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.
HRC announce team name for 2002.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that the name of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) factory team, that will participate in MotoGP class of FIM 2002 Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, will be "REPSOL Honda."
An excellent start to the IRTA tests at Montmelo.
Warm temperatures and sunny weather greeted the first day of the two-day IRTA MotoGP practice at the Catalunya Circuit. Valentino Rossi clocked the fastest lap with the new Honda RC211V, while Loris Capirossi led the field behind the Italian on the 4-stroke Honda.
Rossi tops first day times at IRTA Catalunya test.
The first day of the two-day pre-season MotoGP test session at the 4.727km Circuit de Catalunya, got under way in bright sunshine providing the riders with almost ideal track conditions.
Checa & Biaggi head to head with MotoGP rivals.
Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi commenced their final European pre-season test at Catalunya yesterday, continuing development of the new chassis they evaluated for the first time at Mugello, Italy, last week.
Officials enthusiastic about new TT Circuit Assen.
IRTA-Riders representative Franco Uncini, FIM's CCR President and Inspector Claude Danis and Dorna's Operations & Event manager Javier Alonso visited the TT Circuit Assen last week, to make a first check of the rebuilding of the track.
Lorenzo makes 125cc Derbi debut.
Last week Jorge Lorenzo, the 14 year old rider from Mallorca, made his Derbi debut at the Italian circuit of Misano. Lorenzo took the opportunity to get an initial feel for the 125cc machine he will be riding in the coming season.
Two-strokes on top in first head to head test.
At the end of the MotoGP IRTA test in Valencia, which pitted the 500cc two-strokes against the revolutionary 990cc four-strokes for the first time, the half-litres emerged with the upper hand.
Checa fast at Valencia, Biaggi tumbles & waits.
Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi commenced their first full European test session of 2002 at Valencia yesterday, Checa lapping inside the track record, Biaggi enjoying less luck with a high-speed spill and a minor bike problem.
DeGraaf team focuses on GP250 with Janssen, Aoki.
This weekend, Arie Molenaar's DeGraaf Grand Prix team participates in its first MotoGP test at the IRTA-organised sessions in Valencia.
MZ reveals Waldmann and Cardoso.
German MotoGP outsider MZ launched its 2002 campaign over the weekend, unveiling the already confirmed Jose Luis Cardoso and racing returnee Ralf Waldmann as its line-up for the first four-stroke grand prix championship.
Rossi weaves more Malaysian magic.
Valentino Rossi was in scintillating form on the final day of the HRC RC211V test session at Sepang today [Sunday], as Honda continued its preparations for the forthcoming four-stroke grand prix season.
Rossi sets fast pace at Sepang.
Reigning 500cc world champion Valentino Rossi returned to winter testing at Sepang today [Saturday] in preparation for the 2002 season when four-strokes are introduced to the fray.
Rossi and HRC reach agreement.
After weeks of speculation whether Valentino Rossi would be riding a Honda in the coming season, the team can breathe a sigh of relief. A contract has at last been signed, settling the differences between Rossi and the Japanese manufacturer.
Cardoso lands MuZ four-stroke ride.
Released from what many thought was a dream ride with Luis d'Antin's Yamaha squad at the end of 2001, Jose Luis Cardoso has bounced back by signing a deal to ride the new MuZ four-stroke in the 2002 MotoGP world championship.
Record times for Tohru Ukawa and RC211V.
The second day of the HRC RC211V test at Sepang, Malaysia, saw Tohru Ukawa and the five-cylinder Honda four stroke circulating at lap record time. The daily monsoon rain held off until late afternoon allowing Ukawa and HRC test rider Shinichi Itoh a trouble free day of testing.
Alex Criville makes debut with Team D'Antin.
Alex Criville's debut aboard the Team D'Ant?n Yamaha YZR500 yesterday was limited to just five laps of the Almer?a circuit and a photograph session.
First HRC test of new year interrupted by rain.
The first official HRC test of 2002 begun today in Malaysia at a rain drenched Sepang Circuit. Riders Tohru Ukawa and Shinichi Itoh took to the track on the RC211V four-stroke bike, but there was no sign of 2001 World Champion Valentino Rossi.
BMW Motorrad GB unveils line-up for Boxercup 2002.
BMW Motorrad GB has confirmed its team line-up for this year's International BoxerCup, the one-make series that supports the MotoGP and World Endurance Championships.
Schoolboy Chaz Davies enters 125cc Championship.
Chaz Davies is the newest Brit to be signed up to compete in the 2002 MotoGP Championship. Davies, who is fourteen-years-old, will be racing in the 125cc class on an Aprilia for the Italian Matteoni racing team.
BQR surprised to find Brits available.
Contrary to recent reports suggesting that British riders Jay Vincent and Leon Haslam were second choices at the BQR team, the Spanish outfit admits that it could not believe its luck on discovering that they were still uncontracted.
Suzuki working flat out on XERO.
Development of Suzuki's new for 2002 four-stroke Grand Prix bike the XRE0 is racing ahead in Japan. After revealing the decision to race the bike in 2002, Suzuki's engineering department has been flat out working on the electronic fuel injection and engine management systems.
FIM announces 2002 entry list.
The FIM today revealed the provisional entry list for the 2002 MotoGP - Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix - series. 2002 - Provisional Entry List: No. / Rider / Nationality / Machine / Team.
Honda clones RC211V in new-look NSR500.
Honda has decided to give its various MotoGP entries a uniform look by revising the design of the venerable NSR500 two-stroke to resemble that of the new RC211V.
FIM clarifies MotoGP rule changes.
Further to the outline issued prior to the end of last season, motorcycling's governing body - the FIM - has amended several points regarding the new look MotoGP championship to be introduced in 2002.