February

Year: 2008

Month: February

MotoGP Qatar test: James Toseland thrilled with second

29 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland has given himself a massive confidence boost ahead of his first MotoGP race after finishing the final winter test session in Qatar with the second fastest time. An...

MotoGP Qatar test: Picture special of the opening night

29 February 2008 by Sarah Carnell

The first night of the historic MotoGP test is over without too much drama and photographers at the Losail circuit have captured some great moments from the test. Take a look at the pictures from the...

MotoGP Qatar test: Valentino Rossi happier with lights than lap times

29 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi was happier with the spectacular Qatar floodlights than he was with his own performance as the Italian could only finish ninth quickest at the start of the historic first night...

MotoGP Qatar test: Casey Stoner thrilled at night speed

29 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner said he was pleasantly surprised at his incredible night test debut in Qatar. Riding under the spectacular floodlights at the Losail International Circuit for the...

Video: James Toseland's massive MCN MotoGP send-off party

29 February 2008 by Angus Farquhar, Michael Carroll

James Toseland got a massive send-off for his 2008 MotoGP season at a party at Donington Park last weekend with BBC TV presenter Suzui Perry pledging in front of thousands to strip naked if he wins the title. Check out the video below to see the highlights of the party, including Toseland’s band Crash, Suzi Perry’s promise and an interview with the man himself. Watch Toseland’s band Crash at MCN...

MotoGP Qatar test: James Toseland shines in night test

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland was one of the shining stars on a historic night for MotoGP, with the first official night test held under floodlights in Qatar. Tech 3 Yamaha rider Toseland posted the...

MotoGP Qatar test: Anthony West escapes injury in big crash

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki’s Anthony West has had a lucky escape after he was uninjured in a big crash on the first night of testing under floodlights in Qatar. The Aussie lost control of his factory Kawasaki ZX-RR at...

MotoGP Qatar test: Stars back history-making night test

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP stars including Nicky Hayden, Loris Capirossi, Colin Edwards and Jorge Lorenzo have endorsed Qatar’s historic night race after the opening night of testing under floodlights. Qatar night time...

MotoGP Qatar test: Picture special of the night riders

28 February 2008 by Sarah Carnell

History has been made in MotoGP as the riders have taken to the track at the Losail Circuit in darkness. Check out these photographs of Valentino Rossi, Chris Vermeulen, Britain’s James Toseland and...

MotoGP Qatar test: Casey Stoner makes dazzling start in night test, James Toseland second

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner has made an incredible start to the historic first official night MotoGP test in Qatar, taking just 14 laps to smash his 2007 lap record by over one second. See...

MotoGP Qatar test: James Toseland to shrug off ankle pain

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is confident the badly strained ankle he injured during in a high-side crash at the Jerez circuit earlier this month won’t severely restrict him during tonight’s historic night test in...

MotoGP: Yamaha relief at end of Valentino Rossi's tax saga

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team boss has spoken of his relief that the Italian can focus 100 per cent on regaining the MotoGP world title in 2008. Valentino Rossi ends tax saga Speaking to MCN,...

MotoGP: Kawasaki unlikely to offer Roger Lee Hayden 2008 wild card rides

28 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Roger Lee Hayden is unlikely to be offered the chance to wild card for Kawasaki in the two American MotoGP clashes in 2008. The younger brother of 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden, Roger Lee has...

Video: Bradley Smith Interview

28 February 2008 by Andy Downes

MCN caught up with Polaris World Aprilia rider Bradley Smith at the teams official launch in London yesterday. Watch the video to hear Smith discuss his chances for next year and what he is expecting when he expierences night racing in Qatar this weekend. Motorcyclenews.com will be following Bradley Smith and we will bring you news of the test from the Losail Circuit throughout the three days and...

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Britain's Matthew Hoyle fastest in Jerez

27 February 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Matthew Hoyle topped the timesheets for the first test of the Red Bull MotoGP rookies in Jerez this week. The Spanish circuit saw 24 young riders test for two days and for many it was their...

MotoGP: Bradley Smith raring to go at Polaris World Aprilia team launch

27 February 2008 by Andy Downes

Britain’s Bradley Smith has been at the official Polaris World Aprilia team launch in London this morning in what he says is one of the biggest days of his life. The Oxfordshire teenager, who has...

MotoGP: Give Marco Melandri more time says Casey Stoner

26 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner had defended struggling factory Ducati team-mate Marco Melandri. The Italian has so far failed miserably to make an impression in winter testing on the new Ducati...

