Japan MotoGP 2016

Scott Redding in talks with Ducati for 2013

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding could join Cal Crutchlow on a Ducati MotoGP bike in 2013. The Bologna factory’s 2013 line-up could be dominated by fast and young British talent after Redding’s manager Michael Bartholemy had talks with Ducati management in Holland last weekend. Redding finished third to claim his third Moto2 podium in the last four races and he made it clear to MCN that he aims to secure a MotoGP...

Colin Edwards poised for mid-season machine change?

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has cast doubt on the future of the Suter-BMW CRT project after revealing to MCN that his Forward Racing squad could be poised for a mid-season machinery switch after a disastrous start...

Danny Kent and Sandro Cortese told to race hard but fair

05 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Danny Kent and Red Bull KTM Moto3 team-mate Sandro Cortese have been told to avoid a repeat of the aggressive battle they engaged in during a thrilling Moto3 race in Assen last...

Dani Pedrosa to sign new Honda deal by Mugello?

03 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

The MotoGP paddock might be awash with rumours that Valentino Rossi will be back in Honda’s official factory squad in 2013, but HRC bosses publicly at least are saying that a new deal for Dani Pedrosa...

Scott Redding ecstatic with 2012 form

03 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding believes he will be a consistent podium threat for the remainder of this year’s Moto2 world championship after the British rider’s brilliant start to 2012. A bitterly disappointing 2011...

Nicky Hayden unsure Cal Crutchlow’s style will suit Ducati

03 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden says he is not convinced that Cal Crutchlow’s aggressive and all-action riding style will match with Ducati’s factory Desmosedici like some people have predicted. Crutchlow himself has...

Lorenzo boss: Alvaro Bautista’s punishment justified

02 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha team boss Wilco Zeelenberg believes the decision to relegate Alvaro Bautista to the back of the grid for this weekend’s German Grand Prix is fully justified. Bautista...

Cortese criticised for Kent collision in Moto3 thriller

02 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Red Bull KTM rider Sandro Cortese’s aggressive tactics in last weekend’s Assen Moto3 race have been criticised after he hit team-mate Danny Kent on more than one occasion in a thrilling podium...

Assen MotoGP: Valentino Rossi 13th after rear tyre disaster

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi went from challenging for his best dry weather result of 2012 to finishing in a disastrous 13th after he suffered a major rear tyre failure in Assen. Rossi was locked in a battle for...

Assen MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista sorry for Jorge Lorenzo collision

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista could not have been more apologetic after a reckless move at the first corner in yesterday’s Dutch TT at Assen wiped out compatriot Jorge Lorenzo. Bautista made a complete hash of...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner pounces for vital victory

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner hauled himself right back into contention to retire from MotoGP at the end of 2012 as world champion after he triumphed in a controversial Dutch TT at Assen yesterday. With Jorge Lorenzo...

Assen MotoGP: Ben Spies denied podium by serious rear tyre issue

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies was cruelly denied a first podium of 2012 in yesterday’s Dutch TT at Assen after being forced to slow dramatically by a serious rear tyre issue in the final stages of the 26-lap clash. Spies...

Assen MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow reflects on lost podium chance

01 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow found himself fighting his way through into the top six from the back of the field for the second MotoGP race in succession at the end of an eventful encounter in Assen. The 26-year-old...

Assen MotoGP: Stoner eases to victory

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has taken his first victory since announcing his retirement ahead of team-mate Dani Pedrosa. It’s the first Honda victory at Assen since Nicky Hayden in 2006. Stoner...

Assen MotoGP: Marquez takes Moto2 win

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Suter rider Marc Marquez has extended his championship lead with victory in the Moto2 race at Assen after two of his championship rivals failed to score points. Fellow Spaniard Pol Espargaro – who was...

Assen MotoGP: Vinales wins hard fought Moto3 battle

30 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Spaniard Maverick Vinales has increased his championship lead after taking a hard fought victory in an incredible battle with championship rival Sandro Cortese. Cortese finished second, with team-mate...

Assen MotoGP: Valentino Rossi urges Ducati action

29 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi urged Ducati to devise a clear plan for future development of the struggling Desmosedici machine after he qualified in 10th position for tomorrow’s Dutch TT at Assen. The Italian...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner bounces back from huge crash

29 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner bounced back from what he described as one of the biggest crashes of his career to snatch a dramatic pole position at Assen today. The Australian was...

