August

Year: 2012

Month: August

Tech 3 Yamaha thrilled to field all-British MotoGP line-up

25 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal says he is thrilled to be entering the 2013 MotoGP world championship with an all-British line-up featuring Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith. Crutchlow has penned a new one-year deal to stay with the French squad after his dream move to Ducati’s factory squad collapsed after lengthy discussions. Smith will graduate from Poncharal’s Tech 3 Racing Moto2...

WSB Moscow: Sykes up to third as Giugliano stay top

25 August 2012 by Michael Guy

WSB Moscow: Sykes up to third as Giugliano stay top

Friday’s pole man Davide Giugliano was unable to improve his lap time but stayed at the top of the time-sheets during second qualifying this morning. Carlos Checa held second place with a slightly...

Rossi expects close title fight between Pedrosa and Lorenzo

24 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believes the 2012 MotoGP title fight between Spanish duo Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa could go all the way to the last race in Valencia. Just 18-points split series leader Lorenzo and Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa with seven races remaining and the 2012 title scrap is now between the two after Casey Stoner’s bid was wrecked by injury. The reigning world champion is currently heading...

Valentino Rossi encouraged by Brno practice pace

24 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi took encouragement from one of his best days of the 2012 MotoGP campaign today after he finished the opening day of practice in Brno in sixth place. After disastrous appearances in Laguna Seca and Indianapolis, the 33-year-old was only 0.457s behind Dani Pedrosa’s best pace today in the Czech Republic. And Rossi, who will re-join Yamaha next season after deciding to quit Ducati,...

Dani Pedrosa relieved after injury scare in Brno

24 August 2012

Dani Pedrosa relieved after injury scare in Brno

Dani Pedrosa was relieved to escape injury after a freak incident during this morning’s opening practice session for the Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno. The Spaniard was chasing Valentino Rossi...

WSS Moscow: Lowes on front row despite crash

24 August 2012 by Michael Guy

WSS Moscow: Lowes on front row despite crash

Top Brit, Sam Lowes secured a place on the provisional front row despite only completing four laps during first qualifying at the Moscow Raceway today. The 21 year old set a best time of 1.38.179 but...

WSB Moscow: Ducati take control in first qualifying

24 August 2012 by Michael Guy

WSB Moscow: Ducati take control in first qualifying

Althea Ducati men Davide Giugliano and Carlos Checa secured first and second place in the opening qualifying session for the Russian round of the World Superbike Championship at Moscow Raceway today.

Dani Pedrosa leads Brno practice

24 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa leads Brno practice

Dani Pedrosa edged out MotoGP world title rival Jorge Lorenzo by just 0.053s today to finish on the top of the practice timesheets at the Brno circuit. Pedrosa, who won last Sunday’s Indianapolis race...

Andrea Dovizioso excited by Ducati challenge

23 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso excited by Ducati challenge

Andrea Dovizioso says he is excited to be part of Ducati’s MotoGP effort and confident he can achieve top results on the struggling Desmosedici having spoken publicly about his two-year deal in Brno...

Yamaha: Lorenzo wanted Spies and not Rossi as 2013 team-mate

23 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha has admitted that Jorge Lorenzo made it clear his priority was to keep struggling Texan Ben Spies as his factory Yamaha team-mate in 2013 and not bitter rival Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo and Rossi will renew their intense rivalry again next season after the Italian signed a two-year deal to return to Yamaha after a wretched spell with Ducati. Yamaha management spoke publicly on Rossi’s return...

Casey Stoner frustrated as injury wrecks title hopes

23 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner frustrated as injury wrecks title hopes

Casey Stoner couldn’t hide his disappointment and frustration in Brno today after the Australian conceded his 2012 MotoGP world title hopes have been ended by the right ankle injury he suffered in a...

