2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Weekend of dreams in Catalunya

08 July 2009 by Gary & Paula

Just thought you may like to see some photos of Paula and I at the Catalunya GP being very well looked after by the Rizla Suzuki team. The team were fantastic, the racing breathtaking and the weather...

US MotoGP: Relieved Dani Pedrosa ends Honda win drought

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa was relieved to end Honda’s worst losing streak for 27 years after the Spaniard claimed a shock start-to-finish victory in Laguna Seca. The 23-year-old was relieved to end his own injury...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner to undergo immediate medical checks

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has delayed his return journey back to Europe to undergo rigorous medical checks near San Francisco later on today after his fourth place finish in Laguna Seca. Renowned MotoGP medical...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi extends title advantage with second

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi stretched his world title lead to nine-points over Yamaha rival Jorge Lorenzo but was left to contemplate what might have been as he finished second in a dramatic conclusion to the...

US MotoGP: Heroic Jorge Lorenzo defies pain with thrilling third

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Painful right shoulder and foot injuries couldn’t stop courageous Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo from keeping his MotoGP title hopes alive in a pulsating Laguna Seca race. Riding in intense pain after his...

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden revels in Ducati best

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden’s quest to master Ducati’s fickle factory GP9 got a massive boost in Laguna Seca when the home favourite surged to a season best fifth place. Boosted by only his second top ten result in...

US MotoGP: Points milestone for Colin Edwards in home race

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards became only the 14th rider in history to score points in 100 Grand Prix races on home soil in Laguna Seca. But the Texan was still not happy with his seventh position as he continued to...

US MotoGP: Black day for James Toseland

06 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s nightmare American MotoGP ended in disaster when the British rider was black-flagged for failing to observe a ride through penalty having been adjudged to have jumped the start of the...

US MotoGP Results: Pedrosa dominates from the start

06 July 2009 by MCN

Dani Pedrosa dominated from the start in Laguna on his Repsol Honda, shooting from fourth position on the grid into the lead. The Spaniard was at the front of the pack from then on and even Valentino...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo vows to race at Laguna Seca

05 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Battered and bruised Jorge Lorenzo insists he will attempt to compete in the American MotoGP race, despite two spectacular crashes in less than 20 minutes during qualifying at Laguna Seca. The...

US MotoGP: Tyres to blame for big crashes, says Valentino Rossi

05 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believes the lack of dual compound tyres available under new MotoGP rules contributed to massive crashes suffered by 2009 title rivals Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner in a chaotic end...

US MotoGP: Crash was my fault admits Casey Stoner

05 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner conceded the big Laguna Seca qualifying crash that left him with shoulder and groin injuries was his own fault. The 23-year-old crashed at the third corner just moments after...

US MotoGP: James Toseland 15th and furious

05 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland was furious after he struggled to his worst qualifying result of 2009 in Laguna Seca. Toseland could only secure 15th place on the grid after severe front-end issues with...

US MotoGP: Pole to medical centre for Jorge Lorenzo

05 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo stormed to his fourth pole position of 2009 in Laguna Seca today before a huge high-side in the final minutes saw the Spaniard whisked off to the circuit medical centre in the back of an...

US MotoGP: Exhausted Casey Stoner vows to fight on

04 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has vowed to fight on to preserve his world title hopes after the Aussie’s chronic exhaustion problems struck again during opening practice for this weekend’s American MotoGP clash in...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi fastest but searching for more

04 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi might have made a perfect start in Laguna Seca today, but the Italian was still not totally satisfied despite ending first practice with the quickest time. Rossi’s best time of...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo thrilled with second

04 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo was thrilled with his fast start to the American MotoGP weekend, despite a late attack from Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi denying him top spot in first practice. The Spaniard’s...

US MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen rues early crash

04 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen’s hopes of claiming a third successive podium finish in Laguna Seca were dealt an early blow today. The factory Suzuki rider crashed his GSV-R machine after just eight minutes...

