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Japan MotoGP 2016

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Sepang MotoGP: Maverick Vinales quits ‘second division’ Moto3 squad

19 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Maverick Vinales quits ‘second division’ Moto3 squad

Maverick Vinales sensationally walked out on his Avintia Blusens squad on the eve of the Malaysian Grand Prix, surrendering slim hopes that he could capture the inaugural Moto3 world title. The...

Yamaha confirms Valentino Rossi's crew to return in 2013

19 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha confirms Valentino Rossi's crew to return in 2013

Yamaha today confirmed to MCN at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia that all of Valentino Rossi’s technical crew, led by Australian chief engineer Jerry Burgess, will be back with the Japanese factory...

MotoGP paddock pays emotional tribute to Marco Simoncelli

18 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP paddock pays emotional tribute to Marco Simoncelli

The MotoGP paddock, led by the Gresini Honda team, has paid an emotional tribute to late Italian star Marco Simoncelli on the eve of the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang today. The 24-year-old...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner hopeful of podium challenge

18 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner hopeful of podium challenge

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner is hoping he will be in the hunt for a podium in Sunday’s Sepang MotoGP race, but admits he has no idea how much of a hindrance his injured right ankle will be. The...

MotoGP boss wants imminent decision on 2014 rules

17 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP boss wants imminent decision on 2014 rules

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta says he will push through his controversial plans for a controlled ECU and rev limit unless the factories can propose viable alternative options to help achieve his...

Scott Redding to stay in Moto2 in 2013

17 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding to stay in Moto2 in 2013

Scott Redding will remain with the Marc VDS Racing Moto2 squad in 2013 after hopes of a Ducati or Honda switch to MotoGP vanished. The Gloucestershire rider’s new deal will be confirmed during this...

Nicky Hayden hoping for swingarm boost in Sepang

17 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden hoping for swingarm boost in Sepang

After a dismal Japanese MotoGP at the Twin Ring Motegi, Nicky Hayden is hoping a new Ducati swingarm he will try for the first time in Sepang this weekend will boost his hopes of a strong finish to a...

Ducati reserve judgement on Dorna's WSB takeover

16 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati reserve judgement on Dorna's WSB takeover

Ducati management believe it is too early to make a serious judgement on the full implications of Dorna’s recent takeover of the World Superbike championship. The Spanish-based rights owners of MotoGP...

Valentino Rossi: World Superbikes now too close to MotoGP

16 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: World Superbikes now too close to MotoGP

Valentino Rossi believes World Superbikes needs a major technical revamp to use more production-based machinery in the future. But the nine-times world champion has urged Dorna, which now controls...

Honda vow not to use team orders to help Dani Pedrosa

16 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Honda vow not to use team orders to help Dani Pedrosa

In-form Dani Pedrosa won’t be able to rely on Aussie teammate Casey Stoner to help him capture an elusive first MotoGP world title after HRC refused point-blank to use controversial team orders in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent ecstatic after maiden win

15 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent ecstatic after maiden win

Danny Kent hailed his stunning maiden Grand Prix victory in Japan yesterday as ‘amazing’ after he triumphed at the end of a dramatic Moto3 clash. The British teenager went from fifth to first on the...

Motegi MotoGP: Seventh maximum potential, admits Valentino Rossi

15 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Seventh maximum potential, admits Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi says he could have not ridden any faster or put in any extra effort after he ended the Grand Prix of Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi in a lonely and distant seventh. The Italian said...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo concedes victory ‘impossible’

15 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo concedes victory ‘impossible’

Jorge Lorenzo might be edging closer to clinching a second MotoGP world title, but the Spaniard couldn’t hide his disappointment after he failed to defeat Honda in its own backyard at the Twin Ring...

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow gutted as podium slips away

15 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow gutted as podium slips away

Cal Crutchlow was left to ponder what might have been after he saw a podium slip from his grasp on the last lap for the second race in succession at the Twin Ring Motegi. After losing out in a last...

Motegi MotoGP: Fighting fifth for tiring Casey Stoner

15 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Fighting fifth for tiring Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner returned to MotoGP with a fighting fifth place at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan yesterday, as the gritty Aussie admitted he wasn’t physically strong enough to launch a podium assault. The...

Motegi MotoGP: In-form Alvaro Bautista thrilled with third

15 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: In-form Alvaro Bautista thrilled with third

Alvaro Bautista’s impressive form continued at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan yesterday when the Spaniard claimed a second podium in the last three races after a close battle with Cal...

Motegi MotoGP: Pedrosa wins, Crutchlow cruelly denied podium

14 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Pedrosa wins, Crutchlow cruelly denied podium

Dani Pedrosa stormed to a fourth win in the last five MotoGP races in Japan this afternoon to keep the pressure on world championship rival Jorge Lorenzo. But there was bitter disappointment for...

