Austin MotoGP 2016

Hopkins targets podium in France

16 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins reckons a new Suzuki motor will significantly bolster his hopes of an instant return to the podium at the French GP in Le Mans. The Rizla Suzuki rider claimed his maiden premier...

Edwards targets recovery in Le Mans

16 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards believes he will be able to get his MotoGP world championship season back on track in France after his nightmare in the last two races. Taken out on the first lap in last month’s Turkish...

Nieto confirmed for Le Mans showdown

16 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki have confirmed that Fonsi Nieto will replace injured rider Olivier Jacque in this weekend’s Le Mans GP. Complications from the right arm injury Jacque suffered in Shanghai earlier this month...

Bayliss surprised but happy at Stoner form

15 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss has spoken of his surprise and delight at fellow Aussie Casey Stoner’s brilliant start to the MotoGP world championship. Stoner has won plaudits around...

Nieto to be confirmed as Jacque replacement

15 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nieto to be confirmed as Jacque replacement Fonsi Nieto will be confirmed as Olivier Jacque’s replacement in this weekend’s French GP in an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday). Confirmation of Nieto’s...

Stoner warns Elias for Le Mans

14 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has warned Honda rival Toni Elias to stop following him to set a fast lap time ahead of round five in Le Mans on May 20, 2007. Stoner’s patience snapped...

Jacque states desire to race in Le Mans

14 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Injured French rider Olivier Jacque is ready to declare himself fit to ride in his home GP at Le Mans this weekend, even though doctors believe he should withdraw. Jacque’s doctors are understood to...

Burgess: Stoner's success not all about Ducati

13 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess said Ducati’s incredible top speed advantage is not the lone reason why the Bologna manufacturer has made such a dominant start to the new 800cc MotoGP...

Rossi, Capirossi and KRJR give green light to Indy

12 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Safety improvements at the world famous Indianapolis circuit have been endorsed by the three-rider MotoGP Safety Commission. Safety plans for Indianapolis were presented to Valentino Rossi, Loris...

Electronics key to Ducati success

11 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Electronics are now the most important element in mounting a serious challenge in the MotoGP world championship, according to Ducati chief Claudio Domenicali. Domenicali said intricate engine...

Rossi: 'Bridgestone has made a big step'

11 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Valentino Rossi has praised the efforts of Michelin’s main tyre rival Bridgestone after the Japanese factory won three out of the opening four races in 2007. Rossi admitted...

Suzuki poised to begin talks with Hopkins and Vermeulen

10 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki bosses will begin formal discussions with factory duo John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen within the next five weeks. The Barcelona GP on June 10, 2007 will be when discussions commence, with a...

Pedrosa praises Stoner form

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has praised former world 250 championship rival Casey Stoner following the Australian’s storming start to his Ducati MotoGP career. Pedrosa and Stoner are long term rivals having faced...

Melandri joins Checa and Hayden in Eight-Hour frame

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri is the latest big-name MotoGP rider to be linked with a ride in the prestigious Suzuka Eight-hour endurance race. This year’s race is the 30th anniversary and Honda is...

Bridgestone boss hails Stoner performance

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone boss Hiroshi Yamada has spoken of his admiration for Aussie Casey Stoner after the factory Ducati rider claimed a hat-trick of victories in the first four races of 2007. Stoner has made an...

Martinez talks 2008 MotoGP plans

09 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Martinez, boss of the biggest team operating outside of the MotoGP world championship, has revealed he is locked in negotiations to join the premier class next season. Martinez, who runs five...

Hayden backs Honda to improve struggling 800s

08 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has backed Honda to drastically improve its struggling factory RC212V 800 after the American’s woeful start to 2007. The defence of Hayden’s world crown has been a...

Nieto favourite over Hodgson for Kawasaki ride

08 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Neil Hodgson’s hopes of a shock return to the MotoGP world championship in the French GP could be crushed. A verbal agreement between Kawasaki MotoGP bosses and PSG-1 Kawasaki World Superbike rider...

