2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Suzuki happy with engine upgrade

18 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki believes its latest spec factory GSV-R motor is a small but significant step to help Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen challenge closer to the front in MotoGP. Capirossi raced the upgraded V4...

James Toseland's manager to visit Misano World Superbike round

17 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s manager Roger Burnett will embark on a fact-finding mission at the Misano World Superbike race this weekend. Burnett will visit Misano to check on potential WSB options for Toseland...

John Hopkins makes Tech 3 Yamaha enquiry

17 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins is unlikely to be making a return to MotoGP with James Toseland’s Monster Tech 3 Yamaha squad next season. Hopkins’ manager Bob Moore made tentative enquiries to Tech 3 boss Herve...

Loris Capirossi close to new Suzuki deal

17 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi is close to a new deal with Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad, MCN has learned. Negotiations are on-going over a one-year deal for the veteran Italian, who will become the first rider in...

Suzuki deny big money Ben Spies offer

17 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has again denied trying to tempt back Ben Spies with a big money offer to ride a factory GSV-R in MotoGP next season. Released by Suzuki at the end of 2008, Spies has been an instant hit for...

Marco Simoncelli close to Honda MotoGP deal

16 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli is on the brink of signing a lucrative deal to ride a factory-supported Honda RC212V in the 2010 MotoGP series. Speaking to MCN, Simoncelli’s manager...

Yamaha won’t alter 2010 plans

16 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha will not make a dramatic U-turn and increase its involvement to five riders in MotoGP next year. There is mounting speculation that Yamaha would lease a fifth YZR-M1 to current 125 and 250GP...

Marco Melandri battered and bruised after Catalunya test crash

16 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hayate rider Marco Melandri is expected to be fit for the next MotoGP clash in Assen after he suffered multiple injuries in a spectacular high-side crash in Barcelona yesterday. Just minutes remained...

Jorge Lorenzo and me at Catalunya

15 June 2009 by Samantha Rogers

Here’s me with Jorge Lorenzo on Friday 12/06/09 at Catalunya It was a great race on Sunday.

Andrea Dovizioso tops Catalunya test on new Honda chassis

15 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso made an instant impact on Honda’s new RC212V chassis in Catalunya today, the Repsol Honda rider topping the timesheets ahead of reigning world champion Valentino Rossi. With injured...

Valentino Rossi to assess longer life Yamaha motor

15 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Fresh from his stunning last gasp victory in yesterday’s classic Catalunya MotoGP race, Valentino Rossi is scheduled to test a revised Yamaha YZR-M1 motor at the Montmelo track today. Rossi, who...

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi revels in last corner success

14 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi hailed his amazing last corner victory over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in Montmelo today as one of the greatest of his illustrious career. The Italian...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo proud but sad at last gasp defeat

14 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo admitted he had mixed emotions after he lost an unforgettable Catalunya MotoGP race in Montmelo today. The home favourite thought he’d won his first MotoGP race in Spain and thrilled a...

Catalunya MotoGP: Illness blunts Casey Stoner challenge

14 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

A serious stomach bug cost Casey Stoner his chance to pose a greater threat to Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in today’s epic Catalunya MotoGP race. The Aussie started the 25-lap race in searing...

Catalunya MotoGP: Julian Simon explains celebration blunder

14 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Julian Simon has explained the shocking blunder that cost him a home 125GP victory at the Montmelo circuit near Barcelona today. The Aspar Aprilia rider though he had got the better of an...

Catalunya MotoGP: James Toseland deflated after dismal 13th

14 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland cut a disconsolate figure in the Catalunya paddock today after he slumped to a bitterly disappointing 13th place in a red-hot Montmelo MotoGP race. Starting from his best grid position...

Catalunya MotoGP: Rossi takes win with last lap masterclass

14 June 2009 by Liam Marsden

Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo was denied a win at his home Grand Prix after Valentino Rossi showed why he his world champion with an amazing final lap battle. From the beginning of the race Rossi,...

