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.
Hopkins heads home for treatment.
The Anglo-American now faces a race against time to be fully fit for the final pre-season test, at Qatar from February 28-29, or at least by the season opener on March 9.
Mike Nicks signs!
Mike, who has edited Motor Cycle News , Bike and Classic Bike , will visit MotoGP, World Superbike and British Superbike events, providing a mix of exclusive news, comment and interviews for Crash.net .
PICTURES: Alice Team livery.
The outfit, formerly known as the Pramac d'Antin Team, will field former MotoGP race winner Toni Elias and 2007 MotoGP rookie of the year Sylvain Guintoli on its satellite-spec Ducatis.
Stoner wins BMW.
Stoner won his first BMW sports car at the 2007 Valencia season finale, when he wrapped up the best qualifier of the season award, and the Australian picked up where he left off at a wet Jerez.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
MotoGP BMW Award times - Sunday.
The new Z4 car was won by world champion Casey Stoner, who dominated the session almost from start to finish, despite completing just nine laps. Injured riders John Hopkins and Dani Pedrosa chose not to risk further damage and sat out the session.
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 launches `08 campaign in Zaragoza.
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.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
2008 Rizla Suzuki GSV-R unveiled.
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.
No Team KR on final MotoGP entry list.
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 2.
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.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
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 announces 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 down and out.
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.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
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
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT