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.
Team KR shuts Banbury factory.
By Mike Nicks Triple world champion Kenny Roberts Senior is shutting his workshops in Banbury, England, after 12 years of operation now that his Team KR has - temporarily, everyone hopes - pulled out of the MotoGP paddock.
250: Bautista over Simoncelli.
Alvaro Bautista, who suffered a last lap defeat at the hands of Marco Simoncelli last time out at Catalunya, bounced back by taking provisional 250cc pole for the British Grand Prix by 0.170secs over the Italian on Friday.
British world champions honoured.
As part of the Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship's 60th season celebrations, 'MotoGP Champions Towers' will be handed out during the remainder of this year to all past winners of the 500cc/MotoGP World Championship.
125: Maxtra has first track tests.
By Mike Nicks Garry Taylor, manager of the sensational new Maxtra 125cc project launched at the Chinese MotoGP in May, is in the paddock here at Donington seeking potential riders for the team's entry to the grand prix scene in 2009.
Donington dismisses `fuel drop` rumours.
The owners of Donington Park have rejected claims that the surface of the race circuit is contaminated by fuel dropped by aircraft using the nearby East Midlands Airport, also confirming that they have carried out considerable works to improve levels of grip.
d`Antin: I want more from my riders.
Alice Team manager Luis d'Antin has called for 'more' from riders Toni Elias and Sylvian Giuntoli at this weekend's British Grand Prix following a tough start to the season.
Hayden gets pneumatic for Donington.
By Mike Nicks Repsol Honda's 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden will ride the factory's new pneumatic-valve RC212V all through practice, qualifying and racing during the three days of the British MotoGP at Donington Park, Crash.net has learned.
Toseland and the six-inch pianist.
As one of the most confident riders on the grid, James Toseland is certainly used to taking things in his stride, something he will calling upon when he competes in front his legion of fans for the first time during the upcoming British Grand Prix.
Stoner puts 2009 Ducati on top!
MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner took an early version of next year's Ducati Desmosedici GP9 - which features a carbon fibre frame - to the top of the Monday test times at Catalunya.
600cc named as 250GP replacement.
A meeting at this weekend's Catalan Grand Prix has ended with the MSMA (Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers' Association) responding to Dorna's proposal for a new four-stroke class, to replace 250GP from 2011, by naming 600cc four-cylinders as its preferred choice.
Catalunya: Warm-up times.
Jorge Lorenzo has been ruled out of this weekend's race following a heavy Friday practice fall.
Stoner seals first `08 pole at Catalunya.
MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has taken his first pole position of the 2008 season after edging out home hero Dani Pedrosa by just 0.083secs during qualifying for Sunday's Catalan Grand prix.
Lorenzo ruled out of Catalunya.
MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo, who fractured both ankles during a huge highside at Shanghai on May 2, has been ruled out of the remainder of this weekend's Catalan Grand Prix after sustaining further injuries during a heavy Friday afternoon fall.
PICTURES: Rossi`s Catalunya livery.
This is the special livery with which Valentino Rossi will ride during this weekend's Catalan Grand Prix. The livery is based on the style and colours of the Italian football team and is being used to celebrate the start of the European Championship.
Rossi admits: Ferrari wanted me.
Valentino Rossi has claimed that Ferrari wanted him to make the jump across to Formula 1 - and acknowledged that he considered the switch, but in the end decided that he enjoyed racing motorbikes too much to change.
New sponsors to fund Rossi pay rise?
By Mike Nicks Valentino Rossi's success in winning three consecutive races and soaring to the top of the MotoGP championship may have blocked Yamaha's plans to offer the seven-times world champion a pay cut in 2009, according to the daily Spanish newspaper Sport .
PICTURES: Rossi`s 2008 Mugello helmet.
The is the special helmet design with which Valentino Rossi took an amazing seventh consecutive home victory at Mugello on Sunday.
<I>Crash.net`s</I> Italian GP blog: Saturday.
Saturday pm - This Was an Incredible Ride from Toseland
Worst so far for Lorenzo.
Jorge Lorenzo may have been able to overcome the effects of a double ankle fracture during the last two rounds, but set-up problems prompted by the lack of dry track time at Mugello left MotoGP's star rookie a career worst seventh on the grid for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
250: Barbera takes stunning Mugello pole.
Hector Barbera has taken pole position for Sunday's 250cc Italian Grand Prix by a mighty 0.772secs. World championship leader Mika Kallio, seventh in Friday's wet session, shot to the top early in the session and was only relegated with five minutes to go, by Barbera.
Hayden makes Indy sales pitch.
Nicky Hayden gave American fans a taste of what to look forward to ahead of MotoGP's upcoming visit to Indianapolis by completing several laps of the legendary circuit before the Indy 500.
Pedrosa bad on the brakes.
The Repsol Honda star began the event on pole position and holding the world championship lead, but was overtaken by Casey Stoner into turn one and couldn't get around the Ducati rider.
Lorenzo stuns with crutches to second.
Fractures to both ankles at the previous Shanghai round have left Lorenzo needing a wheelchair or crutches when off the bike, and the Estoril winner raised serious doubts about his ability to race at Le Mans when he fell twice in practice - in addition to several other off-track moments.
Spies confirmed.
The move, which will see Spies ride a third Rizla Suzuki GSV-R alongside regulars Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi, has been long rumoured and marks the first step towards the American's planned graduation to grand prix racing in 2009.