MotoGP: Yamaha confident in Bridgestone move

26 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha team boss is convinced a controversial move to Bridgestone tyres will help revitalise the Italian’s MotoGP world title challenge in 2008. The 29-year-old has impressed...

MotoGP: Michelin doubt qualifying tyre ban

26 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Michelin doubt the option of eliminating qualifying tyres will be discussed again in 2008, with tyre boss Jean-Philippe Weber casting doubt on how a ban could be policed. The issue of banning soft...

MotoGP: Kawasaki's Anthony West not worried by testing pace

25 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Anthony West has denied getting increasingly concerned about his winter testing form with the new MotoGP season start just under two weeks away. The factory Kawasaki rider has struggled to...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi plays down new manager rumours

25 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has denied speculation he is looking to install current Fiat Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio to manage his personal affairs. Rossi split with long-term manager Gibo Badioli and his...

MotoGP: Kawasaki - No regrets at releasing Randy de Puniet

25 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki bosses have denied having second thoughts about the decision to release Randy de Puniet at the end of the 2007 MotoGP campaign. The French rider has been in impressive form since he moved to...

MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in Jerez test

21 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has ended the three-day IRTA 125GP test session with the fastest time to continue his impressive pre-season form. The Polaris World Aprilia rider clocked his best lap as the final day...

Toseland drops it

20 February 2008 by Michael Colohan

I was at the corner where Toseland hit the deck. I had just put the camera down, but got some of him, glad to hear he’s well. Nice colours and a good weekend for him. BBC TV team at corner. Parrish...

MotoGP: Michelin explain 2008 development plans

20 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Michelin has outlined its 2008 MotoGP development strategy that French tyre bosses hope will spark a revival against dominant rivals Bridgestone next season. Bridgestone emerged as the dominant tyre...

MotoGP: Danny Webb braving pain in Jerez

20 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb braved the pain of torn ligaments in his right shoulder to continue his 2008 125GP preparations in Jerez yesterday. Just days after injuring his shoulder in a high-side...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden happy with new Michelin strategy

20 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has backed Michelin’s aggressive development of a new 16-inch rear tyre ahead of the 2008 MotoGP campaign. The factory Honda rider topped the timesheets at this...

MotoGP: Bridgestone target qualifying tyre improvement

19 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Senior Bridgestone race boss Hirohide Hamashima says improving qualifying tyres is one of the key targets for the Japanese factory before the start of the 2008 MotoGP world championship next...

MotoGP: LCR Honda already eyeing 2009

19 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

The LCR Honda team has already started to turn attentions to 2009 after the impressive winter testing performances of new rider Randy de Puniet. The Frenchman’s fast form continued this week when he...

MotoGP: Michelin still hopeful on Alex Barros deal

19 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Michelin boss Jean Philippe Weber has revealed the French tyre brand is still in negotiation with Brazilian veteran Alex Barros about a test rider role in 2008. While Ducati, Kawasaki and Suzuki have...

MotoGP: Kawasaki 'Screamer' needs time - says Olivier Jacque

19 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Olivier Jacque reckons it is too early to accurately judge the true potential of Kawasaki’s new Screamer MotoGP motor. Poor weather at last weekend’s IRTA test in Jerez wrecked Kawasaki’s hopes of a...

MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner unhurt in crash

18 February 2008 by Mathew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner escaped injury in a small crash on the final day of testing in Jerez. The Aussie lost the front end of his factory Ducati GP8 on the entry to turn five as he...

MotoGP Jerez test: Nicky Hayden fastest in Spain

18 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has finished the three-day weather disrupted IRTA test with the fastest time. The American clocked a fastest time of 1.38.848 using a Michelin qualifying tyre today...

MotoGP Jerez test: Tech 3 relief after James Toseland’s injury scare

18 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal has spoken of his relief after new British signing James Toseland escaped serious injury in a high-side crash in Jerez today. Toseland needed lengthy treatment in...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland bounces back to claim sixth

18 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland shrugged off the pain of a badly twisted right ankle to clock the sixth fastest time on the final day of testing in Jerez. In blustery conditions, Toseland escaped injury on only his...

MotoGP Jerez test: James Toseland in the clear after injury scare

18 February 2008 by Matthew Birt

Relieved James Toseland has confirmed he has no broken bones after he was involved in a first corner spill in testing at Jerez this afternoon (Monday). X-rays taken in the Clinica Mobile have shown no...