US MotoGP: James Toseland not worried by lowly 13th

04 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland insisted he wasn’t going to press the panic button despite finishing opening practice for the American GP in a lowly 13th place. Brimming with confidence after his season best sixth...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi leaves it late to top Laguna practice

04 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi snatched top spot from Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo on his last lap in today’s opening free practice at the spectacular Laguna Seca circuit. A best time of 1.21.981 on his 32nd...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner hopeful of trouble free Laguna

03 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has told MCN that he’s confident he won’t be dogged by the chronic stomach problems that have severely hindered him in the last two races during this weekend’s Laguna Seca clash. Stoner,...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi beats Lawson, Rainey and Roberts in kart demo

03 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Less than a week after notching his 100th Grand Prix victory in Assen, Valentino Rossi’s winning streak continued today with the Italian ‘winning’ a special Superkart demonstration against American...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi looking for more American glory

03 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Having won twice in America in 2008, Valentino Rossi is confident he can complete a hat-trick in this weekend’s Laguna Seca clash in California. The 30-year-old Italian arrives in Laguna in bullish...

US MotoGP: Consistency the key for Jorge Lorenzo

03 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo believes consistency will be the crucial factor in deciding this year’s thrilling MotoGP world championship. The Spaniard goes into this weekend’s American GP at Laguna Seca trailing...

US MotoGP: Colin Edwards relieved tyres no longer key factor

03 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards reckons he won’t even have to worry about tyres playing a key role in the American MotoGP race as he hopes to end a 12-month podium drought on home soil this weekend. Edwards, who last...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi to ride until end of 2013?

03 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has reiterated his desire to stay in MotoGP for at least another three years after his current contract expires at the end of the 2010 world championship. After winning his 100th GP...

US MotoGP: Honda confirms Yuki Takahashi departure

02 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda has confirmed that it has reluctantly axed Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi from the satellite Scot team with immediate effect. As was expected despite Takahashi’s arrival in California on Tuesday...

US MotoGP: Legends prep for Valentino Rossi kart showdown

02 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Three of the most famous faces in the history of MotoGP have been getting in some crucial practice ahead of a special karting clash with modern day premier class star Valentino Rossi in Laguna Seca.

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi not underestimating Dani Pedrosa influence

01 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion and 2009 points leader Valentino Rossi has told MCN that Dani Pedrosa still has a huge part to play in the destiny of this year’s exciting title race. Two crashes in the...

US MotoGP: Mika Kallio out of Laguna clash

01 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Finnish rookie Mika Kallio has withdrawn from this weekend’s American MotoGP race in Laguna Seca with the serious left hand injury he suffered in Assen just four days ago. Kallio lost part of the tip...

US MotoGP: Yuki Takahashi dumped by Scot Honda?

01 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yuki Takahashi’s rookie MotoGP campaign appears to be over after just seven races, with speculation rife that the Scot Honda team has axed the Japanese rider for the remainder of the 2009 season. It...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner wary of stomach problem

01 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s physical condition will be closely monitored in Laguna Seca this weekend as the Aussie looks to get back to winning ways in the American MotoGP race. Severe stomach cramps have badly...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects tough Laguna battle

30 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi doesn’t believe Jorge Lorenzo’s Laguna Seca inexperience or Casey Stoner’s on-going health problems will make his task of winning a 101st Grand Prix any easier in California this...

US MotoGP: James Toseland aims for Laguna top six

30 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is hoping his first top six finish of the season in Assen last weekend will inspire him to a repeat performance in Sunday’s American GP at Laguna Seca. After a nightmare start to 2009,...

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking for ’09 best in Laguna

30 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is hopeful that he can beat his best Ducati result in his home race in Laguna Seca this weekend. The Kentucky rider enjoyed his best race for the Bologna factory in Assen last weekend,...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo not worried by ’08 failure

30 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo believes he will have no problems in banishing painful memories of Laguna Seca as he looks to get back to winning ways in Sunday’s American MotoGP clash. Laguna Seca was a venue for one...