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.
New 16.5-inch rears to solve Suzuki's problems?
There is a special reason to look forward to the Catalunyan GP. The 2001 season - the last all two-stroke 500cc World Championship - had seemed somewhat cut and dried over the first three races. But then the battle took on a different complexion.
Past pleasures give Proton hope for Catalunya.
Jurgen van den Goorbergh and the rest of the Proton Team KR are looking forward to the Catalunyan GP. The Barcelona circuit is a happy stamping ground - the circuit where the three-cylinder lightweight has achieved some of its best ever results, and likewise the rider.
Yamaha's YZR-M1 makes GP debut!
Yamaha's all-new four-stroke MotoGP prototype, the YZR-M1, is scheduled to commence the second leg of its European test program at the Catalunya, Spain, in the week after round six of the MotoGP World Championship.
Schwantz to the rescue.
The 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz made a welcome return to the track when he competed in the BMW Boxer Cup race, which was won by Belgian Stephane Mertens, but he still found time to rescue a maiden in distress...
Herbert rides with Randy.
Formula One Grand Prix driver Johnny Herbert took to two wheels on Sunday morning and rode pillion to Randy Mamola, on the Yamaha two-seater, around the Mugello circuit.
Agostini and Ubbiali honoured at Mugello.
The most successful rider in the history of Grand Prix racing, Italian Giacomo Agostini, was presented with his MotoGP Legend silver medal at a special presentation in Mugello, while at the same ceremony countryman Carlo Ubbiali was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame.
Nobby Ueda: The rain master of Mugello.
Nobby Ueda turned rain master in yesterday's Italian GP, taking the first Grand Prix win for the Honda powered TSR chassis, with a dominant ride in the tricky conditions.
Rain results in West Honda Pons whitewash.
The West Honda Pons team of Alex Barros and Loris Capirossi scored a magnificent first and second in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, winner Barros surviving the carnage to take overall victory in a nail-biting race, held over two legs because of rain.
West riding in pain at Mugello.
Australia's Ant West battled through pain from an injured left wrist and problems with his Dee Cee Racing Honda V-Twin yesterday to eventually qualify 18th for tomorrow's 500cc Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Mugello.
Lucchi leads, as Aprilia's attack on home ground.
Aprilia's 'professional' Wild Card, Marcellino Lucchi, led an all Aprilia top five in first qualifying at Mugello, which saw Katoh down in fifth - and the return of Jeremy McWilliams as a front runner in 250cc action.
Checa out to continue charge.
Two weeks ago at Le Mans Carlos Checa proved once again that he is the hard man of 500 racing.
MotoGP and WSBK - no merger.
Recent speculation that the MotoGP and World Superbike Championships are thinking of merging in the future have been firmly denied by the organisers of the World Superbike Championship during the British round of their Championship, at Donington Park last weekend.
McCoy undergoes successful operation.
Australian Garry McCoy has had a successful operation on the injured wrist he sustained when he crashed in the Saturday morning practice session for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.
Moody's Blue: All change.
Motorcycle racing at the top level got just what it needed in France, with some fresh faces on the podium at either end of the spectrum. Daijiro Katoh, though, continues to be immovable!
Poggiali dedicates win to dead father.
San Marian teenager, Manuel Poggiali, took his first ever Grand Prix win in France after a hard-fought battle with Mirko Giansanti and Tony Elias.
Haga crash completes Red Bull nightmare.
With Garry McCoy breaking his wrist on Saturday after setting the provisional pole time the day before, the French GP hopes of Red Bull Yamaha lay solely on the shoulders of Noriyuki Haga.
This might hurt a bit Leon...
17 year-old Leon Haslam certainly won the bravery award at Le Mans. The British Honda rider broke his left wrist when he fell in the first MotoGP 500 qualifying session on Friday afternoon, and went back to the Clinic Mobile that evening where the doctors decided to have a closer look...
Four in a row for Ui.
Youichi Ui continued his perfect run of pole positions in 2001 by setting the pace in Le Mans final qualifying - despite a mid session fall, when he missed his breaking point and rammed Gianluigi Scalvini.
The real McCoy.
Garry McCoy returned to the front of 500cc action in a closely fought first qualifying session, for the French Grand Prix, at Le Mans.
Injured Aoki to be replaced by Janssen.
Haruchika Aoki will miss this weekend's French Grand Prix due to injuries sustained at the previous Grand Prix in Spain.
Jacque may miss home GP.
World 250 Champion Olivier Jacque will wait until after the Friday morning practice session at Le Mans before deciding if he is fit to ride in the MotoGP 500cc race, at the French Grand Prix, on Sunday.
Mission One: Introducing Yamaha's awesome YZR-M1.
Yamaha's YZR-M1 broke cover in Europe last week when riders Max Biaggi, John Kocinski, Norihiko Fujiwara and Kyoji Namba spent three days at the Italian circuit of Mugello, running side-by-side tests with the factory's current Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR500 GP bikes.
Suzuki squad seek the French connection.
The fourth round of the last 500cc World Championship takes the two-stroke soldiers to Le Mans in north-western France next weekend, with team Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Junior and Sete Gibernau (pictured) both looking for the key to the quirky French track.
Overcautious Edwards angry at two places lost.
Stuart Edwards made his first finish in 2001 with a 26th place in Jerez, but was left angry with a mistake he made when Katoh came to lap him in the closing stages of the 250cc Spanish Grand Prix.