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.
Barros leaves West Honda Pons.
As expected, Alex Barros has just announced that he will not be riding for the West Honda Pons team - or any Honda outfit - in the 2003 season. So who will the MotoGP man of the moment sign for...? Expect an answer within the hour...
'It's time to stop' - Nobby ends 12-year career.
The most talented 125cc rider never to win a world championship, Noboru 'Nobby' Ueda, has joined countryman Tetsuya Harada in announcing his retirement from Grand Prix racing after 12 years.
Checa, Cardoso unhurt in massive start-line shunt.
Both Carlos Checa and Jose Luis Cardoso escaped serious injury in a nasty start-line shunt at Valencia yesterday. The accident occurent when the Marlboro Yamaha Team man, who was starting from the second row, stalled his M1 as the pack roared away from the grid.
McCoy: 500s gone but not forgotten.
Red Bull Yamaha rider Garry McCoy ended his 2002 season in eventful fashion at yesterday's historic Valencia GP that saw a distinguished era for two-stroke 500 machines draw to a conclusion.
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Ducati or missile? - Bayliss faces sound dilemma.
The Ducati Desmosedici made its public debut at today's Valencia Grand Prix (picured) with three demonstration laps in front of 120,000 spectators prior to the final round of this year's MotoGP championship.
The end of Marlboro Yamaha.
With the curtain having fallen on the 2002 MotoGP season this afternoon at Valencia, after four years of existance the Marlboro Yamaha Team is no more.
First Frenchman Vincent seals 125cc crown.
Arnaud Vincent has become the first Frenchman to win the 125cc World Championship after finishing runner-up to home hero Dani Pedrosa in today's Valencia Grand Prix.
Emotional Harada announces retirement.
Tetsuya Harada has announced his retirement from motorcycle racing at a packed press conference this evening at Valencia attended by a whole host of MotoGP manufactures as well as Max Biaggi.
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Perfect goodbye gift from Biaggi to Yamaha.
Max Biaggi took the Marlboro Yamaha Team's last ever pole position, in his final Yamaha ride today at Valencia. The Roman Emperor's pole was not only a fitting goodbye gift, but also the perfect present for his crew chief Fiorenzo Fanali, who celebrated his 51st birthday today.
Gibernau joins Telefonica at Gresini Honda.
Sete Gibernau has announced that he will join sponsor Telefonica in moving from the factory Suzuki squad to the Gresini team for next years' MotoGP World Championship.
Suzuki says thanks to Telefonica Movistar.
Team Suzuki will say goodbye and thank-you to its principal sponsor of three years - Telef?nica MoviStar - after this weekend's Valencia GP, bringing to an end a successful association between the Japanese racing factory and the Spanish telecommunications giant.
Barros to Marlboro Yamaha?
Rumours from the Australian Grand Prix suggest that Alex Barros' heroic performances this season may have done enough for him to get the works Yamaha ride for next season alongside Carlos Checa.
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300kmh DIY saves Jacque's race!
In only his second outing on the YZR-M1, Olivier Jacque crossed the line in an excellent eighth, but only after some Do-It-Yourself fairing modifications were needed at nearly 300kmh.
Ukawa sets sights on Biaggi after 'big fight'.
Tohru Ukawa found himself in a thrilling battle with two other Honda riders for the final podium spot in yesterday's Australian Grand Prix.
Arm pump better, water pump broke for Laconi.
Regis Laconi's Australian Grand Prix came to an end on the eleventh lap due to a technical hitch in the RS Cube, while the Italian-French rider was making one of his customary comebacks.
World Championship standings.
The top three 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP World Championship standings after today's Australian Grand Prix, held at the 4.448 km Phillip Island circuit. MotoGP:
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Van den Goorbergh shock top Honda.
The most unusual qualifying result of the 2002 season delivered an all-500cc two-stroke front row at Phillip Island, with the top Honda runner proving to be Jurgen van den Goorbergh in fourth place.
Abe: Next thing I knew I was over the bars...
A notable absentee from today's final qualifying session at Phillip Island was M1 new boy Norick Abe, who fell heavily from his sole four stroke in the morning practice session.
'Good moment' for West Honda Pons team.
Alex Barros has adapted so well to the new Honda RC211V in such a short space of time that he has become one of the hot favourites for the last two races of the season.
FIM announce 2003 MotoGP calendar.
The calendar for the 2003 season of the MotoGP World Championship announced by the FIM is the following: 2003 calendar:
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Pitt goes wild at home.
Andrew Pitt will race in front of his home fans for the first time on the ZX-RR this weekend at Philip Island, while fellow wild card Shinichi Itoh will join him in the MotoGP class. The other wild-card riders for the Australian Grand Prix are named as: MotoGP class:
Slide king McCoy forgets racing and has fun.
Garry McCoy finished today's Malaysian GP in 15th place as the Aussie struggled to overcome a lack of grip, and although he collected a solitary world championship point it was hardly the boost he was looking for with his home race at Phillip Island, near Melbourne, taking place in just seven day
Aprilia reveal cause of Melandri's retirement.
The MS Aprilia team have revealed that Marco Melandri was deprived of sealing the 250cc World Championship today in Sepang because of an electrical failure on the very first lap.
Fifth is not my potential, says Kato.
Daijiro Kato had a relatively quiet race today in Malaysia, falling prey to the advance of Valentino Rossi on lap five - and Ukawa one lap later - eventually finishing fifth at the flag.
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