German MotoGP 2016

Jezza explains problems

Jezza explains problems

Engine management remains the new Ilmor 800’s biggest Achilles heel according to Jeremy McWilliams, following a tough Qatar test this week. The Ulsterman, who trailed last in the timesheets after...

Breakthrough for Vermeulen

Breakthrough for Vermeulen

A breakthrough in front-end set-up has left Chris Vermeulen upbeat after a difficult Qatar test this week for Chris Vermeulen. The Suzuki star found a set-up that allowed him to move away from usually...

Hopkins sees specialist

Hopkins sees specialist

Suzuki’s John Hopkins will see a specialist in Derby tonight as he battles to recover from broken bones sustained in a sickening 120mph+ highside in testing yesterday. The Rizla man has broken two...

Jezza: "work to do"

Jezza: "work to do"

Jeremy McWilliams rode through the pain barrier to complete 36 laps on the final day of testing in Qatar. The British veteran was not surprisingly last on the timesheets, with the new Ilmor still...

Barros crashes

Barros crashes

Brazilian veteran Alex Barros added his name to a long list of crashes at the Qatar test late on the final afternoon. The D’Antin Ducati rider lost the front end at Turn Two as he ended the day with...

Rossi Satisfied

Rossi Satisfied

Valentino Rossi finished the Doha IRTA test in third place as he got a reminder that Dani Pedrosa is likely to pose the biggest threat to him winning back the MotoGP world crown in 2007. Rossi’s best...

Hayden struggles

Hayden struggles

Reigning MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden slumped to 14th fastest on the final day of testing in Qatar as he tried to bounce back from a day two horror show. The Repsol Honda rider crashed twice...

Dani quickest

Dani quickest

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa topped the timesheets at the end of the IRTA test in Qatar today as he saved Honda red faces in the Middle East. The triple world champion set a blistering best of 1.55.471 on a...

Hopkins in pain

Hopkins in pain

American John Hopkins will fly back to the UK tonight and see a specialist in Derby next Monday to learn the extent of his injuries suffered in massive crash today in Qatar. The factory Suzuki rider...

Breaking news: Hopkins in hospital

Breaking news: Hopkins in hospital

American John Hopkins has been transferred to a Doha hospital after suffering a massive crash just before the lunch break on the final day of testing in Qatar. The Rizla Suzuki rider suffered a huge...

Edwards continues form

Edwards continues form

Texan Colin Edwards has continued to outpace his MotoGP rivals on race tyres in Qatar today. While John Hopkins topped the timesheets this morning, the factory Suzuki riders best time came on a...

Jezza and OJ return

Jezza and OJ return

Walking wounded Jeremy McWilliams has returned to action in Qatar this morning (Thursday, February 15, 2007) after he missed day two of the Doha session. The 42-year-old British rider completed 18...

Kawasaki boss talks

Kawasaki boss talks

The man leading up Kawasaki’s MotoGP effort has spoken about the 2007 season.  The team sat Race Director Ichiro Yoda down for a mammoth Q&A to keep Kawaski fans in the loop – here’s what he had to...

Stoner's first Duke crash

Stoner's first Duke crash

Casey Stoner suffered his first crash on board Ducati’s new GP7 800 Desmosedici in Qatar today but continued to overshadow experienced team mate Loris Capirossi. The Australian, who was third fastest...

Doha disaster for champ

Doha disaster for champ

Nicky Hayden suffered a nightmare second day in Qatar as the reigning world champion crashed his new Honda RC212V twice to slump to 11th fastest. The American lost the front both times – the first...

Rossi wants stability

Rossi wants stability

Valentino Rossi ended the second day of testing in Qatar today with the second fastest time as Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 800 contender continued to outgun its rivals. Rossi finished second overall behind...

Edwards leads Qatar after day two

Edwards leads Qatar after day two

Colin Edwards maintained his dominant Doha form by topping the IRTA test timesheets for the second successive day in Qatar. The American’s best time of 1.56.296 set this morning was unbeaten as the...

Spills in Qatar

Spills in Qatar

Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet both escaped injury from crashes today at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. New Honda recruit Nakano crashed at the penultimate corner as he failed to...

