2008

At a time when theories to explain the gulf in performance between Casey Stoner and team-mate Marco Melandri are flying wildly, Ducati MotoGP project director Livio Suppo has moved to eliminate one avenue of speculation - by stating that there is 'no doubting' the Italian's talent.

The following is a statement from Team Australia's Craig Gore, following ongoing statements and accusations in the media from his former partner Derrick Walker.

Nick Tandy enjoyed a solid start to his maiden season in the British F3 International Series after the JTR Marshall Westland driver secured a place in the top ten in qualifying for the opening race of the 2008 season at Oulton Park.

Kimi Raikkonen catapulted Ferrari back into the world title fight following the Prancing Horse's disastrous season-opening Australian Grand Prix just seven days ago, by storming to an unchallenged victory in Malaysia as McLaren wilted in the searing heat.

Questions from the floor: Q: (Heikki Kulta - Turun Sanomat ) Kimi, was that a perfect lap you did in Q2 and, for Heikki, how much did it mean to you to beat Lewis already in the second qualifying?

Vitaly Petrov claimed his second win in GP2 - and his first in the GP2 Asia Series - after coming from 17th on the grid to triumph in a chaotic wet-dry race in front of the Formula One audience at Sepang.

Rob Mac Racing is to give one lucky spectator the chance to unveil the exciting new Karl Harris Superbike at the official Bennetts British Superbike Test at Snetterton on Easter Monday.

Felipe Massa thoroughly blitzed his rivals in the morning session on the opening day's practice ahead of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix, but team-mate Kimi Raikkonen came unstuck following 'communication' problems with the team.

Spanish F3 runners Team West-Tec could be set to take up a challenge closer to home with an entry into the British F3 International Series.

1. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 01:35.055 2. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari 01:35.206 3. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 01:35.428 4. Jenson Button Britain Honda-Honda 01:36.037

Richard Hammond appears to be in pole position to head up the BBC 's reported ?200 million coverage of Formula One when the sport returns to the broadcaster next season, after current broadcaster ITV activated a getout clause in its contract with Formula One Administration.

Oriol Servia paced the second and final day of the Sebring test for those teams and drivers making the switch from Champ Cars to the IndyCar Series, posting the third best time of all runners to have used the Florida facility in pre-season.

Fernando Alonso has admitted that there is a long way to go before this year's Renault is a match for Formula One's frontrunners, despite taking home points for fourth place on his return to the team in Australia,

1. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari 01:35.392 2. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari 01:36.459 3. Heikki Kovalainen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 01:36.556 4. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota 01:36.578

Peugeot privateer Ricardo Trivino has lost his eighth place finish notched up on the Corona Rally Mexico at the start of this month.

by Russell Atkins

McLaren-Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen has said that he will push harder in Malaysia this weekend in a bid to build on the fifth place finish he notched up last Sunday.

Hall of Fame Racing has confirmed that Steve Boyer will take over as crew chief for JJ Yeley on the #96 DLP HDTV Toyota Camry, beginning with the Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville next weekend.

Following two successful seasons together in British Superstock, PDM Racing and Luke Quigley will step up to the British Superbike Cup Championship in 2008 - with their sights set on nothing less than title glory.

Rick Kelly took his second podium finish of the weekend on Sunday in race 3 of the non-championship Sprint Gas V8 Supercar Manufacturers Challenge at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Although Pedrosa and Lorenzo raced each other for two seasons in 125GP - during 2002 and 2003 - they were rarely in direct conflict, and it was only when Lorenzo fought reigning 250cc champion Pedrosa head-on during the 2005 quarter-litre season that the fireworks between them - and their respect

Derrick Walker is clearly not prepared to let former Team Australia partner Craig Gore slink away to KV Racing Technology and run Will Power there without a fight, promising to pursue money he claims he is owned through the courts if necessary.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey won the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award to open the AMA Supercross class main event. Following Dungey through turn one was Torco Fuels Honda's Kevin Windham, with championship leader Chad Reed fifth.

In a performance reminiscent of that which delivered him his breakthrough Formula 1 victory in Montreal last year, Lewis Hamilton got his 2008 title bid off to the perfect start by triumphing in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne - never putting a foot wrong as the heat and lack of traction c