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.
First MotoGP pole for homeboy Kato.
Japanese sensation Daijiro Kato claimed his first ever MotoGP pole position this afternoon, despite being unable to improve on his blisteringly quick time from yesterday's first qualifying session, and after a crash during today's hour-long practice.
Biaggi: I'll attack Kato tomorrow.
Max Biaggi was bang on the pace at Motegi today, well up to the dramatically faster pace at this stop-and-go track where the four-stroke MotoGP bikes can use their horsepower advantage to good effect.
NSR star Capirossi beats Barros.
Capirossi was the first two-stroke, riding the NSR West Honda Pons machine into fifth place - one ahead of his team-mate Alex Barros on an RCV - despite a last minute tyre problem.
I'm praying for sunshine, says rain ace Checa.
Carlos Checa rode a remarkable race at Rio two weeks ago. The Marlboro Yamaha Team man didn't even finish the rain-soaked event but his ride will live on in the memory of race fans for a long, long while.
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Yoda helps Yamaha use the force!
No factory has worked harder during this year's inaugural four-stroke-based MotoGP World Championship than Yamaha. Following a challenging run of preseason tests, the factory's race department has used all its renowned expertise to develop the mighty YZR-M1 into a race-winning 'force'.
Aprilia wraps up 250 Manufacturers' Championship.
Four races from the end of the season, Aprilia has wrapped up the 250cc manufacturers' title with an unassailable 103 point lead over nearest rivals Honda, with Yamaha a further 13 points back.
Roberts returns to Rio rostrum.
Kenny Roberts Jr took his best result of a difficult 2002 campaign - and his first rostrum finish on the new four-stroke GSV-R racer - in a rain-sodden Rio Grand Prix, after leading half the race, and finishing third.
Sebas slam-dunks debut win.
In what was the most dominating display of the 2002 GP250 season, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK rider Sebastian Porto claimed his first race win during the Brazilian round of the MotoGP world championship.
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Crashes and chaos hinder Yamaha runners.
Antena 3 Yamaha d'Antin team leader Norick Abe put in a strong performance to finish the Rio Grand Prix in sixth position as best of the Yamahas behind second-placed Max Biaggi, but there was the usual mix of highs and lows for the rest of the Japanese marque's riders.
Barros wins two-stroke race for home crowd.
Twenty-three-year old Valentino Rossi clinched the very first MotoGP World Championship with his tenth grand prix victory of the season in the Rio Grand Prix, but Alex Barros gave the home crowd something to cheer by racing through the field to snatch two-stroke glory behind the leading four-stro
Double joy for Biaggi in Rio.
As Max Biaggi fired his Yamaha M1 bike onto provisional pole position for this weekend's Cinzano Rio Grand Prix, for once the talking point was not about the Italian's supreme ability to set flying laps at breakneck speeds, but about the simultaneous announcement that he had signed a three-year c
Yamaha set-up report - Rio de Janeiro.
It was a thrilling two-part Brazilian race that concluded not only the 16 round 2001 MotoGP 500 World Championship, on November 3, but the era of the two-stroke only GP500s as well - with the MotoGP premier class opening up to 990cc four-strokes for 2002.
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Three continents and five weekends fine for MYT.
MotoGP racing is all about speed.
Gauloises M1's are GO!!!!!!! from Malaysia.
As revealed by Shinja Nakano at Estoril, Yamaha will increase its current four-stroke contingent by two machines for the final three rounds of the 2002 MotoGP calendar - the Malaysian, Australian, and Valencia MotoGPs.
Capirossi to Ducati - Barros gets RCV?
The biggest rumour from the Portuguese Grand Prix was that Loris Capirossi will join the new Marlboro Ducati MotoGP team next year - and as a result current West Honda Pons teammate Alex Barros will get the sole RCV ride for the final four races of the season.
Sheene defies illness to win at Goodwood.
Barry Sheene showed little sign of succumbing to the cancer he revealed had attacked his throat and stomach last month to win a thrilling Lennox Cup encounter at the annual Goodwood Revival meeting.
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Top 2-stroke Barros congratulated by Barrichello.
In spite of the incessant rain and a water-covered track surface at Estoril yesterday, Alex Barros demonstrated his excellent riding skills in being the only two-stroke rider capable of staying with the pace of the four-strokes - and in a superb last lap he overtook Max Biaggi to claim fifth spot
Gamble goes wrong for McWilliams.
Proton Team KR rider Jeremy McWilliams overcame bad luck and appalling conditions at yesterday's rain-lashed Portuguese GP, remounting after falling early in the 28-lap race, and picking up positions to get back into the top ten, finishing ninth.
Rossi: I'll wrap it up in Rio.
Valentino Rossi emerged victorious from a treacherous wet race at Estoril this afternoon, guiding his Honda RC211V through the wind and lashing rain to top the podium just as he had done at the first race of the season at Suzuka.
Sete suffers as Rossi sings in Estoril rain.
Long time race leader Sete Gibernau came agonisingly close to claiming his - and Suzuki's - first MotoGP victory today in atrocious conditions at Estoril.
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Fonsi falls - then wins - wet 250cc GP.
Today's wet 250cc Portuguese Grand Prix was full of surprises as Fonsi Nieto took victory - despite having crashed on lap 13!
Checa claims first pole for four years.
Carlos Checa scored his first pole position since Jerez 1998 at Estoril today, outpacing the MotoGP competition aboard his Marlboro Yamaha Team M1 in the most difficult of conditions to take the teams third pole of the season.
Sete fast in speed - slow in time!
Team Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki rider Sete Gibernau will start tomorrow's Portuguese GP from the third row of the grid, after setting the ninth fastest time in today's rain-hit final practice session.
'It's like a rally car' - unhappy Rossi loses grip
Behind both Barros and Kato came the series leader Valentino Rossi, who missed out on the points for the first time in 21 races in Brno, and who set his best time on his penultimate lap, with a run into the gravel at the end of the straight then preventing him from improving any further.
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