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2013

Ducati explains Austin test absence

11 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ducati explains Austin test absence

Ducati has confirmed financial and technical reasons were behind its decision not participate in the forthcoming MotoGP test at the new Circuit of the Americas in Texas. The three-day test was...

Jorge Lorenzo relieved Yamaha committed to Austin test

08 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo relieved Yamaha committed to Austin test

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo has spoken of his relief at Yamaha’s decision to join rivals Honda in next week’s Austin MotoGP test in Texas. HRC agreed to arrange a special three-day session...

Austin test vital to judge potential, admits Valentino Rossi

08 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Austin test vital to judge potential, admits Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi believes next week’s MotoGP test session at the new Circuit of the Americas in Texas will give him a clearer indication of his and Yamaha’s potential for 2013 now he’s back on the...

Suzuki plan five European tests of new 1000 MotoGP bike

06 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki plan five European tests of new 1000 MotoGP bike

Suzuki plans to pitch its new factory 1000cc MotoGP bike against Honda, Yamaha and Ducati in at least three public tests in Europe in 2013. The Japanese factory will also take part in two private...

Adult movie channel backing for Michael Laverty and Shane Byrne

04 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Adult movie channel backing for Michael Laverty and Shane Byrne

Michael Laverty’s rookie MotoGP campaign and Shane Byrne’s bid for a record fourth BSB title will be backed by an adult movie channel in 2013. MinxFlix.com has signed a sponsorship deal with the Paul...

Ben Spies confident shoulder will be 100% for Qatar opener

01 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies confident shoulder will be 100% for Qatar opener

Ignite Pramac Ducati rider Ben Spies is confident his recovering right shoulder will have regained 100% strength in time for the first race in Qatar next month after another physically and mentally...

Bradley Smith satisfied with positive Sepang test

01 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith satisfied with positive Sepang test

On paper at least, Bradley Smith’s second MotoGP test in the space of three weeks at the Sepang track in Malaysia looked worse than it actually was. Earlier this month in the opening Malaysia test he...

Stoner DNFs in V8 debut

01 March 2013 by Simon Patterson

Stoner DNFs in V8 debut

Casey Stoner’s V8 debut came to an abrupt halt after a punctured tyre saw him retire from the first race while in 13th place. He got off to a good start, impressing by qualifying 12th around the...

Marc Marquez seeks confidence with Honda set-up tweaks

01 March 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez seeks confidence with Honda set-up tweaks

Marc Marquez says he is still lacking in confidence to push immediately after his Repsol Honda squad has sent him out with revised settings on the factory RC213V machine. The Spaniard continued his...

'Spectacular' Marc Marquez thrills Valentino Rossi

28 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

'Spectacular' Marc Marquez thrills Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi got a close up view of the future of MotoGP in Sepang today when he chased rookie sensation Marc Marquez for three laps on the final day of testing in Malaysia. Rossi clung onto the...

Cal Crutchlow: ‘I could have been fastest’

28 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow: ‘I could have been fastest’

Cal Crutchlow believes slower riders cost him the chance to have a shot at topping the timesheets on the final day of the second MotoGP test at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia...

Pedrosa top of rain-hit Sepang test

28 February 2013

Pedrosa top of rain-hit Sepang test

Rain this morning in Sepang saw most of the track action taking place in the afternoon, with Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa fastest of the day with a 2’00.562 lap. With yesterday’s fastest man Jorge...

Jorge Lorenzo in dark over Yamaha gearbox plans

27 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo in dark over Yamaha gearbox plans

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo has cast doubt on whether he will get to race a new seamless shift gearbox on Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 in 2013. A new gearbox was high on Lorenzo’s wish list to...

Cal Crutchlow climbs into top three in Sepang

27 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow climbs into top three in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow took full advantage of improved track conditions in scorching heat at the Sepang track in Malaysia today to move into the top three on the timesheets. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider...

Valentino Rossi lauds ‘impressive’ Jorge Lorenzo

27 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi lauds ‘impressive’ Jorge Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi has given a fascinating insight into why he believes current world champion Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 are such a potent combination in the MotoGP world...

Jorge Lorenzo heads second day in Sepang

27 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo heads second day in Sepang

Jorge Lorenzo ended Dani Pedrosa’s golden run in pre-season testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia today when the reigning world champion topped the timesheets in hot and humid conditions. Repsol...

Casey Stoner poised for car racing debut in Australia

27 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner poised for car racing debut in Australia

Double MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has shown off the Red Bull Racing Australia Holden car he will make his long-awaited V8 Supercars debut in later this week. The former factory Ducati and...

Andrea Dovizioso latest victim of Ducati understeer issue

26 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso latest victim of Ducati understeer issue

After Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi complained incessantly about Ducati’s long-standing understeer issue, it was only a matter of time before new recruit Andrea Dovizioso got a clear...