Catalunya MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista wins, Simoncelli crashes out

14 June 2009 by Liam Marsden

Aspar Aprilia rider Alvaro Bautista has extended his championship lead with a comfortable win at the 250GP in Catalunya after reigning champion Marco Simoncelli crashed out just three laps in to the...

Catalunya MotoGP: Iannone takes victory in Barcelona

14 June 2009 by Liam Marsden

Ongetta team Aprilia rider Andrea Iannone has taken the win in Catalunya after Spaniard Julian Simon made a costly mistake. Julian Simon was in the lead on the penultimate lap, but when he crossed the...

Catalunya MotoGP: Fiat Yamaha duo predict tough battle

13 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi have spoken about their expected titanic tussle for glory in tomorrow’s Catalunya MotoGP race after the Fiat Yamaha pair dominated qualifying. Lorenzo will start from...

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa vows to fight on

13 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brave Spaniard Dani Pedrosa has vowed to bounce back from his latest crash misery to race in tomorrow’s Catalunya MotoGP race in Barcelona. The 23-year-old suffered another painful and morale-crushing...

Catalunya MotoGP: Season best qualifying for James Toseland

13 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland scored his best qualifying result of 2009 with an impressive surge to the third row of the grid in Catalunya today. But the 28-year-old was still frustrated as he came...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo secures home pole position

13 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo will start his home race at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona from pole position after a stunning performance in this afternoon’s sun-drenched MotoGP qualifying session. The Fiat...

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith on 125GP second row

13 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

World 125GP championship leader Bradley Smith will start tomorrow’s Catalunya race in Spain from seventh on the grid. In a qualifying session running in baking hot conditions at the Montmelo circuit...

Catalunya MotoGP: Moto2 entry cut to 41 riders

13 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

The first round of the selection process for the new Moto2 600cc four-stroke world championship has taken place in Catalunya, with applications from 47 teams cut to 27. Delegates from the FIM, Dorna...

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden gets massive confidence boost

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

The beaming smile on Nicky Hayden’s face was the clearest sign that the American made a massive breakthrough in his quest to master Ducati’s factory GP9 machine in Spain today. Having struggled and...

Catalunya MotoGP: James Toseland savours fast start

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland admitted his 10th place on the timesheets at the end of the opening MotoGP practice session in Catalunya was his best start to a Grand Prix in 2009. The Monster Yamaha...

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi strikes back in Spain

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi was in bullish mood in Catalunya tonight after he set the fastest time during the opening practice session with the fastest time. Chasing only his second victory of the 2009 campaign...

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith 11th in opening 125GP practice

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

World 125GP championship leader Bradley Smith had a tough start to the Catalunya race weekend this afternoon, the British teenager only 11th on the timesheets in opening free practice. Smith, who goes...

Catalunya MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi to make Honda MotoGP debut

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi will make a dramatic MotoGP debut this afternoon at the start of the Catalunya MotoGP weekend in Spain. As was first reported by MCN four weeks ago, the former world 125GP...

Rendezvous Mugello 2009

12 June 2009 by jallori

Max (Italian Car Driver), Simon (British Biker-CBR), and Noureddine (United Nations Biker-Fazer) make the rendezvous at Mugello 2009. Max proves Italians dont always do it with style !

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden to try radical new Ducati set-up

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Struggling factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden will gamble on a radical new set-up on his GP9 machine in Catalunya tomorrow, the American desperate to try and find a big breakthrough in what has been a...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo laughs off home pressure

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has laughed of suggestions he will be under severe pressure from his home fans during this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP race near Barcelona. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who has won two races...

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi looking for confidence boost

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has admitted solving a confidence issue with the front-end feeling of his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 is crucial to his hopes of challenging for victory in this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP...

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to try new Honda chassis

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa will evaluate a new Honda RC212V chassis during tomorrow’s opening practice session for the Catalunya MotoGP race. Honda engineers have decided not to wait to rollout the new...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo unveils special Barcelona livery

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Still jubilant at Barcelona’s recent Champions League football success over Manchester United, Jorge Lorenzo will sport a special one-off helmet paintscheme for this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP race.