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.
PICTURES: Tech 3's 2008 colours.
Following the departure of previous tyre supplier - and title sponsor - Dunlop, the French-based Tech 3 team had a clean canvas with which to work and has opted to keep the yellow of recent seasons, but mix it with blue, France's traditional racing colour.
Repsol riders launch '08 campaign.
Although pre-season testing has been going on for weeks already, Repsol took advantage of MotoGP's return to Spain for the final shakedown to stage its annual media presentation.
Acceleration the aim for new Suzuki.
As the full 2008 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP livery was displayed for the first time, Race Group Leader Fumihiro Oonishi commented on the design priorities for the new GSV-R - citing improved acceleration as the primary goal.
FIRST PICS: 2008 Rizla Suzuki livery.
Rizla Suzuki's full 2008 livery has broken cover as the build-up to the new MotoGP season continues apace, with Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi hoping that the machine will carry them to title success.
Final MotoGP entry list, no Team KR.
After a tough second season with Honda engines, Team Roberts had intended to field a full two-rider team, with Ducati machinery, in 2008 - but sponsorship negotiations have dragged on too long to make the start of this season.
Pedrosa becomes number two.
It is also 'his way of warning that in 2008, he is only one step away and there is only one acceptable result: the one which will allow him to bear No. 1'.
Rossi makes giant leap.
By Peter McLaren If Valentino Rossi's Sepang race simulation is anything to go by then the Italian looks to have made a giant leap forward in the three-and-a-half months since last October's Malaysian Grand Prix.
'Tired' Rossi stays top at Sepang.
Valentino Rossi may have failed to better his day one time during testing at Sepang on Wednesday, but the Fiat Yamaha star still kept the number one position by almost half a second.
Gresini lands title sponsor.
Founded in Milan in 1936, San Carlo has 12 production plants, 2500 employees, 200,000 customers and a Europe-wide distribution network.
Hopkins injured at Phillip Island.
The Anglo-American, riding a ZX-RR in the wet for the first time, looked to have got the measure of the slick morning conditions as his lap times tumbled - but disaster struck when he got on the gas fractionally too hard at the high-speed first turn, and was catapulted over the handlebars.
FIRST PICTURES: Kawasaki's 2008 livery.
The livery appeared during the opening day of testing at Phillip Island, in Australia, on Wednesday - when new signing John Hopkins also rode with green-and-black leathers for the first time. Hopkins and Anthony West finished the first day of testing 12th and 13th on the timesheets.
125: Smith fastest at Jerez.
The Briton led the way during the second and third days of testing at the track which hosts the Spanish Grand Prix in two months time.
Lorenzo lead Yamaha.
By Peter McLaren Confidence isn't something that Jorge Lorenzo appears to lack, but the MotoGP rookie's self-belief was surely given a further boost when he finished last week's Sepang test in third position - as the top Yamaha rider.
Rossi raises pace with pneumatic engine.
"We continued with the pneumatic-valve engine as it's important to get as much mileage as possible behind us with this engine to check the performance, the reliability and just to gain experience with it," explained the new Bridgestone rider, who improved on his best day one time by over one seco
Raikkonen compliments Stoner.
Finn Raikkonen may look a little 'cold' in the top picture, but he had some warm comments about Stoner and his achievements during the 2007 MotoGP season.
Toseland's new leathers.
"They call the new BKS leathers the Saville Row suit of MotoGP and I'm proud to be representing a British manufacturer in the world championship," said Toseland. "I want to stand alongside Valentino Rossi at the [upcoming] Sepang test and for him to ask me who made such fantastic leathers."
Ducati explains the GP8.
One day after the Desmosedici GP8's official launch on the snowy slopes of Madonna di Campiglio, Ducati Corse CEO and product director of Ducati Motor Holding, Claudio Domenicali, has revealed the technical changes made for the new bike - with which Casey Stoner will aim to defend his MotoGP crow
<I>Crash.net's</I> MotoGP season review - Part 1.
The 2006 season - when technical problems, accidents, injuries and Nicky Hayden combined to end Valentino Rossi's five-year reign - was seen as something of a freak occurrence which, paddock wisdom assured, would be quickly corrected during 2007.
Toseland on his bike for weight loss target.
The super-fit 27-year-old, who has muscled bulky 1000cc Superbikes around the race track for the past seven seasons, has set the target - which will boost his power-to-weight ratio out on track - after completing his first two tests on the smaller 800cc MotoGP machine.
Hopkins hitched in Vegas.
New Kawasaki rider John Hopkins married English fianc?e, Ashleigh, at a ceremony in Las Vegas last weekend.
2008 MotoGP entry list: Stoner #1.
The 22-year-old Australian claimed his and Ducati's first premier-class crown wearing the #27, but will - like Nicky Hayden before him - defend the title with the world champion's digit.
Toseland gig announced.
James Toseland's 2008 MotoGP move will leave little time for the double World Superbike champion to perform with his (excellently named) band Crash , but the Briton will take centre-stage during a fund raising event on the 6th of January.