Japan MotoGP 2016

Assen MotoGP: Espargaro battles with Redding to take win

29 June 2013 by Liam Marsden

Spaniard Pol Espargaro battled hard to take victory in the Moto2 race at Assen today ahead of championship leader Scott Redding. With five laps remaining Redding took to the lead and looked strong...

Assen MotoGP: Salom takes Moto3 win

29 June 2013 by Liam Marsden

Red Bull KTM rider Luis Salom took victory in a dry Moto3 race at Assen today with a brave last lap pass on title rival Maverick Vinales. Vinales led going into the final few corners, but a brave move...

Dutch TT: Cal blazes to pole!

28 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Cal Crutchlow has blazed to pole position for tomorrow’s Dutch TT, blowing away his rivals in an exciting session. Crutchlow’s late lap of 1’34.398 was 0.357 faster than that of second placed Marc...

Jorge Lorenzo completes successful collarbone surgery

28 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has undergone successful surgery to plate and screw the left collarbone he broke in a high-speed crash during a rain-hit second MotoGP practice session at Assen in Holland yesterday. The...

Marquez: ‘It is not the same without Lorenzo’

27 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Rookie Marc Marquez reckons Jorge Lorenzo’s injury absence from this weekend’s legendary Dutch TT is a big blow for the 2013 MotoGP world championship chase. Less than 24 hours before a heavy FP2...

Valentino Rossi: Extra motivation and pressure after Lorenzo crash

27 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted that Jorge Lorenzo’s Dutch injury disaster has give him more motivation but extra pressure to try and battle with factory Honda duo Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez in...

Crutchlow expects Lorenzo to bounce back from injury blow

27 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow said he fully expects Jorge Lorenzo to bounce back quickly from a broken left collarbone the reigning world champion suffered in a high speed practice crash at Assen...

Dutch TT: Lorenzo breaks collarbone in practice smash, out this weekend

27 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo has broken his collarbone in a free practice smash at Assen today. The incident, to his previously damaged left shoulder, will rule him out of this weekend’s...

Valentino Rossi curious and positive in Assen

26 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Curious and positive is how Valentino Rossi arrived in Assen today ahead of arguably the most important weekend for the Italian since he returned to Yamaha’s factory squad in 2013. Tweaks to the...

Cal Crutchlow looking to bounce back in Assen

26 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow is determined to bounce back from his crash out of podium contention in Catalunya earlier this month with a return to the top five in this weekend’s Assen clash. The...

Bradley Smith aiming to stay in Tech 3 Yamaha

26 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

With a contract for 2014 already signed and sealed, it is no surprise that British rider Bradley Smith spoke of his intention to be part of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad in 2014 on the eve of this...

Suzuki keen to retain Randy de Puniet for 2014 testing role

25 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Randy de Puniet could have his testing contract at Suzuki extended for 2014 after impressing in three appearances on the Japanese factory’s new 1000cc machine. The current Aspar Aprilia rider has a...

Marc Marquez still not thinking about title challenge

25 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez may have only finished off the podium once in his opening six MotoGP races but the rookie sensation is still refusing to think he is a world title challenger in...

Jorge Lorenzo surprised with 50% win rate

25 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo says he didn’t expect to have won half of the opening six races of the 2013 MotoGP world championship. The Spaniard heads into this weekend’s legendary Dutch TT...

Fuel efficiency key challenge for Suzuki

24 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Fuel consumption for the new 20-litre fuel tank limit will be one of the biggest challenges facing Suzuki as it develops a new 1000cc factory prototype machine in readiness for a MotoGP return in...

Honda denies production racer earmarked for Nakagami

24 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda has denied one of its new RC213V production MotoGP racers due out in 2013 is destined for emerging Japanese Moto2 talent Takaaki Nakagami. HRC is keen to see a promising young Japanese rider in...

Aspar contemplating Yamaha engine deal for 2014

21 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Aprilia’s MotoGP effort could be dealt a major blow with its most high profile and successful squad contemplating ditching its ART machine for 2014. The Spanish-based Aspar squad, which has dominated...

