February

Year: 2009

Month: February

Yamaha expect improvement from James Toseland and Colin Edwards

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Senior Yamaha race boss Lin Jarvis has said he expects an improved performance from Tech 3 duo James Toseland and Colin Edwards in 2009. Toseland’s impressive rookie campaign and a brilliant opening...

Yamaha boss supports Valentino Rossi’s rider aid reduction bid

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has found yet another ally in his quest to get the influence of electronic rider aids reduced in the future. Rossi has been a long-term advocate of restricting technology like traction...

Davide Brivio defends Yamaha wall

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s team boss Davide Brivio has defended Yamaha’s decision to retain a dividing wall that will continue to split its factory garage in 2009. The wall was introduced to prevent the...

Video: World Superbike men tryout flag to flag race simulation

03 February 2009 by Michael Guy

In 2009 a new flag to flag ruling has been introduced into World Superbike, meaning races will run from start to finish and won’t be stopped for changing weather conditions. The same ruling was introduced in MotoGP in 2006 leading to exciting pit stops where riders would have to think tactically before coming in to swap bikes. In preparation for the forthcoming season, World Superbike organisers...

Valentino Rossi injured in home accident

03 February 2009 by Sarah Carnell

MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has injured his hand and foot after falling at his Italian home. The 29-year-old was closing the curtains in his house when he tripped and fell on to a glass table. The...

Valentino Rossi’s boss expecting stronger Jorge Lorenzo challenge

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio is expecting a much stronger title challenge from team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in 2009. Lorenzo was a title contender for the early part of last...

MotoGP must become more commercially attractive, says Yamaha

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP must become more commercially attractive to increase revenue to help fight off the impact of the global economic crisis. Yamaha racing boss Lin Jarvis believes more income growth, coupled with...

No one-bike rule for BSB in 2009

03 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

BSB won’t be adopting a one-bike per rider rule for 2009 according to Series Director Stuart Higgs. HM Plant Honda and Rob Mac Racing are two teams that have already committed to have only one bike...

Rob Mac Racing switch to K-Tech suspension

03 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Motorpoint Henderson Yamahas of Chris Walker and Graeme Gowland, and Michael Rutter’s North West 200 Coca Cola Zero will be equipped with K-Tech suspension in BSB this year. K-Tech is one of the...

Title-wining Triumph team to continue

03 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Last year’s British Supersport title-winning team are aiming to continue racing despite having lost their title sponsor Embassy Racing before the end of last season. Title-winner Glen Richards has...

Sylvain Guintoli clocks up the BSB track miles

03 February 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Crescent Suzuki team boss Jack Valentine says that their new BSB signing Sylvain Guintoli has already got track knowledge of all but four of this year’s BSB tracks, having done the laps in a Suzuki...

Video: Behind the scenes at Fiat Yamaha

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team has given a behind the scenes look at the team’s Italian headquarters as part of its 2009 factory team launch today. The world championship-winning team moved into its impressive new facility in Germo di Lesmo just before Christmas Amongst the features at the impressive new HQ is one of Rossi’s factory YZR-M1 machines forming part of a meeting room table! Race...

Neil Hodgson to race Corona Honda

02 February 2009 by Henny Ray Abrams

Neil Hodgson will ride a Corona Honda in the 2009 American Superbike Championship. The decision to put the former World Superbike champion on a Superbike, rather than the Erion Honda Daytona...

Yamaha’s MotoGP plans not affected by credit crunch

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha Motor Company president Takashi Kajikawa has confirmed that the Japanese factory will continue to support the MotoGP world championship, despite the global economic crisis. In a statement...

Jorge Lorenzo hails Bridgestone performance

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has joined a chorus of former Michelin riders to praise the performance of Bridgestone tyres as he prepares for his debut campaign on the Japanese rubber. Lorenzo was reluctant to talk...

Video: Jorge Lorenzo interview

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spanish sensation Jorge Lorenzo has spoken of his hopes and ambitions for the forthcoming MotoGP season as part of Yamaha’s 2009 team launch. The double world 250 champion explains how he is still...

Jorge Lorenzo cautious on 2009 title aspirations

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo thinks he’s only fourth favourite to win the 2009 MotoGP crown. Speaking in an interview as part of Yamaha’s 2009 factory team launch, the Spaniard reckons team-mate Valentino Rossi,...

Valentino Rossi installs Casey Stoner as chief 2009 rival

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi reckons Aussie rival Casey Stoner will pose the biggest threat to his hopes of lifting a seventh MotoGP world title in 2009. Since the beginning of the 2007 campaign, factory Ducati...

Yamaha unveils Valentino Rossi’s 2009 YZR-M1

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have today unveiled the 2009 factory Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP contender in a special virtual launch. Filmed at the team’s new headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo in Italy,...

Valentino Rossi gives up on Troy Bayliss/WSB clash

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has admitted defeat in his bid to set up a dream World Superbike clash with Troy Bayliss. The Italian though insists he still wants to have a go in a World Superbike race before he...

Yamaha unveil Valentino Rossi’s stunning new 2009 YZR-M1

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha has launched its stunning new factory YZR-M1 that the Japanese factory hopes will dominate the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The bike, which will again run in the colours of Fiat for a third...

Video: Valentino Rossi interview

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has talked about the big threats to the defence of his crown, the impact of the credit crunch and Marco Simoncelli’s future prospects in a special video...

Even snowmen love Rossi

02 February 2009 by sm1thjam1e

Even my snowman Errel is a Rossi fan!!!

Alvaro Bautista suffers injury blow

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Alvaro Bautista’s stunning start to 2009 came to a crashing halt when he suffered a broken right collarbone in Valencia yesterday. Bautista, who had been fastest in each of the opening four...

Bradley Smith third, Scott Redding fourth in Valencia

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith ended a weather-hit two-day Valencia 125GP test session with the third fastest time, while fellow British rider Scott Redding was just one place further back in fourth. Aspar Aprilia...

Moto2 - An Exciting Racing Future

01 February 2009 by Dan D

Now that the FIM and Dorna have unveiled their replacement for the 250GP class, the second tier of the World Championships could get really interesting again. With their proposal of 600 four stroke engines, from any source, in a prototype frame, older frame manufacturers and new teams can easily get involved again. This will be just like the old Formula 2 championship from the early 1980’s, when...

John Hopkins to WSB?

01 February 2009 by Michael Guy

Former Kawasaki MotoGP rider John Hopkins could be poised for a sensational switch to the World Superbike Championship. MCN understands that the American is in negotiations with the Stiggy Honda...

Scott Redding third at rain-hit Valencia

01 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP winner Scott Redding clocked the third fastest time on an opening day of testing in Valencia hit by wet weather conditions. Redding, who made his debut on Aprilia’s new 2009 factory...