2010
Fiat replacement eludes Yamaha
23 December 2010 by
The impact of the global economic crisis is still biting hard in MotoGP with Yamaha as yet to find a title sponsor for the 2011 world championship. Despite being the dominant squad in MotoGP since...
Honda has to deliver in 2011, warns Kevin Schwantz
23 December 2010 by
American legend Kevin Schwantz reckons Honda will be branded a major flop if it fails to emerge from the doldrums with Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa heading its line-up in 2011. Honda has never won an...
Suzuki eye more consistent GSV-R in 2011
22 December 2010 by
Suzuki will embark on another mission to make its factory GSV-R a more consistent performer across a wider range of conditions in 2011. A major weakness of the V4 contender has been its ability to be...
Honda boss ‘disappointed’ with 2010 outcome
22 December 2010 by
Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto reckons he’ll look back on 2010 with a sense of disappointment, despite the Japanese factory enjoying its most successful season in the 800cc MotoGP era. Dani Pedrosa won...
Dani Pedrosa launches children’s book
22 December 2010 by
Dani Pedrosa launched a new children’s book in Spain yesterday that tells the story of how he set on the road to stardom in racing. The book entitled ‘Two elves for Dani Pedrosa’ is based Pedrosa’s...
Casey Stoner doubts electronics reduction in 2012
21 December 2010 by
The constant quest to make MotoGP safer will never see a significant reduction in the influence of electronic rider aids, according to former world champion Casey Stoner. Valentino Rossi and several...
Yamaha boss reflects on ‘fabulous’ 2010
21 December 2010 by
2010 was the year in which Yamaha continued its unrivalled domination of the MotoGP world championship as Jorge Lorenzo won his first world title in record-breaking fashion. But it was also the year...
Paris Hilton unveils 125GP team
20 December 2010 by
Clad in a skintight pink, white and blue bodysuit with ample cleavage exposed, Paris Hilton proved last weekend why she is not your average motorcycle race team owner. But in a blaze of publicity in...
Pink paintjob for Paris Hilton's 125GP squad
17 December 2010 by
Not that Paris Hilton should be worried that her shock foray into Grand Prix racing would go unnoticed, the American socialite and tabloid media darling has made sure of maximum exposure after this...
Cal Crutchlow happy with shoulder recovery
17 December 2010 by
Cal Crutchlow has told MCN he is making excellent progress in his recovery following major shoulder surgery earlier this month. The former World Supersport champion underwent an operation to repair...
Randy de Puniet delays leg surgery
17 December 2010 by
Randy de Puniet won’t undergo surgery to remove metalwork from his damaged left leg until after the 2011 MotoGP world championship. The French rider had contemplated a winter operation to replace a...
BBC confirms MotoGP bid winner
17 December 2010 by
Century TV has won the contract to produce coverage of the MotoGP world championship for the BBC until the end of 2013 season. Rohan Browning, Managing Director of Century TV, said: “We are delighted...
Motorland Aragon takes ‘Best Grand Prix’ prize
17 December 2010 by
The impressive new Motorland Aragon track has become the first in history to claim the prestigious IRTA Best Grand Prix prize in its first season on the world championship calendar. The track was only...
Suzuki pressing on with 1000cc project
16 December 2010 by
Suzuki has begun ‘fundamental’ testing of its new 1000cc prototype engine for the new MotoGP class in 2012, despite its immediate future remaining shrouded in mystery. Although not understood to be as...
Yamaha made ‘tentative’ bid to break-up Valentino Rossi’s crew
16 December 2010 by
Yamaha made a tentative attempt to break up Valentino Rossi’s long serving and loyal crew earlier this year when the Italian star was finalising his big money switch to Ducati. Alex ‘Axel’ Briggs, a...
Engine upgrade vital for Yamaha, says Jerry Burgess
15 December 2010 by
Yamaha’s domination of the 800cc MotoGP era could end in 2011 unless major improvements are made to the performance of its factory YZR-M1 engine. Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess...
Simoncelli in Australia
15 December 2010 by
Me with Marco Simoncelli in Melbourne airport after this year’s Phillip Island MotoGP round.
Phillip Island warned over 2012 date change
14 December 2010 by
Phillip Island, popular venue for the Australian MotoGP race, will be kicked off the calendar unless organisers agree to stage the race six months earlier than its normal October slot in 2012. Dorna...
