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2009

Ducati eye Marco Simoncelli swoop for 2010

23 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati eye Marco Simoncelli swoop for 2010

Ducati chief Livio Suppo has reiterated his desire to sign Marco Simoncelli` for the 2010 MotoGP campaign. The Italian factory hotly pursued Simoncelli throughout 2008 as he blossomed into one of...

Casey Stoner: Single tyre rule will help Ducati

23 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: Single tyre rule will help Ducati

Former world champion Casey Stoner believes the controversial single tyre rule will boost his hopes of reclaiming the MotoGP world title in 2009. The Australian rider believes his previous tactic of...

Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

The dividing wall that will continue to split Yamaha’s factory MotoGP garage in 2009 will be beneficial to Jorge Lorenzo, according to his team boss Daniele Romagnoli. Lorenzo was unhappy that Fiat...

Marco Simoncelli not rushing MotoGP decision

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli not rushing MotoGP decision

Reigning world 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli will keep Yamaha and Ducati sweating as he could delay a decision on his future until deep into the 2009 campaign. One key reason for the Italian’s...

Electronics reduction not answer to MotoGP cost cuts

22 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Electronics reduction not answer to MotoGP cost cuts

Ducati’s MotoGP technical guru Filippo Preziosi believes a reduction on the influence of electronic rider aids is not the answer to helping MotoGP slash costs. Reducing costs has become a focal point...

Ilmor confirm interest in Kawasaki partnership

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ilmor confirm interest in Kawasaki partnership

Ilmor Engineering bosses have confirmed expressing serious interest in being part of a last-minute bid to keep Kawasaki involved in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, MCN can exclusively reveal. The...

Video: Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden eye 2009

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati duo Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden have given their insight into a range of current topics making the headlines ahead of the new MotoGP world championship. The former world champions spoke about last season, the single tyre rule and MotoGP as a spectacle during the official launch of the Marlboro Ducati squad at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy.

Chris Vermeulen: 2009 is not make or break

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen: 2009 is not make or break

Chris Vermeulen has denied that 2009 will be a watershed year for the Aussie as he looks to become a consistent MotoGP winner. The former World Supersport champion penned a new one-year deal with...

No Aspar involvement in Kawasaki rescue deal

21 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

No Aspar involvement in Kawasaki rescue deal

Jorge Martinez won’t be involved in any potential Kawasaki MotoGP rescue deal for 2009. The Spaniard had effectively ruled himself out earlier this month when he doubted a deal could be clinched on...

Maxtra 125GP team poised to unveil Matt Hoyle

20 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Maxtra 125GP team poised to unveil Matt Hoyle

The new Maxtra 125GP team will officially unveil British rider Matt Hoyle as its second rider later this week. Although Hoyle’s name appeared on the provisional 2009 entry list, no formal announcement...

Kawasaki boss heads to Japan for crunch talks

20 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki boss heads to Japan for crunch talks

Kawasaki’s MotoGP team boss Michael Bartholemy is flying to Japan today (Tuesday) for crunch talks expected to decide the fate of a proposed rescue plan to keep John Hopkins and Marco Melandri on the...

Monster deal for Valentino Rossi

19 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Monster deal for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi is reported to have signed a big-money deal with American energy drink Monster. The reigning MotoGP world champion is expected to pocket a cool £2.2m in a two-year deal following the...

MotoGP BBC coverage

19 January 2009 by richlees2001

Basically if you do not have access to the red button then you are stuffed! Personally I will be now watching the WSBK with decent coverage on Eurosport. MotoGP on the BBC

Unity on cost cuts crucial for MotoGP future

19 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Unity on cost cuts crucial for MotoGP future

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali reckons unity between the major factories will help MotoGP successfully ride the current global economic storm. Domenicali said an agreement for extending engine...

Casey Stoner doubts MotoGP salary cap

19 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner doubts MotoGP salary cap

Former world champion Casey Stoner has doubted whether a salary cap could ever be policed to help cut costs in MotoGP. Capping rider wages has been just one of several ideas floated around during...

Out with MotoGP, in with F1

17 January 2009 by John Leeming

Out with MotoGP, in with F1

If Kawasaki pulling out and Euro-sport loosing the television rights to BBC wasn’t bad enough Moto GP moving from Donington Park to Silverstone has to be the last straw!! Any motorcycle race fan will...

Video: Casey Stoner denies MotoGP races are dull

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner doesn’t believe that modern era MotoGP races have become too dull. Speaking at the launch of Ducati’s 2009 squad at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy, the Australian said the introduction of the 800cc engine capacity rule in 2007 had not been a major detrimental step for MotoGP racing. Stoner has had to contend with accusations that he has contributed to MotoGP being...

Video: Nicky Hayden boosted by single tyre rule

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes the controversial move to a single tyre rule in MotoGP will be a major boost to helping him make a successful transition to Ducati’s GP9 machine. With only two front and two rear tyre specs to test each day, the restrictions have given the American more time to focus on adapting to riding Ducati’s V4 contender. Hayden said: “The new tyre rule has helped me a lot as far as...