Three wins out of four for Stoner

06 May 2007 by Rob Hull

Casey Stoner has continued his superb start to the season by taking his third win of the season at the Shanghai GP at China. Stoner stretches his lead in the title race to 15 points over Valentino...

Lorenzo extends 250 Championship lead

06 May 2007 by Rob Hull

Defending 250cc World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo, celebrated his birthday weekend with a dominant performance, taking pole and the win in China. Despite a mistake early on in the race Lorenzo, who...

First 125 win for Pesek

06 May 2007 by Rob Hull

Czech rider Lucas Pesek scored his first Grand Prix victory this morning at the fourth race of the season in China. The Derbi rider took the win in front of a freight train of around ten riders all in...

Rossi storms to Shanghai pole

05 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will start tomorrow’s China GP from pole position after an awesome qualifying display this afternoon saw him smash the Shanghai pole record. The Italian clocked the only sub 1.59 lap...

Hopkins praises Bridgestone

04 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins has praised Bridgestone’s new 800 tyres after he topped the timesheets in Shanghai today. The factory Suzuki rider topped an incredibly close second free practice session this...

Pasini sits on provisional pole for 125s

04 May 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Italian Mattia Pasini has put himself on provisional pole position for Sunday’s 125 race in Shanghai. The Polaris World man has failed to finish a race so far this year on his Aprilia but is hoping...

Hodgson ready if Kawasaki come calling

04 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Neil Hodgson has told MCN he is ready and willing to replace factory Kawasaki rider Olivier Jacque if the Frenchman is forced to miss forthcoming MotoGP races through injury. Jacque suffered a deep...

Lorenzo on provisional 250 pole

04 May 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Jorge Lorenzo has secured provisional pole this afternoon in Shanghai by going fastest in the first qualifying practice sessions. The Spaniard was second quickest this morning in free practice, but...

Talmacsi continues impressive form in 125s

04 May 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Current 125 championship leader Gabor Talmacsi continued his run of good form this morning in Shanghai by posting the fastest time. The Hungarian Aprilia rider recorded a time of 2:14.777 just a...

Barbera quickest for 250s in Shanghai

04 May 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Aprilia rider Hector Barbera recorded the fastest time of the first practice for the 250s in Shanghai. The Spaniard, whose best result so far this season was a third place at the opening race in...

Arm injury rules Jacque out of Shanghai clash

04 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Olivier Jacque’s nightmare return to the MotoGP world championship continued in Shanghai today when a crash in this afternoon’s second free practice session left him with a serious puncture wound in...

Hopper springs Shanghai surprise

04 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins topped the timesheets in this afternoon’s second free practice session in Shanghai to show top speed isn’t everything in the MotoGP world championship. The factory Suzuki rider...

No new Suzuki motor until Le Mans

03 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Suzuki duo John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen will have to wait until the French GP at Le Mans before they can get their hands on Suzuki’s new GSV-R motor. As expected, this weekend’s Shanghai...

Edwards fit and ready with engine upgrade

03 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards reckons a painful right knee injury won’t be a severe hindrance in this weekend’s Shanghai GP. This is as he prepares to run the upgraded Yamaha YZR-M1 engine Valentino Rossi used last...

Stoner: Ducati start a dream come true

03 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has admitted the start to his Ducati career has been like a ‘dream come true’ as he goes in search of a third win in four races in this weekend’s China...

Michelin boss worried about China challenge

03 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Michelin tyre boss Jean-Philippe Weber has admitted he is ‘afraid’ ahead of the China GP in Shanghai following Valentino Rossi’s rear tyre disaster in the recent Istanbul race. Hard casing tyres will...

Engine lease deals way forward for MotoGP

03 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

More projects like Kenny Roberts’ Honda deal could be a two-fold solution to some of the current financial problems hitting MotoGP teams. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta believes other teams following...

Ecclestone: Rossi would have been mad to leave MotoGP

03 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi would have been ‘stupid’ to have made a multi-million pound switch to Ferrari’s Formula One team for 2007. That’s the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone – the man who was desperate...