Yamaha

Alex Lowes catches up with Crash.net ahead of the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours as he gears up to defend his crown with the #21 Yamaha Factory Racing Team alongside Michael van der Mark and Katsuyuki Nakasuga.

- Valentino Rossi’s father Graziano says he doesn’t care about the latest MotoGP retirement rumours (Gazzetta Sportiva via Marca)

Loris Baz has revealed he gambled using the Pirelli X rear tyre in the final race at Laguna Seca feeling he “had nothing to lose” as he capped an impressive start to his and Ten Kate Racing’s World Superbike comeback.

Valentino Rossi pointed out he has fought back from a longer losing streak and jokingly highlighted his all-time MotoGP win record, when asked if his current victory drought is difficult to deal with.

Alex Lowes has moved up to third place in the World Superbike riders’ standings after a solid showing at Laguna Seca at the expense of Pata Yamaha team-mate Michael van der Mark but is anticipating a tough fight against the Dutch rider for the remainder of the season.

- Honda boss Tetsuhiro Kuwata has dismissed rumours Jorge Lorenzo could retire due to his ongoing injury battle along with his current struggles adapting to the RC213V.

Yamaha Motor Europe manager Andrea Dosoli says he didn’t expect to be informed of Marco Melandri’s decision to retire from motorsport at the end of the 2019 World Superbike Championship, but ‘respects’ his choice to do so.

Marco Melandri has revealed the 2019 World Superbike Championship season will be his last in international motorsport after announcing his retirement.

Loris Baz earned himself an earlier-than-anticipated ‘promotion’ to the status of top Yamaha rider at Donington Park after picking up a 4-5-6 brace of results in only the third round back in action for both himself and Ten Kate Racing.

Once again, the difficulties faced by mentor Valentino Rossi seemed to be replicated for Petronas Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli, in Sunday's German MotoGP.

Marco Melandri has left Donington Park bemused by the disappearance of his pace with GRT Yamaha and believes “either the bike doesn’t like me or my riding style doesn’t suit the bike”.

Marc Marquez feels he has breathing space in the MotoGP world championship fight after pulling out a 58-point advantage over nearest rival Andrea Dovizioso, while he sees Yamaha duo Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo as “the guys to beat at the moment”.

It had to happen sometime. After just one fall as a MotoGP rider, during practice in Barcelona, rookie star Fabio Quartararo made his first race mistake at round nine in Germany.

Maverick Vinales feels his Monster Yamaha squad can be satisfied with second place at the German MotoGP after conceding it was “impossible” to overtake Marc Marquez before he stormed clear at the front.

Donington Park WorldSBK - Race Results (2) Jonathan Rea leaves Round 8 of the 2019 World Superbike Championship with a 24-point lead after completing a terrific treble on home

Donington Park WorldSBK - Race Results (2) Pos Driver Nat Team   Time 1

Jules Cluzel secured his second World Supersport Championship win of the season with a battling performance against Federico Caricasulo and Lucas Mahias at Donington Park.

Donington Park WorldSSP - Race Results Pos Driver Nat Team   Time 1

Riders are often known to form a close bond with their machinery and, after qualifying eleventh on the grid for Sunday's German MotoGP, Valentino Rossi was asked what the status of his relationship is with the M1:

Maverick Vinales feels his improved consistency has come from “a little bit of everything” adapting with his Monster Yamaha squad but accepts he must produce a strong performance at the German MotoGP to finish the job.

Fabio Quartararo will wait until tomorrow morning to assess his physical condition ahead of the German MotoGP but remains confident of being fully fit despite suffering a partial left shoulder dislocation during FP3.

Donington Park WorldSBK - Race Results (1) Jonathan Rea has moved into the lead of the 2019 World Superbike Championship standings for the first time this season after dominati

Donington Park WorldSBK - Race Results (1) Pos Driver Nat

Donington Park WorldSSP - Qualifuing Results Pos Driver Nat Team   Time 1