August

Year: 2012

Month: August

Ben Spies rues more cruel misfortune in Indianapolis

21 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies was left counting the cost of more cruel bad luck in Indianapolis on Sunday after the Texan was denied a home podium by a major engine failure. Spies was running in a relatively comfortable...

Heroic Stoner Salvages Painful Fourth

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner rode through the pain barrier to keep his MotoGP world title hopes alive after a tough weekend at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Australian fractured his right ankle and...

Pedrosa Keeps Pressure on Lorenzo

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa’s best season in his MotoGP career continued with a vital win in yesterday’s Indianapolis round to keep the pressure on fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo in the 2012 title hunt. The Repsol...

Rossi Reflects on Disaster

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi probably can’t wait for November when he ends his Ducati nightmare after the Italian suffered a humiliating defeat at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway yesterday (Sunday). Rossi was...

Nicky Hayden doubtful for Brno MotoGP

20 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden’s participation in this weekend’s Brno MotoGP round in the Czech Repulic is in serious doubt. The American was forced to miss his home race in Indianapolis yesterday (Sunday) after he...

Dani Pedrosa cruises to Indianapolis victory

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa strengthened his MotoGP world title challenge with a dominant victory in an uninspiring 28-lap race at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Pedrosa was untouchable once he used the power of his Repsol Honda RC213V to blitz by fast starting Texan Ben Spies on the long home straight at the end of lap four. With Spies cruelly taken out of podium contention when his factory...

Marc Marquez dominates Indianapolis Moto2 race

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez increased his lead in the Moto2 world championship to a commanding 39-points after dominating this afternoon’s 26-lap race in Indianapolis. Once the former 125GP world champion seized the lead from fast starting Dominique Aegerter on lap four, Marquez never looked in any danger of squandering the opportunity to clinch his fifth win of the season. He needed only two laps after hitting...

Luis Salom snatches thrilling Moto3 win in Indianapolis

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Luis Salom produced a stunning final lap to claim his maiden Grand Prix victory after a thrilling end to today’s Indianapolis Moto3 clash. Salom produced a daring pass on the final lap to sweep by title contenders Maverick Vinales and Sandro Cortese and he held his nerve under intense pressure to collect his first win in his 53rd Grand Prix appearance. Salom denied German Cortese his...

Nicky Hayden ruled out of home race in Indianapolis

19 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden will miss his home race at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway today after he suffered concussion and a double fracture in his right hand after a high speed qualifying crash. The Kentucky rider lost control of his factory Ducati GP12 at Turn 14 and was momentarily knocked out when he hit the tarmac. He was immediately transferred to the circuit medical centre by ambulance before...

Dani Pedrosa on pole after crash strewn Indianapolis qualifying

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa claimed his third pole position of 2012 after an incident-packed qualifying session in Indianapolis this afternoon that was red flagged twice following huge crashes for Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden. A best lap of 1.38.813 secured the Repsol Honda rider pole in a dramatic session that ended with reigning world champion Stoner and factory Ducati rider Hayden undergoing treatment in the...

Danny Kent claims front row start in Indianapolis

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Danny Kent came within 0.083s of claiming a maiden Moto3 pole position at the end of a crash strewn qualifying session at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. The Red Bull KTM rider set a best time of 1.48.628 to finish second behind German team-mate Sandro Cortese in a session that was twice red flagged following crashes for Hector Faubel and Alex Marquez at the final...

Cal Crutchlow fears fresh left shoulder injury

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow fears he might have damaged the left collarbone he broke at his home race in Silverstone last year after he suffered a heavy fall in opening practice for this weekend’s Indianapolis clash in America. Heavy overnight rain meant the opening practice session took place in far from ideal conditions, with the grip available well below normal levels. Damp patches also...

Slow corner acceleration costing Valentino Rossi

18 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted Ducati’s struggle to accelerate out of slow corners was the main reason for the Italian languishing down in a lowly 10th place at the end of the opening day of practice in Indianapolis. The Italian, who will quit Ducati at the end of 2012 to re-join Yamaha, set a best time of 1.41.529 to finish 0.132s behind team-mate Nicky Hayden but a massive 1.746s behind Dani Pedrosa’s...

Dani Pedrosa sets practice pace at iconic Indianapolis

17 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa made a fast return from the short MotoGP summer break to top the practice timesheets on the opening day of action at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Torrential rain that battered the Indianapolis track during thunderstorms yesterday meant low grip levels for this morning’s opening practice session. Conditions were so poor that Casey Stoner’s fastest time of 1.41.925...

Valentino Rossi talks Yamaha return

16 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has spoken publicly for the first time about his return to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad on the eve of this weekend’s Indianapolis round in America. Rossi signed a two-year deal to...

Dovizioso good choice for Ducati, says Hayden

16 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes Andrea Dovizioso is the best possible choice to replace fellow Italian Valentino Rossi in Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013. Dovizioso is close to agreeing a deal to ride a...

Lorenzo happy for Rossi to be back at Yamaha

16 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

If Jorge Lorenzo is resentful at Valentino Rossi’s imminent return to Yamaha then the Spaniard is doing an incredible job of hiding it. Lorenzo has publicly welcomed back Rossi with open arms after...

Casey Stoner slams Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha return

15 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has criticised Valentino Rossi’s swift return to Yamaha after the Italian legend recently confirmed he will quit Ducati after a disastrous two-year stint with the Bologna factory. The...

Ducati boss: Nicky Hayden deserves 2013 chance

14 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati bosses have said Nicky Hayden is worthy of another chance in the Bologna manufacturer’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013. Hayden signed a new one-year deal during his home round at Laguna Seca in...

Scott Redding in awe of Stoner and Lorenzo

14 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding admitted his admiration for MotoGP stars like Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo has rocketed after he made his 1000cc debut on a Ducati GP12 at Mugello earlier this month. The British...

Valentino Rossi wants crew to join him back at Yamaha

13 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has told Yamaha he wants to return to a factory YZR-M1 machine in 2013 with his current crew supporting him. The Italian will end a dismal spell with Ducati at the end of 2012 after...

Andrea Dovizioso not nervous about potential Ducati switch

13 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso isn’t nervous or daunted at the prospect of replacing compatriot Valentino Rossi in Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013. The Italian is hotly tipped to pen a two-year deal to...

Scott Redding unsure of Ducati MotoGP future

13 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding remains in the dark about whether an encouraging MotoGP debut on a factory Ducati GP12 at Mugello earlier this month will secure the British teenager the chance to take on Jorge Lorenzo...

Tech 3 waiting on Dovizioso and Crutchlow

13 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow are yet to inform the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team that they will be leaving the French squad at the end of 2012. The hot MotoGP rumour is that Italian Dovizioso has...

Yamaha announce Rossi's return

10 August 2012 by Michael Guy

Valentino Rossi will make a sensational return to the factory Yamaha MotoGP squad after signing a two year deal that will see him line up alongside bitter rival Jorge Lorenzo in 2013 and 2014. The...

Valentino Rossi to leave Ducati

10 August 2012 by Liam Marsden

Ducati has officially announced that seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will leave the factory team at the end of the 2012 season. Rossi joined the factory Ducati team in 2011 after...

Jorge Lorenzo sad and surprised at Ben Spies exit

03 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo says he is sad and surprised that Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies will leave the Japanese factory at the end of 2012. The Texan dropped a bombshell on the eve...

Jorge Lorenzo briefed on Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha return in Mugello

03 August 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has revealed Yamaha management briefed him about Valentino Rossi’s potential return to the Japanese factory during the recent Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. The Spaniard has been kept...