At annual Wrooom event
Ducati´s 2009 factory team lineup make their first public appearance of the year this week, as part of the five-day Wrooom festival in the Italian ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio.

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden will take part in the official Ducati Marlboro team presentation, unveiled alongside the Desmosedici GP9 with which both ... [ more ]

In 2009
The lasting memories of the December Pirelli development tests at Kyalami in South Africa are many and varied, but arguably the most impressive aspect of the multi-team show was the sheer variety of machinery and engine configurations on display.

Different engine designs and technical approaches will be an integral part of what is already shaping ... [ more ]

Company pins exit on global economic woes
Kawasaki announced today that it has decided to suspend its factory MotoGP racing activities with immediate effect.

"Amid a quickly changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking countermeasures to cope with the situation," the firm said in a statement.

"As the world economy is not likely ... [ more ]

No surprises with 17 drivers listed
The off-season has seen very little driver activity and today the FIA published the 2009 Formula One entry list confirming world champion Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren Mercedes team take over the number 1 for the new year.

With the top five constructors’ from last year making no drivers changes, the only question marks ... [ more ]

Ferrari critical of 2009 implementation
The roll-out of the new Ferrari F60 took place today at Mugello with Felipe Massa charged with the shake-down of the new car. The all-new package features the team's Kinetic Energy Recovery System but team boss Stefano Domenicali believes that the introduction of such new technology this year goes against measures that ... [ more ]

Hopes and aspirations for the 2009 season
Kimi Raikkonen admits that 2008 was not his finest of seasons, but at the launch of the new F60 challenger today, the 2007 champion makes clear that he expects to be back in the title hunt this year.

"The last year was not exactly what I wanted but it is in the past now and we try this year again," he said in a ... [ more ]

2008 experience makes Massa stronger...
Speaking at the launch of the new Ferrari, 2008 championship runner-up spoke of the new F60 package and his hopes for the coming season.

"When you drive a car for the first time on the track it is always an important emotional day for us," he said. "It is the second time that I will bring the car to the track for ... [ more ]

“Ron is no racist; Ron is no homophobe”
Former McLaren employer Peter Boland is currently taking legal action against the firm claiming unfair dismissal. An employment tribunal in Southampton last week heard claims from Boland, formerly Ron Dennis' private airline steward, that he was sacked due to rumours of his sexuality and branded the McLaren Chairman and ... [ more ]

Defending champions Ferrari this morning unveiled its 2009 challenger to the media ahead of a scheduled test later today at Mugello.

Ditching the recent numbering system, the new 2009 Ferrari has been dubbed the F60, the 60th year of Formula One competition for the team, and was shortly afterwards shaken down by Felipe Massa at the team’s test track.

The ... [ more ]

Monte Carlo - The stages
It is one of the world's most famous racing events: the Rallye Monte Carlo. This year the classic happening will serve as the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge's season-opener, taking place from 21st to 24th January upon the stages that have built the legend of the race.

About 60 crews are expected in Monaco, starting point ... [ more ]

A star-studded opening round to the IRC season
The Monte Carlo Rally has revealed its 2009 entry list, with 65 crews appearing. Leading the competitors off the start ramp will be the reigning IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 run by Peugeot Belgium.

Just behind him, running as car number two, will be Giandomenico Basso's factory ... [ more ]

Africa Race : Leg 12 - 191 km
The pink colour of the Lac Retba means that its spirits are marked with good intentions. Those who know the place and who came to attend the finish of the first Africa Race agreed to say that they had never seen the lake displaying such a bright pink colour before. For some of them, it was the sign of a very well set up event.

During ... [ more ]

Dakar : KTM Racing - Leg 8
In fighting form after the rest day, the stage victory went to Despres (Red Bull KTM) 1'49 ahead of Coma (Repsol KTM) with local hero Francisco Lopez (KTM) third (at 2'56). David Frétigné, Jonah Street and Ullevalseter all ran into problems allowing Cyril to move up two places to third overall. He is now less than 30 minutes from second-placed ... [ more ]

From the Volkswagen bivouac
Brief visit to the Volkswagen bivouac: Chile's President Michelle Bachelet: The Volkswagen team received a high-ranking visitor on the Dakar Rally's rest day: Chile's President Michelle Bachelet paid a visit to the service camp of the motorsport cross-country marathon and took a look at the Volkswagen bivouac as well. The President, ... [ more ]

On his MitsubishiToni van Deijne (Netherlands) continued to be the highest-placed Mitsubishi privateer, as the 2009 Dakar rally arrived at La Serena in Chile on Sunday afternoon.

