MotoGP News
We’re first for the latest MotoGP news. Motorcycle racing’s elite competition is a fast paced, ever-evolving beast and here you’ll find all of the MotoGP news you could wish for. We cover everything from interviews with the major players, updates on machine reveals, team news and more. See brand new content from MotoE and insightful ‘first look’ features showing the forthcoming MotoGP season’s riders in their new colours.
Gibernau gets Kato's bike, Kiyonari joins MotoGP.
Following the tragic loss of lead rider Daijiro Kato, Fausto Gresini has announced that the Telefonica MoviStar Honda team will contiunue as a two rider operation - with Sete Gibernau being given Kato's full works spec RCV, and a new Japanese rookie joining the team.
Puig puts faith in 'fighter' Porto.
Telefonica MoviStar Honda Jr Team rider Sebastian Porto is a near veteran, having raced in 109 grands prix, and yet he is still just 24 years old. 2003 is a crucial year for the Argentinean, who was selected for the ride by non other than Alberto Puig.
'El Toro' seeks Spanish boost.
Carlos Checa is hoping that a return to his native country and performing in front of the generally huge and enthusiastic Jerez crowd will give him the boost he needs to really start his 2003 campaign.
WCM announce engine modifications.
In an effort to regain their place on the MotoGP grid, the Harris WCM team has announced they have begun work on the latest version of their engine, with the new castings now complete (pictured) and ready for machining.
MotoGP 'Welkom' for next three years.
In a joint statement, Mr Carmelo Ezpeleta, of Dorna Sports, and Mr Webster Mfebe, of the Executive Council for Sport in the Free State, have announced that they have signed a letter of intent for the extension of MotoGP at Phakisa, for at least another three years.
Bayliss: I had a good go with Valentino.
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Troy Bayliss rode a storming race yesterday - snatching the holeshot from the third row of the grid and leading until just after one-third distance. And the hard-charging Aussie had never even ridden Welkom before Friday!
Harris WCM fights disqualification.
Peter Clifford, Director of Racing at the World Championship Motorsports (WCM) team has released the following detailed statement in which he strongly contests the basis for his team's disqualification from the Africa's Grand Prix.
Sete: Kato was riding with me.
"Dai-chan rode with me today," were the words of Sete Gibernau after holding off Valentino Rossi for his first MotoGP victory, at the Africa's Grand Prix.
Pedrosa third to first on final lap.
Dani Pedrosa opened his 2003 account in style today in South Africa, putting in a pair of precise passes on Andrea Dovizioso and race leader Youichi Ui on the very last lap to take 125cc victory.
Mission accomplished for top Yamaha Nakano.
D'Ant?n Yamaha star Shinya Nakano finished an impressive fifth fastest in the final qualifying session for the Africa's GP, having been as high as third heading into the final minute.
Suzuki's side-by-side after engine gremlins.
Team Suzuki riders John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Jr. qualified side by side in the final time sheets for tomorrow's Africa's Grand Prix, placed 16th and 17th in an ultra-close list - Hopkins barely a second off pole time.
Harris WCM disqualified.
The FIM has disqualified the Harris WCM team from this weekend's Africa's Grand Prix for failing a technical inspection.
Advantage Rossi, but Ducatis on front row.
Valentino Rossi set a pace as scorching as his fever at Welkom today, beating the previous circuit record by over a second - but he didn't have things all his own way and only took provisional pole after the hour had officially finished, responding to the challenge of the Ducatis - led by a dete
Globe Hopper: Coldplay and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Desiree Crossman, girlfriend of Suzuki star John 'Hopper' Hopkins, continues her reports with the couples journey to South Africa (via London) for this weekends GP during which - amongst other things - they spotted a celebrity couple... "Hello from way down south!
Riders to boycott Suzuka?
A possible outcome of the expected riders meeting at Welkom this weekend, is the boycotting of the Suzuka circuit, following the events of three weeks ago.
Preview - Africa's Grand Prix.
The MotoGP community will compete in the Africa's Grand Prix on Sunday to honour the memory of the one of their favourite sons, Daijiro Kato, who passed away last Saturday following his accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Suzuki: Kato was a true racing hero.
Suzuki and Aprilia have paid tribute to Honda rider Daijiro Kato, who passed away on Saturday night (GMT) after battling his Suzuka injuries for almost two weeks.
Gresini 'destroyed' by Kato loss.
Fausto Gresini, Daijiro Kato's only team boss during his full time Grand Prix career from 2000-2003, is on his way to Japan to say his final goodbye to the former 250cc World Champion.
Dorna pay tribute to Kato.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, on behalf of all of Dorna Sports, has led the tributes to Daijiro Kato, who passed away tonight (Saturday) at the Yokkaichi Central Hospital.
Daijiro Kato 1976 - 2003.
Daijiro Kato only commenced his full-time World Championship career in 2000 but was already on his way to becoming Japan's most successful GP rider. By the end of 2001 when he secured the 250 world title, he had scored 17 GP wins to equal Japan's greatest GP winner Tetsuya Harada.
Kato dies from injuries.
After a two week battle against horrendous injuries sustained at the Japanese Grand Prix, former 250cc World Champion Daijiro Kato has passed away at the intensive care unit of Yokkaichi hospital.
De Gea confirmed at WCM.
The FIM has today released the official entry list for round two of the 2003 MotoGP World Championship, the Africa's Grand Prix, which confirms that David de Gea will ride the second Harris WCM machine in Welkom, on April 27.
Rule change for exhaust systems.
The Grand Prix Commissionhas unanimously approved the following modification to the Road Racing World Championship Regulations, regarding exhaust design, for immediate application. The new text is shown in italics : Technical Regulations - Exhausts:
Chaz checks in: Suzuka.
In the first of what will be regular reports on Crash.net , rising Motorcycle Grand Prix star Chaz Davies reviews round one of the 250cc series, the Japanese Grand Prix, at Suzuka - held last Sunday.