March

Year: 2011

Month: March

Ducati to revamp GP11 for Valentino Rossi

31 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ducati is working on a major re-design of its factory GP11 bike after being told by Valentino Rossi the current version isn’t competitive enough to win MotoGP races. The Italian was only seventh in...

Dani Pedrosa to undergo shoulder surgery

31 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has suffered a fresh injury nightmare having been told the on-going left shoulder problem he suffered last October requires further surgery. The Repsol Honda rider suffered a recurrence...

Casey Stoner expects strong home challenge in Jerez

30 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has admitted facing a difficult challenge to repeat his stunning debut win for Honda in this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP clash. The Australian made a dream start to his HRC career earlier...

Jorge Lorenzo to pose stronger challenge in Jerez

30 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo has been tipped to mount a much stronger challenge to Honda’s dominant early season form in his home race at Jerez this weekend. Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha...

Ben Spies looking to close gap to Honda

29 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has targeted a closer challenge to Honda’s early season dominance ahead of the second round of the 2011 MotoGP world championship in Jerez this weekend. The Texan finished the season’s...

Electronics boom impresses John Hopkins

29 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins has hailed the development of electronics in MotoGP as he prepares to make a shock premier class comeback in Spain this weekend. The American will ride injured Alvaro Bautista’s factory...

Casey Stoner unfazed by Dani Pedrosa threat

29 March 2011

Casey Stoner has denied the presence of a fast team-mate capable of winning races increases the pressure and scrutiny on him this season. Stoner is facing arguably the biggest internal competition of...

Randy de Puniet's girlfriend goes green

29 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Lauren Vickers, the top model girlfriend of French MotoGP star Randy de Puniet, has thrown her weight and most of her clothes behind the Pramac Ducati squad’s environmentally friendly initiative for...

Alvaro Bautista already walking after femur break

25 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Less than a week after he broke his left femur in practice for the opening race in Qatar, factory Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista has already taken his first tentative steps. The former 125GP world...

Casey Stoner not writing Rossi off yet

24 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner said it would be foolish to write off Valentino Rossi as a potential title contender after just one race of the 2011 MotoGP world championship. The Australian made a dream start to his...

Jerry Burgess not worried about title prospects

24 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess insists he’s not worried about the Italian’s 2011 MotoGP title prospects after a tough start to the new season in Qatar last weekend. Rossi’s...

Japan earthquake delays Honda 1000cc track debut

24 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami delayed the track debut of Honda’s new four-stroke 1000cc MotoGP machine being developed for the 2012 MotoGP campaign. The bike was due to be track tested...

Dani Pedrosa told shoulder still not fully recovered

24 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa’s troublesome left shoulder injury has still not fully recovered more than six months after he first damaged it in Japan last October. The Spaniard suffered a recurrence of a numbness...

Ben Spies confident in Yamaha potential

23 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies says he’s confident in the potential of the 2011 factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine after he started the new season with a low-key sixth place in Qatar. Despite a pre-race declaration that he’d...

Alvaro Bautista leaves Qatar to begin recovery

23 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Injured factory Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista finally left Doha today (Wednesday) to begin his recovery from the broken femur he suffered during final practice for the opening race in Qatar. The...

Yuki Takahashi reveals earthquake escape

23 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Yuki Takahashi has spoken of the moment he feared his car would roll over when he was caught up in the devastating Japanese earthquake earlier this month. The Gresini Moriwaki Moto2 rider was just...

Phillip Island wins date change battle

23 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi lost another battle in Qatar last weekend after it was confirmed the Australian MotoGP race will remain in its traditional October slot on the calendar. Rossi has tirelessly campaigned...

MotoGP unites to help Japan

22 March 2011

To support those affected by the recent earthquake in Japan, the MotoGP community has produced a special shirt signed by all 17 MotoGP riders, with the message ‘We are for Japan’. The shirt will be...

Crutchlow in Qatar

21 March 2011 by Michael Harris

Qatar GP 2011 – Very relaxed, Cal & family met me on their way to the paddock. His dad kindly took the pic!

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner toasts fairytale Honda win

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner marked his factory Honda debut with an outstanding debut victory at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar last night. A 24th MotoGP victory never looked in serious doubt once he...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi struggles to seventh

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi blamed a first corner mistake and a lack of strength in his right shoulder for his failure to finish higher than seventh position in his much-anticipated factory Ducati debut in...

Qatar MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa concerned by arm issue

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa was left to contemplate what might have been as a numb left arm cost him the chance to fight Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner for the win in Qatar last night. Pedrosa faded suddenly...

Qatar MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ecstatic with second

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

You could have been mistaken for thinking Jorge Lorenzo had won the Qatar MotoGP race last night after he claimed a thrilling second place in the floodlit season opener. The factory Yamaha rider...

Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow fights for top ten

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow put up a tremendous fight for a top ten finish in his MotoGP debut at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar last night. The British rider was in close pursuit of the battle for ninth...

Qatar MotoGP: Nightmare start for Scott Redding

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding suffered early disappointment in Qatar when he crashed out of the season opening Moto2 race on only the second lap. The Marc VDS Racing rider was trying to force his way into the top ten...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith claims stunning debut top ten

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith produced one of the performances of the first race in Qatar last night after he claimed a brilliant ninth place in his Moto2 debut. The Oxfordshire was as high as fifth in the early...

Qatar MotoGP: Stoner takes first win on Honda

20 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda new boy Casey Stoner topped off a perfect weekend at Qatar by taking victory in the first MotoGP race of 2011. Team-mate Dani Pedrosa got the holeshot, only for Stoner to take the lead...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradl romps to Moto2 victory

20 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

German Stefan Bradl took his second ever victory in Qatar today after dominating from the very first corner. Andrea Iannone finished second after fighting his way through the field due to a poor...

Qatar MotoGP: Terol takes 125GP victory

20 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Nico Terol continued his dominance of the 125GP class by taking victory at the first race in Qatar by over seven seconds. Sandro Cortese took second place ahead of Sergio Gadea on the Blusens...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi waiting for Ducati upgrades

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi said he was looking forward to the introduction of new parts from Ducati after he could only qualify in ninth position for his GP11 debut in Qatar tomorrow night. Rossi finished one...

Qatar MotoGP: Anthony West denied Suzuki chance

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Anthony West was refused permission to ride injured Alvaro Bautista’s factory Suzuki in the opening round of the 2011 MotoGP world championship tomorrow night. With nominated replacement rider...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner surprised at pole position pace

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner proved why he is the overwhelming favourite to kick off the 2011 MotoGP world championship with victory in Qatar tomorrow night after he claimed pole position for the 22-lap season...

Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow faster than Rossi

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow produced arguably the performance of the night in Qatar this evening when he qualified in eighth position for his MotoGP debut. The British rider shrugged off the non-stop pain from a...

Qatar MotoGP: Terol dominates to claim 125GP pole

19 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Nico Terol continued his dominant from at Qatar by taking pole position during 125GP qualifying today. It looked like Sandro Cortese would pip Terol to pole position, after dipping under his time by...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradl on pole for Moto2 race

19 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Stefan Bradl will start from pole position in the Moto2 race tomorrow ahead of rookie Marc Marquez. Thomas Luthi, Yuki Takahashi and Jules Cluzel round out the top five. Moto2 newcomer Bradley Smith...

Qatar MotoGP: Stoner starts from pole

19 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner will start the first race of the 2011 season on pole after setting the fastest time during qualifying today. Team-mate Dani Pedrosa was the only other rider who could...