Ducati confident Ben Spies can return in Laguna or Indianapolis

21 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ducati is hoping injured Texan Ben Spies can be fit enough to return to MotoGP action on home soil in Laguna Seca or Indianapolis. The 2009 World Superbike champion believes the California clash on...

Alvaro Bautista not shocked by Suzuki pace

21 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Former Suzuki MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista says he has not been surprised at the impressive testing pace shown by the Japanese factory’s new 1000cc machine in testing this week. Frenchman Randy de...

LCR Honda unlikely to expand MotoGP effort in 2014

21 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Lucio Cecchinello’s LCR Honda squad appears to have abandoned plans to expand to a two-rider effort in the 2014 MotoGP world championship. Before the start of the current season the Italian outlined...

Thailand eyeing MotoGP race for 2015

21 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Thailand could be the first country to cash in on MotoGP’s booming popularity in South East Asia by joining the world championship schedule in 2015. Interest in South East Asia has soared in the last...

Michael Laverty to be given 2014 MotoGP deal

21 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Irishman Michael Laverty has been told he will get another crack at MotoGP in 2014 after some impressive performances on Paul Bird’s British-built PBM chassis. The former BSB winner failed to finish...

Alvaro Bautista explains Catalunya near miss with Valentino Rossi

20 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista has defended himself against fierce criticism from Valentino Rossi after the pair came close to being involved in a controversial first lap collision for the second race in succession...

Valentino Rossi boosted by braking breakthrough

20 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hailed his successful Motorland Aragon test appearance as one of his best days since returning to Yamaha, despite finishing almost a second slower than factory YZR-M1 teammate Jorge...

Dani Pedrosa rules out switch to 2014 Honda

20 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Dani Pedrosa will not switch to Honda’s new 2014 factory RC213V after he completed a very brief stint on next year’s model at the Motorland Aragon yesterday...

Jorge Lorenzo heads Aragon test

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo topped the MotoGP test timesheets at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today on a day that Honda’s new 2014 RC213V made its European track debut in dry...

Honda and Ducati confirm Scott Redding interest

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda and Ducati have admitted being seriously interested in Scott Redding for 2014, with the British rider in talks about a new production RC213V ride or Desmosedici prototype berth next...

Honda denies production bike race plan rumour

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda has rubbished rumours that it will race its new production Honda RC213V in the last eight races of the 2013 MotoGP campaign. The new bike, which HRC plans to sell five of for around £850,000...

Dorna open to Indianapolis leaving MotoGP schedule early

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

The Indianapolis MotoGP race in August could be the last to be held at the legendary American motorsport venue, with Dorna open to the race ending its agreement one year early. The iconic Indianapolis...

Rain ruins new Honda debut in Aragon

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Rain stopped Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez from making their debut on the new 2014 factory Honda RC213V bike at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today. Light rain fell intermittently this morning...

First pics: Honda reveals 2014 factory RC213V in Aragon

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

This is the first look at Honda’s new 2014 factory Honda RC213V machine, which was scheduled to make its European track debut at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain today. One bike each for HRC duo...

Nicky Hayden unlikely to switch to new Ducati in Assen

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden reckons he is unlikely to begin racing Ducati’s new ‘lab’ bike in Assen next weekend because it is no better than his current factory GP13 Desmosedici. Ducati has invested vast...

New Suzuki shines on European track debut

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki’s new 1000cc MotoGP machine produced an eye-catching performance on its first test outside of Japan yesterday (Monday), with test rider Randy de Puniet finishing just over 0.7s off the best...

Bike development behind Suzuki’s delayed MotoGP return

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has confirmed that it has delayed its return to MotoGP action until 2015 to focus on development of its new 1000cc machine. When the Japanese factory suspended its premier class project at the...

Cal Crutchlow praises ‘unbelievable’ Jorge Lorenzo

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow hailed Jorge Lorenzo’s Catalunya MotoGP victory as one of the best of the Spaniard’s premier class career after the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider’s challenge was ended by an early...

Marc Marquez gets confidence boost with home podium

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez admitted he was close to crashing numerous times during yesterday’s Catalunya MotoGP clash that saw the Repsol Honda rider return to the podium in third position. The Spaniard might have...