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2013

Valentino Rossi boosted by braking breakthrough

20 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi boosted by braking breakthrough

Valentino Rossi hailed his successful Motorland Aragon test appearance as one of his best days since returning to Yamaha, despite finishing almost a second slower than factory YZR-M1 teammate Jorge...

Dani Pedrosa rules out switch to 2014 Honda

20 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa rules out switch to 2014 Honda

MotoGP world championship leader Dani Pedrosa will not switch to Honda’s new 2014 factory RC213V after he completed a very brief stint on next year’s model at the Motorland Aragon yesterday...

Jorge Lorenzo heads Aragon test

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo heads Aragon test

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo topped the MotoGP test timesheets at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today on a day that Honda’s new 2014 RC213V made its European track debut in dry...

Honda and Ducati confirm Scott Redding interest

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda and Ducati confirm Scott Redding interest

Honda and Ducati have admitted being seriously interested in Scott Redding for 2014, with the British rider in talks about a new production RC213V ride or Desmosedici prototype berth next...

Honda denies production bike race plan rumour

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda denies production bike race plan rumour

Honda has rubbished rumours that it will race its new production Honda RC213V in the last eight races of the 2013 MotoGP campaign. The new bike, which HRC plans to sell five of for around £850,000...

Dorna open to Indianapolis leaving MotoGP schedule early

19 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dorna open to Indianapolis leaving MotoGP schedule early

The Indianapolis MotoGP race in August could be the last to be held at the legendary American motorsport venue, with Dorna open to the race ending its agreement one year early. The iconic Indianapolis...

Rain ruins new Honda debut in Aragon

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Rain ruins new Honda debut in Aragon

Rain stopped Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez from making their debut on the new 2014 factory Honda RC213V bike at the Motorland Aragon track in Spain today. Light rain fell intermittently this morning...

First pics: Honda reveals 2014 factory RC213V in Aragon

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

First pics: Honda reveals 2014 factory RC213V in Aragon

This is the first look at Honda’s new 2014 factory Honda RC213V machine, which was scheduled to make its European track debut at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain today. One bike each for HRC duo...

Nicky Hayden unlikely to switch to new Ducati in Assen

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden unlikely to switch to new Ducati in Assen

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...

New Suzuki shines on European track debut

18 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

New Suzuki shines on European track debut

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...

Bike development behind Suzuki’s delayed MotoGP return

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bike development behind Suzuki’s delayed MotoGP return

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...

Cal Crutchlow praises ‘unbelievable’ Jorge Lorenzo

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow praises ‘unbelievable’ Jorge Lorenzo

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...

Marc Marquez gets confidence boost with home podium

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez gets confidence boost with home podium

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...

Valentino Rossi blasts ‘crazy’ Alvaro Bautista

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi blasts ‘crazy’ Alvaro Bautista

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...

Scott Redding content with fourth

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding content with fourth

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...

Suzuki delays MotoGP return until 2015

17 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki delays MotoGP return until 2015

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...

Knockhill BSB: Byrne continues Scottish domination

16 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Knockhill BSB: Byrne continues Scottish domination

Shane Byrne has continued his Scottish domination this weekend, easily taking the second race of the day at Knockhill from Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes. The leading group were able to make a gap on the...

Knockhill BSS: Wilson demolishes supersport rivals

16 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Knockhill BSS: Wilson demolishes supersport rivals

Ben Wilson demolished the opposition to take the win and fastest lap of the race at Knockhill, repeating his dominant form of yesterday. Wilson led from the opening turn, elbowing aside teammate...

Catalunya MotoGP: Lorenzo dominates to take victory

16 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Catalunya MotoGP: Lorenzo dominates to take victory

Jorge Lorenzo took a dominating win in his home GP at Catalunya today, beating Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez with ease to make an all-Spanish podium. Lorenzo squeezed aside the pole man Pedrosa off...

Knockhill BSB: Shakey storms to race 1 win

16 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Knockhill BSB: Shakey storms to race 1 win

Reigning champion Shane Byrne stormed to victory in race one at Knockhill today ahead of Tyco Suzuki racer Josh Brookes. Brookes led for most of the race, until Byrne made a move at the hairpin on lap...

