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.
Pedrosa: My best ever.
The Spaniard's first hot lap put him in third position, but an all-or-nothing second flyer saw him go a full second faster and ultimately claim his second pole in a row by 0.218s ahead of Valentino Rossi, with world champion Casey Stoner third.
PICTURES: Yamaha's Abarth livery.
The livery is designed to celebrate the re-launch of the Abarth brand by Fiat this year, with several new models. Yamaha's one-off colours feature the Scorpion logo, synonymous with Abarth, and the white and red flag.
Fiat Yamaha announce special livery.
While many MotoGP fans might have preferred some form of tribute livery in memory of Norick Abe - Yamaha's triple 500GP race winner and Valentino Rossi's hero, who died last weekend in a road accident - the factory M1 team will instead appear in the red and white of the Fiat-owned Abarth car bran
PICTURES: Vermeulen's Sheene livery.
Vermeulen's 2007 GSV-R is sporting a retro paint-scheme designed to pay homage to his mentor, and personal hero, Sheene.
Hayden: I wait all year for this.
After claiming pole position in the previous two years at Phillip Island and setting the fastest time in the three-day pre-season test here, Hayden should have the pace to run up front - but can he defeat the likes of new champion Casey Stoner and former five times champion Valentino Rossi?
Yamaha president mourns Abe loss.
"It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Norifumi (Norick) Abe (32) on October 7, 2007, following a traffic accident.
<B>Norick Abe dies in road accident</B>.
Abe is reported to have collided with a truck, while riding a motorcycle near the city of Kawasaki, after it made an 'illegal' U-turn in front of him.
Vermeulen gets Sheene livery.
Vermeulen will be riding a one-off Rizla Suzuki GSV-R inspired by Sheene's Suzuki XR-14 grand prix bike of the mid-seventies.
Hofmann fights d'Antin dismissal.
Hofmann was sacked after pulling out of the Portuguese Grand Prix, on September 16.
Bridgestone's rise to the top.
Bridgestone's MotoGP career was carved out from its humble beginnings as tyre suppliers in the 250cc and 500cc classes of the All Japan Championships in the 1980s, but it was not until 1991 that Bridgestone's foray into world championships commenced as the manufacturer embarked
PICTURES: Rossi rides 2008 prototype.
Rossi, whose 13th place in Sunday's wet/dry Japanese Grand Prix handed Casey Stoner the crown three rounds early, evaluated two chassis designs for next year's M1, although he continued to use the existing engine.
West's best despite stall, penalty.
The 'angry' Australian clearly crept forward while waiting for the red lights to go out, before rocketing into the lead of a MotoGP race for the very first time on lap two of 24.
Rossi reveals why title was lost.
Rossi came into the event needing to finish in front of Stoner to delay the Australian's title celebrations - and charged from seventh at the end of lap one to overtake Stoner and then Marco Melandri for the lead with ten laps remaining.
Cunning Capirossi scores Motegi three-peat.
Capirossi will leave Ducati at the end of this season, after struggling to replicate his 990cc success with the smaller-engined Desmosedici, but gave the Italian factory a reminder of his talent with a clever victory in the wet/dry Japanese Grand Prix - in which he timed his pit stop to perfectio
Stoner: This is unreal!
"This feels unreal at the moment. I'm struggling for words. I don't think there's any feeling that can compare to this. I guess it'll sink in a little more as the day goes on and then into tomorrow," said a smiling Stoner following a dramatic Japanese Grand Prix.
Stoner wins 2007 MotoGP World Championship!
The 21-year-old needed to beat Valentino Rossi to wrap up the crown three rounds early, and was assured of the title when the Fiat Yamaha rider suffered braking problems on his second bike - after all riders were forced to pit due to a drying track - and finished just 13th.
Dorna propose single tyre for MotoGP.
The controversial proposal follows a 'transition' season in which new tyre restrictions, combined with new 800cc machines, have resulted in one brand - usually Bridgestone - gaining a 'significant' advantage over its rivals at most races.
250: Shuhei Aoyama takes debut pole.
An unusually slow session saw Mika Kallio's Friday pole unchallenged until the very final minute, when reigning champion and dominant 2007 title leader Jorge Lorenzo toppled the Finn by 0.288secs.
Honda explains Pedrosa delay.
Pedrosa has been a Honda rider for his entire grand prix career, while Valentino Rossi is the only rider in recent history to have walked out of a factory Honda ride by choice, making the Spaniard's contract extension widely expected - particularly when factory seats at rival teams were all taken
Hofmann sacked.
Hofmann, who had to start from the pit lane on his spare bike, withdrew from last place with 17 of the 28 laps remaining, saying, "I don't have the motivation to fight for the last positions."
'Help Honda! This is ridiculous...'
The American again qualified 19th and last for Sunday's Portuguese GP, then retired after just two laps with a slipping clutch.
Rossi wins as racing returns.
Heading into the Portuguese Grand Prix, the previous four races had seen relatively dull start-to-finish processions by Pedrosa, in Germany, then world championship leader Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano.
<B>Crash.net's Portuguese GP Blog:</B> Saturday
Saturday pm - Biaggi Talks MotoGP, But Will Probably Remain a Superbike Man
<B>Crash.net's Portuguese GP Blog:</B> Sunday.
Sunday pm - Checa Joins Ten Kate - the Team He's Never Met