Electrical problem frustrates Valentino Rossi in Sepang

26 February 2013

Electrical problem frustrates Valentino Rossi in Sepang

Valentino Rossi experienced a frustrating start to the second MotoGP test in Sepang today when a technical issue and heavy afternoon rain restricted him to just 25-laps. The Italian was prevented from...

Bradley Smith unhurt in first MotoGP crash

26 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith unhurt in first MotoGP crash

British rider Bradley Smith walked away unhurt from a high speed crash on the opening day of the second Sepang test in Malaysia today. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider had just set a personal best time...

Dani Pedrosa continues winter domination in Sepang

26 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa continues winter domination in Sepang

Dani Pedrosa continued his domination of the 2013 winter testing schedule after the Spaniard led the timesheets on a rain-hit opening day of the second Sepang test in Malaysia today. Pedrosa led the...

Scott Redding pleased with progress in Jerez Moto2 test

22 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding pleased with progress in Jerez Moto2 test

Scott Redding left this week’s weather-hit Jerez Moto2 test full of confidence after an impressive performance in wet and dry conditions. The British rider was third quickest on the only dry day of...

Danny Kent unfazed by Moto2 testing pace

22 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent unfazed by Moto2 testing pace

Danny Kent says he’s not worried by a difficult start to the 2013 Moto2 pre-season after illness and bad weather hampered his bid to adapt to the Tech 3 Racing Mistral 610 machine. The first test of...

Danny Webb happy with form in rain-hit Jerez Moto3 test

21 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb happy with form in rain-hit Jerez Moto3 test

Danny Webb has declared himself satisfied with his form in both wet and dry conditions at the end of a three-day Moto3 test session in Jerez that was badly disrupted by cold and wet conditions. The...

Ducati still targeting podiums in 2013

21 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ducati still targeting podiums in 2013

Ducati believe it is not an unrealistic goal to be challenging for the podium in the second half of the 2013 MotoGP world championship, despite a tough start to the winter testing campaign. When...

Tech 3 ponder chassis project for Yamaha lease engine

21 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 ponder chassis project for Yamaha lease engine

Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith’s Tech 3 squad is mulling over a new chassis project that could see the French-based outfit join forces with a team leasing Yamaha’s YZR-M1 engine package in...

Scott Redding climbs to third in Jerez Moto2 test

20 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding climbs to third in Jerez Moto2 test

Scott Redding moved into the top three on a dry second day of Moto2 testing action at the Jerez track in Spain today. The Marc VDS Racing rider was fifth quickest in wet conditions yesterday but a...

Maverick Vinales takes charge in Jerez Moto3 test

20 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Maverick Vinales takes charge in Jerez Moto3 test

Maverick Vinales took full advantage of dry conditions on the second day of Moto3 testing in Jerez to top the timesheets ahead of Spanish rivals Alex Rins and Luis Salom. Vinales, who dominated last...

Dorna in talks with BBC over new MotoGP TV deal

20 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dorna in talks with BBC over new MotoGP TV deal

Talks that could see live coverage of the MotoGP world championship remain on the BBC beyond 2013 are underway. The Beeb’s current five-year deal expires at the end of the this year and Dorna boss...

Scott Redding fifth in weather disrupted Jerez Moto2 test

19 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding fifth in weather disrupted Jerez Moto2 test

Scott Redding’s preparations for an assault on the 2013 Moto2 world championship continued in Jerez today, with the British rider fifth fastest in wet conditions. Redding, who was seventh in last...

Danny Webb fastest in rain-hit start to Jerez Moto3 test

19 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb fastest in rain-hit start to Jerez Moto3 test

British rider Danny Webb ended a rain-hit opening day of Moto3 testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain with the fastest time on board the Ambrogio Racing Suter-Honda machine. The Kent rider posted a...

No influx of new engineering expertise at Ducati

19 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

No influx of new engineering expertise at Ducati

New Ducati boss Bernhard Gobmeier says the hiring of a host of new engineering expertise will not be implemented to help the Bologna factory’s recovery in the 2013 MotoGP world championship. Gobmeier...

Honda and Yamaha prefer no barrier to Suzuki return

19 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda and Yamaha prefer no barrier to Suzuki return

Senior management at Honda and Yamaha are both in agreement that there should be no barrier preventing the potential return of Suzuki’s factory squad in the 2014 MotoGP world championship. Suzuki is...

Michael Laverty eager to try new PBM chassis

18 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Michael Laverty eager to try new PBM chassis

Michael Laverty is hoping to get in some critical development mileage on the new British-built PBM chassis he will race in his rookie MotoGP campaign when winter testing resumes in Sepang next...

Will Rossi win the championship?

18 February 2013 by MCN

Will Rossi win the championship?

Valentino Rossi made an impressive return to Yamaha at the Sepang test in Malaysia last week, but will he win the Championship? pollcomment

Honda open to Casey Stoner wild card deal in 2013

18 February 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda open to Casey Stoner wild card deal in 2013

Honda has said it would give serious consideration to offering Casey Stoner the opportunity to step out of retirement and race in at least two MotoGP rounds in 2013. There has been speculation that...