America
BSB: Hodgson set for sensational comeback
Source: British Superbikes 2009 - BSB Blog - Mirror.co.uk - Wednesday, 24th February 2010, 8:14 GMTFormer British and World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson will make his much anticipated return to the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship next season after signing for the Motorpoint Yamaha team. Hodgson returns to the UK after racing in the AMA Championship and securing the WSB crown in 2003. Hodgson last raced in BSB back in 2000 when he took the title for the GSE Racing team after a season-long battle with arch rival Chris Walker. The title fight went down to the wire at Donington Park for the final round of the championship following one of the most memorable seasons in BSB history. Hodgson said: ""I can't wait to move back to BSB and the UK; at the end of the day I have raced on the world stage and in the States and now I want to come back to where it all started and there is definitely a good feeling on coming home. "It certainly wasn't a difficult decision for me to come back to BSB next season, especially with Yamaha as that has been the bike to win on this year. "It has been successful in BSB with Leon (Camier) and James (Ellison) and also in AMA with Ben (Bostrom) and Josh (Hayes), then that doesn't include on the world stage with Ben (Spies) and Cal (Crutchlow). "I am really excited about returning to BSB and it has been a dream to come back next season. "As a rider you never know which way your career is going to go; for sure when you are on the world stage you want to be there as long as you can, but in America I have been through some tough seasons, especially with the injury last year and now I am ready to come home. "It is a personal choice for me to return to BSB and I am as motivated now as I was ten years ago when I won the title, if not more." Read article
Honda expects more success at Indy
Source: HighRevs.net - MotoGP news - Tuesday, 23rd February 2010, 23:51 GMTThe 100th anniversary of the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be celebrated with the second running of the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Honda's grand prix riders are hoping to build on recent successes, including Dani Pedrosa's victory in the MotoGP World Championship's previous visit to America at Laguna Seca and Andrea Dovizioso's maiden win in the recent British Grand Prix. Read article
Miller Motorsports Park gears up for WSBK Weekend
Source: WorldSBK.com - Monday, 15th February 2010, 16:19 GMTThis year's visit to Utah by the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship on May 29-31 will be the biggest and best yet, officials from Miller Motorsports Park announced in a press conference Thursday. The event, which will take place over Memorial Day Weekend, will include a major classic-rock concert, a downtown street party at The Gateway outdoor mall, a tribute to America's military and a number of additional new features. Like last year, the Memorial Day Weekend activities will begin on Friday, May 28 on the steps of the State Capitol and will feature team riders, sponsors, and track and elected officials. It is anticipated that Governor Gary Herbert will be in attendance and officially commence the festival weekend. The racers, on their race bikes, will then lead a parade of motorcycles, in which the motorcycle-riding public is invited to participate, to The Gateway, which will be closed to all but motorcycle traffic. The Gateway will be the site of a street party that will include live music, autograph sessions and stunt bike demonstrations to celebrate the weekend. Each brand of motorcycle will have its own reserved parking area. Racing action will begin on Saturday, May 29, capped by a classic-rock concert at the track featuring Foreigner, Styx and Kansas (and a possible surprise addition to be named later), with fireworks at its conclusion. Racing will continue on Sunday and Monday, with the feature races for the Superbike World Championship and Supersport World Championship on Monday. The support races will be the second annual Larry H. Miller Superbike Challenge, with events for both the GTU and GTO classes. The US military will be honored with a 2,010-flag Tribute Field in the track's infield throughout the weekend. Other highlights will include demonstrations by the Lucas Oil Stunt Plane, stunt bike exhibitions, manufacturer displays and parking corrals, military flyovers and an expanded Vendor Village. "We are very excited about this year's event," said John Larson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Miller Motorsports Park. "We have added a significant amount of entertainment to complement the outstanding racing provided by the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship. This will be the biggest international sporting event in Utah since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the beginning of a Memorial Day weekend tradition for families throughout Utah and the United States to enjoy." "The 2010 event at Miller Motorsports Park promises to be the most exciting U.S. round ever in the history of World Superbike," said Paolo Ciabatti, Director of the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship. "Our championship will be returning to Utah this year with 26 permanent riders in the top class and 20 riders in World Supersport and with two young American stars: Roger Lee Hayden, riding a Kawasaki in World Superbike, and Jason DiSalvo riding for the factory Triumph team in World Supersport. We are extremely pleased to see all the thrilling activities that have been put together and are sure that fans from all over the country will come to Miller Motorsports Park in huge numbers to enjoy a fantastic Memorial Day weekend!" To purchase tickets or for more information about the event, visit the dedicated event website at www.SBKUSA.com. Read article
Bradley Smith ready to get back on track at Catalunya
