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 penalized - will start last!
World championship leader Valentino Rossi has been dropped to the back of today's Qatar Grand Prix grid for illegal grid cleaning.
Rossi: It'll be difficult.
Valentino Rossi faces the unusual scenario of starting Saturday's inaugural Qatar Grand Prix from the third row of the grid, after finishing today's final qualifying session at Losail just eighth fastest.
Taylor out, Denning in at Team Suzuki.
Suzuki team manager Garry Taylor, the most experienced and longest serving team manager in the GP paddock, is to step down at the end of the 2004 season and be replaced by Paul Denning, owner of the Crescent Suzuki British Superbike team.
Great track, but 'suicide to run wide'.
Qatar's brand new Losail circuit received a universal 'thumbs up' after the first day of MotoGP track action - the sweeping layout providing plenty of safe challenges for the premier-class riders - but a new problem emerged in the form of sand on the track surface...
Byrne to miss rest of season.
Former British Superbike champion Shane Byrne will miss the remaining four rounds of the 2004 MotoGP season after further tests on his injured wrist - sustained during a practice highside at Brno - revealed ligament and tendon damage.
Assen starts construction of 'floating grandstand'
Immediately after the Assen World Superbike event, on September 5, construction began on the new head-turning 'floating grandstand' (top pic), which will overlook the final chicane and start/finish straight at the world famous circuit.
Kenny to miss three races, replacements announced.
Kenny Roberts Jr. has been ruled out of the next three races following medical tests on his elbow injury, sustained in a first turn pile-up at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday (top picture).
Hopkins: Don't ban Capirossi.
John Hopkins has stated that he doesn't want the FIM to impose any form of sanction on Loris Capirossi for causing the first turn accident at Motegi, despite the Anglo-American having himself been suspended for a near identical offence one year ago.
Kato remembered at Motegi.
The late Daijiro Kato was honoured at Motegi on Saturday morning. In a special ceremony his father Takashi presented two super pocket bikes (top pic), named the 74 dream after his son's racing number, to Kato's team manager Fausto Gresini and Dorna Ceo, Carmelo Ezpeleta.
Suzuki considers Roberts replacement.
The first turn pile-up at Motegi proved particularly costly for Team Suzuki, with riders Kenny Roberts and John Hopkins each sustaining considerable injuries - which have already ruled Roberts out of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Pictures: 'Hell at the first corner'.
"I made a great start and that put me in front.
Yamaha: Rossi did the right thing.
Honda wanted nothing more than to beat Yamaha and Valentino Rossi at their home Japanese Grand Prix - a feat they would achieve thanks to Makoto Tamada and his Bridgestone shod RCV...
Nakano claims shock Kawasaki podium.
In a superb home race performance for the Fuchs Kawasaki team, Shinya Nakano scored an historic third place podium finish in the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.
Brave rides rewarded for McWilliams, Byrne.
MS Aprilia duo Jeremy McWilliams and Shane Byrne both produced gutsy performances in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, to be rewarded with world championship points.
Tamada wins home GP, Rossi's rivals falter.
A dramatic day in the sunshine confirmed the arrival of a new MotoGP star and further proof that Valentino Rossi is on course to bring the World title to Yamaha after an 11-year wait.
Barros 'not bad', Hayden 'back in the groove'.
Repsol Honda riders Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden finished the first day of the team's most important race of the year, the Japanese Grand Prix, seventh and eighth fastest respectively.
Ui gets WCM ride, Jacque 'happy to be back'.
Former 125cc title contender Youichi Ui will make his MotoGP debut with WCM this weekend as a replacement for Michel Fabrizio, who now appears to have permanently left the team following his one race ride for Aprilia.
Special pressure for Nakano.
Motegi, venue for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, holds special memories for Shinya Nakano - for it was at the same circuit in 1999 that Nakano, in a superb rookie performance, won his first grand prix with victory in the 250cc race.
Hayden: Collarbone pretty solid.
After sitting out the last grand prix in Portugal due to a broken collarbone sustained during training, Nicky Hayden will be back in action for Repsol Honda at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, at Motegi.
Hodgson to Suzuki?
Sources close to Neil Hodgson have told Crash.net that the 2003 World Superbike champion is set to move from his current D'Antin Ducati team and take a factory Suzuki ride for 2005.
Nakano to go shopping on his ZX-RR in Tokyo.
Saturday afternoon shoppers at Tokyo's Shinagawa Seaside Forest Oval Garden will need to take ear plugs with them this weekend, as Fuchs Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano will make an appearance aboard his Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine ahead of next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Ukawa heads Motegi wild-cards.
Former Repsol Honda and Camel Honda MotoGP rider Tohru Ukawa has been confirmed on the entry list for the Japanese Grand Prix, at Motegi, on September 19.
Rossi boosted by new exhaust.
Fresh his sixth victory of the season, Valentino Rossi and the factory Yamaha team joined rivals from Honda, Kawasaki and Proton in testing at the Estoril circuit on Monday.