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June

Assen MotoGP: Rains fails to halt Marquez

28 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Assen MotoGP: Rains fails to halt Marquez

A wet start failed to dampen Marc Marquez’s blistering start to 2014, with the reigning champion taking his eight successive win of the season. After two sighting laps and a chance to change bikes the...

Assen Moto2: West takes victory in wet race

28 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Assen Moto2: West takes victory in wet race

Anthony West took his first Grand Prix victory in 11 years in a wet Moto2 race at Assen today. Brit Sam Lowes took the lead early in the race before being relegated to second by Simone Corsi. Lowes...

Assen Moto3: Marquez takes second successive victory

28 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Assen Moto3: Marquez takes second successive victory

Spaniard Alex Marquez took his second successive victory in the Moto3 race at Assen ahead of team-mate and compatriot Alex Rins. Portugese ride Miguel Oliveira completed the podium in third place...

Cal Crutchlow in Suzuki talks

27 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow in Suzuki talks

Suzuki could offer Cal Crutchlow an early escape from his Ducati hell. The British rider’s personal manager Bob Moore met with senior Suzuki management during the recent Catalunya race in Barcelona,...

LCR Honda aiming to retain Stefan Bradl for 2015

24 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

LCR Honda aiming to retain Stefan Bradl for 2015

Stefan Bradl’s Honda MotoGP future maybe hanging in the balance, despite LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello’s determination to offer the German a new deal. The 2011 Moto2 world champion has scored just one...

Aleix Espargaro: ‘I want a factory bike next year’

23 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Aleix Espargaro: ‘I want a factory bike next year’

Aleix Espargaro wants to take on younger brother Pol on an identical factory-backed Yamaha in 2015, despite the Spaniard emerging as a key target for Suzuki’s returning MotoGP squad. The Spaniard is...

Andrea Dovizioso nearing future decision

20 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso nearing future decision

Andrea Dovizioso is confident he will have decided on his 2015 plans by the next race in Assen, with Ducati and Suzuki leading the chase for the Italian’s signature. The dilemma for the former 125GP...

Tech 3: Pressure not building on Bradley Smith

20 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3: Pressure not building on Bradley Smith

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal says pressure is not building on British rider Bradley Smith to improve his results to bolster his chances of keeping his place in the leading no-factory...

Andrea Iannone targets factory Ducati promotion

19 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Iannone targets factory Ducati promotion

Andrea Iannone is desperate to secure a factory Ducati ride in 2015 – despite claiming to have an offer to join Suzuki’s new 1000cc project. The Italian is closely monitoring Ducati’s factory squad to...

Yamaha delighted with Valentino Rossi’s resurgence

19 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha delighted with Valentino Rossi’s resurgence

Senior Yamaha management have admitted being delighted and surprised by Valentino Rossi’s resurgent form in the 2014 MotoGP world championship. The Italian’s brilliant second place in Sunday’s...

Honda plays down pay cut demand to Dani Pedrosa

18 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda plays down pay cut demand to Dani Pedrosa

Honda has denied putting pressure on Dani Pedrosa to swallow a massive pay cut to keep his prized seat alongside Marc Marquez in 2015. It has been rumoured that HRC is only willing to offer the...

Leon Camier remains on Aspar Honda standby

18 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Leon Camier remains on Aspar Honda standby

Leon Camier will remain on standby for the Aspar Honda squad for the foreseeable future in case Nicky Hayden has any additional problems with a long-running right wrist injury. British rider Camier...

Mixed reaction to F1 corner test in Catalunya

18 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Mixed reaction to F1 corner test in Catalunya

A special 30-minute test on a revised layout of the Catalunya track divided the MotoGP grid earlier this week. The majority of the premier class field, including reigning world champion Marc Marquez,...

Marc Marquez: Dani was faster than me

17 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez: Dani was faster than me

Marc Marquez believes that Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa was the faster rider in the closing stages of a memorable Catalunya MotoGP race last Sunday. Marquez had to dig deep to claim a seventh...

Valentino Rossi hails ‘strong and brave’ Marquez

17 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hails ‘strong and brave’ Marquez

Valentino Rossi has heaped praise on runaway MotoGP world championship leader Marc Marquez after the Spaniard prevailed in a thrilling final lap battle for the third time in 2014 in Spain last...

Dani Pedrosa: No regrets over last lap strategy in Catalunya

17 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa: No regrets over last lap strategy in Catalunya

Dani Pedrosa says he doesn’t regret his last lap strategy after the Repsol Honda rider failed to stop HRC teammate Marc Marquez from claiming a seventh straight win in a classic Catalunya battle last...

Bradley Smith boosted by engine braking improvements

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith boosted by engine braking improvements

Bradley Smith put a tough Catalunya GP weekend behind him today when the British rider set the second fastest time during a post race test session in Spain. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider raised his...

Rossi and Lorenzo test 2015 Yamaha motor

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Rossi and Lorenzo test 2015 Yamaha motor

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo got their first chance to test a 2015-spec factory Yamaha engine during today’s post race test session at the Catalunya track near Barcelona. Next year’s motor was...

