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.
<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 married in Las Vegas.
New Kawasaki rider John Hopkins married English fianc?e, Ashleigh, at a ceremony in Las Vegas last weekend.
2008 entry list: Stoner number one.
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.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Stoner low on rich list.
Casey Stoner may have won the most prestigious prize in motorcycle racing this year, the MotoGP World Championship, but the Ducati star has been ranked just 14th on BRW's Australian sporting rich list.
Kawasaki `benefiting from Hopkins`.
Those positions may not have set any pulses racing, but 'Team Green' insists that lap times weren't a concern and claims to be delighted with the impact former Suzuki rider Hopkins has already made.
Nakano top Bridgestone.
The Japanese, who rode a Michelin-shod Honda this season, is back on Bridgestones for 2008 with Honda Gresini - and set the fifth fastest lap time at Jerez, albeit 1.559secs from factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Red Bull whittle down Cup Rookies.
After two demanding days of testing at Paul Ricard in the South of France, twelve young riders are being invited to join the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2008.
Rossi`s Mugello helmet on eBay.
The special 'heart' helmet - autographed by the seven times world champion - was used during his home Italian GP at Mugello in June 2007. Designed by Aldo Drudi, only three were ever made - one of which was thrown into the crowd by Rossi after winning the race.
de Puniet: The Honda is easier.
Carlos Checa may have called it is his 'most difficult' bike, but new LCR rider Randy de Puniet seems to have adapted extremely well to the Michelin-equipped satellite Honda, after two years on a Bridgestone-shod factory Kawasaki.
Hayden kills a cobra!
A wet track in the morning delayed the start of testing until midday, when Hayden ventured out to resume engine comparison work he began yesterday aboard the 2007 machine.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Hayden: 2008 progress, 2007 faster.
After technical problems with the new RC212V on Tuesday afternoon, the hard-working Hayden completed 92 laps of the Valencia circuit on Wednesday - although his best lap, good enough for second behind world champion Casey Stoner, came on the old machine.
Dovi: It`s easier than my 250!
The Italian has been rewarded for his loyalty to Honda in the quarter-litre class, where he has finished second to Aprilia's Jorge Lorenzo for the past two seasons, with a MotoGP ride for 2008 - and Team Scot has merged with JiR to help make it happen.
Lorenzo: An emotional day!
The 20-year-old first rode a YZR-M1 during a secret test at Almeria during the MotoGP summer break, but Valencia marked his first time working with the factory Yamaha team - which will be restructured next season to allow Valentino Rossi to race with Bridgestone tyres, while Lorenzo uses Michelin
Hayden, Pedrosa debut `all new` RC212V.
The bike is described as an evolution of the 2007 machine - which won the season finale at Valencia on Sunday - but features a new V4 engine with, as rumoured, pneumatic valve springs, plus an all-new chassis and exhaust system.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
<B>Schumacher shocks - on a MotoGP bike!</B>
The German legend had previously made a cautious MotoGP debut on a 990cc Ducati during a secret test at Mugello in October of 2005, but the now retired F1 ace picked a much more public 'press and guest' day for his second appearance - and didn't disappoint.
Valencia MotoGP test times - Tuesday.
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 32.348 secs 2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 33.176 secs 3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 33.186 secs
FIRST PICTURES: 2008 Honda RC212V.
Repsol Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa made their debut on the 2008 spec RC212V during Tuesday afternoon at Valencia, at the start of the first post-season test session.
PICTURE: Michelin`s warning...
"We hate losing, but we love competition! Just wait for 2008, 2009..." warns the advert. Casey Stoner, Ducati and Bridgestone clinched the 2007 MotoGP World Championship, while five times MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres next season.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Female trial ace tests Repsol Honda.
The riders were 2007 World Indoor and Outdoor Trial champion Toni Bou and his Repsol Montesa-HRC team-mate Laia Sanz, the 2007 Women's World Outdoor Trial Championship runner-up - present at Valencia to experience Pedrosa's RC212V.
Repsol Honda confirms 2008 tyre choice.
The move was widely expected, although as recently as the Japanese Grand Prix in late September Honda had revealed that it was still discussing a switch to Bridgestone - as used by Ducati's 2007 world champion Casey Stoner - 'at the request of its riders', Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden.
Barros, Checa fight to the end.
Starting from twelfth on the grid, Pramac-d'Antin rider Barros was up to seventh by the end of lap one - and looked capable of concluding his 21-year world championship career by battling for a second podium of the season.
PICTURES: Dainese`s airbag in action.
The airbag, contained within a 'collar' around the top of the rider's leathers, supports and protects the neck and collarbone area during an accident, and can be easily removed afterwards.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT