Peter McLaren

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Peter McLaren

MotoGP Editor

Peter has worked for Crash.net for almost 20-years, helping set up the website’s two-wheel coverage during the gap year of an Automotive (Mechanical) Engineering degree, then re-joining the company following the completion of his studies.

During his time covering MotoGP, Peter has seen 500cc two-strokes morph into 990cc, 800cc and now 1000cc four-strokes, followed the entire premier-class careers of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo and watched the current generation of world champions Marc Marquez, Joan Mir and Fabio Quartararo emerge.

Peter’s academic background means he is particularly interested in the technical side of the sport, interviewing MotoGP’s engineering masterminds from Yamaha’s Masao Furusawa to Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna,

A chat with test rider Michele Pirro at the 2017 Sepang Shakedown test saw the term ‘salad box’ enter the MotoGP vocabulary while aerodynamics, electronics, ride height and holeshot devices are among the other technical topics to have captured Peter’s interest.

Memorable trackside moments include following the twists and turns of a thrilling but controversial 2015 season between Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo around the globe, plus Casey Stoner’s return to a Ducati MotoGP bike as a test rider and interviewing Nicky Hayden minutes after his final race win, in the WorldSBK class.

Standing on the inside of Stoner corner at Phillip Island, along the fearsome home straight at Mugello and Turn 3 at Sepang rank as Peter’s top MotoGP viewing picks, while a pillion ride around Silverstone with Neil Hodgson gave a first-hand insight into the extraordinary talents of world championship riders.

Peter’s own two-wheel adventures started with local BMX racing from the age of 5. Motocross and enduro bikes followed and, despite a terrible sense of direction, holiday time is often spent riding through the jungles of SE Asia.

Articles by Peter McLaren
MotoGP

This is how the MotoGP field was ranked in terms of falls during the 2023 season, the first to feature Sprint races in a revised weekend format.

MotoGP

Ducati is the only manufacturer to be ’penalised’ for the start of 2024, under MotoGP’s new concession ranking system.

MotoGP

Marc Marquez’s former team-mate Dani Pedrosa was among those present at the Valencia MotoGP test and ‘curious’ to see how the eight-time world champion performed on his Ducati debut.

British Superbikes

Reigning British Superbike champion Tommy Bridewell will switch to Honda for the 2024 season.

MotoGP

KTM, which finished as Ducati’s nearest rival in the MotoGP standings, focussed on electronics and some ‘camouflaged’ aerodynamics at the Valencia test.

MotoGP

Following its first winless MotoGP season since 2003, Yamaha provided Fabio Quartararo with updated engine, chassis and aerodynamic parts at the Valencia test, where new signing Alex Rins made his M1 debut.

MotoGP

After a single wild-card entry in 2023, Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow says it is 'likely' he will make three MotoGP race appearances next season.

MotoGP

Marc Marquez’s former Repsol Honda team manager Alberto Puig said nobody should have been surprised to see the #93 on top of the timesheets during his Ducati debut at the Valencia MotoGP test.

MotoGP

Marc Marquez and the Gresini team are unable to give any public comments about the #93’s Ducati debut at the Valencia MotoGP test.

MotoGP

Newly crowned double MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia signed off his 2023 track activities with a debut on the latest Ducati prototype at the Valencia test.

MotoGP

Final lap times from Tuesday’s post-season MotoGP test at Valencia where Marc Marquez, Luca Marini, Alex Rins, Johann Zarco, Franco Morbidelli, Fabio di Giannantonio and rookie Pedro Acosta were riding with their new teams.

MotoGP

Marc Marquez’s reaction to his first laps on a Ducati MotoGP bike is sure to be one of the standout moments of the Valencia test.

MotoGP

MotoGP’s long-rumoured revised system of technical Concessions has been announced.

Moto3

Moto3, which has used Dunlop tyres since its formation, began its new Pirelli era with an official test at Valencia on Monday.

Moto2

A new era for Moto2 began at Valencia on Monday with the first official test on Pirelli tyres, which were already under the Dunlop lap records from the opening session.

MotoGP

Following Marc Marquez's departure from Repsol Honda, Joan Mir will 'swap sides' and work with the #93's former crew, led by Santi Hernandez, for the 2024 MotoGP season.

MotoGP

The future of the CryptoDATA RNF team has taken another dramatic twist with the MotoGP Selection Committee announcing they have been stripped of their 2024 grid places.

MotoGP

When KTM team-mate Brad Binder ran wide, Jack Miller took over the Valencia race lead and looked on course to make history as the first MotoGP winner on three different brands of bike.

MotoGP

Here is the complete and confirmed 2024 MotoGP rider line-up.

MotoGP

Fabio di Giannantonio's MotoGP future is officially secure with the race-winning Italian confirmed as taking over from Luca Marini at VR46.

MotoGP

Marc Marquez’s eleven-year career as a Repsol Honda rider ended in a huge highside after contact with title contender Jorge Martin in the Valencia MotoGP.

MotoGP

With younger brother Luca Marini now confirmed as joining HRC in place of Marc Marquez next season, perhaps a #46 NSR500 will finally be heading to Tavullia in the near future.

MotoGP

Repsol Honda has finally announced the signing of Luca Marini as Marc Marquez’s replacement for the 2024 MotoGP season.

MotoGP

Jorge Martin says he will speak with Marc Marquez after their dramatic clash in Sunday’s Valencia MotoGP season finale.

MotoGP

Race results from the Valencia MotoGP at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, the 20th and final round of the 2023 world championship.