2012

Year: 2012

Month: ALL

Marc Marquez backed to handle MotoGP spotlight

10 December 2012 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez will have no problem in coping with the intense scrutiny and pressure of stepping into Repsol Honda as Casey Stoner’s replacement in 2013. Expectation and anticipation ahead of the...

Valentino Rossi has nothing to prove on Yamaha return

10 December 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has nothing to prove when he makes a return to Yamaha in 2013. After a nightmare two-year spell with Ducati in which the Italian failed to get close to recording a victory in 35...

Video: Making Dakar Part Two

05 December 2012 by MCN

Part two of Team Delta Kunststoffe Husqvarna UK’s mini-documentary, Making Dakar, is now available. The series, featuring Welsh-based Si Pavey and his privateer team, is being shot by the team in the...

Video: Making Dakar with Simon Pavey

03 December 2012 by MCN

Welsh-based Dakar racer Simon Pavey and his Delta Kunststoffe Husqvarna team are the feature of a new mini-series documentary shot by Simon’s son Llewelyn Sullivan-Pavey, tracking the team’s...

Honda TT Legends announce five-rider lineup for 2013

03 December 2012 by Simon Patterson

Honda has unveiled a five-strong squad for their TT Legends team, to coordinate a two pronged attack on the Isle of Man TT and the Endurance World Championship. Retaining nineteen-times TT winner John...

Sepang to host two MotoGP races in future?

30 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Sepang could host two MotoGP races in the near future in a bid to cash in on booming interest in South East Asian markets like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. MCN can reveal that Yamaha boss Lin...

Stefan Bradl has birthday op to cure arm pump

30 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Stefan Bradl’s 23rd birthday celebrations took place on a Barcelona hospital bed after the German underwent successful surgery to cure an arm pump issue that plagued him during an impressive rookie...

Gino Rea set to stay in Moto2

30 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Gino Rea’s tough debut season in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class won’t be his last, with the Londoner understood to have signed a 2013 deal with the new ESGP squad. Rea was missing from the...

Laverty tops time sheets in Jerez – out paces Ducati MotoGP men

29 November 2012 by Michael Guy

Eugene Laverty concluded his 2012 season in the best possible way by topping the time sheets at the end of his three day test in Jerez. The factory Aprilia rider set a stunning 1.40.185 to topple...

Michael Laverty to MotoGP in 2013

28 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

As has been widely rumoured, Michael Laverty has been named on the provisional MotoGP entry list for 2013 in Paul Bird’s British-based squad. Laverty is entered on a PBM machine, which is expected to...

No Gino Rea on provisional 2013 Moto2 entry list

28 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Gino Rea is a notable absentee from the provisional Moto2 entry list released today for the 2013 world championship campaign. The Londoner, who scored a stunning debut podium with third...

32-strong field for 2013 Moto3 battle

28 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

A 32-strong field, which includes British duo Danny Webb and John McPhee, will contest the second Moto3 world championship in 2013. Webb is down to ride a Suter Honda machine on the provisional entry...

Honda satisfied after final round of testing in Jerez – Sykes leads

28 November 2012 by Michael Guy

In what will be the final week of World Superbike testing of 2012 before the winter testing ban comes into effect all of the top teams descended on the Jerez circuit in southern Spain. With action...

Bryan Staring lands Gresini CRT ride

27 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s retirement from MotoGP hasn’t left the premier class without an Australian rider on the grid after Bryan Staring was confirmed as the surprise pick for the Gresini CRT ride. Staring...

Nicky Hayden confident Ducati can cure understeer issue

27 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden remains confident Ducati can solve a persistent understeer issue that has dogged the Desmosedici MotoGP project in recent years. The understeer issue was a constant complaint of Valentino...

Marc Marquez tests 2013 Honda in Sepang

27 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Improved weather conditions at the Sepang track in Malaysia today enabled Marc Marquez to enjoy his most productive day on board Honda’s RC213V 1000cc MotoGP machine to date. The reigning Moto2 world...

Marc Marquez foiled by rain again in Sepang

26 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

After a rain-disrupted MotoGP debut in Valencia earlier this month, Marc Marquez was hoping for better luck with the weather at the start of a three-day private Honda test session at the Sepang track...

