2008

1. Jamie Whincup 888/Vodafone Ford 78 laps 1hr 51m 37.3538s 2. Mark Winterbottom FPR/Ford Credit Ford 78 laps 3. Craig Lowndes 888/Vodafone Ford 78 laps

V8 Supercar Development Series driver Ashley Cooper has been critically injured following an accident during the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide.

HM Plant team members John McGuinness and Steve Brogan joined AIM Yamaha rider Ian Hutchinson in helping to kick-start this year's Kennedy Group International North West 200, which is expected to be one of the most exciting yet.

Team Alstare Suzuki might have worked flat out during the winter to find a replacement for departing sponsor Corona, but only on the eve of the season can general manager Francis Batta confirm the health of his squad.

Russian Bears Motorsport will compete in the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2008. The Russian outfit will run two Lada 110 2.0 cars from the third race meeting of the season that will take place in Valencia on May 18. The procedure to homologate the car is currently underway.

Jamie Whincup may have missed out on the 2007 V8 Supercars title by a narrow margin, but he showed that he is determined to mount an assault on the new season by setting the pace almost throughout the opening day of the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Renault has played down speculation that it is secretly developing a radical aerodynamic solution that could provide a gain of around half a second a lap for its R28 chassis.

Robby Gordon has vowed to appeal NASCAR's decision to dock him and his #7 team 100 championship points and suspend crew chief Frank Carr for six races following a mix-up over parts at Daytona.

Former double world champions Troy Corser and Troy Bayliss proved to be the men to beat in the opening qualifying session of the 2008 World Superbike season in Qatar, as they dominated a wind-affected first qualifying to leave their rivals wilting under the desert sun.

Lewis Hamilton may have been lauded for his successful graduation to Formula One last season, but the tide of opinion turned somewhat when it was revealed that he was to decamp from the UK to Switzerland.

HSV Dealer team pairing Rick Kelly and Paul Dumbrell will aim to start the season in competitive fashion as the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship season kicks off this weekend with the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Todd Kelly admits he can't wait for the new V8 Supercar Championship season to start as he prepares for his first year with the Jack Daniels Racing team.

Dorna UK has admitted that MotorSport Vision are the ideal people to take the British Superbike Championship forward after confirmation that Jonathan Palmer's company has secured the commercial rights to the series.

WOW Sight & Sound are to remain in V8 Supercars following an eleventh-hour deal to join Holden team Brad Jones Racing.

John McGuinness has re-signed with Honda Racing and Padgett's Motorcycles for the 2008 season and will again combine spearhead the Japanese manufacturer's assault on international road races with another assault the British Supersport Championship.

The ACO has revealed the 55 entrants and eight reserves for the 2008 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

As expected, MotorSport Vision has confirmed that it has agreed a long-term deal with the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board to become responsible for the organisation and promotion of the British Superbike Championship with immediate effect.

Williams' fifth special livery of the 2008 pre-season will feature handwritten best wishes from the team's seven world champions when the Toyota-powered FW30s take to the track at this week's group test in Barcelona.

Disgraced Ferrari technical manager Nigel Stepney has been interviewed by the Italian magistrate investigating the final throes of the espionage saga that rocked Formula One last season.

Carlin Motorsport has completed its line-up for the new British F3 International Series with the signing of Icelandic teenager Kristijan Einar.

The Anglo-American now faces a race against time to be fully fit for the final pre-season test, at Qatar from February 28-29, or at least by the season opener on March 9.

Mike, who has edited Motor Cycle News , Bike and Classic Bike , will visit MotoGP, World Superbike and British Superbike events, providing a mix of exclusive news, comment and interviews for Crash.net .

A newly formed team has announced it plans to contest the British Superbike Championship in 2008, running three bikes in two championships.

by Russell Atkins TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL: CLICK HERE