Japan MotoGP 2016

HRC presents RC212V to Marco Simoncelli’s family

14 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

The parents of late Italian rider Marco Simoncelli were presented with one of his factory RC212V MotoGP machines during an emotional ceremony at the Mugello circuit earlier today. HRC Vice-President...

Mugello MotoGP: Vinales steals Moto3 pole

14 July 2012 by Liam Marsden

Spaniard Maverick Vinales will start tomorrow’s Moto3 race from pole position after a final lap which knocked Sandro Cortese off the top spot. KTM rider Cortese looked set to take pole position, but...

Valentino Rossi denies influencing Ducati on rider choice

13 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has denied he is trying to influence Ducati to re-sign current factory team-mate Nicky Hayden over British rider Cal Crutchlow for next year’s MotoGP world championship. The...

Mugello MotoGP: CRT speed too slow, says Casey Stoner

13 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner has expressed concerns about the speed of the CRT machinery on fast tracks like Mugello after he tangled with Italian rookie Danilo Petrucci in practice earlier...

Mugello MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo leads practice timesheets

13 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s bid for a second successive victory in the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday got off to a flying start at a hot and sunny Mugello today. The Spaniard dominated the opening practice session...

Valentino Rossi: Marquez can be MotoGP world champion

12 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believes rising Spanish star Marc Marquez has the potential to become MotoGP world champion in the future. And factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo reckons the former 125GP world...

Cal Crutchlow waiting on Ducati contract

12 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow admits he is unlikely to sign a two-year deal to join Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013 during this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. The British rider was expected to agree a...

Honda to roll-out brand new factory RC213V at Mugello test

12 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa will test a ‘completely new’ factory Honda RC213V machine during a one-day test session at the Mugello circuit in Italy on Monday, MCN can reveal. One bike for each will...

Marc Marquez confirms Repsol Honda switch

12 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez will take the place of reigning world champion Casey Stoner in Honda’s official factory next season. As has been widely predicted since Aussie Stoner announced he will retire at the end...

Dani Pedrosa signs new Repsol Honda contract

12 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa has signed a new two-year deal to remain with Honda’s official factory MotoGP squad until the end of 2014. As MCN reported two weeks ago, HRC announced Pedrosa’s new deal during...

Colin Edwards to test FTR-Honda in Mugello

11 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards will test the FTR-Honda MotoGP machine during a one-day test session at the Mugello circuit in Italy on Monday. Although the experienced American’s 12th place finish equalled his best...

Poll: Who was the most exciting GP rider to watch?

11 July 2012 by MCN

1993 world champion Kevin Schwantz is editing MCN this week – out on Wednesday July 18 – and his presence sparked a discussion about why he remains so popular despite ‘only’ winning one world...

Ducati deal hard to refuse, says Cal Crutchlow’s boss

10 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow’s Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal believes the British rider can’t knock back the opportunity to join Ducati’s factory squad in 2013. With the chance of a factory Yamaha ride not...

Jerry Burgess: Cal Crutchlow an asset to any factory

10 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess believes Cal Crutchlow would be a valuable asset to any factory in MotoGP as the British rider contemplates a two-year offer to join Ducati. MCN understands...

Jorge Lorenzo’s engine concerns eased

10 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s fears that he might have to miss practice sessions or cut back on track time later in the 2012 MotoGP campaign have been calmed by his factory Yamaha squad. Lorenzo lost a nearly new...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner makes last lap blunder

09 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner blew a golden chance to seize the outright lead in the MotoGP world championship yesterday when he crashed out of contention for victory at Germany’s Sachsenring track on the final...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Late mistake costs Cal Crutchlow top five

09 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow saw his chances of recording another top five MotoGP finish ruined by a late mistake in yesterday’s German Grand Prix at the tight and twisty Sachsenring. The Monster...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with best dry result