Assen MotoGP: Barbera cost me front row, says Cal Crutchlow

29 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow blasted Spanish rival Hector Barbera for costing him the chance to score a fourth front row start of 2012 at the historic Assen circuit in Holland this afternoon. Crutchlow...

Assen MotoGP: Stoner storms to pole

29 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner will start tomorrow’s MotoGP race from pole position after a last minute fast lap bumped team-mate Dani Pedrosa off the top spot. It looked as though Pedrosa would claim...

Assen MotoGP: Cortese claims Moto3 pole

29 June 2012 by MCN

KTM rider Sandro Cortese will start Saturday’s Moto3 race at Assen from pole position ahead of team-mate Danny Kent, who secured his first front row start. Gresini rider Niccolo Antonelli also claims...

Assen MotoGP:Cal Crutchlow could suit Ducati, says Valentino Rossi

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believes British rider Cal Crutchlow could be competitive on Ducati’s struggling factory Desmosedici machine. The 26-year-old Midlander has been offered a two-year deal to join the...

Assen MotoGP: Nicky Hayden uncertain of Ducati future

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has admitted his future at Ducati is an uncertain one after the Bologna factory offered British rider Cal Crutchlow a two-year factory deal. With Ducati also stating its intention to keep...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner launches fresh attack on Bridgestone

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s frustration with the performance of Bridgestone’s 2012 tyres continued on the opening day of the Dutch TT at Assen today. The Australian was languishing down in seventh position on the...

Assen MotoGP: Injured Cal Crutchlow aims for top six

28 June 2012

Cal Crutchlow says he will be happy to finish Saturday’s historic Dutch TT inside the top six, despite a heroic ride to set the second fastest time on the opening day of practice at Assen today. Only...

Assen MotoGP: Ben Spies sets practice pace ahead of heroic Cal Crutchlow

28 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies proved once again today why the legendary Assen circuit in Holland is one of his favourites after he ended the opening day of practice on top of the timesheets. The Texan, who claimed his...

2013 speculation no distraction for Cal Crutchlow

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow is adamant that intense speculation about his MotoGP future is not a distraction as he ponders a two-year offer to join Ducati’s factory squad. The British rider was due to sit down with...

Ben Spies not worried about future speculation

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has said he is not worried about intense speculation about his future as he aims for a second successive victory in Assen’s legendary Dutch TT this weekend. The Texan’s place next to...

Ducati making little progress, admits Nicky Hayden

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati is no closer to challenging Honda and Yamaha than it was at the start of the new 1000cc era, according to factory rider Nicky Hayden. The Bologna factory has only scored one rostrum in the...

Valentino Rossi: ‘I hope I can race next year with a competitive bike’

27 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has again insisted his prime focus is on making Ducati’s struggling Desmosedici a race-winning package. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta was quoted in a recent interview saying that the...

Four flyaway races to kick off 2013 MotoGP campaign?

26 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

The European phase of the 2013 MotoGP world championship might not get underway until round five, with flyaway double headers in Qatar and India and then Argentina and Texas potentially kicking off...

Ben Spies hunting more Dutch delight

26 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies is determined to fire some momentum into his 2012 MotoGP world championship campaign by challenging for a second successive victory in the legendary Dutch TT at Assen this weekend. The...

Knockhill BSB: Hill takes pole

23 June 2012 by Liam Marsden

Reigning champion Tommy Hill will start the first of tomorrow’s superbike races from pole position at Knockhill after setting the pace early in superpole. Samsung Honda’s Michael Laverty will start...

Ducati plan more tests on aluminium swingarm

22 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati’s aluminium swingarm project hasn’t been axed and Valentino Rossi could evaluate it again during a one-day test immediately after his home race at Mugello next month. Rossi liked the new...

Jorge Lorenzo’s boss praises Yamaha improvement

22 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha boss Wilco Zeelenberg believes a vastly improved new YZR-M1 1000cc machine is the key reason for the Spaniard dominating the early stages of the 2012 MotoGP campaign. It...

No factory bike at Tech 3 for Cal Crutchlow

22 June 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha won’t offer Cal Crutchlow full factory support if he remains with its satellite Tech 3 squad in 2013. The British rider has told Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal that the perfect scenario for his...