MotoGP Features

The FIM has today announced the 2006 MotoGP World Championship calendar.

Victory in Sunday's 250cc Australian Grand Prix handed Dani Pedrosa a third successive world title and Honda its landmark 600th win in motorcycle grand prix competition.

After seeing local hero Wayne Gardner take victory for the first two years of the Australian Grand Prix in 1989 and 1990 at Phillip Island, hopes were high for another home victory when the series switched to a new venue at Eastern Creek on the outskirts of Sydney in 1991.

The Losail circuit is located on the western side of the Persian Gulf just outside of the capital city Doha, and was used for the first time last year.

World Champion Valentino Rossi suffering three successive defeats at the same circuit by the same MotoGP team - doesn't sound likely does it? But that's exactly what's happened at Motegi for the past three seasons...

Whilst the achievements of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards have helped propel Gauloises Yamaha to the top of the 2005 MotoGP teams' championship standings, their success would not be possible without the hard work of a dedicated crew of staff inside the pit box.

MotoGP is the world's fastest motorcycle racing series, so it's no surprise that aerodynamics is a crucial factor in machine development - along with engine, chassis and tyre performance.

Following KTM's recent withdraw as a MotoGP engine supplier - and continued doubts over the Blata V6 project - hope for teams seeking a competitive powerplant could be on the horizon, with the news that Ilmor Engineering are planning to 'design, build and supply' a MotoGP engine.

Crash.net has learnt that the Blata V6 MotoGP machine, which was due to make its belated debut with WCM at the minibike manufacturer's home Czech Republic Grand Prix on August 28, will not make the event.

One of the most influential figures in the brilliant career of Valentino Rossi has been his famously laid back father Graziano, himself a former racer who - despite his son's fame - sleeps in the back of a BMW estate when he attends MotoGPs.

Valentino Rossi falling may have been a fairly frequent occurrence during his first year in the premier-class - as illustrated by this picture of the Italian spectacularly highsiding from his Nastro Azzurro Honda in 2000 - but the #46 soon adapted to the power of the fearsome 500cc machines and b

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.

Shortly after finishing second and third in the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, Valentino Rossi took an eye-opening trip to Las Vegas with American team-mate Colin Edwards.

MotoGP finally welcomed a new winner on July 10 when Nicky Hayden joined Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Alex Barros, Sete Gibernau, Loris Capirossi and Makoto Tamada on the limited list of active grand prix winners since the premier-class switched from 500cc two-strokes to 990cc four-strokes in 200

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.

The latest news from around the world courtesy of Press Snoop Lynne Huntting...

The latest news from around the world courtesy of Press Snoop Lynne Huntting...

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.

This weekend's US GP sees MotoGP and Laguna Seca renew a relationship that is so important to both parties - and neither partner really knows what to expect.

As Valentino Rossi aims to overturn the home favourites in this weekend's US Grand Prix, he knows that only one other rider has managed to do so in the past.

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.

When Alex Barros contests the 75th Dutch TT on Saturday it will be his 16th consecutive 500cc/MotoGP race at the famous 6.027km circuit - but the 34-year-old veteran hasn't lost any of his great respect and enthusiasm for one of GP racing's most impressive 'battlefields'.

The Suzuki MotoGP team has secured a one off sponsorship deal with Red Bull for the American Motorcycle Grand Prix at Laguna Seca on July 10th - and Crash.net has secured an exclusive ahead of the official announcement through our reporter Toby Moody.

During each and every GP weekend, teams, riders, press and other interest parties can be seen eagerly analysing a series of screens present throughout the MotoGP paddock - but just what are they looking at?