Casey Stoner out of Brno MotoGP

23 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner out of Brno MotoGP

Casey Stoner’s hopes of retiring from MotoGP at the end of 2012 as world champion have suffered a crushing blow today after the Australian was forced to withdraw from this weekend’s Czech Republic...

Yamaha to rally round luckless Ben Spies

23 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha to rally round luckless Ben Spies

Yamaha is confident Ben Spies can bounce back from recent disasters in Laguna Seca and Indianapolis with a strong performance in this weekend’s Czech Republic MotoGP clash in Brno.~ The Texan was on...

Andrea Dovizioso signs two-year Ducati deal

22 August 2012 by Mattew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso signs two-year Ducati deal

Andrea Dovizioso is the latest high profile MotoGP rider to stake his reputation on turning around Ducati’s fortunes in MotoGP after the Italian signed a two-year deal to join the Bologna factory. The...

Stoner shares pictures of injuries

22 August 2012

Stoner shares pictures of injuries

Casey Stoner has shared pictures of the right leg and ankle he injured during qualiyfing practice for the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The Australian managed fourth place in the race despite confirmation...

Nicky Hayden ruled out of Brno MotoGP

21 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden ruled out of Brno MotoGP

Nicky Hayden will miss this weekend’s Czech Republic MotoGP race as a result of injuries he sustained in a high speed qualifying crash during his home round at Indianapolis last Saturday. The 2006...

Ben Spies rues more cruel misfortune in Indianapolis

21 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies rues more cruel misfortune in Indianapolis

Ben Spies was left counting the cost of more cruel bad luck in Indianapolis on Sunday after the Texan was denied a home podium by a major engine failure. Spies was running in a relatively comfortable...

Heroic Stoner Salvages Painful Fourth

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Heroic Stoner Salvages Painful Fourth

Casey Stoner rode through the pain barrier to keep his MotoGP world title hopes alive after a tough weekend at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Australian fractured his right ankle and...

Pedrosa Keeps Pressure on Lorenzo

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Pedrosa Keeps Pressure on Lorenzo

Dani Pedrosa’s best season in his MotoGP career continued with a vital win in yesterday’s Indianapolis round to keep the pressure on fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo in the 2012 title hunt. The Repsol...

Rossi Reflects on Disaster

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Rossi Reflects on Disaster

Valentino Rossi probably can’t wait for November when he ends his Ducati nightmare after the Italian suffered a humiliating defeat at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday (Sunday). Rossi was...

Nicky Hayden doubtful for Brno MotoGP

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden doubtful for Brno MotoGP

Nicky Hayden’s participation in this weekend’s Brno MotoGP round in the Czech Repulic is in serious doubt. The American was forced to miss his home race in Indianapolis yesterday (Sunday) after he...

Dani Pedrosa cruises to Indianapolis victory

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa strengthened his MotoGP world title challenge with a dominant victory in an uninspiring 28-lap race at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Pedrosa was untouchable once he used the power of his Repsol Honda RC213V to blitz by fast starting Texan Ben Spies on the long home straight at the end of lap four. With Spies cruelly taken out of podium contention when his factory...

Marc Marquez dominates Indianapolis Moto2 race

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez increased his lead in the Moto2 world championship to a commanding 39-points after dominating this afternoon’s 26-lap race in Indianapolis. Once the former 125GP world champion seized the lead from fast starting Dominique Aegerter on lap four, Marquez never looked in any danger of squandering the opportunity to clinch his fifth win of the season. He needed only two laps after hitting...

Luis Salom snatches thrilling Moto3 win in Indianapolis

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Luis Salom produced a stunning final lap to claim his maiden Grand Prix victory after a thrilling end to today’s Indianapolis Moto3 clash. Salom produced a daring pass on the final lap to sweep by title contenders Maverick Vinales and Sandro Cortese and he held his nerve under intense pressure to collect his first win in his 53rd Grand Prix appearance. Salom denied German Cortese his...