Andrea Dovizioso: Difficult to analyse Suzuki performance

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso: Difficult to analyse Suzuki performance

Andrea Dovizioso says it is too difficult to assess the performance potential of Suzuki’s new 1000cc project after today’s one-day post race test at the Catalunya track in Spain. The Italian has been...

Cal Crutchlow: 'I'm still motivated'

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow: 'I'm still motivated'

Cal Crutchlow reckons his motivation has not suffered a massive jolt after a nightmare start to his Ducati career. The British rider retired with an electronics issue in yesterday’s thrilling...

Catalunya MotoGP: Magnificent seven for Marquez

15 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Catalunya MotoGP: Magnificent seven for Marquez

Marc Marquez continued his amazing start to the 2014 season, picking up his seventh win from seven races at the Catalunya circuit today under stormy skies. Marquez had to fight hard for victory as the...

Catalunya Moto2: Rabat cruises to victory

15 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Catalunya Moto2: Rabat cruises to victory

Rabat extended his Moto2 championship lead with a dominant victory at Catalunya today. The Spaniard started from pole position and after early challenges from team-mate Mika Kallio and Maverick...

Catalunya Moto3: Marquez eases to victory

15 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Catalunya Moto3: Marquez eases to victory

Spaniard Alex Marquez secured his second Moto3 victory in dominant fashion after his team-mate was forced to retire. Alex Rins led the early stages of the race by a comfortable margin before he was...

Catalunya Moto2: Rabat takes home pole

14 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Catalunya Moto2: Rabat takes home pole

Moto2 championship leader Esteve Rabat will start from pole position at his home race ahead of team-mate Mika Kallio and Moto2 rookie Maverick Vinales. 2012 Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese will head the...

Catalunya MotoGP: Pedrosa takes surprise pole

14 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Catalunya MotoGP: Pedrosa takes surprise pole

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa claimed a surprise pole position ahead of tomorrow’s MotoGP race at the Catalunya circuit. Pedrosa’s pole position breaks team-mate Marc Marquez’s run of six previous...

Catalunya MotoGP: Marquez takes pole

14 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Catalunya MotoGP: Marquez takes pole

Estrella Galicia Honda rider Alex Marquez will start tomorrow’s Moto3 race at the Catalunya circuit from pole position after setting a best time of 1:50.232. The Spaniard will be joined on the front...

Tech 3 hoping to keep Pol Espargaro in 2015

10 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 hoping to keep Pol Espargaro in 2015

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal is hoping Jorge Lorenzo inks a new factory Yamaha deal, so he can keep reigning Moto2 world champion Pol Espargaro in 2015. Should a shock switch to Ducati or Suzuki...

Jack Miller set for Moto2 move with Marc VDS?

10 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Jack Miller set for Moto2 move with Marc VDS?

Rising Aussie star Jack Miller is on the brink of clinching a Moto2 move to the high profile Marc VDS Racing squad for 2015. MCN understands the current Moto3 world championship leader, who crashed...

MotoGP decision looming for Marc VDS Racing

09 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Marc VDS Racing– one of the highest profile teams outside of MotoGP – could be thwarted in its bid to move to the premier class in 2015. The Belgian-based squad, which has dominated Moto2 this season with Tito Rabat and Mika Kallio, has again launched ambitious plans to move into MotoGP after a failed attempt last season. Marc VDS boss Michael Bartholemy has already entered lengthy negotiations...

Honda: No regrets losing Jack Miller to KTM

09 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda has denied it was a major mistake not keeping Aussie sensation Jack Miller in its Moto3 stable for 2014. Miller impressed on an underpowered FTR-Honda last season but moved to join the high profile Red Bull KTM squad before HRC confirmed it was upping its effort in Moto3 with a completely revamped machine. Miller has already established himself as one of the brightest future prospects in...

MotoGP riders to test revised Sachsenring layout next month

05 June 2014 by Mattew Birt

MotoGP riders to test revised Sachsenring layout next month

A select group of top MotoGP riders will take part in a special pre-race test in the Sachsenring next month to assess whether the German venue’s jaw-dropping Turn 11 needs modifying for 2015. The...

Ducati: Essential to keep Andrea Dovizioso in 2015

05 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Ducati: Essential to keep Andrea Dovizioso in 2015

Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna reckons it is essential to keep Andrea Dovizioso on a Desmosedici machine in 2015. The Bologna factory is facing stiff competition from Suzuki for the experienced Italian’s...

Freddie Spencer marvels at Marquez talent

04 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Freddie Spencer marvels at Marquez talent

American legend Freddie Spencer says he is not surprised to see Marc Marquez continue his record-breaking exploits in MotoGP, with the Spaniard unbeaten so far in six races in 2014. Marquez smashed...

Bradley Smith not concerned by recent slump

04 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith not concerned by recent slump

Bradley Smith has denied the pressure is building on the British rider after his early crash out of last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider made a brilliant...

Nicky Hayden has successful wrist surgery

03 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has successful wrist surgery

Nicky Hayden has undergone successful surgery on the long-running right wrist injury that forced the American to withdraw from last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. Hayden has been plagued...

Ducati starts work on 2015 Desmosedici

03 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Ducati starts work on 2015 Desmosedici

Ducati has started working on the radical revamp of its Desmosedici machine it hopes will finally end a winless run stretching back to the end of 2010. That’s the good news for British rider Cal...