MotoGP on MCN

Here at Motor Cycle News we deliver bespoke MotoGP news from expert reporters on the ground at every major event. We get everything that's new in MotoGP before anyone else.

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French MotoGP: Alex Debon snatches pole for 250GP

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Alex Debon has snatched pole position from Alvaro Bautista in Le Mans this afternoon. It has looked as if Bautista’s time from yesterday would be enough, but in the final few seconds of the session,...

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa secures first pole of the season

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Dani Pedrosa continued his amazing French form to claim his first pole position of the season in Le Mans this afternoon. The Spaniard snatched the pole position and also a new lap record from Texan...

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith to start 125 race from second

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Bradley Smith will begin tomorrow’s French 125GP from second on the grid. The rider from Oxfordshire did manage to improve on his Friday time by 0.07secs but it wasn’t enough to know Sergio...

French MotoGP: Julian Simon fastest in second 250 free practice

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Julian Simon has recorded the fastest lap in the second 250 practice session in Le Mans this morning. The Repsol KTM rider knocked half a second off his best qualifying lap from yesterday and was just...

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards set fastest time of the weekend in third free practice

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Shanghai pole man Colin Edwards has set the fastest time of the weekend so far in Le Mans this morning in the final MotoGP practice session ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying for tomorrow’s French...

French MotoGP: Mike di Meglio on the pace in second 125 free practice

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Mike di Meglio has put himself on the top of the timesheets from this morning’s second 125 free practice session in France. The Derbi rider was not one of the early contenders in the session for the...

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi upbeat despite set-up problems

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi remained in upbeat mood in Le Mans today despite being the only rider not to post a faster time in the second French MotoGP free practice session. A lap of 1:34.886 secured the Italian...

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo lucky but confident after crash

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo remains confident that he will be fighting for a podium in Sunday’s French MotoGP as he was fortunate to escape further injury in a crash in Le Mans today. Still way short of full...

French MotoGP: Casey Stoner happier after claiming second

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner declared himself much happier with the performance of his factory Ducati machine after he posted the second fastest time in today’s opening free practice sessions. The reigning world...

French MotoGP: Danny Webb to undergo further medical checks

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Danny Webb will undergo a fitness check tomorrow morning before doctors decide whether he can continue to ride in this weekend’s French 125GP. Webb will have a check on his condition...

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards hopes to mount victory challenge

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards is hopeful he can mount a genuine challenge for his first MotoGP victory in France on Sunday as he made a positive start by clocking the third fastest time in today’s opening free...

French MotoGP: James Toseland admits set-up mistake

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland admitted a lack of rear grip cost him dearly as he finished 15th on the opening day of the French MotoGP in Le Mans today. A lack of weight on the rear of his Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 saw...

French MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista puts himself on provisional pole for 250 race

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista has put himself on provisional pole position for Sunday’s 250GP in France after the first qualifying session this afternoon. Second going into tomorrow’s second qualifying session was...

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa on top again in practice in Le Mans

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Current MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa was the fastest man on track in the second free practice session in Le Mans this afternoon. The Repsol Honda rider, who is still to have the benefits...

French MotoGP: Mixed fortunes for Brits as Bradley Smith finishes second but Danny Webb crashes out

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

There was mixed fortunes for the British riders in the first 125 qualifying session in France this afternoon as Bradley Smith finished second but Danny Webb crashed out. Smith had looked set to put...

french MotoGP: Hector Barbera tops the timesheets in 250 free practice

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Hector Barbera has got his season back on track by going fastest in this morning’s first 250 practice ahead of Sunday’s French GP. The Aprilia rider, who was on pole position in Qatar, finished down...

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa on top in Le Mans

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

World championship leader Dani Pedrosa edged out title rivals Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner to top the timesheets in the opening free practice session in Le Mans this morning. The...

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith second in first free practice

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Bradley Smith has finished second in the first 125GP practice in Le Mans this morning as he tries to get his early season success back on track. The Polaris World Aprilia rider recorded his...

