2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

My daughter with Valentino Rossi

21 March 2009 by troyhonda46

Took my daughter to the Day of Champions 2006. Paige with Valle – the man is a god. True gent.

Mika Kallio bemoans practice cuts

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP rookie Mika Kallio fears the big reduction in practice time will seriously hinder his bid to be immediately competitive in 2009. As part of a range of cost-cutting measures to counter the...

Bradley Smith happy with engine performance tweaks

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith reckons engine performance tweaks have significantly improved his Aspar Aprilia 125GP machine after a successful test in Estoril this week. His Spanish team ran different engine...

John Hopkins to announce 2009 plans

19 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins is expected to announce his racing plans for the 2009 season tomorrow (Friday). Frozen out after Kawasaki’s shock decision to quit MotoGP in early January because of the global...

Fausto Gresini bullish on 2009 prospects

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda MotoGP team manager Fausto Gresini is confident Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis can play a prominent part in the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Gresini’s satellite Honda squad used to be one of...

Alex de Angelis looking for big improvement in 2009

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Alex de Angelis is determined to improve on his best result of fourth place when the new MotoGP campaign gets underway in Qatar next month. The San Marino rider is confident he can score better than...

John Surtees 125GP team confirms name change

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The Chinese backed 125GP team headed by MotoGP and Formula One legend John Surtees has confirmed it will change its name for the 2009 world championship campaign. Having initially planned to race as...

Toni Elias worried about first race prospects

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Toni Elias has already cast doubts on his prospects of making a fast start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship campaign. The Gresini Honda rider, who had a torrid time with the Alice Ducati...

Valentino Rossi critical of MotoGP testing restrictions

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi has told MCN that he believes the new testing restrictions introduced to help cut costs in MotoGP are too severe. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who won nine races to...

Nicky Hayden looking for rear brake solution

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is waiting for new footrest brackets to stop him inadvertently dragging the rear brake on Ducati’s stunning new carbon fibre GP9 machine. The Kentucky rider should have the new footrest...

Scott Redding getting comfortable on new Aprilia

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Highly-rated Scott Redding believes he is getting more accustomed to the new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine. But the Gloucestershire rider has conceded that he needs more time to focus on chassis set-up...

Danny Webb finishes frustrated in Estoril

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb had a frustrating final day of 125GP testing in Estoril after mechanical problems and high winds disrupted his first test of 2009. The British teenager was unable to improve on his lap...

Chris Vermeulen expecting early engine upgrades

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen has told MCN he expects Suzuki to roll out new engine upgrades in the early part of the season to help bridge the horsepower deficit to rivals Ducati, Honda and Yamaha. Suzuki...

Valentino Rossi hopeful on Dani Pedrosa’s fitness fight

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has said he hopes Dani Pedrosa will be fit to start the new world championship in Qatar next month. The Spaniard is facing a desperate race to be fit for...

Kawasaki to cease MotoGP development soon

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki’s involvement in the new Hayate MotoGP project will be severely reduced by the end of March, MCN has learned. The Japanese factory will only develop new parts for the Hayate, which is a...

Bradley Smith remains top Brit in Estoril test

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has remained top British rider after the second day of testing at the Estoril circuit in Portugal. The Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a best time of 1.46.328 to lap 0.3s faster than he...

John Surtees 125GP team drops Maxtra name

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

The new Chinese-backed 125GP team spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees will not race under the Maxtra name. Provisional entry lists released by the FIM yesterday (Monday) have British...

Danny Webb crashes unhurt in Estoril

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb survived a pre-season scare when he crashed his new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine on the second day of testing in Estoril yesterday (Monday). The British rider, who claimed a career best...

Suzuki confirms new Rizla MotoGP deal

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will continue to run in Rizla colours for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese factory has confirmed today (Monday) that the British-based team will...

Marco Melandri satisfied with Hayate potential

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri is confident he will be competitive on the new Hayate MotoGP bike in 2009. Having recently confirmed he will race the re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in a deal exclusively...

Danny Webb passes driving test

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP racer Danny Webb might be one of the fastest teenagers on the planet on two wheels, and now he’s all set to take to the road on four too. The DeGraaf Aprilia rider recently passed his...

MCN helps James Toseland show off BKS quality

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland has used MCN’s exclusive pictures of his amazing 125mph Sepang high-side in winter testing to showcase the protection offered by BKS leathers. The double World Superbike champion...

Bradley Smith third quickest in Estoril

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith has continued his promising start to 2009 by clocking the third quickest time on the opening day of 125GP testing in Estoril, Portugal. The Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a...

Andrea Dovizioso wants 2009 title tilt

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian Andrea Dovizioso is confident he can threaten Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi’s recent domination of the MotoGP world championship when the new MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar next...

Dani Pedrosa targeting Qatar return

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Injured Spaniard Dani Pedrosa has refused to rule himself out of the opening MotoGP race of 2009 in Qatar next month. The Spaniard is facing a desperate battle to be fit for the opening race under...

Hungary Drops out of MotoGP

11 March 2009 by Mike Nicks

As revealed by MCN in February, this year’s MotoGP calendar will be reduced to 17 rounds following the cancellation of the new Hungarian round scheduled for the Balatonring circuit on September...

Dani Pedrosa cagey on first race fitness battle

08 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has refused to give a clear indication of whether he will be fit to compete in the first MotoGP race of 2009 in Qatar next month. The Spaniard was discharged from a...

MCN Exclusive: Marco Melandri agrees to race Hayate in 2009

06 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri has decided today (Friday) to race a re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, MCN can exclusively reveal. The Italian has decided to continue riding for...

John Hopkins close to Kawasaki pay off

06 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins is in the final stages of reaching a settlement with Kawasaki as the American continues his silence on his racing future. The 25-year-old has refused to speak on the shock resurrection of...

Nicky Hayden admits practice reduction worry

06 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has admitted concerns that the big reduction in testing and practice time will hinder his hopes of adapting to Ducati‘s factory GP9 quicker. The American made big progress ahead of his...

Danny Webb unveils 2009 125GP squad

05 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb has unveiled his new 2009 125GP world championship squad at the Assen circuit in Holland. Webb will again ride for the DeGraaf Aprilia team for the second year in...

Ducati boss impressed with Nicky Hayden’s attitude

05 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati’s factory team boss Livio Suppo has praised the attitude and work ethic of new signing Nicky Hayden after the American enjoyed his best winter test on the new GP9 in Qatar. The 2006 MotoGP...

Dani Pedrosa to miss Jerez test?

05 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa looks certain to miss the final pre-season test in Jerez later this month after successful left knee and arm surgery yesterday (Wednesday). Pedrosa suffered another...

Qatar test: Bridgestone start 2010 tyre testing!

04 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone bosses confirmed that tyres tested during this week’s night test session in Qatar will form part of the rubber developed for the 2010 MotoGP world championship. With more testing...

Qatar test: James Toseland gains confidence and pace

04 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland made some encouraging progress on the final night of MotoGP testing at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. Struggling to rebuild his shattered confidence following...

Qatar test: Nicky Hayden boosted by fifth place

04 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden might just be clicking with Ducati’s GP9 at the right time as he ended the Qatar night test with the fifth fastest time. The Kentucky rider clocked a best lap of 1.57.225 just before 9pm...