Australian Grand Prix 2016

Vermeulen Q and A

07 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

The new generation 800cc machines have already changed MotoGP racing beyond recognition, with faster corners speeds and later braking seeing lap times already faster than the more powerful 990cc...

John Hopkins will race in the season’s opening MotoGP clash in Qatar after the American passed a medical check this morning at the Losail International Circuit. Hopkins though has rated his damaged...

Smith gets tech boost

06 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s hopes of enhancing his world championship reputation have been bolstered by the arrival of MotoGP-winning engineer Juan Martinez in his Repsol Honda 125 team. Martinez has been signed...

Yamaha confirms Fiat deal and reveals new colours

05 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

This is the first look at the Fiat-backed factory Yamaha YZR-M1 that Valentino Rossi hopes will win him back the MotoGP world championship in 2007. In one of the worst kept secrets of the paddock,...

OJ fitness boost

05 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Factory Kawasaki rider Olivier Jacque has declared himself fit and raring to go for the new MotoGP world championship campaign which gets underway in Qatar next week. The French rider is confident he...

Edwards: "Best winter ever"

05 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards says there’s no doubt that his winter testing campaign was the best in his entire career as he attempts to breaking his MotoGP victory duck in 2007. Delighted at the performance of...

New Ilmor engine planned

05 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jeremy McWilliams and Andrew Pitt could get another new spec engine in the Ilmor 800cc contender by the middle of the 2007 world championship. The British and Aussie riders got their first chance to...

Burgess eyes Pedrosa GP threat

05 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess has backed the Italian’s belief that factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa will pose the biggest threat in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. Rossi names Pedrosa...

Happy Max Biaggi

04 March 2007 by craig clues

pic of me at philip island gp 2005 with happy max

Roberts sees 700cc future

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts believes that the MotoGP world championship will see a further capacity reduction in the future, with four-stroke 700s or 600s the most likely step. On the eve of the new 800cc era that...

Gibernau rejects GP return

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau has turned down the chance to make an instant return to the MotoGP world championship in 2007. The former factory Honda rider was offered a job working as an expert pundit on Spanish TV...

Rossi backs Brit teen

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi has backed British teenager Bradley Smith to make a big impact in his second year on the world stage in 2007. Rossi praised the MotoGP Academy graduate last...

Laverty crashes

02 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

World 250 championship rookie Eugene Laverty finished pre-season testing for his first GP campaign with a crash at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The 20-year-old crashed his production LCR...

Vermeulen wants BHP

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Extra horsepower is one critical area that factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen believes the new GSV-R can still improve as the countdown to the 2007 MotoGP world championship gets closer. Although...

Qatar concern for Loris

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi is hoping front tyre concerns won’t ruin his hopes of winning the opening MotoGP race for the second year in succession. The Italian spoke to MCN about Qatar where several Bridgestone...

Edwards braking free

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Texas Tornado Colin Edwards believes Michelin’s new 16-inch front tyre has helped him make a massive step forward in braking and corner entry speeds on the new factory Yamaha YZR-M1. The American has...

Oz future in safe hands

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

The emergence of young talent like Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen has proven This is according to legendary Aussie crew chief Jerry Burgess, who is working with former champion, Valentino Rossi to...

Edwards: Plenty to come

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has warned his MotoGP rivals he has still got plenty more to come when the new season kicks off on March 10, 2007. This is following his recent impressive testing performances at Jerez...

M1 power delivery boost

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi reckons the secret to Yamaha’s brilliant winter testing performances has been the smooth power delivery on his new factory YZR-M1 800. Several of Rossi’s...

Checa chases front grip

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Carlos Checa reckons front-end feel on Honda’s new RC212V is the biggest area he needs to improve before the new MotoGP season kicks off in less than three weeks. Although Michelin has made a...

Stoner crashes

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Australian Casey Stoner walked away unhurt from a massive high-side at the end of the final day of testing in Jerez today. The 21-year-old crashed his factory Ducati Desmosedici GP7 in the stadium...

Rossi wins BMW

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi struck a crucial early psychological blow against his MotoGP rivals this afternoon with an incredible Jerez display that won him a new BMW Z4 Coupe. In what is surely a sign of things...

Tamada crashes

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Japanese rider Makoto Tamada has escaped injury in a crash on the second afternoon of the IRTA test in Jerez. The 30-year-old lost the front of his factory Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 800 at turn...

KR delays quit threat

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts will continue to run his MotoGP squad until the middle of the 2007 season at least despite fears that a money crisis could see the American legend quit after two races. Speaking to...

Stoner second in Jerez

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner’s impressive winter testing form continued today as he logged the second quickest time on a first day in Jerez badly affected by rain. The 21-year-old was just 0.071s slower than...

Hayden's woes continue

01 March 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden’s tough winter showed no signs of improvement today in Jerez as he finished way down the timesheets in 19th place. The American was a massive 3.338s slower than...