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.
Edwards switches forks.
In a bid to close the gap to the front of the MotoGP field - and championship leading team-mate Sete Gibernau - Colin Edwards has switched away from his World Superbike winning front forks.
Checa: It's been a long time.
Carlos Checa returned to the MotoGP podium for the first time in over a year yesterday afternoon at Le Mans, the Spaniard finishing second to countryman Sete Gibernau - but beat Max Biaggi and team-mate Valentino Rossi to claim top Yamaha honours.
Gibernau grabs Le Mans pole.
World championship leader Sete Gibernau carried his morning practice pace through to final qualifying for the French Grand Prix, the Telefonica Honda rider emerging on top by just 0.15secs over Carlos Checa on a day when Valentino Rossi was left off the front row.
Red flag at Le Mans.
The final qualifying session for the French Grand Prix has been red flagged after ten-minutes following an engine failure for Alex Hofmann's Kawasaki.
Kurtis: Broken wheel sensor opened throttle.
Small but vexing problems at the first public outing of the revised-firing-order Proton KR V5 engine left riders Nobuatsu Aoki and Kurtis Roberts 21st and 22nd respectively in Le Mans first qualifying.
Sete getting factory Honda support?
Solo Moto is reporting that as a reward for his Spanish Grand Prix victory, Sete Gibernau could be receiving full factory Honda support for the remainder of the season.
Preview - French Grand Prix.
For the first time in two years and 38 grands prix, MotoGP heads to an event without Valentino Rossi at the top of the world championship standings.
Barros gets 'green card'.
Alex Barros may not have spent the opening two races of the 2004 season battling for victory, but the Brazilian has arguably exceeded early season expectations by outracing Repsol Honda team-mate Nicky Hayden.
French GP wild-cards.
The wild-card riders who will race in this Sunday's French Grand Prix at Le Mans are the following:
Kato commemorated by Misano.
The community of Misano, along with the Gresini Racing team, has chosen the new road that leads to the entrance of the Misano Circuit as the street to bear the name of the late Daijiro Kato.
Ducati: GP4 will suit Le Mans.
Ducati Marlboro heads to round three of the 2004 MotoGP world championship, the French Grand Prix, believing that the stop-go nature of the Le Mans circuit will suit the so far disappointing Desmosedici GP4.
Kawasaki test clutch, chassis and tyres.
Fuchs Kawasaki have concluded two days of testing at the Jerez with Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann completing more than 120 laps between them as they worked their way through a punishing schedule.
Pictures: Rossi's miracle save.
Valentino Rossi's first wet GP with Yamaha proved nothing short of dramatic, with the five-times world champion forced to use all his doubtless talent to keep the #46 M1 under control in the treacherous conditions.
Moody Blues: Jerez.
In the latest of his exclusive columns for Crash.net renowned Eurosport MotoGP commentator Toby Moody lets us in on 'behind the scenes' news from the second round of the 2004 season; the Spanish Grand Prix...
MotoGP manufacturers plan 900cc future.
The Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers' Association (MSMA) have announced plans to reduce the capacity of MotoGP machiens from 990cc to 900cc by 2007.
Sete and Max show hands Honda hope.
After the embarrassment of Africa, Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi reassured Honda that there isn't much wrong with the 2004 spec RC211V by dominating a wet Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez today.
Sete shines through Spanish rain.
Sete Gibernau has won a wet Spanish Grand Prix after a perfect ride in treacherous conditions saw the Telefonica Honda rider absorb race long pressure from Max Biaggi, to take his first victory of the season.
Rossi frustrated by rain.
Intermittent rain today at Jerez may have handed Valentino Rossi a safe pole position for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, but the Italian is hoping for a dry race tomorrow - his second on a Yamaha YZR-M1.
Rain hands Rossi pole.
Continued rain at Jerez today meant that Valentino Rossi's provisional pole time, set in yesterday's dry first qualifying session, went unchallenged today - handing the reigning world champion his second Yamaha pole from two attempts.
Byrne makes bike slower - goes faster.
MS Aprilia rookie Shane Byrne underlined his growing MotoGP potential this afternoon as the critical European phase of the 2004 season got underway at a cool and blustery Jerez.
'Big bang' puts Checa in high gear.
Carlos Checa claims he is still getting to grips with the new configuration YZR-M1 engine that the four Yamaha riders raced for the first time at South Africa.
Aprilia facing bankruptcy?
According to reports, Aprilia has just five days to find ?5 million and avoid bankruptcy - putting the future of the company, and particularly its MotoGP programme, in doubt.
Burns returns with WCM.
Chris Burns will make his return to MotoGP with the Harris WCM team at Jerez this weekend, after a frustrating winter in which he feared he'd be left rideless after turning down other offers.
Rossi even stronger at Jerez?
Valentino Rossi turned MotoGP upside down when he took Yamaha to victory in his very first race on the YZR-M1 two weeks ago at Welkom - and this weekend the Italian heads to Jerez, home of the Spanish Grand Prix, with the added confidence of excellent pre-season testing form at the same circuit.