Team Maxtra looks on course for 2009GARRY TAYLOR leader of the Chinese-backed Maxtra 125 project, visited the Misano paddock on the first day of practice, looking to recruit riders for the machine’s GP debut next year.Meantime the motorcycle

TOMMY HILL was apparently only a fraction off lap-record pace when he tested at Brands Hatch on the GP circuit earlier this week. The Worx Crescent Suzuki team have not released times from the outing but a team insider told visordown.com: “Tommy

more pace on the Japanese machine when compared with the 2:02.023 time on board the Ducati Desmosedici. In addition, Stoner lapped quicker than the fastest Honda qualifier from Sepang last season, when Dovisiozo qualified in second with a 2:01.8 lap

-up 132 laps of the 1.41-mile long circuit and was reportedly lapping at last year's BSB record pace.As well as getting to grips with the ins and outs of Mallory, Guintoli and the team tried out some new settings and parts on the bike that will be raced

.Spies and British team-mate Tom Sykes got to try out the 2008 and 2009 Yamaha R1 WSB machines around Portimao in Portugal. Spies clocked a ripping 1:44.0, just a fraction slower than Sunday's race pace. Spies said: “The most important thing for me to do was to learn

APRILIA MAN Shinya Nakano set a quickest time on the second day of WSB testing at Philip Island, posting a best time of 1'33"1, on his RSV4 racer. Nakano's best was just 0.6 secs adrift of Troy Bayliss' 2008 race pace. In a shock performance, Ducati

, then it doesn't seem like big news. That's nothing new, really."However, I think Valentino is already in qualifying mode. I see him aggressive and focused, so I expect him to attack more in testing too."The 2010 MotoGP championship kicks off on April 11th

) 1.43.3 (45 laps) Esteve Rabat (Pons Racing) 1.43.3 (57 laps) Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing Team) 1.43.9 (50 laps) Gino Rea (Gresini Team) 1.43.9 (57 laps) Bradley Smith Tech 3) 1.44.0 (60 laps) Toni Elías (Aspar Team) 1.44.2 (104 laps) Axel Pons

will be more developed."Which is a weird thing to say because the engine isn't the standard Honda one, with a 16,500rpm rev limit and 115dB noise cap, standard data-logging and ECU unit that was announced by Honda last week. In fact, the cut-off point for any

(BMW) 2'05.091 10. Aryton Badovini (BMW) 2'05.115 11. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 2'05.184 12. Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki) 2'06.238 13. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) 2'05.400 14. James Toseland (BMW) 2'05.403 15. Max Berger (Ducati) 2'05.709 16. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 2'05.899