Austin MotoGP 2016

British MotoGP: Nicky Hayden expects tough weekend

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is anticipating a tough British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend as he goes in search of his first top five finish of the season. Ducati’s new factory GP12 is still not capable of...

British MotoGP: Stefan Bradl exceeding early expectations

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

German Stefan Bradl says he has exceeded his own expectations with a series of impressive performances in his rookie MotoGP campaign heading to this weekend’s British round at Silverstone. The...

British MotoGP: Chatter fear for Casey Stoner

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

The severe chatter issue that has plagued the defence of Casey Stoner’s MotoGP title defence in 2012 is almost certain to play a major factor in the Australian’s bid to claim victory in his final...

British MotoGP: Karel Abraham plans to race at Silverstone

13 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Karel Abraham has confirmed his intention to compete in this weekend’s British Grand Prix, having initially been a serious doubt with a hand injury. The Czech Republic rider suffered heavy falls in...

Poll: Rossi or Agostini?

13 June 2012 by MCN

Giacomo Agostini is 70 this weekend and MCN will feature an exclusive interview with the 15-times world champion next Wednesday. In the meantime, it seems like the perfect time to revisit that racing...

Jorge Lorenzo signs new two-year deal with Yamaha

12 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has crushed intense speculation that he would switch to Honda next season to replace Casey Stoner by signing a new two-year deal to remain with Yamaha’s factory squad. The Spaniard has...

Casey Stoner plays down wild card return in 2013

11 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has played down the prospect of making special wild card appearances in the future after deciding to retire from full-time racing in MotoGP at the end of 2012. Although the Aussie hasn’t...

Dani Pedrosa: Future speculation no distraction

11 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has denied intense speculation about his MotoGP future will impact on his chances of capturing the premier class world title for the first time this season. The Spaniard’s future at...

Alvaro Bautista aims for Tech 3 battle

11 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista has set his sights on challenging Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow in forthcoming MotoGP races. The Gresini Honda rider enjoyed his best ride...

Rookie rule set to be axed in MotoGP?

08 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Honda could be on the brink of winning its fight to get the rookie rule abolished in MotoGP, paving the way for Spanish starlet Marc Marquez to move straight into its official factory team in...

Jorge Lorenzo: Front tyre switch is right choice

08 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo believes it is the right decision to introduce a new standard front tyre from next weekend’s British Grand Prix onwards. From the Silverstone round, the entire field will have to use a...

Electronics update improves acceleration for Ben Spies

07 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

A revised electronics package helped give Ben Spies improved acceleration performance with his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine during yesterday’s Motorland Aragon MotoGP test. Spies put in more crucial...

Jorge Lorenzo not convinced by new Yamaha motor

07 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo remains unconvinced about the performance potential of a new Yamaha YZR-M1 motor, despite topping the timesheets at the end of a one-day MotoGP test session at the Motorland Aragon track...

Cal Crutchlow happy with Yamaha upgrades

07 June 2012

Cal Crutchlow finally got chance to make a thorough assessment of a new Yamaha engine and revised electronics package during a successful one-day test at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain...

Jorge Lorenzo fastest at Motorland Aragon test

06 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo topped the timesheets in scorching hot conditions at the end of a one-day MotoGP test at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today. The factory Yamaha rider clocked a best time...

James Ellison vindicated as Shane Byrne finds chatter in Catalunya

06 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Shane Byrne struggled with the same chatter issues that have plagued James Ellison on the Paul Bird Motorsport Aprilia ART machine when he rode during the Catalunya MotoGP test earlier this...

Casey Stoner bemused by front tyre switch

06 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner says he can’t understand why the MotoGP field will switch to a new softer construction front tyre from next weekend’s British Grand Prix onwards. The Australian...

New swingarm confusion for Valentino Rossi

05 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted he is struggling to explain why a new aluminium swingarm he tested with positive results in Mugello recently created major chatter issues during yesterday’s Catalunya...

No gain from new Yamaha engine, say Lorenzo and Spies

05 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies reported only minimal improvements from a new factory Yamaha YZR-M1 motor they tested at the Catalunya track near Barcelona yesterday. After repeated requests for better...

