March

Year: 2009

Month: March

Norasport Round One Open Championship

22 March 2009 by suzi314

The Spring Sunshine saw really good entries for the first round on the Gimoto National Supermoto Championship. All classes were well represented and enjoying the fine race conditions. With a Trophy...

Julian and Toby back covering MotoGP

22 March 2009 by Pete Grant

Just like to add my appreciation of Julian and Toby’s return to Moto GP coverage with Eurosport! Their mixed and informed commentary makes the sport even more enjoyable! I look forward to Hearing...

My daughter with Valentino Rossi

21 March 2009 by troyhonda46

Took my daughter to the Day of Champions 2006. Paige with Valle – the man is a god. True gent.

John Hopkins targets World Superbike wins

21 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins is confident he will be fighting for victories in World Superbikes having finally signed a deal with the Stiggy Honda squad. The 25-year-old will try and rebuild his career in World...

John Hopkins signing a ‘dream’ for Stiggy Honda

21 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Stiggy Honda boss Johan Stigefelt reckons the capture of high profile American John Hopkins is like a ‘dream’ for the WSB squad. Hopkins will join British rider Leon Haslam for the rest of the 2009...

Hopkins first test date confirmed

21 March 2009 by Michael Guy

John Hopkins will get an initial shake down test onboard the Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade superbike before he arrives at Valencia for round three of the championship on 3rd to 5th April. Hopkins...

Mika Kallio bemoans practice cuts

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP rookie Mika Kallio fears the big reduction in practice time will seriously hinder his bid to be immediately competitive in 2009. As part of a range of cost-cutting measures to counter the...

Bradley Smith happy with engine performance tweaks

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith reckons engine performance tweaks have significantly improved his Aspar Aprilia 125GP machine after a successful test in Estoril this week. His Spanish team ran different engine...

Leon Haslam unfazed by John Hopkins’ arrival

20 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Leon Haslam has told MCN that he is unfazed by the arrival of high profile MotoGP star John Hopkins as his team-mate in the Stiggy Honda WSB squad. Hopkins will race an identical Honda CBR1000RR...

Qatar WSB

20 March 2009 by Sandy Morrison

Hi Folks, I work in Qatar and took the opportunity of going along to the SBK meeting at Losail. The racing was great and the riders put on an excellent show for the very small crowd which bothered to come along. Also I was pleasantly surprised that, although not running at the front, the BMW’s didn’t disgrace themselves either. It keeps the series alive when another manufacturer comes in,...

John Hopkins signs Stiggy Honda WSB deal

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP exile John Hopkins has signed a deal to race for the Stiggy Honda World Superbike team, as was first reported by MCN four months ago. The 25-year-old, who was left without a ride following...

KTM offer race bike hire for RC8 Super Cup

19 March 2009 by Michael Guy

KTM are giving racers the opportunity to hire a bike and support package to compete in the Focused Events KTM RC8 Super Cup on a round by round basis. Riders will get a race ready KTM 1190 RC8,...

John Hopkins to announce 2009 plans

19 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins is expected to announce his racing plans for the 2009 season tomorrow (Friday). Frozen out after Kawasaki’s shock decision to quit MotoGP in early January because of the global...

Spies’ Crew Chief: “Ben will be really good in a couple of years”

19 March 2009 by Michael Guy

American sensation Ben Spies has taken the WSB paddock by storm winning three out of the opening four races of 2009 and the man that knows him best, his crew chief and mentor Tom Houseworth believes...

Neil Hodgson still hospitalised after crash

19 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Following a heavy motocross crash on Sunday, Britain’s Neil Hodgson remains in the Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. The 35 year old suffered a collapsed lung, cracked ribs and a...

Met Chris Walker at Cadwell

18 March 2009 by Gary Kidd

My wife Siobhan meeting Chris Walker at Cadwell testing!

Fausto Gresini bullish on 2009 prospects

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda MotoGP team manager Fausto Gresini is confident Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis can play a prominent part in the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Gresini’s satellite Honda squad used to be one of...

