Japan MotoGP 2016

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Tech 3 and Yamaha keen on extending MotoGP relationship

18 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 and Yamaha keen on extending MotoGP relationship

The French-based Tech 3 squad that will run an all-British line-up of Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith in 2013 will seek to extend its long and successful relationship with Yamaha beyond the current...

Silverstone switches paddock for British MotoGP round

15 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Silverstone’s multi-million pound The Wing pit and paddock complex will not be used for this year’s British MotoGP round in early September. After consulting with MotoGP management and taking on board feedback from fans, Silverstone has decided to move MotoGP back to the National Paddock. In a statement released by the Northamptonshire track, it said bike racing fans preferred to get closer to the...

Scott Redding seventh in first Moto2 showdown

15 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding seventh in first Moto2 showdown

British rider Scott Redding ended the first pre-season test for the 2013 Moto2 world championship in Valencia by setting the seventh fastest time in a three-day session dominated by Spanish...

Michael Laverty shocked at prototype/CRT speed gap

13 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Michael Laverty shocked at prototype/CRT speed gap

Michael Laverty reckons of the biggest surprises he got during an impressive MotoGP debut in Malaysia last week was the speed difference between factory prototype machinery like Honda’s RC213V and the...

Danny Webb happy with Suter-Honda debut

13 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb happy with Suter-Honda debut

British rider Danny Webb was pleased with his progress on the opening day of Moto3 testing at a cool and windy Valencia track yesterday. Making his official debut for the Italian-based Ambrogio Racing...

Scott Redding fourth as Moto2 testing commences

13 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding fourth as Moto2 testing commences

British rider Scott Redding enjoyed a positive start to the 2013 Moto2 winter testing campaign by setting the fourth fastest time behind Spanish trio Nicolas Terol, Julian Simon and Pol Espargaro in...

Cal Crutchlow: MotoGP better with competitive Valentino Rossi

12 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow: MotoGP better with competitive Valentino Rossi

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow believes the MotoGP world championship will be a greater spectacle for everybody with Valentino Rossi challenging for victories in 2013. The Italian quickly...

Bradley Smith gets insight into Jorge Lorenzo’s talent

12 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith gets insight into Jorge Lorenzo’s talent

Yamaha’s open policy on data sharing among its four riders in 2013 is already proving a huge benefit to rookie Bradley Smith. The British rider can compare his data with reigning world champion Jorge...

Aspar open to Suzuki talks for 2014

12 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Aspar open to Suzuki talks for 2014

The Spanish-based Aspar squad has said it would welcome the opportunity to speak to Suzuki about the prospect of running the Japanese factory’s new 1000cc MotoGP project in 2014. Suzuki plans to...

Yamaha boss: No question Rossi will be competitive in 2013

11 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss: No question Rossi will be competitive in 2013

Valentino Rossi’s impressive return to Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 in Malaysia last week is proof that the Italian will be a major force again in the MotoGP world championship. That’s the view of Yamaha...

Valentino Rossi praises ‘perfect’ Jorge Lorenzo

11 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi praises ‘perfect’ Jorge Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi has paid a glowing tribute to reigning MotoGP world champion and 2013 factory Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo after being reunited with the Spaniard for the start of winter testing in...

Video: Repsol Honda complete Sepang test

08 February 2013 by Sports Desk

Video: Repsol Honda complete Sepang test

Hear from Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and marc marquez following the first test of 2013 in this video from the team. Pedrosa topped the time sheets, while rookie Marquez was the talk of the test...

Michael Laverty makes stunning MotoGP debut in Sepang

08 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Michael Laverty makes stunning MotoGP debut in Sepang

Few people would have given Michael Laverty a prayer of finishing third fastest CRT rider ahead of this week’s three-day MotoGP test at the long and technical Sepang track. Yet the Irish rider...

Ben Spies plays safe in Sepang

08 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies plays safe in Sepang

Ben Spies opted not to ride on the final day of his long awaited Ducati debut in Sepang while he continues a long and gruelling recovery from major right shoulder surgery. The Texan arrived in...

Gino Rea loses Moto2 ride

07 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Gino Rea loses Moto2 ride

British rider Gino Rea has been left without a ride in 2013 after the new ESGP squad abandoned plans to race in the Moto2 world championship. Rea, who scored a stunning podium in a rain-lashed...

Valentino Rossi ecstatic with Sepang speed

07 February 2013 by Mattherw Birt

Valentino Rossi ecstatic with Sepang speed

Valentino Rossi could barely contain his delight after he finished the Sepang MotoGP test with the third best time on his much anticipated return to Yamaha’s factory squad. After a disastrous two-year...

Marc Marquez shrugs off crash to star in Sepang

07 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez shrugs off crash to star in Sepang

Marc Marquez lived up to the pre-season hype in Sepang this week after the Spanish rookie shrugged off a final day crash to set the fourth fastest time. The reigning Moto2 world champion ended with a...

Cal Crutchlow impressed by Bradley Smith in Sepang

07 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow impressed by Bradley Smith in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow reckons Bradley Smith’s critics have already been proven wrong after the British rookie produced one of the most impressive performances during this week’s Sepang MotoGP test in...

