November

Year: 2009

Month: November

Valencia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa signs off 2009 in style

09 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa signs off 2009 in style

Dani Pedrosa took full advantage of Casey Stoner’s shock warm-up lap blunder to record only his second victory of a tough season in yesterday’s Valencia MotoGP clash. With Stoner a red-hot pre-race...

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith happy despite late defeat

09 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith happy despite late defeat

Bradley Smith signed off a brilliant 2009 with yet another last lap defeat to new world champion and Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon in Valencia yesterday. The 18-year-old twice passed Simon on a...

Kenny Roberts abandons Moto2 plan

09 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts abandons Moto2 plan

Kenny Roberts has abandoned plans to compete in the new Moto2 world championship. The American legend did have two places on the provisional grid for the new 600cc four-stroke class, which...

Valencia MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama interview

08 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama interview

Hiroshi Aoyama has spoken of his milestone success in Valencia after the Japanese rider clinched the last 250cc two-stroke world championship this afternoon. The Japanese rider gave an interview after...

Valencia MotoGP: Pedrosa takes win at final round

08 November 2009 by Liam Marsden

Valencia MotoGP: Pedrosa takes win at final round

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa took a dominant victory at the final race of 2009 at Valencia after getting the holeshot from the start. Ducati rider Casey Stoner qualified in pole position yesterday but didn’t...

Valencia MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama wins last 250GP title

08 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama wins last 250GP title

Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama survived a massive scare in Valencia today to claim a historic final 250GP world championship success. Holding a commanding 21-point lead going into the title decider...

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith defeated in last lap thriller

08 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith defeated in last lap thriller

Bradley Smith suffered a third successive last lap defeat to Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon after a thrilling 125GP in Valencia today. Smith recovered superbly from an early disaster when his...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi unhappy with pace

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi unhappy with pace

Valentino Rossi faces a mountain to climb to end his 2009 campaign with victory in Valencia tomorrow. The Italian will start the 30-lap race from fourth on the grid having struggled with rear grip in...

MotoGP: Ben Spies thrilled with top ten

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Ben Spies thrilled with top ten

Ben Spies showed why he’s so highly rated by Yamaha after he qualified in the top ten in Valencia today after just three hours on board a YZR-M1 machine. The Texan, who recently clinched Yamaha’s...

Valencia MotoGP: James Toseland disappointed in 14th

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: James Toseland disappointed in 14th

James Toseland could not hide his disappointment after he qualified in a lowly 14th place for his final MotoGP in Valencia, the British rider comfortably outpaced by Ben Spies. A lap of 1.34.107 left...

Valencia MotoGP: Top four are aliens, says Colin Edwards

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Top four are aliens, says Colin Edwards

Colin Edwards reckons Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa are ‘aliens’ after he had to settle for fifth place on the grid for the sixth time in the last seven races in...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner romps to pole

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner romps to pole

Casey Stoner dominated the final qualifying session of 2009 as British rider James Toseland was humbled by reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies in Valencia today. Aussie Stoner claimed only his...

Valencia MotoGP: Danny Webb suffers more injury misery

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Danny Webb suffers more injury misery

British rider Danny Webb suffered more injury misery after a spectacular high-side crash in the early stages of this afternoon’s 125GP qualifying session in Valencia. The 18-year-old was just about to...

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith secures front row

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Bradley Smith secures front row

Having struggled in windy conditions yesterday to finish only 13th quickest, British teenager Bradley Smith stormed back to form in today’s 125GP qualifying session to secure his ninth front row start...

Valencia MotoGP: New 800cc bike breaks cover

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: New 800cc bike breaks cover

The new Inmotec 800cc MotoGP machine got its public debut in Valencia yesterday, with the ambitious squad revealing plans to compete in at least four races in 2010. Speaking at a special launch of the...

Valencia MotoGP: Sito Pons team shows off Kalex Moto2 bike

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Sito Pons team shows off Kalex Moto2 bike

Former 250GP world champion and leading MotoGP team boss Sito Pons showed off the bike his Spanish squad will campaign in the inaugural Moto2 600cc four-stroke world championship in 2010. Pons’ team...

Valencia MotoGP: New Italian Moto2 bike unveiled

07 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: New Italian Moto2 bike unveiled

This is a new Italian contender built for the new Moto2 class that was unveiled in the Valencia paddock yesterday. Built by Modena-based NCS Rapid Inside, the bike will be exclusively run by the Scot...

Valencia MotoGP: James Toseland just edges out Ben Spies

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: James Toseland just edges out Ben Spies

James Toseland started his final race for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad by clocking the 13th best time in opening practice at Valencia. And much to the relief of the 28-year-old, his best lap of...

