Car News Articles

A weekly wrap of motorsport from around the world.

Aussies on podium

AUSTRALIANS have had a huge week on the international stage. Ryan Briscoe, Mark Webber and Marcos Ambrose all grabbed podium finishes in Indycars, Formula 1 and NASCAR respectively. Briscoe’s second behind Dario Franchitti was enough to push him to the top of the points. Webber trailed teammate Sebastian Vettel in the British Grand Prix and Ambrose drove from last place to finish second at California’s Infineon Raceway.

MotoGP on Ten

MotoGP fans will get live free-to-air telecasts from next year. Network Ten announced this week it had signed a five-year deal to have MotoGP broadcast on free-to-air television. The agreement includes all MotoGP and support races, which will be shown live on Ten’s 24-hour sports channel, ONE.

Corser tanks

Troy Corser admits his World Superbike Championship round at Misano last weekend was a “disaster” after the Australian high-sided in the warm-up lap in the first race and finished a distant 19th in the second. “It was a good thing I didn’t hurt my shoulder, because that’s the side I fell on. The last thing I wanted was more injury,” he says. Ducati’s Nori Haga still leads the series.

Legends filmed

A documentary of our motorcycling legends will be be filmed at the Preston Motorcycle Club on Wednesday. The project is backed by Motorcycling Australia. Legends include Ray Stafford, Ray Reardon, Ray Johnson, Tom Abrahams, Trevor Pound, Maurie Quincey, Wes Brown, Ian Ibister and Bill Petrie. All racers and friends are invited to attend from 4pm. Go to prestonmcc.com.au

Coma after crash

Gold Coast motorcycle racer Blake Leigh-Smith was put in an induced coma after a crash at Sachsenring racetrack in Germany on Sunday. The 19-year-old sustained collapsed lungs and damage to his shoulder and ribs after crashing while trying to avoid a fallen rider during the German IDM 125cc GP. His father, Noel, says he believes Blake will be back to defend his Australian 125cc title in about six weeks.