American Nicky Hayden reckons he is unlikely to begin racing Ducati’s new ‘lab’ bike in Assen next weekend because it is no better than his current factory GP13 Desmosedici. Ducati has invested vast human and financial resources into the new ‘lab’ bike, which features revised weight distribution and a chassis with different stiffness. It was hoped the new bike would ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 18 June 2013
Suzuki’s new 1000cc MotoGP machine produced an eye-catching performance on its first test outside of Japan yesterday (Monday), with test rider Randy de Puniet finishing just over 0.7s off the best time set by Jorge Lorenzo in Catalunya. A one-day test session at the track near Barcelona was the first time the new Suzuki was pitched against opposition like Yamaha’s ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 18 June 2013
Suzuki has confirmed that it has delayed its return to MotoGP action until 2015 to focus on development of its new 1000cc machine.When the Japanese factory suspended its premier class project at the end of 2011, Suzuki announced its intention to be back competing against the likes of Honda and Yamaha in 2014.But speaking during the first European test of ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 17 June 2013
Cal Crutchlow hailed Jorge Lorenzo’s Catalunya MotoGP victory as one of the best of the Spaniard’s premier class career after the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider’s challenge was ended by an early crash. Lorenzo led home red-hot pre-race favourite Dani Pedrosa by 1.763s to cut the Repsol Honda rider’s world championship lead to just seven points with a third of ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 17 June 2013
Marc Marquez admitted he was close to crashing numerous times during yesterday’s Catalunya MotoGP clash that saw the Repsol Honda rider return to the podium in third position. The Spaniard might have suffered his first race crash in Mugello recently, but he was not adopting a more cautious approach in front of a massive home crowd of over 91,000 fans ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 17 June 2013
Valentino Rossi has urged MotoGP bosses to speak to Alvaro Bautista after the Italian was almost caught up in a first lap incident with the Gresini Honda rider for the second race in succession in Barcelona yesterday. Rossi and Bautista collided on the opening lap of the nine-times world champion’s home race in Mugello earlier this month and both crashed ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 17 June 2013
Scott Redding kicked into damage limitation mode in Catalunya yesterday after he missed a Moto2 podium for only the second time in the opening six races. Battling in the leading group of four in the early phase of the 23-lap race, the Marc VDS Racing rider was unable to match the pace of eventual winner Pol Espargaro, Esteve Rabat and ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 17 June 2013
Suzuki shocked the racing world today by confirming that it will not return to the MotoGP world championship as had been expected in 2014.The Japanese factory has delayed its return until 2015 at the earliest in an announcement made shortly before its new 1000cc machine made its first public appearance in Europe at the Catalunya track near Barcelona.When Suzuki suspended ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 17 June 2013
Cal Crutchlow is undecided on whether he will run Bridgestone’s hard or soft compound rear tyre in a Catalunya MotoGP clash tomorrow (Sunday) that is expected to take place in searing hot conditions The British rider claimed a ninth career front row in punishing 30-degree heat at the Catalunya track near Barcelona today with a best lap of 1.41.501 that ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 15 June 2013
Valentino Rossi’s bid for a second podium finish of 2013 in Catalunya tomorrow will start from the third row of the grid after the Italian’s difficulties in qualifying continued in scorching hot conditions today. Rossi’s hopes of boosting his rostrum hopes with a vastly improved qualifying performance ended when a lap of 1.41.959 left him only seventh on the grid. ...
- Motorcycle Sport
- MotoGP
- 15 June 2013