Rossi and Marquez Prove Their Worth: MotoGP Session 3 Results

07 February 2013 by Steve Hunt

Rossi and Marquez Prove Their Worth: MotoGP Session 3 Results

The opening MotoGP test session of 2013 has finished in Sepang today, with the final timesheets showing a hint of a tantalising season ahead. Dani Pedrosa drew first blood of the winter testing...

Rossi and Lorenzo eager for Yamaha gearbox upgrade

06 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Rossi and Lorenzo eager for Yamaha gearbox upgrade

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have made it clear to Yamaha that a seamless shift gearbox could drastically help improve acceleration issues with the new 2013 factory YZR-M1. A new gearbox was high...

Bradley Smith within one second of Valentino Rossi in Sepang

06 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith within one second of Valentino Rossi in Sepang

Rookie Bradley Smith gave himself a huge confidence boost in Malaysia today by finishing less than a second behind nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi on the second day of MotoGP testing at the...

Cal Crutchlow: ‘2013 will be a big war’

05 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow: ‘2013 will be a big war’

British rider Cal Crutchlow reckons MotoGP fans will be gripped by some hard and pulsating racing in 2013 after an enthralling start to pre-season testing at the Sepang track in Malaysia today. The...

Valentino Rossi shines on factory Yamaha return

05 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi shines on factory Yamaha return

Valentino Rossi made a brilliant return to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in Malaysia today, the nine-times world champion ending the first day of 2013 pre-season testing with the fourth quickest...

Bradley Smith ready for Sepang speed rush

04 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith ready for Sepang speed rush

Bradley Smith will find out what a factory-backed MotoGP machine is capable of in Sepang tomorrow (Tuesday), as the British rider prepares to kick off his 2013 preparations by breaking the 200mph...

Ben Spies eager to gauge shoulder strength in Sepang

04 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies eager to gauge shoulder strength in Sepang

It’s hard to imagine a rider preparing to kick off the 2013 winter testing campaign in Malaysia tomorrow (Tuesday) with more nervous excitement and anticipation than Texan Ben Spies. The 2009 World...

Tech 3 on experience building mission with Bradley Smith

04 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 on experience building mission with Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad will focus on building up the British rider’s experience on a YZR-M1 machine during this week’s three-day MotoGP test at the Sepang track. Time on track to...

Fast start important for Cal Crutchlow in Sepang

04 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Fast start important for Cal Crutchlow in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal believes it will be important for the British star to repeat the fast and positive start to he made to winter testing in 2012 when the...

MotoGP prepares for 2013 testing in Sepang

04 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP prepares for 2013 testing in Sepang

The MotoGP field has arrived in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the opening test of 2013 at the Sepang track, with big attention on how Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez will perform. Rossi’s factory Yamaha...

Andrea Iannone doubts Marc Marquez rivalry in 2013

31 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Iannone doubts Marc Marquez rivalry in 2013

Italian Andrea Iannone doubts he will be able to renew his rivalry with fellow MotoGP rookie Marc Marquez in the 2013 world championship. Iannone and Marquez had some memorable battles in the Moto2...

Danny Kent hails James Toseland’s training support

31 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent hails James Toseland’s training support

Danny Kent reckons he will be physically and mentally better prepared than at any other time in his racing career after he teamed up with former double World Superbike champion James Toseland for an...

Ben Spies backs new Ducati strategy

31 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies backs new Ducati strategy

Ben Spies believes Ducati’s new strategy to give full factory machinery to its entire MotoGP line-up in 2013 will be crucial in helping the Italian manufacturer close the gap to Honda and Yamaha. In a...

No new Yamaha gearbox for Cal Crutchlow?

30 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

No new Yamaha gearbox for Cal Crutchlow?

Cal Crutchlow could get an early reminder of the downside of being a non-factory rider in MotoGP in Malaysia next week, with rumours mounting the British rider will not have a new seamless shift...

Circuit of Wales plans impress MotoGP boss

30 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Circuit of Wales plans impress MotoGP boss

Ambitious plans to build a new state-of-the-art motorsport complex in Wales have impressed MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta on his first visit to the proposed site of the £250m venture this week. The new...

Pic Exclusive: Danny Kent’s 2013 Moto2 bike revealed

29 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Pic Exclusive: Danny Kent’s 2013 Moto2 bike revealed

Danny Kent got a first glimpse of his new Tech 3 Racing Moto2 machine he will campaign in the 2013 world championship earlier today (Tuesday). The British teenager took a break from an intensive...

Valentino Rossi undone by Ducati DNA

29 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi undone by Ducati DNA

Valentino Rossi was unable to master Ducati’s fearsome Desmosedici machine because the bike behaved in a way that was totally alien to the riding style the nine-times world champion honed for almost...

Dorna right to deny Suzuki new entry in 2014

29 January 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dorna right to deny Suzuki new entry in 2014

MotoGP bosses are right not to give Suzuki an automatic entry to return with a new full factory 1000cc effort in the 2014 world championship. Suzuki has been told by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta that it...