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.
`Crazy Frog` jumps to the top.
The Motegi runner-up - starting his last two grands prix for Kawasaki before joining Honda LCR in 2008 - was fifth fastest during the slick opening session on the resurfaced Sepang racetrack, before edging out new world champion Casey Stoner by just 0.011secs with a blistering afternoon lap.
New Suzuki fast on the straights.
Nobuatsu Aoki and his prototype version of the 2008 GSV-R may have been were unable to trouble Suzuki MotoGP regulars Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins in terms of overall lap time during day one at Sepang, but the Japanese enjoyed a clear top speed advantage over his team-mates.
Gresini opens Biaggi talks.
While all the factory rides in MotoGP have already been taken, and only one official Kawasaki seat remains in WSBK, the satellite Honda Gresini team still has one ride, alongside 250 frontrunner Alex de Angelis, free for the 2008 MotoGP season.
West: I`m looking forward to Sepang.
The circuit is particularly memorable for the 26-year-old Australian as it was the venue for his debut race in the quarter-litre class, back in 1999, the year the track itself first welcomed Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
Ducati celebrate perfect title trilogy.
With Stoner having lifted his debut riders' title at the previous Japanese round, Ducati wrapped up the two remaining crowns - two rounds early - when Stoner and Capirossi delivered the factory's first one-two of the season, and second ever after Valencia 2006.
Have your name on the KR212V.
Those interested simply need to visit www.TeamKR.com and register their name, or the name of a friend or family member, before October 29th.
Hayden furious at engine failure.
The 2006 world champion bolted from fourth on the grid and quickly locked on to Casey Stoner's rear wheel - then refused to be shaken. For lap after lap the Repsol Honda rider clung to Stoner's Ducati, until his RC212V's engine began to feel 'tight'.
Stoner flattens Phillip Island, Ducati crowned.
The first ten laps of the Australian Grand Prix saw Stoner put under a surprising amount of pressure by outgoing world champion Nicky Hayden, before the American's rear tyre began sliding a little too much.
Warm-up times - Phillip Island.
Pole sitter Dani Pedrosa suffered an embarrassing fall when he was launched into the air while doing a practice start...
Pedrosa: My best ever.
The Spaniard's first hot lap put him in third position, but an all-or-nothing second flyer saw him go a full second faster and ultimately claim his second pole in a row by 0.218s ahead of Valentino Rossi, with world champion Casey Stoner third.
PICTURES: Yamaha`s Abarth livery.
The livery is designed to celebrate the re-launch of the Abarth brand by Fiat this year, with several new models. Yamaha's one-off colours feature the Scorpion logo, synonymous with Abarth, and the white and red flag.
Yamaha to run Abarth livery.
While many MotoGP fans might have preferred some form of tribute livery in memory of Norick Abe - Yamaha's triple 500GP race winner and Valentino Rossi's hero, who died last weekend in a road accident - the factory M1 team will instead appear in the red and white of the Fiat-owned Abarth car bran
FIRST PIC: Vermeulen`s Sheene livery.
Vermeulen's 2007 GSV-R is sporting a retro paint-scheme designed to pay homage to his mentor, and personal hero, Sheene.
Hayden: I wait all year for this.
After claiming pole position in the previous two years at Phillip Island and setting the fastest time in the three-day pre-season test here, Hayden should have the pace to run up front - but can he defeat the likes of new champion Casey Stoner and former five times champion Valentino Rossi?
Yamaha president mourns Abe loss.
"It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Norifumi (Norick) Abe (32) on October 7, 2007, following a traffic accident.
Norick Abe dies in road accident.
Abe is reported to have collided with a truck, while riding a motorcycle near the city of Kawasaki, after it made an 'illegal' U-turn in front of him.
Vermeulen to race Sheene livery.
Vermeulen will be riding a one-off Rizla Suzuki GSV-R inspired by Sheene's Suzuki XR-14 grand prix bike of the mid-seventies.
Hofmann challenges d`Antin dismissal.
Hofmann was sacked after pulling out of the Portuguese Grand Prix, on September 16.
Bridgestone`s rise to the top.
Bridgestone's MotoGP career was carved out from its humble beginnings as tyre suppliers in the 250cc and 500cc classes of the All Japan Championships in the 1980s, but it was not until 1991 that Bridgestone's foray into world championships commenced as the manufacturer embarked
PICTURES: Rossi rides 2008 prototype.
Rossi, whose 13th place in Sunday's wet/dry Japanese Grand Prix handed Casey Stoner the crown three rounds early, evaluated two chassis designs for next year's M1, although he continued to use the existing engine.
West`s best despite stall, penalty.
The 'angry' Australian clearly crept forward while waiting for the red lights to go out, before rocketing into the lead of a MotoGP race for the very first time on lap two of 24.
Rossi reveals what went wrong.
Rossi came into the event needing to finish in front of Stoner to delay the Australian's title celebrations - and charged from seventh at the end of lap one to overtake Stoner and then Marco Melandri for the lead with ten laps remaining.
Cunning Capirossi a winner again.
Capirossi will leave Ducati at the end of this season, after struggling to replicate his 990cc success with the smaller-engined Desmosedici, but gave the Italian factory a reminder of his talent with a clever victory in the wet/dry Japanese Grand Prix - in which he timed his pit stop to perfectio