MotoGP Features

It's not only MotoGP engine design that will be frozen for the 2018 season at the opening round in Qatar next weekend. Michelin will not introduce any new tyre designs once the world championship is underway.

Michael Bartholemy, team boss of Marc VDS’ racing operations, has admitted he is talking to another manufacturer other than Honda about supplying machinery for his MotoGP outfit in 2019.

Christophe Bourguignon, crew chief to Cal Crutchlow, has revealed the Englishman’s winter training programme was all of his own doing, and sees LCR Honda's lead rider as “relaxed” and “confident” of his chances for the MotoGP year ahead.

Although it's yet to be officially confirmed, all the indications are that - having announced a departure from Yamaha - Tech3 is to become a satellite KTM team in 2019.

Monster Yamaha Tech3 crew chief Nicolas Goyon has had a revolving door of riders since Jonas Folger's sudden withdraw from last October's Japanese MotoGP. Just three months earlier the pair had been celebrating Folger's brilliant ride to second place in his home German Grand Prix.

After last year’s confusion, a 30-minute ‘wet weather’ test has been arranged for the final night of the Qatar test in order to assess whether riders’ visibility is overly affected by the reflection of the floodlights, race direction has confirmed. 

After finishing first and second with Olivier Jacque and Shina Nakano on Yamaha machinery in the 2000 250cc World Championship, both riders and the Tech3 team  moved up to the premier-class in 2001. Tech 3 has remained in MotoGP, on Yamaha machinery, every since.

Sepang CEO Dato' Razlan Razali is about to see his dream of a Malaysian MotoGP rider become a reality. Tomorrow in Thailand, Hafizh Syahrin will ride his very first MotoGP laps for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team.

In a sport where success can be decided by one thousandth of a second, MotoGP riders are constantly seeking every drop of information to gain even the slightest edge.

MotoGP Technical Director Danny Aldridge is currently drafting a tighter set of fairing regulations for the 2019 season.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut.

Michael Dunlop takes to the Sepang track with the Suzuki GSX-RR for his MotoGP test debut as a reward for his 2017 Senior TT victory at the Isle of Man TT.

They may be utilising the near limitless backing of a household sponsor, as well as recruiting some of the best names the industry has to offer.

Dennis Foggia – Sky Racing Team VR46, Moto3

Lorenzo Baldassarri – Pons HP40, Moto2

Alex Rins – Suzuki, MotoGP

Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati, MotoGP