Jezza out

Jezza out

British veteran Jeremy McWilliams has missed the second day of testing in Qatar today. Returning to the track for the first time since a 120mph horror crash at Jerez at the end of November left him...

Yamaha lead

Yamaha lead

Factory Yamaha duo Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi continued to dominate the IRTA test in Qatar today after brilliant performances on the second morning. At lunch on day two, Edwards was again...

Jacque sits out day two

Jacque sits out day two

French rider Olivier Jacque will try and return to action tomorrow (Thursday) in Qatar having decided to sit out day two of the IRTA test in Doha. Circuit doctors cleared Jacque to ride following a...

OJ concussed in Qatar

OJ concussed in Qatar

French rider Olivier Jacque is a major doubt for the rest of the first IRTA test in Qatar after he suffered concussion in a heavy crash this afternoon. The factory Kawasaki rider was taken by...

Tough return for Jezza

Tough return for Jezza

British veteran Jeremy McWilliams bravely returned to track action in Qatar today after his injury nightmare. The Ilmor rider, hobbling around the paddock with a crutch, was unsurprisingly the slowest...

Hayden happier in Qatar

Hayden happier in Qatar

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden admitted he felt as happy as he has done all winter on Honda’s new RC212V as he finished the opening day in Qatar with the fifth best time. The American was only...

Capirossi crashes in Qatar

Capirossi crashes in Qatar

Loris Capirossi emerged unscathed after he crashed his new Ducati GP7 800 late on the first afternoon of the IRTA test in Qatar today. The Italian walked away uninjured after the crash at the first...

Rossi behind Edwards

Rossi behind Edwards

Just five days after he played second fiddle to factory Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards in Sepang, former world champion Valentino Rossi was beaten to the best time again by the American in Qatar...

Hayden storms desert

Hayden storms desert

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has topped the timesheets on the first morning of the IRTA test in Qatar. Just before 1pm local time, the American posted an impressive 1.57.087 to leapfrog Yamaha...

Rossi sets Qatar pace

Rossi sets Qatar pace

Valentino Rossi has laid down an early marker to his MotoGP rivals by breaking his own 990cc lap record on the opening morning of the Qatar IRTA test today. In what is a dress rehearsal for the...

Edwards' car switch

Edwards' car switch

Colin Edwards is ploughing some of his hard earned cash into what he hopes will be a lucrative retirement plan by forming his own supercar club in America. The factory Yamaha rider unveiled his master...

Yamaha levels field

Yamaha levels field

Yamaha bosses have given Colin Edwards cast iron assurances that his factory Yamaha 800cc machine will start the new season next month getting exactly the same treatment as Valentino Rossi. Edwards...

Rossi finds fitness

Rossi finds fitness

Valentino Rossi believes he is returning to his best fitness levels after he picked up the pace in Sepang this week as he continues to plot winning back the MotoGP crown in 2007. Rossi was 0.6s faster...

Rossi: No F1 distraction

Rossi: No F1 distraction

Valentino Rossi has rebuked suggestions that a potential switch to Formula One with Ferrari was partly to blame for his shock MotoGP world championship defeat in 2006. This time last year Rossi was...

OJ to repay Kawasaki

OJ to repay Kawasaki

Former world 250 champion Olivier Jacque is confident he can repay the faith Kawasaki MotoGP bosses have shown in him after the French rider was plucked from the wilderness to make a full-time premier...

Improved Michelin rear

Improved Michelin rear

Colin Edwards reckons Michelin’s aggressive winter development programme hasn’t only concentrated on the new impressive 16-inch front tyre. A batch of new spec rear tyres were tested at the Sepang...

Rossi on guard at turn one

Rossi on guard at turn one

Valentino Rossi admits he will be wary of potential first corners hazards in 2007 after his nightmare in the opening race in Jerez almost a year ago. Rossi’s wretched run of luck in 2006, which...

Kawasaki close the gap

Kawasaki close the gap

Factory Kawasaki rider Randy de Puniet reckons the Japanese factory’s new ZX-RR 800 will be competitive from the first race of the new MotoGP world championship. The French rider says the gap between...