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.
Warm-up times - Valencia.
Rossi completed eight laps with his injured right hand, but Chaz Davies (injured) and Carlos Checa (sick) didn't appear on track.
PICTURE: The remains of Rossi`s Yamaha.
The Italian sustained three fractures to his right hand after being thrown over the front of his M1, which then barrel-rolled to a halt, but he still hopes to ride in Sunday's season finale.
Stoner: Adriana has already scored it!
The Ducati Marlboro rider will start Sunday's season-ending grand prix from second on the grid after former 250GP rival Dani Pedrosa outpaced the Australian by just 0.086 seconds.
Ducati Corse invades Valencia.
The trip is a thank you for their sterling work, which has helped the Italian factory win the 2007 riders', constructors' and teams' MotoGP World Championships.
2008 tyre rules announced.
A shock single-brand proposal was put forward by Dorna during September's Japanese Grand Prix 'due to some factories being unable to acquire the tyres that they want for 2008' - but was then withdrawn on October 24.
<B>Rossi: I knew it was broken.</B>
Rossi's injuries were sustained when he was thrown off his bucking Fiat Yamaha on the exit of turn one, just ten minutes into the session.
<B>Pedrosa pole after dramatic session</B>.
Rossi fell from his Fiat Yamaha just nine-minutes into the hour when he lost control after running wide on the exit of turn one.
<B>Rossi accident update</B>.
Following his huge qualifying accident, Valentino Rossi has been diagnosed with three fractures in his right hand, but 'will attempt to ride' in Sunday's season-ending Valencian Grand Prix...
<B>Rossi hurt in huge qualifying fall.</B>
The former five times MotoGP world champion, looking to conclude a disappointing season with a fifth win at the 18th and final round, was thrown from his Fiat Yamaha after it began bucking viciously when he ran wide on the exit of turn one.
125: Talmacsi pole for title showdown.
Championship rival and Aspar Aprilia team-mate Hector Faubel had taken the Friday pole, but his advantage was overturned by the Hungarian with 12 minutes of the final qualifying session to go.
Chaz `hurting pretty bad`.
The Briton was taken to hospital in Valencia for a precautionary scan, but plans to be back on track on Saturday.
Is your name here?
As previously reported, to be part of Team KR's unique 'thank-you' fans simply had to register their name, or the name of a friend or family member, on the team's website before October 29th.
Pramac d`Antin becomes `Alice Team`.
Alice (pronounced A-leech-ay) is a division of Telecom Italia and a primary service provider of ADSL internet technology. The Alice Team will run Bridgestone-shod Desmosedici GP8s next season, ridden by new signings Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli.
Stoner`s strike rate rises.
Having now taken 10 victories from his 33 MotoGP starts, Casey Stoner has reached a win rate good enough for fifth in the 'modern era' of grand prix racing (since 1975) - and above triple world champion Wayne Rainey.
Edwards set for Factory farewell.
Amongst Edwards' highlights during three seasons with the factory team were the 2005 teams' and constructors' titles and a new MotoGP record of 17 point-scoring finishes. The Texan has also taken six M1 podiums, and came within one corner of a debut victory at Assen 2006.
Hopkins: It`ll be emotional.
The Anglo-American first rode a GSV-R back in 2003, but is 'going green' next season, after signing for Kawasaki.
Honda ends Biaggi hopes?
On the eve of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend it was confirmed that Biaggi had both left Suzuki's factory World Superbike team, where he finished an excellent third during his debut 2007 season, and begun preliminary talks with Honda Gresini.
Stoner `dizzy` after perfect tenth.
The new world champion got the holeshot from the front row of the grid and masterfully controlled the entire race, holding a slender lead over Honda pursuers Marco Melandri and Dani Pedrosa - which at one point slipped to under one second - before he upped the pace, finally crossing the line 1.7
250: Lorenzo crowned in Sepang thriller.
The 2008 Fiat Yamaha MotoGP rider needed to score just five points in Malaysia, even if nearest rival Andrea Dovizioso won the race, but the Fortuna Aprilia star wanted much more and took the lead from Dovi at the halfway mark.
Edwards `embarrassed`, Rossi `disappointed`.
On a track completely resurfaced since pre-season testing, and moistened by midday rain, Rossi and Edwards worked hard on set-up and tyres but lacked grip throughout and neither was able to come up with a magic formula.
`Crazy Frog` jumps to the top.
The Motegi runner-up - starting his last two grands prix for Kawasaki before joining Honda LCR in 2008 - was fifth fastest during the slick opening session on the resurfaced Sepang racetrack, before edging out new world champion Casey Stoner by just 0.011secs with a blistering afternoon lap.
New Suzuki fast on the straights.
Nobuatsu Aoki and his prototype version of the 2008 GSV-R may have been were unable to trouble Suzuki MotoGP regulars Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins in terms of overall lap time during day one at Sepang, but the Japanese enjoyed a clear top speed advantage over his team-mates.
Gresini opens Biaggi talks.
While all the factory rides in MotoGP have already been taken, and only one official Kawasaki seat remains in WSBK, the satellite Honda Gresini team still has one ride, alongside 250 frontrunner Alex de Angelis, free for the 2008 MotoGP season.
West: I`m looking forward to Sepang.
The circuit is particularly memorable for the 26-year-old Australian as it was the venue for his debut race in the quarter-litre class, back in 1999, the year the track itself first welcomed Grand Prix motorcycle racing.