MotoGP Interviews

Just over a week after rider Andrea Dovizioso came within 37 points of winning the 2017 MotoGP championship, Ducati – like Aprilia, Suzuki, KTM and Honda’s satellite teams - were present at a three-day private test at Jerez to further preparations for the following campaign.

An exclusive interview with Suzuki MotoGP team manager Davide Brivio.

Not even Joan Mir, grand prix racing’s hottest prospect, could have envisioned of success he enjoyed in 2017.

‘Dovi and Johann have a very similar mind’ - click here to read Guy Coulon's comparison between Zarco and former rider Andrea Dovizioso.

Franco Morbidelli doesn’t come across as your average motorcycle racer. Smiling, laid back and rarely flustered in front of the camera, his demeanour doesn’t always speak of the usual fiercely driven individual with eyes on the ultimate prize.

Aki Ajo, team manager of KTM’s Moto2 effort and Moto3 squad, recently sat down with Crash.net to discuss the factory’s entry into the intermediate class in 2017, Brad Binder’s recovery from injury, a tough campaign in the junior category, and helping his riders find that ‘eureka’ mo

Few riders have performed above expectations in 2017 than 32-year old Mattia Pasini, once the forgotten man of grand prix racing.

The team manager of Pramac Ducati speaks about the decision to sign Australian Jack Miller for 2018, Danilo Petrucci’s recent upturn in form, and the reasoning behind not extending Scott Redding’s stay in the squad. Crash.net: You will have a new rider for 2018.

"Casey was unbelievable... I know that one year ago at Sepang one of the Ducati guys asked a technician to check the data of Stoner. The technician said, 'No, for you, it's impossible'" -

"Maverick has a mission: To be world champion. For me there is no doubt. It's just when..." - Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha.

"At this moment I postpone my decision about having a second rider [for 2018]. Possibly in Brno or Austria the maximum, we would like to finalise" - Lucio Cecchinello

"If you don't win a race it looks like you are not one of [the top riders] but this is not the reality. But for a lot of people in this world it's like this" - Andrea Dovizoso

"I can understand Lorenzo because he is a world champion. He can't wait too much. He is a rider that wants things in a short time. You must be more patient" - Daniele Romagnoli

"Casey is special I think and he was able to keep that pace up by doing something on the bike that I couldn't see"

"When you have a Rabat and you go to a Morbidelli, it's like 100 percent different people. The most nervous guy in the world and the most relaxed guy in the world" - Michael Bartholemy

"The project is purely geared to finding Italian riders to try to get a championship. Five years ago there were only Spanish riders. We're trying to redress the balance" - Pablo Nieto

Francesco Bagnaia sits down with Crash.net in Texas to talk about life in Moto2, being back at Sky Racing Team VR46 and the Mahindra Moto3 machine.

"My next aim is to maybe try something else, or something I've been on before. But I'm very happy where I am. I'm out of contract [and] I have an offer to stay [here]." - Cal Crutchlow

"I am impressed because it looks like [Rossi and Vi?ales are like] a computer. They anticipate all the movements on the bike, they manage it automatically" - Johann Zarco

"There isn't a pathway at the moment for riders to come through from Moto3, Moto2 and onto MotoGP. I guess this is the perfect opportunity for that" - Jeremy McWilliams

"MotoGP is man and machine on track alone. The rider decides tactics, as opposed to Formula One. I'd like to keep that philosophy" - Mike Webb, MotoGP Race Director.

"When I came into the garage after the first outing I got a bit of an eye-opener. There were about ten HRC guys waiting for me" - John McPhee

"I sometimes ask myself what's wrong with me, why not [MotoGP]? I still have this dream, this goal and I know that the only way of getting to MotoGP is results" - Thomas Luthi.

"To win the title you don't need to win every race, but get the best out of each race" - Livio Suppo, Honda.