June

Year: 2007

Month: June

Catalunya MotoGP: Suzuki delay third bike decision

09 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has delayed a decision on whether it will supply a third GSV-R 800cc machine in the 2008 MotoGP world championship until the British GP at Donington Park later this month. The Japanese factory...

Catalunya GP: Smith third on second morning

09 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith has continued his impressive Catalunya GP form after clocking the third fastest time in this morning’s 125 free practice session. Smith, who was second fastest in...

Catalunya MotoGP: Melandri voices front tyre concerns

08 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri has revealed major concerns about front tyre durability ahead of Sunday’s Catalunta GP near Barcelona. The former world 250 champion told MCN that he has been struggling with a...

Catalunyan MotoGP: Last eight laps Key for Hopkins

08 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Suzuki rider John Hopkins believes tyre management will be even more critical than normal in Sunday’s Catalunya GP. The American finished this afternoon’s second free practice session with the...

Catalunya MotoGP: Rossi denies Pedrosa

08 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi produced a masterful late charge to claim the fastest time in this afternoon’s second free MotoGP practice session at the Catalunya circuit. Rossi clocked his best time of 1.43.313...

Catalunya GP: Bradley Smith seventh quickest

08 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

After finishing a brilliant second fastest this morning, British teenager Bradley Smith had to settle for seventh place on the provisional grid for Sunday’s Catalunya 125 GP. The Oxfordshire rider...

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa fastest

08 June 2007 by Angus Farquhar

Home favourite Dani Pedrosa made the perfect start to his quest for a first 800cc MotoGP victory this morning when he set the fastest time in opening free practice at the Catalunya circuit. Boosted by...

Ilmor deny Catalunya MotoGP test

08 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

The cash-strapped Ilmor MotoGP team has denied Andrew Pitt will return to track action in a test session at the Catalunya circuit on Monday. The entire MotoGP grid will test after Sunday’s race and it...

Smith second fastest in Barcelona opener

08 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith has made a brilliant start to this weekend’s Catalunya GP by claiming the second fastest time in this morning’s opening free 125 practice. The Repsol Honda rider clocked...

Rossi wary of Catalunya first corner

07 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is confident the new MotoGP practice start rule should help take away part of the danger posed by Catalunya’s perilous first corner. The first corner of last year’s race saw one of the...

Suzuki not rushing to sign Hopkins and Vermeulen

07 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP team boss Paul Denning has told MCN he is in no rush to secure the services of John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen for the 2008 MotoGP world championship. Hopkins and French GP...

Hayden excused from Suzuka Eight Hour

07 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has confirmed he will not be contesting the prestigious Suzuka Eight-hour endurance at the end of next month. The Repsol Honda rider was scheduled to fly to...

Edwards not interested in World Superbike return

07 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards had told MCN he isn’t contemplating a return to the World Superbike championship, even if he fails to secure his MotoGP future for...

Life exists elsewhere

07 June 2007 by mike gerrard

Shock news just in… a new exciting branch of motorsport has just been discovered – it’s called 250GP. Hitherto unknown to the motorcycling cognoscenti due to a bizarre and sinister wall of silence, this new branch of the sport shows none of the signs of the killer disease ‘F1 Canker’ known to have infected many sports from its roots in Formula One car racing and international football. Discovered...

Tech 3 confirm Vermeulen interest

06 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha’s satellite MotoGP team has confirmed its interest in talking to Aussie Chris Vermeulen about a 2008 ride. Having recently penned a deal to lease two YZR-M1 800 machines from Yamaha in 2008,...

Suzuki close to third bike MotoGP decision

06 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki bosses have confirmed to MCN the decision on running a third GSV-R machine in 2008 is likely to be made at this weekend’s Catalunya GP in Spain. Lengthy negotiations with Spaniard Jorge...

Kawasaki ponders three-rider factory MotoGP team

06 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki is investigating the possibility of running a three-rider factory team in the 2008 MotoGP world championship, MCN can reveal. In a bid to bolster dwindling grid numbers, Dorna boss Carmelo...

