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.
Barros: We need top speed - like those Ducatis.
The final day of testing on European soil yesterday saw Gauloises Yamaha rider Alex Barros continue where he's been for most of the pre-season - on top of the times.
Concern creeping in at Suzuki?
Team Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins finished the two-day Catalunya tests early yesterday, after completing all scheduled tests on the latest update to the all-new 2003 motor, which arrived earlier in the week.
Ducati hits 203.9mph at Catalunya!
As well as setting a new unofficial lap record in the Catalunya IRTA test yesterday, Loris Capirossi was also able to beat the fastest ever top speed recorded by a GP bike, a record he'd set just one day before.
FYT happy with Melandri, disappointed with Checa.
Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Marco Melandri and Carlos Checa both had small falls during yesterday's final day at Catalunya, but got back out on track quickly to try and get on terms with the pace setters.
Capirossi wins BMW - gives to Mechanics.
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi topped this afternoon's official preseason test session at Catalunya in sensational style, with a lap time 0.8secs quicker than pole position for the 2002 Catalunya Grand Prix.
202.5mph Ducati sets speed record!
Loris Capirossi's clocked the fastest top speed ever recorded by a GP bike at Catalunya today, when the Italian rocketed through the speed trap at a phenomenal 325.9kmh/202.5mph.
Hayden, Yamaha reach settlement.
A settlement has been reached between Nicky Hayden and Yamaha, following a claim by Yamaha that the American already had a contract with them when he signed for the Repsol Honda team.
Pramac Pons launch Camel colours.
The Camel Pramac Pons team was officially launched in Barcelona, Spain, last night (Friday).
Telefonica Movistar Honda present livery.
The Telefonica Movistar Honda team unveiled their 2003 race livery in Barcelona, which showed - as expected - the Gresini team will race in the now traditional Telefonica blue and yellow, seen on Suzukis for the past few seasons in the premier class.
Podium finishers to uncork Freixenet in 2003.
The 2003 MotoGP season will see the top three finishers celebrating on the podium in time honoured fashion, and this year they will be uncorking bottles of Freixenet, after the Spanish producers of sparkling wines and cavas agreed a deal to supply the 'Official MotoGP Cava'.
'West meets East' at Aprilia launch.
The Alice Aprilia team unveiled their official 2003 livery last night in Milan, under the slogan 'West meets East on the Aprilia RS Cube'.
Seedorf kicks off Martin's world dream.
Dutch soccer star Clarence Seedorf is poised to do the opposite to several British football managers and reveal a rising British talent on his team, with confirmation that Chris Martin will partner Alvaro Bautista in 2003.
Roberts: Sheene was my rival and inspiration.
Three-times 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts has paid tribute to his great World Championship rival Barry Sheene, who died last Monday [March 10] after an eight-month battle with cancer.
Minute silence announced for Sheene.
With the entire Motorcycling community coming to terms with the loss of one its most enigmatic figures, Barry Sheene, a one-minute silence has been announced for Sunday, 16th March, prior to the official timed session at the IRTA Catalunya test.
New Ducati CEO prefers SBK to MotoGP?
Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A yesterday announced that Chief Executive Officer, Carlo Di Biagio, has resigned from the company and will be replaced by a man rumored to believe that Ducati should not be entering MotoGP.
McCoy still 'daunted' by leg breaking crash.
Slide King Garry McCoy was left slowest of all at the end of the Estoril IRTA test, but admitted he'd ridden cautiously after breaking his leg in similar conditions last year.
Yanagawa: The team stopped me going out!
While his team-mates were busy enjoying the impressive performance of the Kawasaki ZX-RR in the wet at Estoril yesterday, Japanese test rider Akira Yanagawa wasn't allowed to join them out on track, due to the tricky nature of the conditions.
Honda hit by thunder down under.
HRC's three-day test at Phillip Island ended today with the Honda engineers and rider's happy with the results and data gathered, despite a thunder storm interrupting the proceedings.
Randy rules 250s at Estoril.
Randy de Puniet proved his pre-season potential further by topping the 250cc IRTA test at Estoril on his new Safilo Oxydo LCR Aprilia.
2003: Barros vs. Honda?
With just over a month to go until the start of the MotoGP season at Suzuka, the championship look like shaping into a battle between Alex Barros and Honda.
New Yamaha prototype makes IRTA test debut.
Yamaha's increased commitment to the MotoGP World Championship was revealed on the opening day of the Jerez IRTA test yesterday [21 February], when the factory's new test and development team made a public debut with its YZR-M1 prototype.
Fortuna Yamaha launch at Jerez.
The official factory Yamaha team today unveiled their 2003 colours, to be raced by Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri. As expected, Fortuna have kept the red and silver colour scheme first seen on Daijiro Kato's RCV and the 250cc Hondas of Robby Rolfo and Emilio Alzamora, last season.
Gauloises Yamaha unveil 2003 colours.
The factory supported Gauloises Yamaha team have launched their official 2003 livery at Jerez today.
Rossi: I've had surgery... on my butt!
Valentino Rossi revealed a well kept secret today at Sepang, it seems he's recently had surgery on a certain part of his anatomy...