2009

Year: 2009

Month: ALL

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi hails ‘great’ lap

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi smashed the pole position record at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia to give his hopes of clinching a seventh MotoGP world title tomorrow a massive boost. A stunning last lap of 2.00.518...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith to ride with broken foot

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith will brave the pain of a small break in his right foot to fight for a third 125GP victory in Malaysia tomorrow. Smith confirmed he had broken his fifth metatarsal after...

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa struggles on soft tyre

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa admitted he didn’t get the maximum performance out of the softer compound Bridgestone rear tyre in qualifying today as he had to settle for third place on the grid for tomorrow’s 21-lap...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner happy with race pace

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner reckons he’ll be a serious contender for victory in tomorrow’s Malaysia MotoGP clash, despite missing the front row of the grid in a record-breaking qualifying session. The 24-year-old...

Sepang MotoGP: James Toseland dejected with dismal 16th

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s hopes of bowing out of MotoGP in style suffered a massive blow today in Malaysia, the British rider cutting a disconsolate figure in the Sepang paddock after he qualified in a...

Sepang MotoGP: Aoyama sets new sepang 250 record

24 October 2009 by James Keen

Scot Racing rider Hiroshi Aoyama set a new 250cc record at Sepang during qualifying and claimed pole for tomorrow’s race. Jules Cluzel took second on the grid for the Matteoni Racing team ahead of...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi aiming for seventh heaven

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

A seventh pole position of the season in Sepang today has given Valentino Rossi a great chance to clinch his seventh MotoGP world title after a breathtaking qualifying performance in Malaysia.

Sepang MotoGP: Rossi claims pole in Malaysia

24 October 2009 by James Keen

Fiat Yamaah rider Valentino Rossi has claimed pole position for the Malaysian MotoGP clash tomorrow and broken the track record in the process. Rossi’s team mate Jorge Lorenzo will start from second...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith on front row despite crash

24 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith secured his eighth front row start of 2009 despite a massive late crash during 125GP qualifying at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The British teenager was lying in second place and...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner uncomfortable but fast

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner might not have been entirely happy with the performance of his factory Ducati GP9 on the opening day of action in Malaysia today. But the 2007 world champion was still a major threat as...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy to bounce back

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo said he was delighted to quickly shrug off the disappointment of his Australian MotoGP disaster, the Spaniard bouncing back in impressive fashion in Sepang today. Lorenzo’s world title...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with fourth

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted he was content with setting the fourth fastest time on the opening day of the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang. The 30-year-old can wrap up his ninth world championship success in...

Sepang MotoGP: James Toseland bemoans engine performance

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland and Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards bemoaned a lack of engine power as both former World Superbike champion’s struggled on the opening day of the Malaysian...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo makes fast start

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo might have given up any hope of clinching the 2009 MotoGP world crown, but the Spaniard proved he will go down fighting after topping the timesheets in the opening practice session for...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in 125GP opener

23 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith made a fast start in searing hot conditions at the Sepang circuit today to clock the fastest 125GP time ahead of this weekend’s penultimate race of the 2009 campaign. A...

Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa targets Honda improvement

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa reckons Honda must solve a corner entry issue with its factory RC212V if he is to have any chance of consistently challenging Yamaha and Ducati for MotoGP wins. The Spaniard, who is...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed by third place

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Clinching third place in the MotoGP world championship will mean nothing to former world champion Casey Stoner. The Aussie, who claimed a brilliant home success in Phillip Island last weekend, is...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi taking nothing for granted

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is trying to keep a lid on expectations that he will clinch a seventh MotoGP crown in Malaysia this weekend, the Italian insisting he is taking nothing for granted. The 30-year-old...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo resigned to title defeat

22 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has conceded his MotoGP world title hopes are over, but refused to single out his four crashes as the prime reason for his likely defeat to Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo...

Aleix Espargaro to replace Niccolo Canepa in Sepang

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro will get another chance to gain crucial experience ahead of his first full MotoGP campaign in 2010 during this weekend’s Malaysian GP at Sepang. Espargaro, who will ride for...

Mick Doohan: Jorge Lorenzo will get stronger

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Five-times MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan believes Jorge Lorenzo will be a stronger opponent for Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in 2010. A first corner crash at last weekend’s Australian...

Valentino Rossi hopes to avoid Valencia decider

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has told MCN he hopes to clinch his seventh MotoGP world title in Malaysia this weekend to avoid a final race decider against Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. A ninth career...

Valentino Rossi’s experience vital, says Wayne Gardner

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Wayne Gardner believes Valentino Rossi’s vast experience has proven pivotal in the Italian’s 2009 MotoGP title fight against rising star Jorge Lorenzo. The Aussie legend reckons Lorenzo has simply...

Casey Stoner not worried by Sepang heat

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner is confident he will be able to cope with the punishing heat and humidity at this weekend’s Malaysia GP in Sepang. This weekend’s penultimate round of the 2009 MotoGP campaign will...

Nicky Hayden not shocked by Casey Stoner form

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden reckons he has not been shocked at factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner’s stunning return to MotoGP. Having missed three races and been out of action for close to 10 weeks while he...

No regrets for Casey Stoner

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has said he won’t look back and ponder what might have been in 2009 after his brilliant return to winning ways in Australia last weekend. The Aussie’s bid to regain the world title he...

My new MotoGP tattoo

20 October 2009 by Anonymous

My new tattoo. MotoGP rules!

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner revels in home success

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner became the second most successful Australian rider in Grand Prix history with a stunning victory over Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island. Making only his second appearance since returning...

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland furious with start penalty

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland slammed a decision by race bosses to penalise him for a jump start that robbed him of a certain top ten finish in Australia today. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Monster Yamaha...

Rossi and crew chief rubbish Ducati rumours

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

With one hand now firmly on the 2009 MotoGP title, Valentino Rossi strenuously denied his other hand was poised to sign a mega money deal to join Ducati in Phillip Island. He told MCN: “There are a...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled with vital second

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi might not have been able to halt Casey Stoner’s home domination in Phillip Island, but the Italian was still in buoyant mood as a crucial second place moved him to the brink of a...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo suffers title blow

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s MotoGP title hopes suffered a massive blow in Australia today, the factory Yamaha rider crashing out of the 27-lap Phillip Island race at the first corner. Trying to recover from a...

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa frustrated with Honda threat

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa could not disguise his frustration after the Spaniard was easily beaten by Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in Phillip Island. Leader on the first lap after a trademark fast start from...

Australia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden suffers more first lap misery

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden counted himself lucky after he avoided a high-speed crash following his first corner clash with Jorge Lorenzo at Phillip Island. Having been struck from behind by Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha,...

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith’s 125GP title hopes finish

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith saw his slim hopes of pulling off an unlikely 125GP world championship triumph ended in Australia. The 18-year-old needed to finish in front of Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon for...

Phillip Island: Simoncelli closes in on title with win

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Reigning 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli closed to within12 points of the championship lead at Phillip Island after victory at Phillip Island. Championship leader Hiroshi Aoyama was unable to run at...