Alex de Angelis looking for big improvement in 2009

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Alex de Angelis is determined to improve on his best result of fourth place when the new MotoGP campaign gets underway in Qatar next month. The San Marino rider is confident he can score better than...

John Surtees 125GP team confirms name change

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The Chinese backed 125GP team headed by MotoGP and Formula One legend John Surtees has confirmed it will change its name for the 2009 world championship campaign. Having initially planned to race as...

Toni Elias worried about first race prospects

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Toni Elias has already cast doubts on his prospects of making a fast start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship campaign. The Gresini Honda rider, who had a torrid time with the Alice Ducati...

Valentino Rossi critical of MotoGP testing restrictions

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi has told MCN that he believes the new testing restrictions introduced to help cut costs in MotoGP are too severe. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who won nine races to...

Nicky Hayden looking for rear brake solution

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is waiting for new footrest brackets to stop him inadvertently dragging the rear brake on Ducati’s stunning new carbon fibre GP9 machine. The Kentucky rider should have the new footrest...

Scott Redding getting comfortable on new Aprilia

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Highly-rated Scott Redding believes he is getting more accustomed to the new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine. But the Gloucestershire rider has conceded that he needs more time to focus on chassis set-up...

Danny Webb finishes frustrated in Estoril

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb had a frustrating final day of 125GP testing in Estoril after mechanical problems and high winds disrupted his first test of 2009. The British teenager was unable to improve on his lap...

McConnell ready after Raceways Spanish test

17 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Map Raceways Yamaha’s three-man team has returned from a successful four-day test at Cartagena, with their supersport star Billy McConnell saying he is ready to give the competition a run for their...

Chris Jones Riders Fund buys safety barriers

17 March 2009 by Gary Pinchin

The Chris Jones Riders Fund (CJRF) and BSB series organisers MSVR have secured the long-term supply and installation of soft barrier protection at BSB events. Since 2005 BSB has rented up to 300...

Hodgson Hospitalised after Motorcross crash

17 March 2009 by Michael Guy

Neil Hodgson has sustained a collapsed lung, dislocated shoulder and injured ribs in a motorcross training accident. The 35 year old Brit hit a fallen riders bike, crashing heavily and was taken to...

Chris Vermeulen expecting early engine upgrades

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen has told MCN he expects Suzuki to roll out new engine upgrades in the early part of the season to help bridge the horsepower deficit to rivals Ducati, Honda and Yamaha. Suzuki...

Valentino Rossi hopeful on Dani Pedrosa’s fitness fight

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has said he hopes Dani Pedrosa will be fit to start the new world championship in Qatar next month. The Spaniard is facing a desperate race to be fit for...

Kawasaki to cease MotoGP development soon

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki’s involvement in the new Hayate MotoGP project will be severely reduced by the end of March, MCN has learned. The Japanese factory will only develop new parts for the Hayate, which is a...

WSB boss outlines cost cutting future

17 March 2009 by Michael Guy

WSB boss Paolo Flammini has vowed to make only considered and rational changes to his championship in light of the current economical down turn. Two weeks ago it was confirmed that WSB race weekends...

Bradley Smith remains top Brit in Estoril test

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has remained top British rider after the second day of testing at the Estoril circuit in Portugal. The Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a best time of 1.46.328 to lap 0.3s faster than he...

John Surtees 125GP team drops Maxtra name

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The new Chinese-backed 125GP team spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees will not race under the Maxtra name. Provisional entry lists released by the FIM yesterday (Monday) have British...

Danny Webb crashes unhurt in Estoril

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb survived a pre-season scare when he crashed his new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine on the second day of testing in Estoril yesterday (Monday). The British rider, who claimed a career best...

LCRRC 4th round winter season

16 March 2009 by Pat Contrino

The fourth and final round of the LCRRC Winter Season held at Whilton Mill on 7th and 8th March brought a feast of entertainment to spectators throughout the weekend in all categories of racing.

Suzuki confirms new Rizla MotoGP deal

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will continue to run in Rizla colours for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese factory has confirmed today (Monday) that the British-based team will...