09 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi declared himself satisfied with his first dry weather top six finish of 2012 in yesterday’s German Grand Prix, but the Italian was still almost a second a lap slower than race winner...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Ben Spies slowed by rear grip issues

09 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies is still searching for his first MotoGP podium of the season after he lost out in a rostrum battle with Andrea Dovizioso for the second time in eight days. A badly chunked rear tyre cost...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa relieved to end victory drought

09 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa was relieved to finally end his long-running MotoGP victory drought after a dramatic ending to yesterday’s Sachsenring clash in Germany. The Repsol Honda rider was winless since last...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Luck swings back to Jorge Lorenzo

09 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Eight days after his luck deserted him in the historic Dutch TT at Assen, fortune swung back in favour of factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo in Germany yesterday. Lorenzo was gifted back the lead in...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Sandro Cortese storms to home win

08 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Red Bull KTM rider Sandro Cortese claimed a priceless home victory in the German Grand Prix this afternoon to seize the lead in the Moto3 world championship. The 27-lap race was delayed after...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa victorious after late drama

08 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa’s love affair with Germany’s Sachsenring track continued today after the Spaniard survived intense pressure from Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner to win for the first time since last...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Marc Marquez extends title lead

08 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez took complete control of the Moto2 world championship today, the Spaniard surging to a fourth win of 2012 at a sun-drenched Sachsenring. The Suter rider opened up a comfortable 43-point...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expected more than ninth

07 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted he was disappointed not to have capitalised on Ducati’s previous strong wet weather performances in Germany today after he ended a rain-lashed Sachsenring qualifying session...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Marc Marquez claims Moto2 pole position

07 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Marc Marquez will start tomorrow’s German Moto2 Grand Prix at Sachsenring from pole position after a rain-hit qualifying session this afternoon. Marquez left it late to post a best lap of...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner tops thrilling wet qualifying

07 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner will start tomorrow’s German MotoGP race from pole position after a rain-lashed but thrilling qualifying session. The tight and twisty Sachsenring circuit was...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Danny Kent splashes to second successive front row

07 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Kent splashed his way to a second successive Moto3 front row in monsoon conditions at Germany’s Sachsenring this afternoon. The Red Bull KTM rider mastered treacherous...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happier with wet race

06 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

It won’t come as a big surprise considering Valentino Rossi’s struggle to make Ducati’s factory GP12 machine a consistent podium threat in the dry that the Italian won’t shed any tears if Sunday’s...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Mattia Pasini collides with mechanic in pit lane

06 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mattia Pasini and a mechanic working for the AB Cardion Ducati squad were fortunate to escape injury after a scary collision in pit lane during this morning’s opening practice session at Germany’s...

Sachsenring MotoGP: First two corners costing Cal Crutchlow

06 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow reckons he needs to improve his pace in the tight first two corners at Germany’s Sachsenring after he posted competitive times in wet and dry conditions today. The British rider was...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa fastest in practice

06 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa’s best lap of 1.22.357 in a dry morning practice session secured him top spot on the timesheets at Germany’s Sachsenring today after this afternoon’s session took place on a wet...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Danny Kent continues impressive form

06 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Fresh from a career first Grand Prix podium in Assen just six days ago, British rider Danny Kent was third quickest on the opening day of Moto3 practice at Germany’s Sachsenring today. The Red Bull...

Bridgestone explains Assen tyre issues

06 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone has revealed the findings of a detailed analysis of the badly chunked rear tyres that struck Valentino Rossi and Ben Spies during last weekend’s historic Dutch TT at Assen. Rossi was...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Dutch disaster spurs on Jorge Lorenzo

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo is looking to bounce back quickly from his Dutch disaster in Assen last weekend with a strong performance to get his 2012 MotoGP title tilt back on course in Germany. Last Saturday’s...

Sachsenring MotoGP: Valentino Rossi pins hopes on Mugello test

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is hoping a crucial test immediately after his forthcoming home race in Mugello will deliver the progress and improvements he wants to be convinced his future lies with Ducati. The...