Engine issues tarnished Suzuki image
14 December 2010 by
Suzuki’s failure to comply with new cost-saving engine restrictions reflected badly on the Japanese factory, according to a senior race boss. In a bid to cut costs by saving engine mileage for 2010,...
Yamaha optimistic new Ben Spies deal is close
13 December 2010 by
Yamaha bosses remain optimistic that an extended MotoGP deal for impressive American Ben Spies will be finalised in the near future. Yamaha management and representatives of Spies have been locked in...
Honda fear Jorge Lorenzo in 2011
13 December 2010 by
Honda management fear the biggest threat to the Japanese factory’s bid to win the last 800cc MotoGP title in 2011 will come from Yamaha rival and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo. The Spaniard...
Ducati ponders seven-bike entry in 2012
08 December 2010 by
Ducati could extend its involvement in the new look 1000cc four-stroke MotoGP world championship to seven bikes in 2012. The Bologna factory will field six bikes in 2011 having agreed to lease a GP11...
New approach crucial to Jorge Lorenzo’s success
07 December 2010 by
A calmer approach and revised strategy proved crucial in helping Jorge Lorenzo become only the second Spanish rider in history to capture the MotoGP title in 2010. The 23-year-old was a model of...
Alex Criville warns Honda against major changes
07 December 2010 by
Former world champion Alex Criville has warned Honda not to make radical winter changes to its factory RC212V contender to help Dani Pedrosa win the last 800cc MotoGP title in 2011. Criville said...
Niall Mackenzie’s son lands 125GP ride
06 December 2010 by
Kenny Roberts and Kenny Roberts Junior, Graziano and Valentino Rossi and Ron and Leon Haslam are all father and sons to have raced in the Grand Prix world championship. Now Niall and Taylor Mackenzie...
Cal Crutchlow starts rehab after shoulder surgery
06 December 2010 by
Cal Crutchlow has started the long rehabilitation process after he underwent successful surgery on a long-standing left shoulder injury in Manchester last week. The Coventry rider needed tendon and...
Jerry Burgess expects big Honda challenge
06 December 2010 by
Jerry Burgess reckons Honda could pose the most serious threat to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning the MotoGP crown at the first attempt with Ducati in 2011. The Aussie, who is currently in Bologna...
Bradley Smith destroys Moto2 bike in test crash
03 December 2010 by
Bradley Smith escaped unhurt but destroyed a Tech 3 Racing Moto2 machine as he took part in a freezing cold and wet testing double-header in Spain earlier this week. The 20-year-old braved chilly...
Casey Stoner backs four-rider Honda assault
03 December 2010 by
Casey Stoner has dismissed concerns that Honda might struggle to give equal support to its quartet of factory riders in 2011. Stoner will ride with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso in the factory HRC...
Jorge Lorenzo expects strong challenge from Ben Spies
02 December 2010 by
MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo is expecting new factory Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies to pose a major threat in the 2011 premier class series. Spies will join the 23-year-old next year after the...
Antonio Banderas team quits Moto2
02 December 2010 by
The Moto2 team supported by Hollywood star Antonio Banderas has collapsed, leaving former 125GP world champion Gabor Talmacsi and American Kenny Noyes without a ride for 2011. Title sponsor Jack &...
Danny Webb secures 125GP ride with new Indian manufacturer
01 December 2010 by
Danny Webb will contest the last 125GP world championship next season and first ever Moto3 four-stroke series in 2012 for the Indian-based Mahindra and Mahindra squad. The British rider has agreed a a...
Cal Crutchlow to undergo shoulder surgery
01 December 2010 by
Cal Crutchlow is facing a race to be fit for the opening MotoGP test of 2011 having been due to undergo identical shoulder surgery to Valentino Rossi in Manchester today (Wednesday). The British rider...
Loris Capirossi expects Suzuki development to suffer in 2011
30 November 2010 by
Loris Capirossi reckons Suzuki will slip even further behind successful rivals Honda, Yamaha and Ducati by cutting its involvement in MotoGP next season to just one bike. The Japanese factory will...
Ben Spies closing in on new Yamaha contract
29 November 2010 by
Ben Spies is closing in on an extension to his current factory Yamaha MotoGP contract. Talks about extending the Texan’s current deal have been in progress for a number of weeks with Spies and Yamaha...
Bradley Smith set for second Moto2 test
27 November 2010 by
Bradley Smith will fly to Spain on his 20th birthday tomorrow (Sunday) for a two-day test session on the Tech 3 Moto2 machine. The Oxfordshire rider, who made his Tech 3 Moto2 debut in Valencia...