Van Deijne and co-driver Wouter Rosegaar (Netherlands) set the 10th fastest time in the special stage and maintained 11th overall, although problems for Argentina's Orlando Terranova ... [ more ]

Dakar : Volkswagen Motorsport - Leg 8
Volkswagen started the second week of the Dakar Rally exactly the way the first half on Friday before the rest day had ended: by securing a triple stage win and maintaining its previous one-two-three lead. The day's best result was clinched yet again by Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn (E/F), who scored a fourth stage victory in ... [ more ]

Dakar : Mitsubishi Motors - Leg 8
Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart maintained its chances of clinching a podium finish in the 2009 Dakar Rally, when Joan 'Nani' Roma and Lucas Cruz Senra (both Spain) set the fourth fastest time on the 294km special stage between Valparaiso and La Serena in Chile on Sunday.

Roma and Senra had the additional responsibility ... [ more ]

Dakar - Cars - Leg 8
Uncontestably, Sunday's route was practically tailor-made for Carlos Sainz: the Spaniard and his VW Race Touareg excelled in these almost WRC-like trails where a mix of speedy and technical know-how was required.

"In fact, this stage was very much like a traditional rally stage," said double World Rally Championship winner Sainz. ... [ more ]

Dakar - Motorbikes - Leg 8
It was certainly one of the fastest timed stages of the 2009 Dakar Rally, although some sinuous portions were part of the game plan as well. On this 294-kilometre portion of today's itinerary, Cyril Després signed his second stage win following that of San Rafaël last Wednesday.

The Frenchman was the fastest motorbiker between ... [ more ]

Investigation ongoing to determine what went wrong
Yann Le Moenner, deputy general manager of the ASO which owns the Dakar Rally, indicated at Valparaiso that the organisation will no longer issue any comments regarding the death of motorbiker Pascal Terry.

"Since an investigation is under way, the ASO will not comment," said Le Moenner. "We are looking ... [ more ]

A very hard rally to win...
It is certainly the retirement which most affected the members of the bivouac: with seven Dakar victories to his name (five on motorbikes, two aboard cars), Stéphane Peterhansel pulling out of the event meant saying an early goodbye to his many friends within the campsite.

Before leaving for his home in Switzerland, Peterhansel's ... [ more ]

Chilean government ready to host again in future
Ahead of the maiden South American presentation of the Dakar Rally, the ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) signed an agreement with the governments of Argentina and Chile allowing it to stage a second event, although not necessarily on consecutive years.

However, the Chilean Deputy Secretary of Sports, Jaime ... [ more ]

Mitsubishi : Resume of first week of Dakar
Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart's chances of earning an eighth successive victory in the punishing Dakar Rally rest with Joan 'Nani' Roma and Lucas Cruz Senra (both Spain) after a punishing first week's competitive action across Argentina.

Mitsubishi headed to South America with four, new turbo-diesel 'Racing ... [ more ]

Africa Race : Leg 11 - 419 km
To make everything alright till the end of the first edition of the Africa Race, the race board had decided to shorten the spéciale taking place in the region of Idini, Mauritania. Indeed from CP2, the route became easier and crossed several villages. Before starting the liaison towards Senegal, the competitors had to cover 118 km ... [ more ]

How will the team manage the situation?
Starting out of Valparaiso and with seven days of racing to go, forecasting the results of the cars category at the Dakar Rally is a simple thing to do - under the condition that Volkswagen manages its favourable situation correctly.

The team, which no longer has rival contenders Stéphane Peterhansel, Luc Alphand ... [ more ]

Dakar : Mitsubishi Motors - Rest day
Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart's small army of mechanics and engineers left nothing to chance on the Valparaiso rest day of the 2009 Dakar Rally in Chile on Saturday.

They spent the whole day in the service park, at the naval college overlooking the Pacific Ocean, checking and double-checking every nut and bolt on ... [ more ]

Dakar : KTM Racing - Rest day
After seven days hard riding the four KTM factory riders are resting up in Valparaiso on the Chilean coast before tackling the remaining six days of racing.

Riders still have plenty to occupy themselves during the day off and to prepare for the second half of the race. The first week of this South American Dakar was supposed ... [ more ]

Africa Race : Leg 10 - 539 km
Since Wednesday day of the stage between Bou Lanouar and Azougui, the competitors are aware of the difficulties of the mauritanian ground and its sandy and slack sectors. So when they left the bivouac this morning, most of them knew that today's stage would offer some hard times. It was the case and except Jean Louis Schlesser and ... [ more ]