Austin MotoGP 2016

German MotoGP: Cold front tyre caused Valentino Rossi’s big crash

15 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi blamed a cold front Bridgestone tyre for his high-speed crash in this morning’s opening practice session for the German MotoGP. The Italian lost the front as he tipped into the fast...

German MotoGP: Loris Capirossi nearing future decision

14 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi has hinted 2011 might be his last in MotoGP as he nears a decision on his future plans. The Italian veteran, who holds the record for number of Grand Prix appearances at 321, confirmed...

German MotoGP: No new Ducati for Nicky Hayden

14 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden will not debut Ducati’s updated GP11.1 MotoGP bike in Germany this weekend. Hayden had been pushing Ducati management to have the new Desmosedici for this weekend’s Sachsenring race, but...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi motivated for milestone 250th race

14 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi insists he’s still motivated for the challenge of improving Ducati’s flagging fortunes as the Italian prepares to start his 250th Grand Prix in Germany this weekend. Rossi has scored...

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo aims to build on Mugello success

14 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can mount a stronger challenge to Repsol Honda rival Casey Stoner in the coming weeks after his 2011 MotoGP title tilt gained vital momentum in Mugello recently. Lorenzo...

Ben Spies expects tougher challenge in Germany

14 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies believes this weekend’s German MotoGP round will pose a tougher challenge for Yamaha than the previous two races in Assen and Mugello. Spies and the factory Yamaha team go into this...

Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso against team orders

12 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

The Repsol Honda team should never contemplate controversial team orders, according to factory riders Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso. The issue of whether team orders should be considered arose...

Ben Spies convinced he can win more MotoGP races

11 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies reckons his stunning recent debut victory in Assen has given him the confidence and self-belief to go on and win more MotoGP races in the future. Spies joined an illustrious list of American...

Casey Stoner doubts 1000cc bikes will increase overtaking

11 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner fears the switch to a 1000cc format for 2012 will not increase overtaking and make racing a much more exciting spectacle than the current 800cc...

Sylvain Guintoli remains on standby for Pramac Ducati

11 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Sylvain Guintoli will still attend this weekend’s German MotoGP round, despite Loris Capriossi’s intention to make a shock return from injury. The Italian veteran looked like missing the Sachsenring...

Race Direction responds to Dani Pedrosa criticism

08 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Race Director Paul Butler has responded to criticism from Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa over the handling of his controversial collision with Marco Simoncelli in Le Mans. Pedrosa was left with a broken...

Casey Stoner plays down Yamaha recovery

07 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner doesn’t believe Yamaha has taken a big step forward in performance after Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo won the last two MotoGP races to halt Honda’s brilliant start to 2011. Before Spies...

Honda to introduce updates in Germany

07 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Honda will roll out a new electronics package and swingarm for the next round of the 2011 MotoGP world championship in Germany. Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli all evaluated a new...

Was Dani Pedrosa right to snub Marco Simoncelli handshake?

06 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Tension between Dani Pedrosa and Marco Simoncelli was at fever pitch in Mugello last weekend as the pair came face to face for the first time since their controversial collision in Le...

Dorna plans US triple-header, no Abu Dhabi

06 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

America could have three races on the MotoGP world championship calendar in 2013, while plans to race in Abu Dhabi have been scrapped. The Laguna Seca circuit in California has a contract to host the...

Casey Stoner explains Karel Abraham bust-up

05 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner will try and stage clear the air talks with MotoGP rookie Karel Abraham in Germany later this month after the pair were involved in a heated exchange in pitlane during yesterday’s Mugello...

‘Pathetic’ crash fails to slow Casey Stoner

05 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner bounced back from what he described as a ‘pathetic’ slow speed crash to smash the lap record during a one-day test at the Mugello circuit in Italy yesterday (Monday). The Australian had a...

Andrea Dovizioso confident of title challenge

05 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Italian Andrea Dovizioso is confident he can sustain his 2011 MotoGP world championship challenge as the season approaches the halfway stage. Dovizioso was runner-up in his home race at Mugello last...

