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VR46 will have one team in MotoGP, two teams in Moto2 and also support its Academy riders with placements in a pair of Moto3 teams next season.

Marc Marquez has refused to call surpassing Giacomo Agostini’s all-time records impossible but has dismissed the idea after securing his eighth world title.

Moto2 rookie Jake Dixon still recovering from COTA accident.

A shortfall of funds could force the Pramac Ducati team to scale down their efforts to just one bike for Mika Kallio in 2009, with Niccolo Canepa being quickly transferred over to the Onde 2000 team instead.

Suzuki will condense down to two bikes for the 2009 World Superbike Championship, Crash.net can reveal, a decision that leaves Fonsi Nieto on the sidelines.

1. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 1min 43.609secs 2. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 43.955secs 3. Fonsi Nieto ESP Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 44.056secs

Troy Bayliss has wrapped up the 2008 World Superbike Championship in his swansong season after a comfortable ride to third in the first race at Magny-Cours.

Both Marco Melandri and Ducati Marlboro team-mate Casey Stoner chose to pit for their wet weather bikes, after suffering mechanical problems with their number one machines.

The now infamous first race, last lap clash with Carlos Checa that forced Neukirchner to miss the second race there with a collarbone injury has been forced from his mind and the German was a model of consistency today.

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.

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.