Fan invasion sparks fresh Mugello concerns

06 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Race Director Paul Butler has confirmed to MCN he came close to red flagging last Sunday’s Italian GP to avoid a potentially disastrous track invasion before the end of the 23-lap race. Butler...

Rossi and Capirossi test at Misano

05 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi have completed a brief test at the Misano circuit to alleviate track surface concerns before the return of MotoGP at the San Marino venue in September. MCN can...

Roberts plays down World Superbike switch

05 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts has played down rumours his British-based MotoGP squad could compete in next year’s World Superbike series. An appearance by team manager Chuck Aksland at the recent rain-lashed...

Hopkins eyes podium return in Barcelona

05 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins is confident he can make a return to the podium in this weekend’s Catalunya GP in Spain. The track near Barcelona is one of the favourites for the factory Suzuki rider and...

Burgess backs new tyre rule

05 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess has backed the 2007 tyre restrictions, despite recent calls from the Italian to modify the current format. Riders can now only pick from 17 rear and 14 front...

Rea lands Roberts ride for British GP

03 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Emerging British superbike star Jonathan Rea has landed a dream wild card ride in the British GP with Kenny’s Roberts’ Honda-powered squad. The 20-year-old will join 2000 world champion Kenny Roberts...

Rossi wins home GP at Mugello

03 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Italian Valentino Rossi has wowed the crowds by storming to victory at his home Grand Prix. Thousands of fans flocked on to the 3.250mile track to congratulate their hero as he secured just his second...

Bautista and De Angelis make it one-two for Aspar

03 June 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista and Alex De Angelis have made it a Master Mapfre Aspar one-two in the 250 Grand Prix at Mugello. The teammates had a few hairy moments with each other in the final stages but common...

Faubel claims victory and championship lead in Mugello

03 June 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Hector Faubel gave Italian motorcycle company Aprilia plenty to cheer about with a victory and the championship lead at their home Grand Prix. The Spaniard, who started from pole position, vied with...

Edwards baffled at slow speed

03 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards was left scratching his head searching for answers after he qualified in a disastrous 16th place for today’s Italian GP in Mugello. The Fiat Yamaha rider ended close to six...

Bautista claims his pole of the season

02 June 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista has secured his first pole position of the season this afternoon by recording a 1:57.435 lap at Mugello. The Spaniard beat his own best time from qualifying one by almost 12 seconds...

Aussie one-two as rain wreaks havoc at Mugello

02 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen will start first and second for tomorrow’s Italian GP in Mugello as a rain interrupted weekend continued in this afternoon’s decisive qualifying session. World...

Faubel secures pole for 125s at Mugello

02 June 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Hector Faubel has secured pole position for tomorrow’s 125 race in Mugello after setting the fastest lap in the first of the two qualifying sessions. The Honda rider, who was only 20th in the second...

Simon says follow me in Mugello

02 June 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Julian Simon was the fastest rider for the 250s in Mugello this morning. The Spaniard recorded a best time of 1:55.660 this morning, although this was five tenths of a second slower than his best time...

Pedrosa fends off Italian challenge

02 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa clocked the fastest time in this morning’s third free practice session in Mugello to hold off the increasing threat posed by Italy’s big-name trio. The Spaniard’s best of 1.50.108 gave...

Brits crash unhurt in Mugello

02 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

British duo Bradley Smith and Danny Webb both escaped injury after crashing in this morning’s 125 free practice session in Mugello. With rain threatening constantly during the 45-minute session, the...

Melandri rejects new Honda chassis

02 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri has ditched a new Honda chassis that he tested for the first time yesterday in Mugello. The Gresini Honda rider only got the dry morning session to evaluate the new frame for his...

DeAngelis on provisional pole for 250s

01 June 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Aprilia’s Alex De Angelis was the fastest rider in the first qualifying session for the 250s this afternoon. De Angelis recorded a best time of 2:07.137, some 12 and a half seconds down on his best...

Stoner fastest in Mugello monsoon

01 June 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner ended a rain-lashed second free practice session quickest as monsoon conditions hit the Mugello circuit. A best lap of 2.07.107 as the torrential rain...