Tech 3’s new Moto2 entry

06 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Tech 3’s new Moto2 entry

Alex Hofmann just posted this pic on Twitter of the new Tech 3 Moto2 bike that’s on display at Valencia this weekend. He said: ”So 250s gonna die this weekend! Just had a seat on the Tech 3 moto2...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest with late attack

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest with late attack

Aussie Casey Stoner comfortably set the fastest time in Valencia today after producing a brilliant series of fast laps in the final minutes of opening practice for Sunday’s final MotoGP race. In...

Valencia MotoGP: Danny Webb signs top Aprilia 125GP deal

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Danny Webb signs top Aprilia 125GP deal

British teenager Danny Webb has landed a top Aprilia deal for next year’s 125GP world championship. The 18-year-old has signed a deal to join the Jack & Jones Aprilia squad, which has run highly-rated...

Valencia MotoGP: Lowly 13th for Bradley Smith

06 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Lowly 13th for Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith was a lowly 13th fastest in 125GP practice this afternoon as the final race of 2009 kicked off at a sunny but windy Valencia circuit. Having secured second place in the world...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ‘curious’ about Ben Spies

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ‘curious’ about Ben Spies

Valentino Rossi has told MCN he is ‘curious’ to gauge the performance of reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies during his Yamaha MotoGP debut in Valencia. The Texan, who has raced in three...

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies: 2010 podium ‘a miracle’

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies: 2010 podium ‘a miracle’

American Ben Spies reckons it would be a miracle if he claimed a podium in his first full MotoGP world championship campaign in 2010. Preparing for his Yamaha YZR-M1 debut in this weekend’s Valencia...

Valencia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa encouraged by Honda effort

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa encouraged by Honda effort

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa reckons he’s been encouraged by the effort Honda is putting into its 2010 MotoGP world championship challenge. But the triple world champion says he will reserve judgement on...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner sad to see team boss quit

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner sad to see team boss quit

Casey Stoner has spoke of his disappointment that factory team boss Livio Suppo has opted to quit Ducati and move to rivals HRC in a senior management role for 2010. Suppo’s departure from Ducati...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eager to test 2010 Yamaha

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eager to test 2010 Yamaha

With the 2009 MotoGP world championship already secured, Valentino Rossi has cast one eye on next week’s crucial test session when he will debut Yamaha’s prototype 2010 factory YZR-M1 machine. ...

Valencia MotoGP: Ducati confirm Livio Suppo departure

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Ducati confirm Livio Suppo departure

Ducati has confirmed team boss Livio Suppo will leave its factory team after this weekend’s final race in Valencia. Although not yet officially confirmed, Suppo will take up a management role with...

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies shows off wild card Yamaha

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Ben Spies shows off wild card Yamaha

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies has shown off the stunning looking factory Yamaha YZR-M1 he will race as a wild card at this weekend’s Valencia MotoGP. Spies, who recently won the WSB...

Valencia MotoGP: Ducati poised to announce team boss departure

05 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Ducati poised to announce team boss departure

Ducati is expected to confirm that long-serving team manager Livio Suppo will leave the team after this weekend’s final MotoGP race in Valencia. Although nothing has yet been confirmed by the...

Ben Spies Valencia bike and kit revealed

04 November 2009 by Ped Baker

Ben Spies Valencia bike and kit revealed

Reigning WSB champ Ben Spies is making his MotoGP debut this weekend in Valencia and this is the bike he’ll be doing it on, a Sterilgarda sponsored Yamaha M1. The bodywork and leathers are for one...

Silverstone: The fastest MotoGP track in the world

04 November 2009 by Mike Nicks

Silverstone: The fastest MotoGP track in the world

Riders will lap Silverstone at an average speed of more than 122mph at the British MotoGP in 2010, making the new circuit the fastest on the MotoGP calendar by a clear 10mph. Silverstone date to...

Valencia MotoGP: Still plenty to play for

04 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Valencia MotoGP: Still plenty to play for

Valentino Rossi may have sealed the 2009 MotoGP World Championship at Sepang, but there’s plenty to play for in the final MotoGP round of the season at Valencia this weekend. Probably the most...

Aoyama on the verge of 250 World title

04 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Aoyama on the verge of 250 World title

After prevailing in his epic battle with Marco Simoncelli at Sepang, Hiroshi Aoyama is within touching distance of being named the 2009 250cc World Champion in the final race of the season – and...

Valencia MotoGP: Niccolo Canepa to miss final race

04 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Niccolo Canepa to miss final race

Niccolo Canepa’s spectacular crash during practice at Phillip Island last month will be his last memory of MotoGP for a while after the Italian was ruled out of this weekend’s season finale in...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes hat-trick

04 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes hat-trick

Casey Stoner is looking to end a troubled 2009 campaign in positive fashion in Valencia this weekend with the Aussie chasing a third successive victory. The 24-year-old has been in brilliant form...