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.
Luthi fastest on IRTA day one.
Swiss teenager Thomas Luthi was the quickest 125cc rider on the first day of official tests at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday.
Ukawa, Matsudo join Moriwaki.
Moriwaki Racing have revealed that former MotoGP winner and HRC test rider Tohru Ukawa has joined their MotoGP development programme, while 250 GP veteran Naoki Matsudo will race for the team in the 2005 All Japan Superbike Championship.
Times drop but more rain taunts Yamaha.
The pre-season testing programme of Gauloises Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards, plus satellite Fortuna backed riders Ruben Xaus and Toni Elias, was again interrupted by rain today at Australia's Phillip Island circuit - during day two of a planned three day test.
Music meets MotoGP: Ludacris joins WCM!
Hip-hop giant Ludacris, the multi platinum artist and star of 2Fast 2Furious and the soon to be released Hustle & Flow films, has expanded his empire by moving his DTP label into MotoGP - through backing of the Blata-WCM Team.
Byrne: The bike sounds awesome!
As previously reported, Shane Byrne made his debut on the Team KR-KTM, with Michelin tyres, during a shakedown test at Valencia on Monday - providing the Brit with his first taste of the V4 powered machine he hopes to campaign in the 2005 MotoGP World Championship.
Team KR testing at Valencia.
As indicated last week, Team KR has today (Monday) begun a two-day shakedown test with its 'KR-KTM' at the Valencia circuit in Spain.
Yamaha: No plans for alternative livery.
The factory Yamaha team has told Crash.net that they have no plans to run any alternative livery on the race machines of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards during the 2005 MotoGP season.
Yamaha unveils 2005 M1 livery.
The new 2005-specification Gauloises Yamaha YZR-M1s were displayed for the first time in their new livery today (pictured), during a press conference attended by Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
Hayden enjoys, Biaggi falls.
It was once again a case of contrasting fortunes within the Repsol Honda garage at Qatar during today's third and final day of testing, with Nicky Hayden a close fifth while team-mate Max Biaggi again 'struggled with set-up' - and then suffered a fall during his race simulation - leaving him eigh
2005 125cc entry list.
The FIM has today revealed the following full entry list for the 2005 125cc World Championship... 2005 125cc entry list:
2005 250cc entry list.
The FIM has today revealed the following full entry list for the 2005 250cc World Championship... 2005 250cc entry list:
2005 MotoGP entry list, Byrne at Team KR.
The FIM has today revealed the full entry list for the 2005 MotoGP World Championship.
Hofmann tries big bang, Nakano `earns salary`.
Alex Hofmann got the opportunity to test the new big bang version of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine for the first time during the third and final day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Southern Spain on Friday.
Konica Minolta Honda launched in Japan.
The Konica Minolta Honda team has today unveiled the livery with which Makoto Tamada will contest the 2005 MotoGP World Championship (pictured).
Nakano cut, rain hinders 'big bang` development.
Following on from tests in Malaysia, the Kawasaki Racing Team arrived at a cold and cloudy Jerez circuit today (Thursday) to start the European phase of their preparations for the 2005 MotoGP season.
Wheel changes expected in MotoGP rain stops.
by Peter McLaren One of the most significant rule changes ahead of the 2005 MotoGP season has been the new 'no stopping for rain' directive, which means that dry premier-class races will no longer be stopped should rain fall.
Rossi 'very sorry' for bird kill!
Gauloises Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards finished the second day of testing at Phillip Island, Australia, fourth and seventh fastest respectively in the unofficial standings - with the Italian having suffered a bird strike during his 91 Friday laps.
Rossi, Barros regret Rio cancellation.
Six times world champion Valentino Rossi and Brazilian Alex Barros have both expressed their regret at hearing today's news that the 2005 Rio Grand Prix has been removed from the 2005 MotoGP calendar due to the 'lack of a signed contract'.
Biaggi: I know how to win the title.
Max Biaggi starts the 2005 MotoGP season with his best chance yet of claiming a first premier-class world crown, after signing to ride for the factory Repsol Honda outfit.
Kawasaki confirms 'big bang' engine.
Shinya Nakano today concluded a successful evaluation of a 'big bang' version of Kawasaki's 990cc, inline four-cylinder Ninja ZX-RR engine during two days of testing at Malaysia's Sepang circuit.
Edwards 'ready to leave'.
Gauloises Yamaha rider Colin Edwards continued to make headway with the development of his YZR-M1 machine today throughout a very humid second day of a three-day test at Sepang.
Checa finds 'interesting solutions', Itoh improves
While his ill team-mate Loris Capirossi was forced to halt testing after only ten laps today, Ducati Marlboro's Carlos Checa fortunately had no such worries and, after completing back-to-back testing with both GP5 machines at his disposal, focussed on getting the best out of some new rear tyre co
Hopkins thanks former management.
Suzuki MotoGP star John Hopkins has thanked his former management company Protac, with whom he has parted ahead of the 2005 season.
First pictures: 2005 Honda RC211V.
These are the first pictures of the machine Honda hopes will help it regain the MotoGP Riders' World Championship from Yamaha's Valentino Rossi this season.