2012

Year: 2012

Month: ALL

Michael Laverty to MotoGP in 2013

28 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

As has been widely rumoured, Michael Laverty has been named on the provisional MotoGP entry list for 2013 in Paul Bird’s British-based squad. Laverty is entered on a PBM machine, which is expected to...

No Gino Rea on provisional 2013 Moto2 entry list

28 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Gino Rea is a notable absentee from the provisional Moto2 entry list released today for the 2013 world championship campaign. The Londoner, who scored a stunning debut podium with third...

32-strong field for 2013 Moto3 battle

28 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

A 32-strong field, which includes British duo Danny Webb and John McPhee, will contest the second Moto3 world championship in 2013. Webb is down to ride a Suter Honda machine on the provisional entry...

Bryan Staring lands Gresini CRT ride

27 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s retirement from MotoGP hasn’t left the premier class without an Australian rider on the grid after Bryan Staring was confirmed as the surprise pick for the Gresini CRT ride. Staring...

Nicky Hayden confident Ducati can cure understeer issue

27 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden remains confident Ducati can solve a persistent understeer issue that has dogged the Desmosedici MotoGP project in recent years. The understeer issue was a constant complaint of Valentino...

Marc Marquez tests 2013 Honda in Sepang

27 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Improved weather conditions at the Sepang track in Malaysia today enabled Marc Marquez to enjoy his most productive day on board Honda’s RC213V 1000cc MotoGP machine to date. The reigning Moto2 world...

Marc Marquez foiled by rain again in Sepang

26 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

After a rain-disrupted MotoGP debut in Valencia earlier this month, Marc Marquez was hoping for better luck with the weather at the start of a three-day private Honda test session at the Sepang track...

Colin Edwards approaches Yamaha about 2014 engine deal

23 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has held tentative talks with senior Yamaha management about his Forward Racing squad leasing a YZR-M1 engine and electronics package for the 2014 MotoGP world championship. Yamaha will...

Argentina dropped from 2013 MotoGP calendar

23 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Argentina’s bid to be back on the MotoGP calendar next season for the first time since 1999 has been scuppered. The new Autodromo de Rio Hondo track was pencilled in to host round two of the 2013...

Casey Stoner’s crew chief gets new senior role at HRC

23 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s long serving crew chief Cristian Gabbarini has taken up a new senior role inside the Honda’s official factory MotoGP garage for 2013. The highly respected Italian will take up a...

Stefan Bradl flattered by Honda faith

22 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Stefan Bradl said it is a big honour to have signed a new MotoGP contract direct with HRC after impressing during his rookie season in 2012. The former Moto2 world champion didn’t finish out of the...

Danny Kent to get training tips from James Toseland

22 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent will embark on a rigorous training regime with former World Superbike champion James Toseland to build up strength ahead of his first season in the Moto2 world championship in 2013. The...

Andrea Dovizioso reserves judgement on Ducati potential

22 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso says it is too early to understand the potential of Ducati’s Desmosedici MotoGP machine after he made his debut for the Bologna factory in Valencia last week. Cold and wet conditions...

Filippo Preziosi optimistic for Ducati’s MotoGP future

20 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ousted Ducati MotoGP boss Filippo Preziosi says he is optimistic that the Bologna factory is destined for a successful future. The Italian will no longer serve as Ducati Corse’s General and Technical...

Filippo Preziosi replaced in Ducati management shake-up

20 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

The fallout from Valentino Rossi’s disastrous two-year spell with Ducati is starting to be felt, with Filippo Preziosi and Alessandro Cicognani replaced in a major management shake-up. The highest...

Marc VDS miss out on Maverick Vinales

19 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Maverick Vinales has rejected the chance to sign a long-term deal to race in Moto3 and Moto2 with Scott Redding’s Marc VDS Racing squad. After much behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and negotiating by...

Marc Marquez exciting for MotoGP, says Nicky Hayden

19 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden believes the arrival of controversial but fast Spaniard Marc Marquez in MotoGP next season will inject fresh excitement and interest into the premier class. The reigning Moto2 world...

James Ellison gutted to lose MotoGP ride

19 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

James Ellison admitted he was gutted not to get the chance to stay with the Paul Bird Motorsport CRT squad in MotoGP next season. The 31-year-old equalled his career best result of ninth in two out of...