Colin Edwards approaches Yamaha about 2014 engine deal

23 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has held tentative talks with senior Yamaha management about his Forward Racing squad leasing a YZR-M1 engine and electronics package for the 2014 MotoGP world championship. Yamaha will...

Argentina dropped from 2013 MotoGP calendar

23 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Argentina’s bid to be back on the MotoGP calendar next season for the first time since 1999 has been scuppered. The new Autodromo de Rio Hondo track was pencilled in to host round two of the 2013...

Casey Stoner’s crew chief gets new senior role at HRC

23 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s long serving crew chief Cristian Gabbarini has taken up a new senior role inside the Honda’s official factory MotoGP garage for 2013. The highly respected Italian will take up a...

Stefan Bradl flattered by Honda faith

22 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Stefan Bradl said it is a big honour to have signed a new MotoGP contract direct with HRC after impressing during his rookie season in 2012. The former Moto2 world champion didn’t finish out of the...

Danny Kent to get training tips from James Toseland

22 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent will embark on a rigorous training regime with former World Superbike champion James Toseland to build up strength ahead of his first season in the Moto2 world championship in 2013. The...

Andrea Dovizioso reserves judgement on Ducati potential

22 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso says it is too early to understand the potential of Ducati’s Desmosedici MotoGP machine after he made his debut for the Bologna factory in Valencia last week. Cold and wet conditions...

Filippo Preziosi optimistic for Ducati’s MotoGP future

20 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ousted Ducati MotoGP boss Filippo Preziosi says he is optimistic that the Bologna factory is destined for a successful future. The Italian will no longer serve as Ducati Corse’s General and Technical...

Macau Grand Prix now available to watch online

20 November 2012 by Simon Patterson

Coverage of this year’s Macau Grand Prix race is now available online. Sunday’s race, delayed from Saturday due to wet weather, ran over a shortened 10 laps after a series of red flags and delays in...

Filippo Preziosi replaced in Ducati management shake-up

20 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

The fallout from Valentino Rossi’s disastrous two-year spell with Ducati is starting to be felt, with Filippo Preziosi and Alessandro Cicognani replaced in a major management shake-up. The highest...

Shane Byrne opts for BSB over MotoGP

20 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Shane Byrne will attempt to lift a fourth BSB title in 2013 after opting not to move to Paul Bird’s MotoGP squad next season. Byrne could have moved to Bird’s CRT squad but he has chosen to stay in...

Marc VDS miss out on Maverick Vinales

19 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Maverick Vinales has rejected the chance to sign a long-term deal to race in Moto3 and Moto2 with Scott Redding’s Marc VDS Racing squad. After much behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and negotiating by...

Marc Marquez exciting for MotoGP, says Nicky Hayden

19 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes the arrival of controversial but fast Spaniard Marc Marquez in MotoGP next season will inject fresh excitement and interest into the premier class. The reigning Moto2 world...

James Ellison gutted to lose MotoGP ride

19 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

James Ellison admitted he was gutted not to get the chance to stay with the Paul Bird Motorsport CRT squad in MotoGP next season. The 31-year-old equalled his career best result of ninth in two out of...

Valentino Rossi at Valencia

17 November 2012 by John Howe

The final MotoGP round of 2012 was my first trip to Valencia. I thouroughly enjoyed it and they allow you to move about the grandstands throughout the weekend.

Macau Grand Prix Race Postponed

17 November 2012 by Stephen Davison

The Macau Grand Prix, scheduled to be run at 15.30pm (7.30am UK time) on Saturday, has been postponed until Sunday because of rain. The morning warm up had already been shifted until 13.40pm after...

Rutter on course for record eighth Macau win

16 November 2012 by Stephen Davison

Michael Rutter is well on course to win his eighth Macau Grand Prix after snatching pole position from his SMT Honda teammate John McGuinness during the final qualifying session on Thursday...

Cal Crutchlow's crash

16 November 2012 by asrwinstanley@aol.com

Cal Crutchlow crashes out of second place in the Valencia MotoGP with just seven laps to go.

Stoner during practice

16 November 2012 by Awinstanley

Casey Stoner during Saturday practice at Valencia.

Scott Redding buoyed by Moto2 weight limit for 2013

16 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s 2013 world title hopes got a huge early boost in Valencia last weekend when a minimum weight limit was approved for the Moto2 class. A minimum weight limit of 215kg will be enforced,...