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.
Rossi takes first ever 500cc pole.
Valentino Rossi took his first ever 500cc pole position today, beating overnight pole sitter Loris Capirossi, with a last gasp effort in final qualifying for the South African Grand Prix.
Engine mishap hampers Biaggi.
The Marlboro Yamaha Team had a tough final day of qualifying at Welkom this afternoon, with lone rider Max Biaggi making the second row in parching heat at Welkom.
West to make 500cc Grand Prix debut.
Australian teenager Anthony West will make his 500cc motorcycle world championship debut on Sunday, riding a Honda V-Twin in the South African Grand Prix at Welkom.
Roberts goes back to the front.
Kenny Roberts, the defending World Champion, put himself back with the front men on the first day of practice for Sunday's South African Grand Prix, claiming fourth-fastest time and a place on the front row of the provisional starting grid after a "drastic improvement" since the opening round in
Checa withdraws from South African Grand Prix.
Marlboro Yamaha Team rider Carlos Checa has withdrawn from the South African Grand Prix that takes place this weekend at Welkom after injuring himself in a testing fall.
MotoGP champs to meet Nelson Mandela.
Reigning World Champions Kenny Roberts Jr, Olivier Jacque and Roberto Locatelli are to meet former South African president and international freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, on the eve of next weekend's South African GP.
Honda: 500 Motorcycle Grand Prix wins.
Honda reached a glorious landmark with its 500th Motorcycle Grand Prix victory in Suzuka last Sunday, setting a record unmatched by any manufacturer since the world championships began in 1949.
Contrasting 500cc debuts for Walker / Haslam.
Shell Advance Honda riders Chris Walker and Leon Haslam suffered mixed fortunes in the opening round of the world championship in Japan today.
Haga: I couldn't save it.
After struggling through qualifying, Red Bull Yamaha's Noriyuki Haga found enough speed to produce the fourth fastest time during the race - while challenging the likes of Biaggi and McCoy for a podium finish.
Sauber Petronas to enter MotoGP in 2002.
The change to next year's MotoGP regulations - that will allow four-stroke engines - has attracted the interest of Formula One car manufactures headed by Sauber Petronas.
Rossi: I had a big fight with Biaggi.
Valentino Rossi made history today by scoring Honda's 500th GP win, almost exactly 40 years after Tom Phillis claimed the marque's first GP success at the 1961 Spanish 125 GP.
Katja Poensgen makes history.
Female racer Katja Poensgen made history in final 250cc qualifying today by becoming the first woman to qualify for a 250cc Grand Prix.
Superbike star Ryo to race at home GP.
Suzuki's Superbike sensation Akira Ryo will take part in the season-opening Japanese GP at Suzuka on Sunday as the only Wild Card rider in the class. Ryo will switch from his usual GSX-R Superbike to a factory-backed RGV500 Gamma, in the colours of Team Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki.
TSR: We must work harder tomorrow.
Nobby Ueda rode his AC11M to 4th fastest time in the 125cc first qualifying today, while teammate Stuart Edwards endured a difficult session on his 250cc machine.
Team MS Aprilia ready for Grand Prix attack.
A golden lion on a traditional black background is the new aggressive look of the MS Aprilia Racing Team, which has its sights set on the 250cc MotoGP championship in 2001.
Biaggi: Third time lucky?
Max Biaggi begins his third 500cc campaign with the Marlboro Yamaha Team this weekend and is hoping his 2001 season will get off to a better start than the past two.
West Honda Pons head for Japan.
Last year Emerson Honda Pons were the only team to have both their riders win Grand Prix, and as the newly named West Honda Pons squad arrive in Japan they have high hopes of building on last years success.
MotoGP Preview: The 2001 Japanese Grand Prix.
The 2001 MotoGP World Championship bursts into action this weekend at Suzuka, with the first of 16 stops on Grand Prix motorcycling's first world tour of the 21st century.
Edwards is new Brit in GP250.
TSR has announced that veteran Nobby Ueda will have a team-mate in this year's MotoGP series, with the signing of Britain's Stuart Edwards to contest the GP250 class in 2001.
West to race Aprilia in GP250.
Teenage Australian motorcycle rider Ant West is witching from Honda to Italian manufacturer Aprilia for this year's 250cc world championship, which starts with the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on 8 April.
Motul to sponsor Marlboro Yamaha.
Yamaha today announced that it will sign an agreement with innovative French lubricant company Motul as sponsor and technical partner to the Marlboro Yamaha Team for 2001.
Youngsters' dream to race in World GP comes true.
One of the world's leading GP motorcycle teams, Antena 3 Yamaha D'Antin, has offered a 17-year old South African motorcycle rider, Jonathan van Vuuren, a ride at the World Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phakisa Freeway from 20-22 April 2001.
Yamaha confirms Kocinski is to test OW-M1.
Following recent rumours, Yamaha have confirmed that American John Kocinski has been contracted by Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, Japan, to carry out a preliminary test of the Grand Prix four-stroke prototype motorcycle, codename OW-M1.
Estoril IRTA test - day three: February 23.
Loris Capirossi headed the times with a new lap record on the final day of the IRTA test in Estoril, Portugal.