Ducati boss plays down Troy Bayliss/Valentino Rossi showdown

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss plays down Troy Bayliss/Valentino Rossi showdown

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali has said he would love to see Valentino Rossi and Troy Bayliss go head-to-head in a dream World Superbike clash. But sadly for millions of race fans, Domenicali...

Casey Stoner backs British MotoGP move

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner backs British MotoGP move

Former world champion Casey Stoner has backed the surprise decision to switch the British MotoGP race from Donington Park to Silverstone for 2010. Dorna announced a five-year deal with the...

MotoGP talent search hit by credit crunch

16 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP talent search hit by credit crunch

The quest to unearth MotoGP stars of the future has suffered a big blow with news that the Red Bull Rookies Cup calendar will be cut because of the global economic crisis. The European series will be...

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden unveil 2009 Ducati

15 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden unveil 2009 Ducati

After snow caused the official unveiling of Ducati’s GP9 machine to be postponed yesterday (Wednesday), Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden finally got round to showing off the new bike in public for the...

Video: Casey Stoner reflects on wrist recovery and 2008

15 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has spoken of his recovery from major wrist surgery and his reflections on defeat to Valentino Rossi in 2008 at the launch of Ducati’s 2009 factory MotoGP squad in Italy. Looking back on 2008 when the Aussie surrendered his world title to a resurgent Valentino Rossi, last year’s runner-up said: “The first half of the season was very disappointing. “We had such a strong start and...

Video: Nicky Hayden excited by Ducati challenge

15 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has spoken of his excitement about his debut season with Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2009. Making his first official public appearance for the Marlboro-backed squad at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in Italy, Hayden said: “The feeling is very exciting. “On Sunday we did my first real photo shoot in the full-on Marlboro leathers and Ducati leathers and I got to admit it was a...

BBC MotoGP 2009

14 January 2009 by Andrew Salter

When you think things can’t get any worse, then the BBC announce that they have Parish and Cox presenting the MotoGP for 2009. I think whoever has made this crazy decision at the beeb either knows very little about the sport or are related to one of these awful commentators. WSB and Eurosport coverage will no doubt cover the sport as it should be covered with the race fans given a first class...

Nicky Hayden delighted with Casey Stoner partnership

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden delighted with Casey Stoner partnership

Nicky Hayden believes his good rapport with factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner will bolster his hopes of being a success on the new GP9 next season in MotoGP. The American is looking forward to...

Donington v Silverstone

14 January 2009 by doctorfrank

I for one have been going to donington since they started staging it and seen bad crowds and good ones. Ticket prices have been on the up but with advance booking I’ve always managed to keep prices ”reasonable” but the facilities situation at donington has always been terrible, and they have had plenty of opportunities to resolve it. But I’m from the old school and having to put up with bad...

Ducati launch Stoner's carbon fibre MotoGP bike

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati launch Stoner's carbon fibre MotoGP bike

Ducati has officially unveiled its 2009 factory GP9 MotoGP contender that Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden will campaign next season. Although a special launch photo shoot in Madonna di Campiglio has...

Ducati boss against unifying MotoGP and World Superbikes

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss against unifying MotoGP and World Superbikes

Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali is opposed to unifying MotoGP and World Superbikes, insisting that the two world championships can co-exist in the current dire economic climate. There has been...

Kawasaki testing 2009 MotoGP bike in Australia!

14 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki testing 2009 MotoGP bike in Australia!

Kawasaki might have withdrawn from the MotoGP world championship, but bizarrely test rider Olivier Jacque is poised to evaluate the new ZX-RR in a test double-header in Australia. Kawasaki confirmed...

Casey Stoner not fussed by British MotoGP switch

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner not fussed by British MotoGP switch

Former world champion Casey Stoner says he’s not fussed about the decision to switch the British MotoGP race to Silverstone from 2010 onwards. This year’s race at Donington Park will be the last after...

Bring on silverstone

13 January 2009 by lee cameron

At last Donington have been given their maching orders after years of very poor service for over the odds ticket prices! I have been going to the GP for years and the quality never gets any better but the price keeps going up, now at least we will be treated to the same high standard as the F1 fans!!!!!! I dont think for 1 minute that they would tolarate having to use over flowing toilets and...

Ducati duo shocked by Kawasaki withdrawal

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati duo shocked by Kawasaki withdrawal

Factory Ducati riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden have spoken of their shock at Kawasaki’s recent decision to quit MotoGP. The move leaves Stoner’s former team-mate Marco Melandri and Hayden’s...

Nicky Hayden: Electronics influence getting ‘ridiculous’

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden: Electronics influence getting ‘ridiculous’

New factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden reckons if electronic rider aids continue to develop at such a rapid rate it will become ‘ridiculous’. Speaking at the launch of Ducati’s 2009 MotoGP team at the...

Casey Stoner satisfied with wrist progress

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner satisfied with wrist progress

Aussie Casey Stoner is confident his left wrist will be recovered sufficiently for him to resume winter testing in Sepang next month. The former MotoGP world champion visited specialists in Italy...

John Hopkins unsure of 2009 prospects

13 January 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins unsure of 2009 prospects

American John Hopkins has admitted he has no idea what his immediate future holds following the recent withdrawal of Kawasaki’s official factory team from MotoGP. The 25-year-old has been left without...