Return of the Mac
April 26, 2009 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Jorge Lorenzo has won an atypical Motegi Grand Prix under brilliant sunshine today in Japan. After the rain cancelled qualifying session left riders gridding up in combined practice time order Rossi and Stoner lined up pole and position two, with Rossi’s teammate Lorenzo third. But as the flag dropped it was Rossi who bolted early in a surprising race. Read more
Three In a Row For Stoner
April 14, 2009 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Casey Stoner has won his third consecutive Qatar MotoGP in a rescheduled season opener from reigning champion Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. In a hectic race for the minor placings the trio skipped ahead of the pack. In the end Stoner crossed the line with the front of the new carbon-fibre framed GP09 Ducati pointed skyward, 7.7 seconds clear of Rossi. Read more
Four Laps of Fury
April 13, 2009 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
The 125cc race at Qatar was cut short after just four laps in torrential conditions overnight. A massive highside from Marc Marquez punctuated the race that was won by Andrea Iannone.
Barbera’s Dream Return
April 13, 2009 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Hector Barbera has made a dream return to 250cc racing with a win at Qatar. With reigning champion Marco Simonceli sidelined by an injury sustained in a motocross accident it was title candidate Alvaro Bautista tipped to capitalise on the misfortune of his nemesis. Starting from pole in a typically hectic race Bautista soon learned that the more things change, the more they stay the same in 250cc racing as the first corner melee saw him bumped back to 11th. Read more
What Might Have Been….
October 28, 2008 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Australian Casey Stoner used the final round at Valencia in Spain to demonstrate what might have been in season 2008. Crossing the line 3.39 seconds ahead of his Dani Pedrosa, Stoner showed no sign of his injured wrist, wrestling the Ducati’s front tyre high in the air at the finish of a race he dominated.
The man who unseated Stoner as champion, Valentino Rossi was a further nine seconds back from Pedrosa in third after a valiant charge from 10th.
On a track that Rossi has always performed on it was Stoner who stole the show early in the weekend, eventually scoring a demanding pole position, but it was Pedrosa who stole the start. The new liveried factory HRC Honda launched better than the Ducati off the line and it was Pedrosa who led the field through turn one. Stoner jumped back less than a quarter of a lap later, and was never headed over the remaining laps.
American Nicky Hayden was beaten out by his 2009 replacement at HRC Andrea Dovisioso in fourth, the 2006 champion just behind sixth placed compatriot Colin Edwards.
The 2008 season finished with an unusually processional race at Valencia, the only real action coming from the battle for 11th involving Toseland, Guintoli and Vermeulen.
The teams will stay in Valencia for a round of post season testing before a break over the European winter.
Di Meglio Crowned 125cc Champion
October 6, 2008 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Frenchman Mike Di Meglio is the new 125cc World Champion after winning the Phillip Island 125 Grand Prix by more then 10 seconds from Stefan Bradl.
Stoner Stuns on The Island
October 6, 2008 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Australian Casey Stoner has overcome injury and the recent loss of his world championship title to win his second consecutive Phillip Island MotoGP.
Rossi ‘Rains’ Supreme
September 15, 2008 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Valentino Rossi has survived wind, debri, pouring rain and a huge moment to all but seal his championship with a stellar ride in a wind and rain soaked affected Indianapolis Moto Grand Prix. The Italian was declared the winner after the race was stopped 7 laps from home ahead of home town hero Nicky Hayden in his first podium of the year and fellow Fia Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo.
The Return of Crashey Stoner
August 31, 2008 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
Australia’s Casey Stoner has thrown his championship aspirations down the road with his Ducati today in Misano. The reigning world champion has now crashed in the last three rounds, with two of those coming while protecting a comfortable lead handng Rossi the championship lead by 75 points with five rounds remaining.
Rossi Two Races Clear of Stoner
August 17, 2008 by Jacob Black · Leave a Comment
It is the race that may well define the 2008 MotoGP season. Bookmakers couldn’t pick it, and scriptwriters couldn’t dream it up. The end of the day would see Stoner’s championship hopes fading fast after the weekend looked so promising. Read more