Source: Motogp.com - Monday, 15th February 2010, 15:05 GMTThe 2009 125cc World Championship runner-up has been training in America, and is now eager to get back on track at the scheduled three-day test in Barcelona which is due to start on Wednesday. Read article
Laverty back at Relentless Suzuki
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash - Thursday, 14th January 2010, 9:38 GMTMichael Laverty has rejoined the Relentless Suzuki team for the 2010 British Superbike championship, just two years after leaving the team. Laverty raced with Relentless Suzuki back in the 2007 British Supersport championship, beating teammate Ian Lowry to the title before moving up to the superbike championship in 2008, finishing the championship in ninth position. After a year away from the British scene riding in the AMA championship, the Northern Irish rider has returned to the team and is looking forward to the challenge ahead in what he believes will be an open championship. “I’m delighted to be back in BSB with the Relentless Suzuki team,” said the 28-year-old. “I really think we can have a great season. I have raced all of the boys before apart from Yukio [Kagayama] and Josh [Brookes], and I honestly believe there is no clear favourite for the title and that we have the chance to shine. With all to play for and with factory parts, we have a really strong package to fight for the title. “I had a bit of a strange year in 2009, starting in America with a few rounds and then ending up riding for various teams in the World Supersport Championship; it was the wrong time to go to the States, but that is water under the bridge now. I have to admit that when I tested the Relentless Suzuki with the team last year at Kirkistown, I wished I had stayed! “I know that the team have made some real steps forward over the last year, and I come back to familiar territory, knowing the tracks and the whole of the TAS team. I believe that the Relentless Suzuki has stepped up a notch from when I last raced it in BSB in 2008, and with factory parts we have a really strong package to fight for the title.” “It’s a great opportunity for me to move up to Superbike,” added Seeley, who swept comfortably to the Superstock laurels last year off the back of a stunning run of nine consecutive race victories, before going on to make two end-of-season BSB appearances for Relentless Suzuki, impressing by taking the chequered flag tenth at Silverstone and 13th at Oulton Park. “The team have a testing programme in-place and it looks like that will kick off in March, so now I am training hard with cardio and boxing to get myself in the best possible fitness before we begin testing.” Read article
Norton take new models to ExCeL bike show
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash - Saturday, 9th January 2010, 6:16 GMTNorton has announced that it will be showcasing all three of its 2010 models at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show at the ExCeL centre on Feb 4-7. Having made a welcome and popular return to the Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show at Birmingham’s NEC at the end of 2009, the manufacturer will be taking its new Commando Sport, Cafe Racer and 961 SE models to wow the crowds at London’s Docklands next month. Teh manufacturer also attracted plenty of attention at shows in Los Angeles and Toronto. “We’ll have all our bikes - the 961 SE, two Commando Sports and the Café Racer, plus our whole merchandise range,” said new Norton boss Stuart Garner. “Visitors will be able to sit on all the bikes and either myself or Head of Design Simon Skinner - the people who actually developed the bikes - will be there to talk you through all the features. “We went to the NEC, then to the LA Show in America and also to one in Toronto, Canada and we’ve had a fabulous uptake from all three shows. “But as well as selling bikes, the other good news is how well the bikes have been received. When they see the new Norton in the flesh people have been impressed: they like the look, the silhouette and the build quality and it’s all given us confidence and proves that we’re here to stay. Our appearance at the MCN Show gives more people the chance to see the bikes for themselves.” Tickets are available to order now from www.mcnmotorcycleshow.com, priced from £14 adults, £10 concessions and £8 for children aged 11-15 if booked in advance*. Children under 10 go free. *Booking fee may apply. Read article
Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden ducks home race predictions
Source: MCN Sport - Thursday, 27th August 2009, 5:04 GMTNicky Hayden has refused to make any predictions about his potential ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP clash in America. Hayden scored one of only two premier class podium finishes in 2008 during last year’s storm-lashed Indianapolis clash when he... Read article
Indy MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa looking for more American glory
Source: MCN Sport - Monday, 24th August 2009, 18:05 GMTJust eight weeks after his victory in Laguna Seca, Dani Pedrosa is looking for a repeat success in America in the Indianapolis MotoGP clash this weekend. Pedrosa ended a 13-month losing streak when he won in California at the beginning... Read article
Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ready to ram home advantage
Source: MCN Sport - Monday, 24th August 2009, 12:20 GMTValentino Rossi is hoping he can bolster his hopes of a seventh MotoGP world title in 2009 by claiming a second successive Indianapolis GP win this weekend. The Italian heads to America with a commanding 50-point lead over Fiat Yamaha... Read article
German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects renewed Dani Pedrosa threat
Source: MCN Sport - Thursday, 16th July 2009, 18:39 GMTMotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi is anticipating a renewed challenge from Dani Pedrosa after the Spaniard ended Honda’s worst losing streak for nearly three decades in America earlier this month. Pedrosa took his Repsol Honda RC212V to his first... Read article