Motegi MotoGP: Marc Marquez on brink of Moto2 title

14 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Marc Marquez on brink of Moto2 title

Marc Marquez produced a brilliant fight back through the field in today’s Japanese Moto2 Grand Prix to take a giant step towards lifting the 2012 world title. The Spaniard recovered from a disastrous...

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent wins dramatic Moto3 race

14 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent wins dramatic Moto3 race

British rider Danny Kent claimed his first Grand Prix victory in Japan after a dramatic final lap of another pulsating Moto3 race. Kent started the last lap in fifth position with his hopes of a...

MotoGP introduces new pole position shoot-out for 2013

14 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP introduces new pole position shoot-out for 2013

Pole position in MotoGP next season will be decided by a new 15-minute shoot-out involving 12 riders in a revamp of qualifying for 2013. The current three 45-minute practice sessions will remain on...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner unsure of race potential

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner says he has no idea what his potential will be in tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Japan after marking his return from injury with seventh place in a tough qualifying session at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Aussie hasn’t raced since he was a heroic fourth in Indianapolis when he raced despite suffering serious damage to his right ankle in a vicious qualifying high-side...

Alvaro Bautista keeps Gresini Honda ride

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista keeps Gresini Honda ride

Alvaro Bautista has signed a new contract with the San Carlo Gresini Honda squad for the 2013 MotoGP world championship campaign. The Gresini ride was the last prototype berth up for grabs in 2013,...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi not ruling out podium fight

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi not ruling out podium fight

Valentino Rossi hasn’t ruled himself out of battling for the podium in tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Japan, despite qualifying in a lowly ninth position at the Twin Ring Motegi. Rossi set a best time of...

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent not anticipating team orders

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent not anticipating team orders

Danny Kent is confident he will be allowed to fight for a maiden Grand Prix victory in tomorrow’s Japanese Moto3 clash after he stormed to a career first pole position at the Twin Ring Motegi...

Motegi MotoGP: Stunning last lap secures Jorge Lorenzo pole

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Stunning last lap secures Jorge Lorenzo pole

Jorge Lorenzo produced a fantastic final lap to clinch a sixth pole position of the season ahead of Yamaha’s all-important home race at the Twin Ring Motegi tomorrow. The Spaniard powered his factory...

Motegi MotoGP: Scott Redding fourth behind all-Spanish front row

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Scott Redding fourth behind all-Spanish front row

British rider Scott Redding will start tomorrow’s Japanese Moto2 Grand Prix from fourth on the grid behind an all-Spanish front row at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Marc VDS Racing rider clocked a best...

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent storms to maiden pole position

13 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Danny Kent storms to maiden pole position

British teenager Danny Kent stormed to a sensational first Grand Prix pole position at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan earlier today. In a dramatic finish to this afternoon’s Moto3 qualifying session,...

Motegi MotoGP: Ankle injury hinders Casey Stoner’s return

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Ankle injury hinders Casey Stoner’s return

Casey Stoner has admitted the recovery of his damaged right ankle has not been as fast as he had hoped after the reigning world champion finished seventh quickest on his comeback in Japan...

Motegi MotoGP: Physical and technical issues slow Nicky Hayden

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Physical and technical issues slow Nicky Hayden

Nicky Hayden’s wrist injury and a corner entry issue with his factory Ducati GP12 machine contributed to the American enduring a tough start to the Japanese MotoGP weekend at the Twin Ring...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi doubts podium challenge

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi doubts podium challenge

Valentino Rossi has cast serious doubt on his ability to challenge for a rare Ducati podium in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, despite ending the first day of practice in a hugely promising fifth...

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow expects improved pace

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow expects improved pace

Cal Crutchlow believes his lowly ninth place on the opening day practice timesheets in Japan today was not a true reflection of his potential ahead of Sunday’s clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. The...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa off to flying start in Japan

12 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa off to flying start in Japan

Dani Pedrosa won a personal practice duel with MotoGP world title rival Jorge Lorenzo after the Spanish duo dominated the opening day of action ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner not expecting Honda team orders

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner not expecting Honda team orders

Casey Stoner doesn’t believe Honda will impose controversial team orders in a bid to help Dani Pedrosa win an elusive first MotoGP world title in 2012. The Spaniard trails factory Yamaha rival Jorge...

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow anticipating tough weekend

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow anticipating tough weekend

Cal Crutchlow believes he faces a tough task to challenge for the podium in Sunday’s Japanese MotoGP clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. Hard braking points dominate the Honda-owned circuit, and it has...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo unfazed by Stoner return

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo unfazed by Stoner return

Jorge Lorenzo says he’s not worried that the return of Casey Stoner to MotoGP action in Japan this weekend could damage his hopes of securing a second premier class world title in 2012. After missing...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking to restore confidence

11 October 2012 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking to restore confidence

Nicky Hayden says his prime focus in Japan this weekend will be to build up his confidence after a crash and injury-hit spell in the 2012 MotoGP world championship. The luckless American missed the...