MotoGP News
We’re first for the latest MotoGP news. Motorcycle racing’s elite competition is a fast paced, ever-evolving beast and here you’ll find all of the MotoGP news you could wish for. We cover everything from interviews with the major players, updates on machine reveals, team news and more. See brand new content from MotoE and insightful ‘first look’ features showing the forthcoming MotoGP season’s riders in their new colours.
Rossi drug free.
The results of anti-doping controls carried out on six Motorcycle Grand Prix riders at round two of the 2005 world championships, the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril on April 17, have just been released by the FIM.
Le Mans test times - Tuesday.
Movistar Honda rider Sete Gibernau has set the pace on the second and final day of testing at the Le Mans circuit it France; the Catalan heading a reduced list of four riders after the Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki teams concluded their track time on Monday.
Kawasaki targets Biaggi?
The French Grand Prix seemed to mark the unofficial start of the MotoGP silly season, with much rumour and speculation about the futures of - amongst others - Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa and Olivier Jacque.
McWilliams dismisses MotoGP return.
Former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams has confirmed his commitment to the British Superbike Championship, despite a difficult start to 2005 and paddock rumours linking the Ulsterman to a move back to former GP employer Team Roberts.
'Fantastic` last lap falls to 'no mistakes` Rossi.
A superb head-to-head confrontation between the two best motorcycle riders on the planet saw world champion Valentino Rossi take a knife-edge victory over Sete Gibernau in Sunday's French Grand Prix at Le Mans.
Edwards: I desperately wanted to win.
Colin Edwards capped a superb Le Mans weekend by leading 20 of the 28 laps which formed Sunday's French Grand Prix, before taking his first ever MotoGP podium finish for new employer Yamaha.
Teething troubles but Team Roberts cite progress.
For Team Roberts and their KTM powered Proton KR machine, the French Grand Prix was a 'testing' weekend in more ways than one.
Byrne, Barros bruised but okay.
Shane Byrne and Alex Barros suffered heavy falls during Sunday's French Grand Prix at Le Mans, the Brit being stretchered away from the race track after his opening lap 'off' while Barros was sent to the Clinica Mobile after a high-speed fall at half race distance.
Nakano 'very fast`, Jacque 'very impressive`.
Kawasaki factory rider Shinya Nakano turned in a superb qualifying effort today at Le Mans, challenging for pole before securing sixth place on the grid for Sunday's French Grand Prix.
Trouble at Camel Honda.
The main losers during today's qualifying session at Le Mans were the Camel Honda team whose star rider Alex Barros, fastest on day one, was left down in eleventh position - despite proven race pace - while Troy Bayliss again struggled to feel confident on his RCV.
Brivio denies Rossi/F1 comments.
Gauloises Yamaha team director Davide Brivio has been forced to clarify his comments to the Italian media regarding Valentino Rossi's racing future, after he appeared to reveal that the six-times world champion would move to Formula One in 2007.
Barros fastest as rain arrives.
Alex Barros has set the fastest time on the opening day of the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, the Brazilian sitting slightly ahead of fellow Honda rider Sete Gibernau after 22-minutes of the second free practice session... at which point the much predicted rain finally arrived.
Nakano fast in dry, Jacque needs rain.
Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano mastered a day of changeable weather conditions to finish sixth fastest after today's opening free practice sessions at Le Mans.
Brivio: Rossi will stay for 2006 - then F1.
Gauloises Yamaha team director Davide Brivio has declared that he will have no problem retaining the services of world champion Valentino Rossi for the 2006 season - which would be his third with Yamaha - but then expects the Italian Superstar to move to Formula One with Ferrari.
Tamada pulls out of French GP - Jurgen returns.
After struggling with pain from his recently pinned broken wrist in this morning's first free practice session for the French Grand Prix, Konica Minolta Honda rider Makoto Tamada has withdrawn from the event - and will again be replaced by Jurgen van den Goorbergh.
Rain forecast for Le Mans - OJ favourite?
Kawasaki replacement rider Olivier Jacque's hopes of repeating his magical second place finish at the soaking wet Chinese Grand Prix have been boosted by the news that this weekend's French Grand Prix - OJ's home race - is almost certain to see rain on all three days.
Dupasquier praises `flat out beauty` of MotoGP.
Michelin motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier has praised the 'beauty' of a 'flat out' MotoGP race in which, unlike other major motorsport disciplines, the action only takes place on the racetrack and the winner is decided by the strongest rider/bike/tyre package.
Nakano, Jacque face 1000 fans.
More than 1000 Kawasaki fans greeted Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque when the two riders arrived to officially open the new Best Way Kawasaki shop in Le Mans this morning (Thursday).
BMW Power Cup opens at Le Mans.
A new era will begin this weekend at Le Mans with the opening round of the new BMW Motorrad Power Cup, a race series that will cover seven European race circuits in support of MotoGP.
Preview - French Grand Prix.
Sete Gibernau will be chasing his third consecutive Le Mans victory at the French Grand Prix on Sunday; the Movistar Honda rider knows he must win his first race of the year to prevent Valentino Rossi running away with the title, after winning two of the three opening rounds.
Tamada returns, wants pay back.
After sustaining a fracture to his wrist following a fall during qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix - and after sitting out Shanghai as a result - Makoto Tamada will make his Konica Minolta Honda return at this weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans.
Byrne: It is a difficult situation.
Former British Superbike Champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne will return to MotoGP action this weekend in France. The Kent rider was forced to miss the last race in China because of problems with engine parts for his KTM powered Proton KR machine.
Team Roberts to run new V4 at Le Mans.
Team Roberts will be boosted by a new specification KTM engine at this weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans, despite missing a planned test with the powerplant last week.
Nine wild and one sub for Le Mans.
It has been announced that nine wild-cards and one substitute rider will take part in next weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans, round four of the 2005 world championship.