2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner saves strength for race

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner admitted he sacrificed the chance to claim a 17th MotoGP pole position to conserve energy ahead of tomorrow’s German GP at the Sachsenring. The factory Ducati rider settled for third...

German MotoGP: James Toseland ‘gutted’ with 14th

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland admitted he was ‘gutted’ to have qualified down in a lowly 14th place at a rain-lashed Sachsenring today. The British rider finishd just 0.4s off the top six a qualifying session for...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes pole at soaked Sachsenring

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi produced a stunning last lap to snatch pole position in atrocious conditions for tomorrow’s German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring. The 30-year-old Italian, looking to extend his...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith splashes to front row

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith will start the German 125GP from second on the grid after a rain-lashed qualifying session at the Sachsenring this afternoon. The Oxfordshire rider clocked a best lap of 1.39.686 to...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fast but fatigued again

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner might have set the fastest time in opening practice for this weekend’s German MotoGP race, but the Aussie is still struggling with the chronic fatigue that has drastically slowed him...

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden gains more confidence

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden’s sudden upsurge in confidence continued in Germany today, the American enjoying another positive outing on Ducati’s factory GP9. Having scored a season best fifth place in Laguna Seca...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi confident of front row

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi is confident he can claim a crucial place on the front row of the grid from the German MotoGP after he ended opening practice in third place. Rossi is desperate to...

German MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen high-side pics

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

These pictures show just how lucky Aussie Chris Vermeulen was to walk away from a spectacular high-side at the end of today’s rain-hit opening practice session at the German MotoGP. The Aussie lost...

German MotoGP: Error adds to Chris Vermeulen’s injury woes

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeuelen suffered another big injury blow in Germany today when he crashed heavily at the end of opening free practice at the Sachsenring. The Aussie, who is still struggling to shake off...

German MotoGP: James Toseland upbeat despite lowly finish

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland was in upbeat mood at the Sachsenring this afternoon despite finishing a weather-hit opening practice session down in 14th place. Toseland’s best lap of 1.24.317 was only...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in mixed conditions

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner cast aside lingering doubts about his fitness to top the timesheets in the opening practice session for Sunday’s German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring today. The Aussie’s best lap of...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith third in storm-lashed practice

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith set the third best time in an opening 125GP practice session disrupted by stormy weather at the Sachsenring today. The session started under grey and gloomy skies but...

German MotoGP: James Toseland gets electronics boost

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s hopes of a strong weekend in the German MotoGP have been boosted by the arrival of new electronics for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 rider. Toseland and American team-mate Colin...

German MotoGP: Mystery surrounds Casey Stoner health issues

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mystery continues to surround the cause of Casey Stoner’s current health problems after the Aussie denied suffering from mild anaemia on the eve of this weekend’s German MotoGP clash at the...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi sad to see Sete Gibernau depart

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has spoken of his sadness at seeing former great foe Sete Gibernau forced out of MotoGP by the sudden departure of the Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati team. Gibernau’s squad withdrew...

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden satisfied with Ducati progress

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden has talked of his satisfaction at finally making some big progress on Ducati’s fickle factory GP9 machine. The Kentucky rider has finished eighth and fifth in the last two...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects renewed Dani Pedrosa threat

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi is anticipating a renewed challenge from Dani Pedrosa after the Spaniard ended Honda’s worst losing streak for nearly three decades in America earlier...

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa gets new Honda engine

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

American MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa will assess a new Honda RC212V motor in practice for the German GP at the Sachsenring this weekend. The Spaniard, who ended a 13-month victory drought in Laguna...

German MotoGP: Danny Webb fully fit and focused

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb has told MCN he is back to full fitness and raring to go for this weekend’s German 125GP after he suffered a recent injury scare. The 18-year-old feared doctors would...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith targets podium

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith is hoping a podium finish in this weekend’s German 125GP will give him a double boost. The 18-year-old is looking for a top three finish at the Sachsenring to keep his world title hopes...

Sete pulling out of MotoGP

15 July 2009 by Gary lewis

In the light of Sete’s team pulling out of motogp I would like to offer my services to help fill the grid. I only have a ZR750 but seem to be faster than most (in the beginners group) on trackdays. Could you let the appropriate people know, Thanks.

Rossi buys $1.15m boat

14 July 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Valentino Rossi has splashed out on a new $1.15m (£7,130,000) yacht. The Pershing 56 luxury yacht, named Titilla II, is 56 feet long, has six beds, can take up to 14 people and is powered by two...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner treated for anaemia

14 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Rigorous medical checks conducted on Casey Stoner after the recent American MotoGP race have revealed the 2007 world champion is suffering from gastritis and mild anaemia. Stoner has been dogged by...

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa eyes more success

13 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Rejuvenated Dani Pedrosa believes he can challenge for another victory in Germany this weekend following his shock return to form in America earlier this month. The Spaniard shocked title hopefuls...

Sete Gibernau stunned by team withdrawal

13 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Veteran Spaniard Sete Gibernau has spoken of his shock at the sudden withdrawal of his Grupo Francisco Hernando MotoGP squad. The Spanish team has quit with immediate effect, citing the impact of the...

Sete Gibernau’s Ducati squad quits MotoGP

12 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau’s Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati squad has withdrawn from the MotoGP world championship with immediate effect. The Spanish squad, run by former 125GP racer Pablo Nieto, is the latest...

Supporting JT at Laguna Seca

11 July 2009 by ste60

Me and my mate Chris supporting JT at Laguna Seca. Great place, great race.

MCN on the way to Laguna Seca

10 July 2009 by costheydooo

Rachael Brooke on her way to Laguna Seca, 3am Birmingham Airport

Honda deny dumping Yuki Takahashi

10 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda has vigorously denied throwing rookie Yuki Takahashi – its only Japanese MotoGP rider – on the scrapheap. Claims by the Scot Honda team that it had reluctantly released Yuki Takahashi because...

Kenny Roberts looks to Britain for Moto2 chassis project

10 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

American legend Kenny Roberts will turn to British expertise to help his plans for a shock return to racing in the new 600cc four-stroke Moto2 class. The Californian wants to run a two-rider effort in...

Valentino Rossi: Jorge Lorenzo facing massive decision on future

10 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi reckons it would be a massive decision for Jorge Lorenzo to turn his back on Yamaha and make a shock switch to rivals Honda. Lorenzo has been linked with a move to Honda’s factory...

Yamaha boss ecstatic at Valentino Rossi future pledge

10 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa has spoken of his delight at Valentino Rossi’s recent pledge to continue racing until the end of 2013 at least. When the 30-year-old notched his 100th Grand Prix victory in...

Valentino Rossi: Great mistake to dismiss Casey Stoner threat

09 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has told MCN it would be a great mistake to dismiss Casey Stoner’s MotoGP title hopes as the Aussie struggles to overcome health problems. Stoner has surrendered crucial ground in the...

Casey Stoner thrilled at Nicky Hayden progress

09 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has spoken of his delight at Nicky Hayden’s recent drastic improvement on Ducati’s factory GP9 machine. After a torrid start to 2009, Kentucky rider Hayden has started to make...

Honda in talks with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso

09 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa’s first win in 13 months last weekend in Laguna Seca couldn’t have come at a better time as he started negotiations over a new factory Honda contract. HRC is desperate to retain the...

Yamaha not worried about Ferrari swoop for Valentino Rossi

09 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha is not anticipating a Ferrari swoop for Valentino Rossi to make a sensational move to Formula One next year. The Italian was linked with a big-money move to F1 for the umpteenth time late last...