MotoGP

2020 MotoGP Calendar Updated Version 3 – Argentina Postponed To November, Triple Header To Close The Season Submitted by David Emmett on Wed, 2020-03-11 15:34 The MotoGP calendar has been changed again due to the ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. This time, it is the Argentina round of the series, due to … Read more

2020 MotoGP Calendar Updated Again – Austin Postponed To November, Valencia Moved A Week Submitted by David Emmett on Tue, 2020-03-10 16:01 The ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has forced yet another change to the MotoGP calendar for 2020. Due to the restrictions on movement imposed in Italy, in an attempt to slow … Read more

Marc Marquez has signed an almost unprecedented new contract extension with HRC, which will see him remain in the factory Honda team for four more years after his current contract expires at the end of the 2020 season. That means Marquez will be a factory Honda rider until the end of 2024. Marquez’ contract renewal … Read more

OR Grand Prix of Thailand will go ahead The Sports Authority of Thailand confirms that the event, set for mid-March, can safely take place Thursday, 20 February 2020 Following communication from the Thai government, the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports can confirm that the OR Thailand Grand Prix will go ahead next month. With the … Read more

Rossi at 40: so many memories by Mat Oxley on 15th February 2019 Recounting memories of Valentino Rossi, who turns 40 on Saturday Valentino Rossi celebrates his 40th birthday on Saturday, hoping against hope to become the first forty-something to win a world title since the 1950s, when grand prix racing was ruled by older … Read more

Does MotoGP need a combined bike/rider weight limit? by Mat Oxley on 13th November 2018 Some say current technical regulations are unfair for bigger riders like Petrucci and Rossi, so is it time to even things up a bit? Michelin and Ducati think so Some years ago I thought MotoGP needed a combined rider/machine minimum … Read more

Rossi: the tenth is possible Sepang was a strong indicator there’s life in ‘The Doctor’ yet and could title number 10 come in 2019? 115 victories, 65 further podiums, nine World Championships; the numbers speak for themselves for Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and in 2019, could the elusive tenth title be his? Well, if … Read more

Official: Casey Stoner ends Ducati partnership Ducati confirms agreement with former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner will not continue beyond this year. As rumoured since August, former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner will not continue as a test rider and brand ambassador for Ducati in 2019. “I want to thank Ducati for the great memories and especially … Read more

MotoGP: gentlemanly or full of vicious passions? by Mat Oxley on 25th September 2018 Jorge Lorenzo’s Turn One exit at Aragón ended his chances of another MotoGP victory. But who is to blame for this latest controversy? I like to think that Jorge Lorenzo has heard of George Orwell, the author of 1984, Animal Farm … Read more

Is MotoGP’s tail wagging the dog? by Mat Oxley on 27th August 2018 Should the riders have raced on Sunday at the British Grand Prix? Do they have too much say in their own safety? MotoGP has always existed on a knife edge, which is why we love it. And despite safer tracks, better riding … Read more

The magic of the Michelin mystery MotoGP is in a great place at the moment – brilliant racing and unpredictable results – thanks partly to the work of one company Motorcycle racing is all about grip and traction. That’s all that really matters, because everything is worth zilch unless you can transfer it to the … Read more

Lorenzo: ‘We will win every race!’ by Mat Oxley on 14th August 2018 That’s Jorge Lorenzo’s MotoGP prediction – IF Ducati can fix the Desmosedici’s last big problem On the eve of his epic Austrian Grand Prix victory Jorge Lorenzo and several other top MotoGP riders were asked to design their ideal racetracks. Lorenzo was … Read more

Half-term report: MotoGP™ technical evolutions As the tech updates continue for every team, what are they all looking at developing in the second half of the season? The 2018 MotoGP™ season has seen every team testing and innovating new parts for their respective bikes to try and extract every ounce of speed they can, with … Read more

MotoGP 2018: peak silly season by Mat Oxley on 29th May 2018 Where will Joan Mir, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Iannone end up next year? MotoGP’s silly season is about to reach its climax Many MotoGP journalists spend a lot of time chasing contract stories. I gave up years ago, even though I know that … Read more

Bike racers were never choirboys by Mat Oxley on 17th April 2018 Just in case you think motorcycle racers used to be different, here’s something I wrote back in 2003 “This is bike racing, not classical music,” opined former 250cc world champion Max Biaggi after Doriano Romboni accused him of dirty tricks on the last … Read more

Like Maradona driving a hot-hatch by Mat Oxley on 10th April 2018 Sunday’s Argentine MotoGP Grand Prix was like a Gaucho rodeo ride: chaotic, painful and unmissable First, I have a confession to make: I like a bit of chaos. Few things are more over-organised than modern sport, which mostly runs like a well-oiled machine, so … Read more

MotoGP 2018: ‘It’s going to be way worse!’ by Mat Oxley on 13th March 2018 MotoGP is going to be even madder and closer this season, which is great for fans, less so for the riders. Welcome to our prediction-free preview… “It’s going to be way worse for us as riders than it has been … Read more

What we learned from the final MotoGP winter test Is MotoGP 2018 set to be a rematch between Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso? Oriol Puigdemont assesses the state of play after the final pre-season test in Qatar. Marquez favourite to make it five titles Pressed to name a favourite for the season based on test … Read more

MotoGP 2018’s Holy Grail by Matt Oxley Marquez… Zarco… Dovizioso… Rossi: this year there’s one performance factor they’re chasing more than any other: mid-corner turning Motorcycle racing has always been about walking a tightrope. For the riders, at least. Now in MotoGP it’s the same for the engineers. MotoGP’s new tech reality, ushered in by … Read more

Aprilia’s central focus in 2018 Aprilia is MotoGP’s underdog; the factory with the smallest race department of them all. Racing manager Romano Albesiano has 70 staff working with him at Noale, which is considerably less than most of his rivals. Suzuki probably has MotoGP’s second smallest race shop, although the company won’t reveal numbers. It’s … Read more

Yamaha warns of six-way rider market spending war By: Chris Stevens, Journalist Yamaha team boss Lin Jarvis says MotoGP’s six manufacturers must take action to ensure that a spending war doesn’t break out between them in future. All 12 of the factory riders in the premier class will be out of contract at the end … Read more

Can Yamaha give Rossi a winning bike? by Mat Oxley on 2nd January 2018 Valentino Rossi’s chief engineer Silvano Galbusera explains what went wrong last year and what needs to go right this MotoGP season Yamaha has a lot of work to do: the factory needs to win back the MotoGP world title and (for … Read more

Schwantz: Suzuki “absolutely” has to replace Iannone for 2019 Suzuki should prioritise finding a replacement for Andrea Iannone for the 2019 MotoGP season, says grand prix motorcycling legend Kevin Schwantz. After four seasons with Ducati, Iannone switched to Suzuki for the 2017 campaign, but endured a tough season amid difficulties with the GSX-RR and a … Read more