MotoGP Features

Yamaha, which has completed a clean sweep of Riders', Constructors' and Teams' MotoGP World Championships in 2009, gave its annual YZR-M1 technical presentation on Friday night at Valencia (see below for more pictures).

The 2006 Portuguese Grand Prix remains one of the most dramatic races of the MotoGP era.

A Crash.net feature in which Bridgestone's Tom Tremayne interviews a MotoGP rider at each of the remaining 2009 rounds. At Indianapolis, it's Alex de Angelis...

A Crash.net feature in which Bridgestone's Tom Tremayne interviews a MotoGP rider at each of the remaining 2009 rounds. At Brno, it's Mika Kallio...

With ten of 17 rounds gone, the 2009 MotoGP World Championship is currently enjoying its summer break before round eleven begins at Brno on August 16. Here are some stats from the season so far...

The British round of the MotoGP World Championship will take place at Silverstone for the first time since 1986 next season, on a revised track layout 'very different to the bike circuit of even twelve months ago'.

Andrea Dovizioso will reach a proud moment in his professional career this weekend at Mugello, when he takes part in his first home event as a factory MotoGP rider.

Honda's RC211V may not have raced since the end of 2006, but it's record of winning grands prix with more riders than any other MotoGP bike is a long way from being challenged.

Ducati's carbon fibre chassis made an instant impact by winning its very first race, in the hands of Casey Stoner, on Monday night's 2009 Qatar MotoGP season opener.

2009 MotoGP rookie and former Ducati test rider Niccolo Canepa has provided an insight into riding the Desmosedici grand prix machine, plus a glimpse of life inside the Ducati factory and the challenges he faces in balancing university with MotoGP.

Herve Poncharal believes the MotoGP rule changes currently being discussed in response to the global economic crisis are an exciting opportunity to make the sport better.

LCR Honda team principal Lucio Cecchinello wants to see more recognition for the top satellite rider in each MotoGP race, but stops short of calling for a separate world championship.

For the first time since joining MotoGP, Dani Pedrosa will not have a 'new' Repsol Honda for the 2009 racing season - a tactic he hopes can end the technical instability experienced at the factory team in recent seasons.

Kawasaki's 'suspension' of its factory MotoGP activities for 2009 marks the end of a challenging chapter for the Japanese company, whose ZX-RR motorcycle is the only factory entry not to have won a grand prix since the 990cc four-stroke era began in 2002.

Wins, Podiums, Poles and Fastest Laps. The stats that matter most. Ranking by championship order.

Despite the epic nature of his Laguna Seca victory, Valentino Rossi had only gained five points over Stoner.

At the season-ending Valencian Grand Prix, Fiat Yamaha Team director and YMC MotoGP group leader Masahiko Nakajima gave a technical presentation (pictured) about Yamaha's triple title-winning 2008-spec YZR-M1.

MotoGP's one tyre future appears to be causing concern among some riders in the paddock, who fear their needs will be overlooked by a reduced range of tyres designed around the preferences of the championship leaders.

This weekend's Malaysian Grand prix is one of the most physical demanding events on the world championship calendar, so how do riders prepare themselves for such challenges - and the racing season as a whole?

The single tyre rule for 2009 has reignited the debate over what the MotoGP World Championship should stand for.

Valentino Rossi became only the second rider in history to regain the MotoGP World Championship after two successive defeats, when he won his sixth premier-class title with victory in Yamaha's home Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi on Sunday.

Double US Grand Prix winner Nicky Hayden talks through a lap of Laguna Seca, where he will be racing in front of his home fans this weekend...

Rossi has not missed a grand prix since making his debut in the 125cc class at the Shah Alam circuit in Malaysia in 1996. A selection of the seven-time world champion's numerous achievements and career milestones since are listed below:

By Peter McLaren James Toseland is looking forward to Valentino Rossi signing a new contract with Yamaha - since he believes it will help his own MotoGP prospects.