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.
FIM clarifies MotoGP rule changes.
Further to the outline issued prior to the end of last season, motorcycling's governing body - the FIM - has amended several points regarding the new look MotoGP championship to be introduced in 2002.
500cc World Championship 2001 season review.
The 2001 season saw the continuation of Italian dominance in the 500cc World Championship. Valentino Rossi stormed his way to the title, showing little compassion for his competitors and allowing no-one to doubt his supremacy.
TM Junior Team kick off 125cc testing.
The 125cc class has begun its testing, with the Telefonica Movistar Junior team travelling the Jerez this past week. Team riders Daniel Pedrosa and Joan Oliv?
Conditions hinder Honda test.
The second day of the HRC winter test at Phillip Island was hampered by rain and high winds as riders continued to get used to their new mounts for the 2002 campaign.
Laconi stays with Aprilia - in GP1.
Regis Laconi will remain a factory Aprilia rider for the 2002 season but not in World Superbikes as expected but aboard the new GP1 Aprilia RS3 as the Italian firm return to the premier MotoGP category after a one-year sabbatical.
Proton Team KR signs Japanese star Aoki.
Proton Team KR have finalised contract details with Japanese star Nobuatsu Aoki, the first of two riders to be confirmed for the England-based two-rider team for next year's premier World Championship series.
Pogialli races at the Bologna Motor Show.
The Bologna Motor Show last weekend hosted a 'Superbiker' event in which MotoGP riders Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi and Manuel Poggiali competed. The presence of the big names ensured a large public attendance and the crowd were energetic for the Saturday and Sunday races.
World champions attend Bologna Motor Show.
The Bologna Motor Show, held in Italy over the weekend, saw World Champions Valentino Rossi and Manuel Poggiali put in an appearance.
Yamaha confirms Marlboro line-up.
Yamaha has confirmed that the Marlboro-backed factory team will contest the 2002 MotoGP championship with Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa riding the all-new four-stroke Yamaha YZR-M1.
Katoh happier with NSR500 handling.
The Honda Gresini team attended the Barcelona test with reigning 250cc World Champion Daijiro Katoh testing the NSR500 he will race in 2002, and the team's new 250cc rider Roberto Rolfo who continued to acquaint himself with the individual characteristics of the Honda, and the workings of his new
McWilliams takes Proton GP lifeline.
Jeremy McWilliams has signed a contract to ride for Kenny Roberts' Proton KR team in the MotoGP series next season, ending speculation that he may move to superbikes.
FIM awards celebrate the successes of 2001.
The Italian mountain resort of Valle d'Aosta is the scene of excited activity as final preparations are made for the 2001 FIM World Champions Award Ceremony.
Honda hit the track again.
Following the Honda tests at Jerez last week, the Honda RC211V will be back out on the track at the Circuit of Catalunya, taking part in a two day test on Thursday and Friday.
Change to the 2002 calendar.
The dates of the Valencia and Rio Grand Prix have been exchanged. The Rio Grand Prix will be held on Saturday 21 September, and the Grand Prix 'Comunitat Valenciana' will close the season on November 3. The Portuguese Grand Prix is also confirmed. The calendar is the following:
Red Bull Yamaha to switch to Dunlop?
With the re-introduction of Dunlop and Bridgestone to the premier league of the MotoGP Championship, teams now have more options to choose from.
Second day testing successful for Red Bull Yamaha.
The second day of tyre testing has gone well for the Red Bull Yamaha team, who are in the process of chosing a tyre supplier for next season. The team ran on Michelins in 2001, along with the rest of the field in the 500cc World Championship class.
Testing in Jerez ends.
World Champion Valentino Rossi completed three days of extensive testing on the RC211V four-stroke Honda machine at Jerez in Spain on Thursday.
Dorna extends broadcasting rights of MotoGP.
Dorna Sports and TVE (Televisi?n Espa?ola) today signed a deal which grants the Spanish prime public network the broadcasting rights for the MotoGP World Championship over the next four seasons.
HRC completes successful three-day test of RC211V.
The final day of the three-day HRC RC211V test session at Jerez ended on a high note as the team completed the test programme to the satisfaction of both engineers and the riders.
Rossi sad to leave 2-strokes behind.
Daijiro Katoh's move up to the MotoGP class is proving a smooth transition as the Japanese rider continued to lap quickly at HRC tests in Jerez de la Frontera.
Honda riders play with their new toys!
Reigning 500cc World Champion Valentino Rossi and team mate Tohru Ukawa tested their RC211V 5-cylinder Honda's in Europe for the first time today.
MotoGP as teams begin tests for 2002.
Preparations for the 2002 MotoGP World Championships got under way today as on opposite sides of the world the official Honda and Yamaha teams began tests on the new four-stroke machines which will ride in next season's revised competition.
Rossi announces his plan to ride 4-stroke.
Earlier today on the second day of official HRC tests in Jerez, the new 500cc World Champion Valentino Rossi made an announcement that he will be riding Honda's four-stroke prototype motorbike, the RC211V, in next season's MotoGP World Championship.
Suzuki 4-stroke ready for 2002 MotoGP season.
Suzuki today announced that it would contest the new-format 2002 FIM World MotoGP Championship with its new 4-stroke-engined GP machine.