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.
Rossi stays perfect with Welkom pole.
Valentino Rossi capped his so far perfect Yamaha debut by taking a thrilling pole position for tomorrow's season-opening Africa's Grand Prix, the Italian superstar defeating Honda's Sete Gibernau by just 0.035secs, while a Kawasaki made the top six.
Bayliss: I've never felt confident on this bike.
Troy Bayliss endured by far his worst qualifying session as a MotoGP rider today at Welkom, the Australian being left second from last on his factory Ducati.
Rossi: One of my greatest moments.
If Valentino Rossi ever doubted leaving Honda for Yamaha, such thoughts well and truly evaporated under the South African sun at Welkom today, as the Italian took a landmark pole position for the season-opening Africa's Grand Prix.
Flying Roberts puts Suzuki fifth.
Team Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr. was in fighting form at Welkom today, the American running as high as second with less than ten minutes remaining, before placing fifth by the chequered flag.
How important is Welkom?
Never in the 55-year history of grand prix motorcycle racing has the start of a season been more eagerly anticipated in 2004.
Tech 3 thank Yamaha for new engines.
Yamaha may be putting all their resources behind Valentino Rossi and the factory team for the 2004 season, but it hasn't taken long for the sister Tech 3 outfit to feel the benefit of recent developments...
Globe Hopper: Sad news from South Africa.
On the eve of the season-opening Africa's Grand Prix, Desiree Crossman has sadly announced that she and John Hopkins are no longer together and so, after providing an unprecedented insight behind the scenes of MotoGP for over a year, her regular reports will come to a close after this weekend's e
Eckl: Maybe I'm too optimistic but...
What a difference a year makes: Last season Kawasaki finished the Africa's Grand Prix - then round two of the world championship - in last place, but after encouraging pre-season progress they return this weekend 'optimistic' of a double top ten finish.
Pons rocked by Cobas death.
Sito Pons' MotoGP team has been hit by the sad news that technical director Antonio Cobas has died on the eve of the new season, which begins in South Africa this weekend.
Preview - Africa's Grand Prix.
This is it: On Sunday in South Africa the most anticipated season in modern motorcycle racing will begin with an inseparable line-up of superstar riders and exotic machines battling to turn pre-season promise into world championship glory.
Checa most excited since 1999.
Carlos Checa may not have been able to threaten new team-mate Valentino Rossi in pre-season testing, but the Spaniard has benefited from the new and improved YZR-M1 and heads to the first round of the 2004 season an excited man.
<I>BBC</I> agrees live coverage until 2009.
BBC Sport has revealed a new five-year contract to broadcast television coverage of the MotoGP Championship, extending its existing deal until 2009.
Suzuki 'inspired'.
Kenny Roberts turned heads at Jerez when he put the latest evolution of the GSV-R under Valentino Rossi's 2003 Spanish Grand Prix lap record, and beat the best Suzuki race lap by 1.4secs.
Rossi: F1 just for fun.
by Peter McLaren MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has put an end to speculation that he's planning a future in Formula One, by stating that any F1 test would be purely for fun.
Team KR confirms Dunlop deal.
Proton Team KR has officially confirmed that they will be using Dunlop tyres for the forthcoming MotoGP season.
<I>Crash.net</I> pics on sale now.
Crash.net 's army of snappers and freelance photographers have been scouring the globe for images of the biggest events, the best-known personalities and the most glamorous babes - and now they are yours!
New trophy for MotoGP world champions.
For the first time in its 55 year history, a new trophy will record the names of all future MotoGP world champions, starting with 2003 title holder Valentino Rossi.
M1 designers concentrate on traction control.
Masao Furusawa, the man in charge of developing Yamaha's YZR-M1 into a world championship winning machine, has revealed that his main priority for the 2004 spec racer is traction control.
Rossi surprised by F1's MotoGP passion.
MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has admitted he was surprised by the level of passion which the Formula One world has for its two-wheeled equivalent.
Pictures: KR V5 on fire.
The on track debut of the latest spec Proton KR V5, during a two day test at Valencia, has ended with one machine being set alight and rider Kurtis Roberts injured.
Abe suffers 2002 accident flashback.
On Tuesday, Crash.net commented that Norick Abe's lack of pace during the first day of testing at Phillip Island could be partially down to his confidence sapping 2002 accident at the same circuit.
McWilliams rides with broken rib.
Aprilia's new signing Jeremy McWilliams continued testing at Phillip Island in Australia today, despite breaking a rib when he fell from the RS Cube in Malaysia last week.
Hodgson 'bit annoyed' at d'Antin problems.
d'Antin Ducati endured a mixed three-day test session at Sepang, with both Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus improving their laps times consistently - but suffering persistent technical problems in the process.
Injury blow for Roberts.
Suzuki's pre-season development plans have taken yet another blow with the news that Kenny Roberts Jr is unlikley to take any further part in the latest three-day Sepang test, after a tyre failure induced fall earlier today (Wednesday).