2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Video: Behind the scenes at Fiat Yamaha

03 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team has given a behind the scenes look at the team’s Italian headquarters as part of its 2009 factory team launch today. The world championship-winning team moved into its impressive new facility in Germo di Lesmo just before Christmas Amongst the features at the impressive new HQ is one of Rossi’s factory YZR-M1 machines forming part of a meeting room table! Race...

Yamaha’s MotoGP plans not affected by credit crunch

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha Motor Company president Takashi Kajikawa has confirmed that the Japanese factory will continue to support the MotoGP world championship, despite the global economic crisis. In a statement...

Jorge Lorenzo hails Bridgestone performance

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has joined a chorus of former Michelin riders to praise the performance of Bridgestone tyres as he prepares for his debut campaign on the Japanese rubber. Lorenzo was reluctant to talk...

Video: Jorge Lorenzo interview

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spanish sensation Jorge Lorenzo has spoken of his hopes and ambitions for the forthcoming MotoGP season as part of Yamaha’s 2009 team launch. The double world 250 champion explains how he is still...

Jorge Lorenzo cautious on 2009 title aspirations

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo thinks he’s only fourth favourite to win the 2009 MotoGP crown. Speaking in an interview as part of Yamaha’s 2009 factory team launch, the Spaniard reckons team-mate Valentino Rossi,...

Valentino Rossi installs Casey Stoner as chief 2009 rival

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi reckons Aussie rival Casey Stoner will pose the biggest threat to his hopes of lifting a seventh MotoGP world title in 2009. Since the beginning of the 2007 campaign, factory Ducati...

Yamaha unveils Valentino Rossi’s 2009 YZR-M1

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have today unveiled the 2009 factory Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP contender in a special virtual launch. Filmed at the team’s new headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo in Italy,...

Valentino Rossi gives up on Troy Bayliss/WSB clash

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has admitted defeat in his bid to set up a dream World Superbike clash with Troy Bayliss. The Italian though insists he still wants to have a go in a World Superbike race before he...

Yamaha unveil Valentino Rossi’s stunning new 2009 YZR-M1

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha has launched its stunning new factory YZR-M1 that the Japanese factory hopes will dominate the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The bike, which will again run in the colours of Fiat for a third...

Video: Valentino Rossi interview

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has talked about the big threats to the defence of his crown, the impact of the credit crunch and Marco Simoncelli’s future prospects in a special video...

Even snowmen love Rossi

02 February 2009 by sm1thjam1e

Even my snowman Errel is a Rossi fan!!!

Alvaro Bautista suffers injury blow

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Alvaro Bautista’s stunning start to 2009 came to a crashing halt when he suffered a broken right collarbone in Valencia yesterday. Bautista, who had been fastest in each of the opening four...

Bradley Smith third, Scott Redding fourth in Valencia

02 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith ended a weather-hit two-day Valencia 125GP test session with the third fastest time, while fellow British rider Scott Redding was just one place further back in fourth. Aspar Aprilia...

Moto2 - An Exciting Racing Future

01 February 2009 by Dan D

Now that the FIM and Dorna have unveiled their replacement for the 250GP class, the second tier of the World Championships could get really interesting again. With their proposal of 600 four stroke engines, from any source, in a prototype frame, older frame manufacturers and new teams can easily get involved again. This will be just like the old Formula 2 championship from the early 1980’s, when...

It's good to see Sete back

31 January 2009 by pete naylor

The last time Sete was involved in MotoGP the boy was very good but valentino totally destroyed his confidence. Vale stated that sete would never win another race as long as he was riding and I believe what he said. It’s good to see Gibernau back, it’s very good for entertainment, we haven’t had much in the way of rivalry between the riders of late, so sete coming back is a bit of a boost to the...

Bimota to build chassis for new Moto2 600 class

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian manufacturer Bimota is planning to become a chassis developer for private teams entering the new Moto2 600cc racing prototype class. It’s a return to the roots of the original company for...

See the Fiat Yamaha team launch with MCN

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha squad will launch its 2009 MotoGP factory team on Monday, and you can see all the pictures and video interviews on www.motorcyclenews.com You can view...

Experience key for Casey Stoner, says Ducati boss

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner will be a stronger rival to Valentino Rossi in 2009 because of the experience the Aussie gained in defeat last season. Factory team boss Livio Suppo believes Stoner will bounce back...

Jorge Lorenzo to be more conservative in 2009

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo will adopt a less gung-ho approach in 2009 to strengthen his bid to seriously challenge Fiat Yamaha team-mate for the MotoGP world championship. The 2008 Rookie of the Year produced...

Scott Redding’s team to launch Moto2 600

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s Spanish-based Blusens Aprilia squad will unveil a new Moto2 600cc contender in Spain next week. The bike, which the British sensation could ride in 2010, will be officially unveiled...

Matt Hoyle links up with top MotoGP trainer

30 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Maxtra 125GP signing Matt Hoyle has been put through his paces for a tough physical assessment by leading MotoGP sports therapist Dean Miller. Miller, who has worked with the likes of Wayne Rainey and...

Engine failures to be penalised in MotoGP revamp

29 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi could find themselves docked points or relegated to the back of the grid under proposals to slash costs in MotoGP. Plans to extend engine life by at least 50 per cent...

MotoGP boss not fussed by Valentino Rossi’s World Superbike hopes

29 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s desire to race Troy Bayliss in a dream World Superbike clash has not angered MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta. The Italian’s pre-Christmas comments that he wanted to take on triple WSB...

Bradley Smith second in Jerez 125GP test

29 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s impressive start to the 2009 pre-season testing campaign ended with the British teenager posting the second quickest time at the Jerez circuit. The Aspar Aprilia rider slashed a full...

Danny Webb confident ahead of ‘big year’

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British 125GP rider Danny Webb is confident he can make a big impact in 2009 as he prepares to ride a factory-backed Aprilia machine for the first time next month. While 125GP testing kicked off in...

Suzuki MotoGP team gets green light for 2009

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki will definitely race its factory team in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, killing off persistent rumours the Japanese company would join Kawasaki as a casualty of the global economic...

Bradley Smith stays in second place in Jerez

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith impressed again on the second day of 125GP testing in Jerez, the Aspar Aprilia rider holding onto second place. Smith slashed 0.5s off his best time from the first day...

Party with James Toseland

28 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland is staging another one of his successful pre-season send-off parties ahead of his second assault on the MotoGP world championship. The double World Superbike champion will be...

Sete Gibernau vital for Ducati in 2009

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali believes that Sete Gibernau can play a pivotal role in helping the Bologna factory reclaim the MotoGP world crown in 2009. Having dominated in the first 800cc...

Danny Webb made to wait for 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb will have to wait a bit longer to make his 2009 track debut while Aprilia continue to build up and deliver new bikes. Pre-season testing for some of the 2009 125GP grid kicked off in Jerez...

Bradley Smith second fastest on 2009 debut

27 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith made a bright start to his 2009 pre-season preparations when he clocked the second fastest time on the opening day of testing in Jerez. Making his second appearance for...

Picture exclusive: Scott Redding makes 2009 debut

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding has completed his first laps on the 2009 Aprilia that he hopes will help him build on his incredible rookie 125GP campaign. Redding made an instant impact in his debut season, the...

Picture exclusive: Bradley Smith starts 2009 preparations

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has started his 2009 125GP world championship preparations at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. After a cold start to proceedings, the British teenager was able to kick off his ’09...

Bridgestone looking forward to single tyre challenge

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone bosses say they are looking forward to the 2009 MotoGP single tyre rule with ‘great anticipation’ having agreed the final terms of a three-year tyre exclusive tyre deal with Dorna. Having...

Matt Hoyle signs for Maxtra 125GP team

26 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider Matt Hoyle will join Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb in the 125GP world championship next season. As expected, Hoyle’s deal with the new Chinese-backed Maxtra team was...

The Future of MotoGP with no Kawasaki

25 January 2009 by Dan D

Kawasaki have now pulled out of MotoGP for whatever reason you chose to believe. The reason for pulling out is not important, what is important is how the championship can continue with out them. Since MotoGP became four stroke, the rules have been written to favour works machines and make it very difficult for non-works supported privateers, for the sake of the championship. All bikes had to be...