MotoGP Features

Valentino Rossi may call the bustling British capital city of London home now, but the MotoGP superstar grew up in a very different environment - being born in a small town called Tavullia near the north east coast of Italy, which he was eventually forced to leave as his worldwide fame increased.

Battling MotoGP Brits Shane Byrne and James Ellison - who made their names in Superbike racing - have revealed they are still attracted to the production based championships; Shakey stating he'd return if MotoGP 'became stagnant' while Ellison would 'love' to ride as a wild-card after turning down the chance of a front-running WSBK seat.

The only man to have won premier-class world championships on both two- and four-wheels, John Surtees, has told Crash.net that he doesn't think Valentino Rossi will now follow in his footsteps and leave MotoGP for Formula One.

The tight and twisty nature of Sachsenring lends itself to close racing. This is partially influenced by its rather short overall length, only just scraping in on the minimum allowed distance to host a MotoGP race, while the looping layout itself has the reputation of making passing moves on fellow competitors difficult even at the best of times.

For many fans and journalists in Britain, the annual arrival of the MotoGP World Championship conjures up memories of one of the most exciting motorcycle races of all time.

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, if you happen to be at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey CA for the inaugural Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP weekend.

World champion Valentino Rossi has kept up pressure for further safety changes to be made to the Laguna Seca circuit, venue for this weekend's US GP, after revealing that he and his fellow riders have told Dorna that major modifications are needed if MotoGP is to return in 2006.

Reigning world champion and runaway 2005 world championship leader Valentino Rossi was left in an uncharacteristic ninth place at the end of day one at the US GP, having failed to improve in the afternoon session.

Australian TROY BAYLISS/Honda Pons was the overall fastest rider Friday morning in the first practice for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with a 1.24.547/95.513mph/153.713kph lap on the 2.238-mile/3.602km elevated road circuit.

After a ten-year absence from the MotoGP World Championship, it was announced late in 2004 that the Laguna Seca circuit would feature on the 2005 race calendar.

While millions of motorcycle fans worldwide will watch the MotoGP star lap Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca during the upcoming Red Bull US Grand Prix July, the number of those who have actually ridden a lap on the world-famous circuit is much, much lower.