Catalunya Moto2: Pons riders 1-2 as Espargaro takes win

16 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Catalunya Moto2: Pons riders 1-2 as Espargaro takes win

Pol Espargaro took his second Moto2 win of the year at his home race today, after a race-long battle with team mate Tito Rabat. Espargaro and Rabat were the only two to lead the race, making an early...

Catalunya Moto3: Salom makes it back to back wins

16 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Catalunya Moto3: Salom makes it back to back wins

Luis Salom has taken back to back wins in the Moto3 class, winning a hard fought race at the Barcelona circuit by only 0.21 seconds from Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales. The battle for the win was at...

Podium for brave Brit speedway star

16 June 2013 by Tony Hoare

Podium for brave Brit speedway star

Plucky British speedway rider Tai Woffinden scored a surprise rostrum finish in last night’s Polish Grand Prix, just two weeks after shattering his collarbone. His third place in Gorzow means he...

Cal Crutchlow facing tyre choice dilemma

15 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow facing tyre choice dilemma

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...

Knockhill BSB: Byrne takes pole at windy Knockhill

15 June 2013 by Phil Wain

Knockhill BSB: Byrne takes pole at windy Knockhill

Shane Bryne took pole position at a cool and windy Knockhill on Saturday afternoon, the Scottish venue hosting round four of the British Superbike Championship. The reigning champion lapped inside his...

No qualifying joy again for Valentino Rossi

15 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

No qualifying joy again for Valentino Rossi

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...

Catalunya Moto2: Espargaro takes pole, Redding second

15 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Catalunya Moto2: Espargaro takes pole, Redding second

Pol Espargaro took pole in a largely uneventful Moto2 qualifying session at Catalunya today, 0.619 ahead of British championship leader Scott Redding. Espargaro set the lap around half way through the...

Catalunya Moto3: Late lap gives Salom pole

15 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Catalunya Moto3: Late lap gives Salom pole

Luis Salom took pole today in the Moto3 class in Barcelona with a late fast lap that saw him knock Alex Rins back to second on the Iberian-dominated grid. Portuguese rider Miguel Olivera put his...

Catalunya MotoGP: Pedrosa smashes lap record for pole

15 June 2013 by Simon Patterson

Catalunya MotoGP: Pedrosa smashes lap record for pole

Repsol Honda racer Dani Pedrosa will start his 200th Grand Prix from pole position tomorrow in Barcelona after blowing away Casey Stoner’s 2008 lap record in Qualifying. Pedrosa set a lap of 1’40.893,...

Suzuki will have to self-fund MotoGP project in 2014

15 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki will have to self-fund MotoGP project in 2014

Suzuki’s return to the MotoGP world championship is still not confirmed for next season, but what is certain is that the Japanese factory will have to finance its own two-rider works effort in...

Confidence and grip lacking for Bradley Smith

14 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Confidence and grip lacking for Bradley Smith

A lack of confidence and a lack of rear grip is combining to make Bradley Smith’s rookie campaign in the MotoGP world championship a tough and painful experience. After two heavy crashes left him with...

Valentino Rossi boosted by practice pace

14 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi boosted by practice pace

Valentino Rossi quickly brushed off the crushing disappointment of his first lap exit in his home race in Mugello recently to give himself a huge confidence boost on the opening day of practice in...

Valentino Rossi fastest in Catalunya practice

14 June 2013

Valentino Rossi fastest in Catalunya practice

Valentino Rossi’s love affair with the Catalunya track near Barcelona continued today when then Italian topped the practice leaderboard to deny home heroes Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Marc...

Ducati urged to try radical revamp of Desmosedici

13 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ducati urged to try radical revamp of Desmosedici

Ducati has been urged to consider a radical revamp of its factory Desmosedici MotoGP contender after Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden were left completely underwhelmed by a latest test on the Bologna...

Bradley Smith happy with hand recovery progress

13 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith happy with hand recovery progress

British rider Bradley Smith is confident a gruesome left hand injury will not be a painful hindrance during this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP round in Barcelona. Smith has undergone intensive treatment...

Cal Crutchlow aiming for podium hat-trick

13 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow aiming for podium hat-trick

Cal Crutchlow admits he faces a massive task to claim a third successive MotoGP rostrum in Catalunya on Sunday, with Spanish trio Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez all gunning for glory on...