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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
van den Goorbergh sixth on RCV debut.
If it hadn't been for the spectacular efforts of fellow replacement rider Olivier Jacque, Jurgen van den Goorbergh's sixth would have arguably been the highlight of Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai.
Gibernau hopes floored by faulty tyre.
Pole sitter Sete Gibernau knew his hopes of winning the Chinese Grand Prix hopes were over even before the race had begun, when his rear tyre began vibrating on the warm-up lap prior to the start of the 22-lap main event.
Jacque: From hair on the soup to fish in water!
World champion Valentino Rossi may have won at Shanghai on Sunday, but it was the performance of Frenchman Olivier Jacque that shone like a beacon through the mist and spray.
250 two in a row for Stoner.
Casey Stoner took his second successive victory in the 250cc class after a close battle with Andrea Dovizioso in today's wet Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai. Stoner made a poor start from pole position but recovered to take the lead by the end of the opening lap and never looked back.
Sete takes pole in Shanghai shake-up.
Sete Gibernau has taken the first ever Chinese Grand Prix pole position after leading a Movistar Honda one-two at the end of a tense qualifying hour at Shanghai, which saw a Ducati and Suzuki in the top four while world champion Valentino Rossi was left clinging to the tail of row two.
Tamada out - van den Goorbergh in.
Following yet another medical examination, requested by Makoto Tamada himself, a fracture to the scaphoid bone in his right wrist has now been found - ruling the Japanese out of this weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.
Gibernau defiant despite Estoril disaster.
After falling from the lead of the Portuguese Grand Prix almost two weeks ago, dropping him from second to fifth in the early world championship chase, some may have expected Sete Gibernau to be in a slightly apologetic or regretful mood heading into this weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix -
Tamada should make Shanghai.
Konica Minolta Honda rider Makoto Tamada should be able to compete at next weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai after a CAT scan on his injured wrist revealed that, despite initial fears, he has no fracture.
Eight Chinese go wild at Shanghai.
No less than eight Chinese riders will attempt to qualify for next weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai. Five of the riders will compete in the 250cc class - riding Yamaha, Honda and Aprilia machinery - while the other three will enter the 125cc class, on Hondas.
Jacque plans Shanghai set-up, Le Mans attack.
As previously indicated, the Kawasaki Racing Team has today (Wednesday) officially confirmed that former 250cc world champion, Olivier Jacque, will make his MotoGP return by substituting for the injured Alex Hofmann at the Chinese Grand Prix and the following French Grand Prix.
Injured Hofmann replaced at Kawasaki?
Following the news that Kawasaki's Alex Hofmann will miss the next two GPs due to injury, it appears likely that former 250cc world champion Olivier Jacque could be called up to steer his ZX-RR at Shanghai and Le Mans.
Team Roberts to miss Chinese GP!
Team Roberts will not be going to the Chinese MotoGP on May 1 after a lack of engines caused them to think again before the big trip.