Nicky Hayden ruled out of home race in Indianapolis

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden will miss his home race at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway today after he suffered concussion and a double fracture in his right hand after a high speed qualifying crash. The Kentucky rider lost control of his factory Ducati GP12 at Turn 14 and was momentarily knocked out when he hit the tarmac. He was immediately transferred to the circuit medical centre by ambulance before...

Dani Pedrosa on pole after crash strewn Indianapolis qualifying

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa claimed his third pole position of 2012 after an incident-packed qualifying session in Indianapolis this afternoon that was red flagged twice following huge crashes for Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden. A best lap of 1.38.813 secured the Repsol Honda rider pole in a dramatic session that ended with reigning world champion Stoner and factory Ducati rider Hayden undergoing treatment in the...

Danny Kent claims front row start in Indianapolis

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Danny Kent came within 0.083s of claiming a maiden Moto3 pole position at the end of a crash strewn qualifying session at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. The Red Bull KTM rider set a best time of 1.48.628 to finish second behind German team-mate Sandro Cortese in a session that was twice red flagged following crashes for Hector Faubel and Alex Marquez at the final...

Cal Crutchlow fears fresh left shoulder injury

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow fears he might have damaged the left collarbone he broke at his home race in Silverstone last year after he suffered a heavy fall in opening practice for this weekend’s Indianapolis clash in America. Heavy overnight rain meant the opening practice session took place in far from ideal conditions, with the grip available well below normal levels. Damp patches also...

Slow corner acceleration costing Valentino Rossi

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted Ducati’s struggle to accelerate out of slow corners was the main reason for the Italian languishing down in a lowly 10th place at the end of the opening day of practice in Indianapolis. The Italian, who will quit Ducati at the end of 2012 to re-join Yamaha, set a best time of 1.41.529 to finish 0.132s behind team-mate Nicky Hayden but a massive 1.746s behind Dani Pedrosa’s...

Dani Pedrosa sets practice pace at iconic Indianapolis

17 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa made a fast return from the short MotoGP summer break to top the practice timesheets on the opening day of action at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Torrential rain that battered the Indianapolis track during thunderstorms yesterday meant low grip levels for this morning’s opening practice session. Conditions were so poor that Casey Stoner’s fastest time of 1.41.925...

Valentino Rossi talks Yamaha return

16 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi talks Yamaha return

Valentino Rossi has spoken publicly for the first time about his return to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad on the eve of this weekend’s Indianapolis round in America. Rossi signed a two-year deal to...

Dovizioso good choice for Ducati, says Hayden

16 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dovizioso good choice for Ducati, says Hayden

Nicky Hayden believes Andrea Dovizioso is the best possible choice to replace fellow Italian Valentino Rossi in Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013. Dovizioso is close to agreeing a deal to ride a...

Lorenzo happy for Rossi to be back at Yamaha

16 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Lorenzo happy for Rossi to be back at Yamaha

If Jorge Lorenzo is resentful at Valentino Rossi’s imminent return to Yamaha then the Spaniard is doing an incredible job of hiding it. Lorenzo has publicly welcomed back Rossi with open arms after...

Effenbert Ducati confirm Moscow round absence

16 August 2012 by Michael Guy

Effenbert Ducati confirm Moscow round absence

The three man Effenbert Liberty Racing team confirmed today that they will not be competing in the forthcoming Russian round of the World Superbike Championship. Team management have cited the need to...

Casey Stoner slams Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha return

15 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner slams Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha return

Casey Stoner has criticised Valentino Rossi’s swift return to Yamaha after the Italian legend recently confirmed he will quit Ducati after a disastrous two-year stint with the Bologna factory. The...

Ducati boss: Nicky Hayden deserves 2013 chance

14 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss: Nicky Hayden deserves 2013 chance

Ducati bosses have said Nicky Hayden is worthy of another chance in the Bologna manufacturer’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013. Hayden signed a new one-year deal during his home round at Laguna Seca in...