Leon Haslam to ride Suter/BMW 1000cc MotoGP bike

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Leon Haslam could give his impressions and feedback on the new Suter/BMW 1000cc MotoGP bike in Mugello today. The British rider is at the Mugello circuit preparing for a BMW World Superbike test...

Mugello MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo thrilled after rousing fightback

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo cut Casey Stoner’s lead in the MotoGP world championship to just 19-points after he produced a thrilling fightback to win yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. The factory Yamaha...

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner squanders big lead

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner blamed a rear tyre pressure blunder after he squandered a big lead in yesterday’s Italian MotoGP race to eventually finish third. Stoner looked like he was cruising to a 28th MotoGP...

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi humbled on home soil

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s Ducati debut on Italian soil saw him suffer a crushing defeat in front of his adoring home fans at Mugello yesterday. Riding the new GP11.1 for the second race, the updated...

Mugello MotoGP: Ben Spies rues early errors

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies said two early mistakes cost him the chance to follow up his brilliant debut win in Assen last month with another podium finish in Mugello yesterday. Spies finished in fourth position after...

Mugello MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow retires from top ten

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow had a disastrous Mugello MotoGP debut yesterday, the British rider retiring after only six laps with a lack of confidence in the front-end of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine. Crutchlow...

Mugello MotoGP: Pressure builds on Scott Redding

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding has been warned his poor run of results in the Moto2 world championship must improve quickly after he slumped to a disappointing 27th place in Mugello. The 18-year-old threatened to pull...

Mugello MotoGP: Bradley Smith extends podium streak

04 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s golden run of form in his maiden Moto2 campaign continued in Mugello yesterday after the Oxfordshire rider fought for victory throughout a gripping Italian Grand Prix. The Tech 3...

Mugello MotoGP: Lorenzo takes second victory of season

03 July 2011 by Tom Cambio

Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) took his second victory of the season at Mugello, after battling with Repsol Honda team mates Andrea Dovizioso and Casey Stoner who...

Mugello MotoGP: Márquez takes Moto2 victory

03 July 2011 by Tom Cambio

Marc Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) took his third victory of the season at Mugello, after winning a hard fought race-long battle with Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) and Bradley Smith...

Mugello MotoGP: Terol steals 125 win

03 July 2011 by Tom Cambio

Nicolas Terol (Bankia Aspar Team 125cc) stole a brilliant win from Avant-AirAsia-Ajo rider Johann Zarco at Mugello, patiently stalking the Frenchman thoughout the second half of the race before...

Mugello MotoGP: Ducati struggles continue for Valentino Rossi

02 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will start his first race for Ducati on Italian soil from a lowly 12th position tomorrow after another disastrous qualifying session at his beloved Mugello circuit. The 32-year-old...

Mugello MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli vows to avoid mistakes

02 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli has vowed to cut out the big mistakes that have made him public enemy number one in 2011, as he goes in search of his maiden MotoGP podium on home soil tomorrow. Simoncelli will start...

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner ‘I could have gone faster’

02 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner set the fastest ever lap of the Mugello circuit in Italy today and then said he could have gone even faster in better conditions. Earlier light rain that disrupted the 125GP session had...

Mugello MotoGP: Marquez snatches Moto2 pole

02 July 2011 by Tom Cambio

Marc Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) managed to snatch his second pole position of the season back from Alex de Angelis (JIR Moto2) in the final lap of Moto2 qualifying at Mugello. British Tech 3...

Mugello MotoGP: Stoner sets fastest ever lap at Mugello

02 July 2011 by Tom Cambio

Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) set the fastest ever lap on two wheels at Mugello in qualifying this afternoon to clinch the twenty-seventh pole position of the Australian’s MotoGP career. With 37 minutes...

Mugello MotoGP: Zarco takes first pole of season

02 July 2011 by Tom Cambio

Johann Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) qualified fastest in changeable conditions at Mugello to secure his first pole position start of the season, lapping 1.6 seconds faster than RW Racing GP rider Luis...

Mugello MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa back from injury hell

01 July 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has spoken of his frustration at having his 2011 MotoGP world title hopes destroyed by Marco Simoncelli after he made an impressive return to action in Mugello earlier today. Riding for...