Valentino Rossi at Valencia

17 November 2012 by John Howe

The final MotoGP round of 2012 was my first trip to Valencia. I thouroughly enjoyed it and they allow you to move about the grandstands throughout the weekend.

Cal Crutchlow's crash

16 November 2012 by asrwinstanley@aol.com

Cal Crutchlow crashes out of second place in the Valencia MotoGP with just seven laps to go.

Stoner during practice

16 November 2012 by Awinstanley

Casey Stoner during Saturday practice at Valencia.

Scott Redding buoyed by Moto2 weight limit for 2013

16 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s 2013 world title hopes got a huge early boost in Valencia last weekend when a minimum weight limit was approved for the Moto2 class. A minimum weight limit of 215kg will be enforced,...

Randy de Puniet close to Suzuki MotoGP test deal

16 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki looks likely to place its faith in the experience of Randy de Puniet to spearhead its return to MotoGP in 2014. The Frenchman is in negotiations to head development of Suzuki’s new 1000cc...

Bradley Smith passes first MotoGP examination

15 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith passed the first serious examination of his MotoGP credentials when he impressed in wet and dry conditions on his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 debut in Valencia. The British rider had endured a...

Cal Crutchlow hails ‘special’ Marc Marquez

15 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow hailed Marc Marquez’s much anticipated MotoGP debut after the Spaniard finished just over a second off the fastest pace in Valencia yesterday (Wednesday). Cool, windy and...

Dani Pedrosa fastest on heavier Honda in Valencia

15 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa signed off his best ever season in MotoGP by heading the timesheets at the end of a weather-hit two-day test at the Ricardo Tormo track in Valencia. Cold temperatures, intermittent rain...

Rain in Spain a pain for Valentino Rossi

15 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha’s gamble to abandon the Valencia test to go in search of improved conditions at the Motorland Aragon track backfired as further rain disrupted Valentino Rossi’s early 2013 MotoGP...

Pics: Bradley Smith makes Yamaha MotoGP debut in Valencia

14 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith finally got his first chance to lap on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 at the Valencia track in Spain today. The British rider completed an eight-lap stint on Bridgestone rain tyres on...

Weather ruins Rossi's Yamaha return

13 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Cold temperatures and intermittent rain put a huge dampener on the opening day of winter testing in Valencia today, with Valentino Rossi completing just two tentative laps on his Yamaha return in dry...

Pics: Valentino Rossi back on a Yamaha in Valencia

13 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has made his long-awaited return to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in Valencia this morning. The 33-year-old was one of the first out on track in cool and cloudy conditions this morning...

EXCLUSIVE PICS: 2013 MotoGP season gets underway!

13 November 2012 by MCN

The 2013 MotoGP season is officially underway, with the first day of testing underway at Valencia this morning. The test, which sees Valentino Rossi return to Yamaha, will last two days, although the...

Pics: Valentino Rossi makes Yamaha return

12 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has returned to Yamaha’s official factory MotoGP squad at the Valencia track today. The Italian arrived at Yamaha’s garage at the Ricardo Tormo track in the middle of the afternoon...

Poll: How to REALLY spice up MotoGP

12 November 2012 by Guy Procter

Dorna has announced some concessions to the factories by scrapping CRT bikes in 2014 and ditching the idea of control rider aid software. But what do you think would REALLY spice up the spectacle, and...

Casey Stoner bows out with podium in Valencia

12 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner walked away from MotoGP with one last podium after a stunning charge in yesterday’s Valencia race in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider bowed out of Grand Prix racing with a third place in a...

First pics: Danny Kent makes Moto2 debut in Valencia

12 November 2012

Danny Kent didn’t have much time to reflect on his brilliant Moto3 success in Valencia yesterday after the British teenager made his debut on the Tech 3 Racing Moto2 machine this morning. Kent took to...

Jorge Lorenzo relieved title already decided after Valencia crash

12 November 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo admitted he was relieved to have already wrapped up a second MotoGP world title after he suffered a horrifying high speed crash while leading yesterday’s final race in Valencia. Tricky...