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.
Roberts out of British GP.
Kenny Roberts Jr will miss his third Grand Prix in a row after failing to recover sufficiently from his Mugello injuries, and so - as at Assen two weeks ago - his place in the Suzuki team will be taken by Yukio Kagayama (pictured).
Ducati: British circuits have a soul.
The Ducati Marlboro Team comes to Donington this weekend fresh from two events that underline the Desmosedici's awesome performance - Loris Capirossi scored the bike's historic first victory at Catalunya a month ago and its second pole position at Assen - the 'Cathedral' of motorcycle racing - a
Nakano: Craner curves are too fast.
Shinya Nakano and his D'Antin Yamaha Team had a sour end to their Assen weekend, when race day rain left the Japanese just 13th by the end of the 19 laps. Now, Nakano heads to Donington Park eager to make amends at a circuit which should suit his M1.
Melandri heads to 'second home'.
Fortuna Yamaha rider Marco Melandri will not have very far to travel to this weekend's Grand Prix, as the Donington circuit is situated really close to his UK home in Derby.
King of both worlds to be honoured.
Many tried, but all failed - except one man. Conquering both the two and four-wheeled worlds remains solely the domain of John Surtees, who will be honoured by the MotoGP community at a special ceremony on the eve of the British Grand Prix at Donington Park next Thursday.
Marlboro named Malaysian title sponsors.
Tobacco giants Philip Morris have acquired title sponsorship for the Malaysian round of the 2003 MotoGP World Championship, round fourteen of the current season, at Sepang on 10-12 October.
No MotoGP wild-cards at Donington.
The FIM have announced that the next round of the MotoGP World Championship, the British Grand Prix on July 13, will feature no premier class wild-cards.
Doohan to ride 'ultimate Honda' at Goodwood.
Honda have announced that five-times 500cc Motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan (pictured) will be lighting up this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed on a state-of-the-art Honda NR750.
Donington expects record crowd.
The 200mph plus MotoGP racers only make one appearance in Britain a year and already over 40,000 British fans have bought tickets, as fast as they were being printed, for the Cinzano British Grand Prix at Donington Park on July 13.
Rossi in Leicester Square next Tuesday.
MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi will ride a Honda into London's Leicester Square at 3.30pm on Tuesday July 8, where he will meet and greet the public in a special event hosted by BBC presenter Suzi Perry.
World champ Edwards roars into... Northallerton!
Reigning World Superbike champion Colin Edwards makes his annual visit to the quaint market town of Northallerton next Tuesday [8 July], to take part in a chat show organised by the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club at Club Amadeus.
Bayliss: I crashed trying to fix quickshifter.
Troy Bayliss rocketed up the order from a fourth-row start at Assen yesterday, eventually overtaking world champion Valentino Rossi around the outside for third, only to crash due to a minor technical glitch moments later.
Checa: I couldn't see - it was scary.
Fortuna Yamaha front row starter Carlos Checa produced a gritty ride in what was a typically wet Dutch TT in Assen yesterday. The Spaniard finished the 19-lap race in fourth position - the top YZR-M1 rider for the second consecutive Grand Prix.
World Championship standings.
Leading MotoGP championship standings following today's Dutch TT, round seven of the 2003 series. Riders' championship standings after round 7:
Rossi 0.7secs clear in Assen practice.
Valentino Rossi wasted no time in showing his intentions at Assen this morning, leading the first free practice session by a massive 0.69secs ahead of his nearest rival - Max Biaggi.
Hodgson at Assen - looking for a ride?
Runaway World Superbike championship leader Neil Hodgson fuelled rumours that he will switch to MotoGP next year by spectating at today's first qualifying session at Assen.
Kagayama: Assen isn't so difficult.
Suzuki supersub Yukio Kagayama qualified a respectable 17th fastest today at Assen, outpacing problem-hit team-mate John Hopkins and five other GP regulars on his first visit to the legendary Dutch TT circuit.
Princess Anne opens proceedings at Assen.
Excited preparations for the Dutch TT were being completed by royal appointment at Assen today, as Britain's Princess Anne took the opportunity to sample the unique atmosphere of the MotoGP paddock.
Biaggi: You can't make mistakes at Assen.
Assen, the so-called 'Cathedral' of road racing had produced some epics in the recent past and might well do so again this year - with Italians Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and Max Biaggi likely to be at the sharp end on Saturday.
Nakano: Everybody wants to race at Assen.
Following last week's tragic incident that saw one d'Ant?n Yamaha team member die and another hospitalised after apparent food poisoning in the team's hospitality unit, it is still with a sense of shock that the Spanish outfit arrives in Holland for this Saturday's Dutch TT.
Rossi: Don't invade Assen.
MotoGP stars Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau and former racer Randy Mamola have each voiced their support for Assen's efforts to avoid a repeat of last year's track invasion by fans - otherwise they'll miss out on the slow down lap celebrations.
Melandri returns to scene of 15-year-old triumph.
After suffering one of the worst MotoGP class debut's in history when he broke his leg on day one at Suzuka, Marco Melandri has impressed onlookers with his early comeback and subsequent rides so far this year.
Kawasaki find set-up to suit all riders.
The Kawasaki Racing Team completed the second and final day of testing at Spain's Catalunya circuit on Tuesday, with both riders and team technical staff declaring themselves satisfied with the progress made, particularly in finding a base set-up that suits all the teams riders.
Day of Champions to mix action with auction.
The 11th Day of Champions, to be held at Donington Park on Thursday July 10th, looks set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated ever - with the proven mix of day long action followed by an auction of one-off motorsport prizes set to reach new heights in 2003.