MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009
Althea Ducati has announced that Shane "Shakey" Byrne will team with Carlos Checa on the squad in the World Superbike championship in 2010. Althea ended a relationship with Honda at the end of the 2009 season that had lasted the last two years in favor of the Bologna based manufacturer. Byrne brings extensive experience with the 1098 Superbike to Althea, having won the 2008 British superbike...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 10/24/2009
Johnny Rea was the fastest rider in the final session of free practice ahead of this afternoon's Superpole. The Irishman was over a tenth quicker than Michel Fabrizio and Carlos Checa, with Shane Byrne another couple of tenths behind Checa. In the war for the championship, Ben Spies finished ahead of Noriyuki Haga, but only but just over a tenth of a second. Results: read more
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 10/16/2009
A variety of sources are reporting that Carlos Checa will ride a privateer Ducati for the Althea team in the World Superbike series in 2010. Checa, who was recently voted off the Ten Kate Island, is still capable of running intermittently at the front, especially around contract time. It had been rumored that Checa was in line for a testing gig for Ducati MotoGP, replacing long-time tester Vittoriano...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 10/14/2009
Newly sacked German rider Max Neukirchner has quickly found gainful employment, signing a deal that will see him partnering with Jonny Rea on a Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR in the World Superbike series in 2010. This year, Neukirchner has battled injuries incurred at Monza and Imola and his contract with Alstare Suzuki was terminated in late September by team owner Frankie Batta, allegedly over concerns...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 10/10/2009
A variety of sources are reporting that Max Neukirchner will make a shocking jump to ride alongside Jonny Rea on the Ten Kate Honda team in 2010. Although the young German rider had a contract with Alstare Suzuki for 2010, it is believed that the pact was terminated as early as the first of October by the team due to fitness concerns based on injuries incurred at the mid-summer Imola test. Rumor has...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 10/02/2009
Michel Fabrizio leads the first session of World Superbike qualifying at Magny-Cours, just edging out this morning's fastest man Jonny Rea, while Noriyuki Haga and Ben Spies are fractions behind Rea. Less than two tenths separate the top four, while Spies has nearly half a second lead over the 5th placed man Carlos Checa. Reigning BSB champion Leon Camier ended his first qualifying session in 17th...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 10/02/2009
Jonny Rea led the first session of free practice for the World Superbike class at Magny-Cours, putting in a scorching lap in the final minutes of the session, and displacing the surprising Fonsi Nieto on the DFX Corse Ducati. Rea put his Ten Kate Honda ahead of the Stiggy Honda of Leon Haslam, while Noriyuki Haga set the 3rd fastest lap, ahead of Carlos Checa. Nieto finally ended the session in 5th...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 09/27/2009
1 Noriyuki HAGA JPN 391 2 Ben SPIES USA 388 -3 3 Michel FABRIZIO ITA 330 -61 4 Jonathan REA GBR 263 -128 5 Max BIAGGI ITA 257 -134 6 Leon HASLAM GBR 219 -172 7 Carlos CHECA ESP 183 -208 8 Tom SYKES GBR 176 -215 9 Jakub SMRZ CZE 155 -236 10 read more
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 09/25/2009
Ten Kate Racing announced this morning that 22 year-old Ulsterman Jonathan Rea has been signed to ride with the Dutch team in the World Superbike series for another 2 years. Rea, a former standout in British superbikes and World Supersport had been widely tipped to retain his ride. The recent switch by Ten Kate to Ohlins suspension components has apparently complemented Rea's style, resulting in his...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 09/06/2009
1 Ben SPIES USA 364 2 Noriyuki HAGA JPN 346 -18 3 Michel FABRIZIO ITA 289 -75 4 Jonathan REA GBR 244 -120 5 Max BIAGGI ITA 224 -140 6 Leon HASLAM GBR 201 -163 7 Carlos CHECA ESP 177 -187 8 Tom SYKES GBR 165 -199 9 Shane BYRNE GBR 140 -224 10 read more
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 07/24/2009
Max Biaggi topped the timesheets once again at Brno, the only man to drop under the 2 minute marker during the first session of qualifying. Ducati's Michel Fabrizio improved his position, setting the 2nd fastest time, ahead of Carlos Checa and a remarkable Makoto Tamada on the Kawasaki. Tamada has been very much mid-pack so far this year, but his return from injury appears to have inspired him. Yamaha's...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 07/15/2009
Michel Fabrizio topped the timesheets after the first day of testing for the World Superbike field at Imola, edging out Yamaha's Ben Spies in the final laps. Fabrizio and Spies were followed by a brace of Hondas bracketing a BMW, Johnny Rea finishing the day ahead of BMW's Ruben Xaus, who was in turn just a few thousandths faster than Rea's Ten Kate Honda team mate Carlos Checa. The test took place...
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 06/28/2009
1 Noriyuki HAGA JPN 308 2 Ben SPIES USA 294 -14 3 Michel FABRIZIO ITA 257 -51 4 Jonathan REA GBR 177 -131 5 Leon HASLAM GBR 167 -141 6 Max BIAGGI ITA 155 -153 7 Tom SYKES GBR 141 -167 8 Jakub SMRZ CZE 115 -193 9 Carlos CHECA ESP 114 -194 10 read more
MotoGPMatters.com (Free subscription) | 06/21/2009
1 Noriyuki HAGA JPN 292 2 Ben SPIES USA 244 -48 3 Michel FABRIZIO ITA 237 -55 4 Jonathan REA GBR 167 -125 5 Max BIAGGI ITA 135 -157 6 Leon HASLAM GBR 134 -158 7 Tom SYKES GBR 130 -162 8 Carlos CHECA ESP 109 -183 9 Jakub SMRZ CZE 108 -184 10 read more
Cars and Motorbikes - Mirror.co.uk (Free subscription) | 06/10/2009
Matt Kelly and John McGuinness with his Senior TT trophy. Picture: Oli Tennent Just back from the trip of a lifetime to the Isle of Man TT. What a place, and what an experience. After three days of anticipation, bad...
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