced in three...

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies: 2010 podium ‘a miracle’

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Ben Spies reckons it would be a miracle if he claimed a podium in his first full MotoGP world championship campaign in 2010. Preparing for his Yamaha YZR-M1 debut in this weekend’s Valencia...

Valencia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa encouraged by Honda effort

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa reckons he’s been encouraged by the effort Honda is putting into its 2010 MotoGP world championship challenge. But the triple world champion says he will reserve judgement on...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner sad to see team boss quit

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has spoke of his disappointment that factory team boss Livio Suppo has opted to quit Ducati and move to rivals HRC in a senior management role for 2010. Suppo’s departure from Ducati...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eager to test 2010 Yamaha

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

With the 2009 MotoGP world championship already secured, Valentino Rossi has cast one eye on next week’s crucial test session when he will debut Yamaha’s prototype 2010 factory YZR-M1 machine. ...

Valencia MotoGP: Ducati confirm Livio Suppo departure

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati has confirmed team boss Livio Suppo will leave its factory team after this weekend’s final race in Valencia. Although not yet officially confirmed, Suppo will take up a management role with...

Tardozzi quits Ducati WSB squad

05 November 2009 by Michael Guy

MCN has learned that legendary Ducati World Superbike team boss Davide Tardozzi has resigned. Tardozzi has played an influential role in the team’s success having masterminded multiple world...

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies shows off wild card Yamaha

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies has shown off the stunning looking factory Yamaha YZR-M1 he will race as a wild card at this weekend’s Valencia MotoGP. Spies, who recently won the WSB...

Valencia MotoGP: Ducati poised to announce team boss departure

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati is expected to confirm that long-serving team manager Livio Suppo will leave the team after this weekend’s final MotoGP race in Valencia. Although nothing has yet been confirmed by the...

Leon Haslam & Jed

04 November 2009 by Cracknells

Leon with his biggest fan Jed at the Ron Haslam Race School. He was a star and had time for everyone.

Ben Spies Valencia bike and kit revealed

04 November 2009 by Ped Baker

Reigning WSB champ Ben Spies is making his MotoGP debut this weekend in Valencia and this is the bike he’ll be doing it on, a Sterilgarda sponsored Yamaha M1. The bodywork and leathers are for one...

Silverstone: The fastest MotoGP track in the world

04 November 2009 by Mike Nicks

Riders will lap Silverstone at an average speed of more than 122mph at the British MotoGP in 2010, making the new circuit the fastest on the MotoGP calendar by a clear 10mph. Silverstone date to...

Plater still unsure of 2010 plans

04 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Like everyone else Steve Plater is waiting to hear about Louth-based Honda Racing’s plans for 2010. He told MCN: “Obviously I’ve spoken to Honda about next year but I’ve heard nothing since so I’ve no...

Valencia MotoGP: Still plenty to play for

04 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Valentino Rossi may have sealed the 2009 MotoGP World Championship at Sepang, but there’s plenty to play for in the final MotoGP round of the season at Valencia this weekend. Probably the most...

Aoyama on the verge of 250 World title

04 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

After prevailing in his epic battle with Marco Simoncelli at Sepang, Hiroshi Aoyama is within touching distance of being named the 2009 250cc World Champion in the final race of the season – and...

Valencia MotoGP: Niccolo Canepa to miss final race

04 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Niccolo Canepa’s spectacular crash during practice at Phillip Island last month will be his last memory of MotoGP for a while after the Italian was ruled out of this weekend’s season finale in...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes hat-trick

04 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner is looking to end a troubled 2009 campaign in positive fashion in Valencia this weekend with the Aussie chasing a third successive victory. The 24-year-old has been in brilliant form...

Jerry Burgess: Valentino Rossi could race until 2015

04 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess believes the Italian could carry on racing until the end of 2015 at least. Burgess reckons Rossi could carry on dominating in MotoGP into his mid-thirties in...

Silverstone date to change in MotoGP calendar reshuffle?

04 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

The 2010 British MotoGP at Silverstone could be moved from its provisional June 6 slot with a major re-shuffle of next season’s premier class calendar expected. Finalising next year’s calendar has...

BSB and TT stars head for Wannerroo

03 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Top British racers are in Australia this weekend for the 2009 Kings of Wannerroo International. Headlining the entry are WSB starJonathan Rea and former MotoGP man Jeremy McWilliams while MSS...

Valencia MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen targets points milestone

03 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen is hoping to end his MotoGP career in style this weekend and preserve his 100 per cent point-scoring record in 2009. Vermeulen, who is leaving MotoGP to return to World...

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith aims for strong finish

03 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Having secured second place in the 125GP world championship with a brilliant run of five successive podium finishes, Bradley Smith is aiming to end 2009 on a high at the season’s final race in...

Valencia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa seeks winning finish

03 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Home favourite Dani Pedrosa wants to end a largely disappointing 2009 MotoGP campaign in style with victory in Sunday’s final race in Valencia. The Spaniard has again failed to mount a serious title...