French MotoGP: No pneumatic valve Honda engine to test

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden have confirmed that plans to test Honda’s pneumatic valve engine after this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans have been scrapped. The new V4 motor, which was axed during...

French MotoGP: Yamaha delay engine upgrade

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s first Bridgestone win in Shanghai earlier this month has seen Yamaha delay the introduction of an updated factory YZR-M1 motor. Already delighted with significant engine improvements...

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo four weeks away from full fitness

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has said it will be another month at least before he has fully recovered from the serious leg injuries he suffered in a massive high-side crash in Shanghai. Arriving for his pre-event...

French MotoGP: Honda boss unsure of title propsects

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

New Repsol Honda boss Kazuhiko Yamano has admitted facing a tough battle to help Dani Pedrosa convert his brilliant early season form into the Spaniard’s first MotoGP world title in 2008. Pedrosa...

French MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen aiming to forget tough start

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen reckons he is more focused on getting his 2008 campaign back on track than he is of repeating his maiden MotoGP victory in Le Mans this weekend. The Aussie has had...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner not shocked by Jorge Lorenzo form

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP Casey Stoner has said he isn’t shocked by the impressive start Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo has made to his MotoGP career. With one win, three podiums and three pole positions in his...

French MotoGP: Hand injury on mend for Scott Redding

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Scott Redding believes the injured left hand he suffered when he crashed out of his first wet 125GP in Shanghai earlier this month won’t hinder him in Le Mans this weekend. The...

French MotoGP: 250GP replacement rules to be unveiled

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

New four-stroke rules to replace the current two-stroke 250GP class for the 2011 season will be unveiled on Saturday afternoon at the French GP in Le Mans, MCN can reveal. Widely expected to be 600cc,...

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo passed fit for Le Mans clash

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo has passed a late fitness test and will ride in this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans. Although the Estoril MotoGP winner is still in considerable pain from the ankle...

MotoGP: Michael Schumacher gets John Surtees support for bike switch

14 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Formula One ace Michael Schumacher’s shock switch to bike racing has won the support of motorsport legend John Surtees. Surtees, who recently unveiled a new 125GP team called Maxtra in China, has been...

MotoGP: Yamaha happy with split factory garage

14 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha bosses reckon the running of its split factory MotoGP team has gone smoothly, and both Bridgestone and Michelin management are also satisfied with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo operating...

MotoGP: Ben Spies gets official wild card confirmation

14 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has finally officially confirmed that Ben Spies will get his big MotoGP chance in the two American races later this season. The reigning AMA superbike champion will ride a third factory Suzuki...

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso's team boss flattered by factory link

13 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

The boss of Andrea Dovizioso’s satellite Honda team has said current rumours linking the Italian with a ride in Honda’s official factory team in 2009 vindicates his decision to sign the former world...

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo to call on mental toughness in France

12 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo reckons he will need to call on his mental toughness to help him battle leg injuries that will leave him short of 100 per cent fitness for this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans. The...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi impressed by Jorge Lorenzo

12 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believes impressive new Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo is providing him with great motivation as the Italian goes in search of a sixth MotoGP crown in 2008. Lorenzo is Rossi’s...

MotoGP: John Surtees blasts electronic rider aids

09 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP legend John Surtees believes huge advances in electronic rider aids currently dominating the premier class spells grave danger for modern era world championship racing. Surtees, who was...

MotoGP: Colin Edwards happy at Yamaha revival

08 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has spoken of his personal satisfaction at his critical role in helping spark a revival in fortunes for Yamaha in the 2008 MotoGP world championship. After a torrid 2007 campaign where...

MotoGP Exclusive: Chaz Davies in contention for Kawasaki wild card

08 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

Daytona 200 winner Chaz Davies is facing an anxious wait to find out whether he will land a dream wild card slot with Kawasaki’s factory MotoGP team in the two American races later this...