Dani Pedrosa blasts front tyre change

05 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has launched a scathing attack on the decision to introduce a new softer construction Bridgestone front tyre from the British Grand Prix onwards. Pedrosa and Repsol Honda team-mate Casey...

New electronics help Andrea Dovizioso top Catalunya test

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

A new electronics package on Andrea Dovizioso’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine helped the Italian top the timesheets at the end of today’s MotoGP test at the Catalunya track. Boosted by his...

Cal Crutchlow escapes injury in high-speed test crash

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow has walked away from a high-speed fourth gear crash in the early stages of today’s MotoGP test session at the Catalunya circuit in Spain. The British rider was on only his second fast...

Andrea Dovizioso thrilled with first Yamaha rostrum

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso held off a fierce late challenge from Casey Stoner to record his first podium for Yamaha in yesterday’s Catalunya MotoGP race. Dovizioso was never outside of the top three after the...

Casey Stoner not worried by Lorenzo’s lead

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner says he’s not worried about Jorge Lorenzo’s healthy points lead in the MotoGP world championship after the Australian saw his quest for a 20th successive podium end in Catalunya...

No seventh heaven for Valentino Rossi

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi got a stark reminder of how difficult it is to challenge for the podium on Ducati’s factory GP12 machine yesterday when he finished the Catalunya Grand Prix in seventh place. Rossi...

Ben Spies reflects on missed podium chance

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies wasted a golden opportunity to claim a much-needed first podium finish of 2012 in Catalunya yesterday. Spies had just passed Dani Pedrosa for the lead on lap three when he ran wide and...

Dani Pedrosa frustrated as winless run continues

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa could not hide his frustration after his winless streak in the MotoGP world championship extended to seven races in Catalunya. Without a win since last October’s Twin Ring Motegi race in Japan, Pedrosa led his home race for long spells, only to be denied by a stunning late charge from fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo. Pedrosa led for the opening six laps before Lorenzo seized the...

Cal Crutchlow still searching for first MotoGP podium

04 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow blamed a lack of rear grip as he failed for the third time in 2012 to convert a front row start into a podium finish in yesterday’s Catalunya MotoGP race. The British rider held fourth...

Jorge Lorenzo wins home race at Catalunya

03 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo showed why Yamaha is so desperate to keep and why Honda might have to break the bank to sign him for 2013 after he claimed a third win of the season in his home race at Catalunya...

Andrea Iannone wins Moto2 thriller in Catalunya

03 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Iannone claimed his first win of 2012 at the end of thrilling and controversial Catalunya Moto2 race today. The Italian held off the relentless challenge of Thomas Luthi and home crowd...

Maverick Vinales dominates home race in Catalunya

03 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Maverick Vinales won his second Moto3 race of the season in front of his crowd at the Catalunya circuit today. The Spanish rider had been locked in an exciting early battle with Le Mans winner Louis...

Valentino Rossi ninth but happier with Ducati set-up

02 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi may have only qualified his factory Ducati GP12 in ninth place for tomorrow’s Catalunya MotoGP race, but the Italian declared himself happy with set-up improvements made after a tough...

Cal Crutchlow expects tough battle in Catalunya

02 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow says he is anticipating a tough battle in tomorrow’s Catalunya MotoGP race after he qualified on the front row of the grid for the third time in 2012 earlier today. The 26-year-old will...

Marc Marquez claims fourth straight pole

02 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez claimed his fourth successive Moto2 pole position in 2012 in front his home crowd at the Catalunya track near Barcelona this afternoon. The Spaniard set a best time of 1.46.187 to deny...

Cal Crutchlow storms to front row, Stoner on pole

02 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow will start from the front row of the grid for the third time in the opening five races of 2012 at Catalunya tomorrow having qualified his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine in third...

Moto3: Maverick Vinales claims home pole position in Catalunya

02 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Maverick Vinales will start his home Moto3 race tomorrow from pole position after topping the qualifying timesheets in scorching hot conditions at the Catalunya track near Barcelona. A lap of 1.52.160 secured Vinales his second successive pole of 2012 by 0.268s, with Malaysian Zulfhami Khairuddin claiming a brilliant second on the grid. French GP winner Louis Rossi completed the front row...