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.
Hayden returns in warm-up.
Following his huge qualifying accident, Nicky Hayden returned to the Losail circuit during Sunday evening's warm-up session. Hayden was launched through the screen of his Desmosedici GP9 by a vicious highside at the end of the 45-minute Qatar qualifying session.
Hayden accident update.
Nicky Hayden has been transferred to hospital for further checks after a disastrous end to his MotoGP qualifying debut for Ducati, at Qatar on Saturday.
Rossi rides with 'Abruzzo' sticker.
Reigning six time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will ride at Qatar with a sticker in support of the people of Abruzzo, where over 200 people lost their lives in Monday's earthquake.
250: Talmacsi leads Friday practice.
Former 125cc world champion and 2009 250cc rookie Gabor Talmacsi has set the fastest lap time during the single 45-minute Friday free practice session ahead of Sunday night's season-opening Qatar Grand Prix.
Rossi, Gibernau call Qatar truce.
Valentino Rossi and former arch-rival Sete Gibernau put their past conflict behind them during a public reconciliation on the eve of the Spaniard's MotoGP return, in Sunday's 2009 Qatar season opener.
Fiat Yamaha announces Petronas deal.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd has signed a three-year agreement with Petronas that will see the Malaysian oil and gas corporation become a new Official Sponsor of the Fiat Yamaha Team.
Rossi, Stoner dominate 800cc era.
Valentino Rossi or Casey Stoner have taken victory in 80% of the races held since the 800cc MotoGP era began in 2007. Between them, the pair have won 29 of the 36 races, with Stoner (Ducati) winning the 2007 title and Rossi (Yamaha) the 2008 crown.
250: Simoncelli doubtful for Qatar.
Reigning 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli could be forced to miss this weekend's Qatar season-opener after fracturing the scaphoid bone in his wrist during a training fall.
JiR back on track.
JiR, which helped take Andrea Dovizioso to fifth in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship as part of 'JiR Team Scot', will return to the racetrack at Valencia this weekend.
Toseland wants to calm Edwards rift.
James Toseland wants an end to the 'playground' feud with team-mate Colin Edwards, which has literally divided the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team in two heading into the 2009 MotoGP season.
Hayden: Stoner has shown the GP9 is good.
Nicky Hayden's 2009 MotoGP preparations came to a modest conclusion at Jerez on Sunday, when the new Ducati Marlboro rider recorded the eleventh fastest lap time in the red flag interrupted and rain-shortened 'qualifying' session.
Rossi second in Jerez 'qualifying' shootout.
Valentino Rossi concluded his 2009 pre-season preparations with a distant second place behind Casey Stoner during the special 45-minute 'qualifying' shootout, to win a new BMW, during the final day of testing at Jerez on Sunday.
Stoner dominates at Jerez test.
The final pre-season MotoGP test of 2009 has fallen to Casey Stoner, courtesy of a stunning lap time set during the 45-minute 'qualifying' shootout at Jerez on Sunday.
MotoGP rule changes announced.
Following Saturday's press conference at Jerez - in which the main cost-cutting rule changes for the 2009 and 2010 MotoGP were outlined (see separate story) - the FIM has today (Sunday) released the full official version of the regulation changes, as agreed by the Grand Prix Commission.
Rule changes prevent rookie factory riders.
MotoGP rookies will be banned from riding for a factory team, as part of new rule changes to be introduced for the 2010 season (see separate story).
Future MotoGP rule changes revealed.
On Saturday at Jerez, the FIM and Dorna gave a further update on the MotoGP rule changes, aimed at cutting costs during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Onde 2000 unveils 2009 livery.
Sete Gibernau will race in these colours during his 2009 return to MotoGP action.
Rizla Suzuki unveils 2009 livery.
Rizla Suzuki has unveiled its racing colours for the 2009 MotoGP season at the Jerez test. Despite appearing without Rizla logos at several previous winter tests, a late deal means that the GSV-Rs will remain light blue for the fourth season in succession.
LCR announces Playboy.
The LCR Honda team has announced that Playboy will be its title sponsor at select events during the 2009 MotoGP season.
Name change for Maxtra 125 outfit.
China's largest motorcycle manufacturer, the Jiangmen Dachangjiang Group, has confirmed that its on-going 125 GP team will now run under the company's key brand name Haojue.
Melandri to race Hayate in 2009
After making his debut on the 2009 Kawasaki ZX-RR at the Qatar night test, it has been confirmed that Marco Melandri has agreed to race for 'Hayate' during the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.
Hungarian MotoGP postponed.
As previously rumoured, the new Hungarian round of the MotoGP World Championship - due to take place in 2009 - has been postponed until 2010. Reports in February had cast serious doubt on whether the new Balatonring circuit would be finished in time for its debut event.
New Ducati swingarm made of carbon fibre.
Ducati has confirmed to Crash.net that the new swingarm used during the Qatar MotoGP night test, which concluded on Tuesday, is made of carbon fibre.
Monster to sponsor Tech 3 Yamaha.
It has been officially announced that Monster Energy will become title sponsor of the Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP team for at least the next two seasons.