Marc Marquez: Lorenzo biggest title threat in 2015 02 January 2015 by Matthew Birt Marc Marquez believes the biggest threat to his hopes of securing a third successive MotoGP world title in 2015 will come from Yamaha rival Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo’s challenge in 2014 evaporated... Read more ...
Ducati boss: ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t help Crutchlow get right feeling’ 02 January 2015 by Matthew Birt If Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna has one regret about last year, it was the failure of Cal Crutchlow to pose a stronger threat on a factory-backed Desmosedici machine. Dall’Igna believes Isle of... Read more ...
Jorge Lorenzo: 2014 revival builds confidence for fresh title challenge 29 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Jorge Lorenzo believes his revival in the second half of last season bodes well for a renewed title tilt in 2015. But the double MotoGP world champion admits he was lucky to clinch third in the... Read more ...
Honda boss: Tyre life key advantage over Yamaha 29 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Superior grip on worn tyres was a key advantage that dominant world champion Marc Marquez had over Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in last season’s MotoGP campaign. That’s the view of HRC... Read more ...
Alex Marquez never considered MotoGP move 23 December 2014 by Matthew Birt New Moto3 world champion Alex Marquez says he never gave any consideration to making the big leap straight into MotoGP in 2015. The younger brother of dominant double MotoGP world champion Marc... Read more ...
Mika Kallio motivated by Italtrans move 23 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Moto2 world championship runner-up Mika Kallio believes he can replicate this year’s title challenge in 2015, despite departing the all-conquering Marc VDS Racing squad. The Finnish rider finished... Read more ...
Cal Crutchlow: Silverstone lowest point of 2014 22 December 2014 by Matthew Birt British rider Cal Crutchlow reckons his disappointing 12th place in his home race at Silverstone in late August was the lowest point of his 2014 MotoGP campaign with Ducati. Crutchlow was struggling... Read more ...
Aprilia happy to convince Marco Melandri to make MotoGP switch 22 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Aprilia boss Romano Albesiano has spoken of his delight at convincing experienced Italian Marco Melandri to make a shock return to the MotoGP world championship in 2015. Melandri will return to MotoGP... Read more ...
Eugene Laverty eager to learn from Nicky Hayden 20 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Eugene Laverty says he is eager to learn off vastly experienced Drive M7 Aspar Honda teammate Nicky Hayden in the 2015 MotoGP world championship. Laverty has got his big break in MotoGP next season... Read more ...
New tyres and spec electronics key to new MotoGP fuel limit 19 December 2014 by Matthew Birt The forthcoming introduction of spec electronics and Michelin tyres were the key factors in fuel tank capacity for MotoGP being set at 22 litres for all entries in 2016. A meeting of the Grand Prix... Read more ...
Nicky Hayden confident new Open Honda will be competitive 17 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Nicky Hayden is confident that Honda’s upgraded new RC213V-RS Open class bike will help the experienced American be more competitive in MotoGP next season. Hayden will ride the RC213V-RS in the... Read more ...
Nicky Hayden happy with wrist recovery 17 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Aspar Honda rider Nicky Hayden says he is pleased with the progress his recovering right wrist is making during the winter lay-off. The American underwent major surgery last summer to try and cure a... Read more ...
HRC expects stronger challenge from Dani Pedrosa after crew reshuffle 17 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Honda management hope Dani Pedrosa can deliver a stronger title threat in 2015 after the Spaniard’s major crew reshuffle for next season. The Spaniard axed long-serving mechanics Mark Barnett and... Read more ...
Yamaha wants long-term future with Pol Espargaro 17 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Yamaha is confident it can convince Pol Espargaro that he has a long-term future with the Japanese manufacturer, despite denying the highly rated Spaniard a factory YZR-M1 chance until 2017 at the... Read more ...
Jerry Burgess: Worrying gap to top four in MotoGP 16 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Valentino Rossi’s legendary ex-crew chief Jerry Burgess says he has not seen anybody capable of bridging the gap that exists between MotoGP’s elite top four and the chasing pack. Only six of the... Read more ...
LCR Honda wanted one more year with Stefan Bradl 16 December 2014 by Matthew Birt LCR Honda boss Lucio Cecchinello is convinced Stefan Bradl could have become a consistent podium threat in MotoGP if the German had continued on a factory-backed RC213V next season. Cecchinello wanted... Read more ...
Ducati boss surprised by 2014 results 15 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna has admitted he has been surprised at the rapid rate of progress that the factory Desmosedici made under his stewardship in 2014. Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso finished... Read more ...
Marquez defends Andorra move 15 December 2014 by Simon Patterson Speaking for the first time since he announced his controversial decision to move to Andorra in a press conference at Superprestigio in Barcelona, MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says the decision has... Read more ...
Marquez takes overall victory in Superprestigio Superfinal 15 December 2014 by Simon Patterson Marc Marquez has taken on the best of the American flat track world and won, beating three times AMA Grand National champion Jared Mees to win the overall class at the reintroduced Spanish dirt track... Read more ...
Aprilia boss: Experienced line-up key for 2015 12 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Aprilia boss Romano Albesiano believes it was vitally important for the Italian factory to sign an experienced line-up for its return to MotoGP competition in 2015. Aprilia will field Alvaro Bautista... Read more ...
Andrea Dovizioso surprised by 2014 revival 12 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Andrea Dovizioso says he massively exceeded expectations this year after the Italian clinched an impressive fifth position in the overall MotoGP world standings on Ducati's improved... Read more ...
Tech 3 boss: Jack Miller always destined for HRC move 11 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Yamaha never got a sniff of beating Honda to Jack Miller’s signature after it was made clear he favoured a HRC switch for 2015. The teenage Aussie will be fast tracked directly from Moto3 into MotoGP... Read more ...
Paul Bird MotoGP machinery up for sale 11 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Fancy owning a unique MotoGP bike that Michael Laverty and Broc Parkes scored world championship points on during the 2014 premier class campaign? Now you have the chance after Cumbrian businessman... Read more ...
Cristian Gabbarini: Tough to turn down Scott Redding crew chief role 10 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Casey Stoner’s highly regarded ex-crew chief Cristian Gabbarini has admitted it was incredibly tough to tell Scott Redding that he wouldn’t be the British rider’s technical mastermind in the 2015... Read more ...
Ducati boss: Andrea Dovizioso staying key for future 10 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna has admitted it was essential for the Bologna factory to have persuaded Andrea Dovizioso to sign a new two-year contract. The Italian was the outstanding star for Ducati in... Read more ...
Yamaha content with two-rider Open class effort 09 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Yamaha bosses have denied being disappointed at the lack of interest in its successful Open class YZR-M1 project for 2015. Forward Racing rider Aleix Espargaro dominated the new Open class, which was... Read more ...
Pramac, Aspar and Forward disappointed to miss out on Scott Redding signing 09 December 2014 by Matthew Birt Pramac Ducati, Aspar Honda and Forward Yamaha management have spoken of their disappointment at missing out on a potential opportunity to sign British rider Scott Redding for the 2015 MotoGP... Read more ...
Rossi takes second at Monza Rally 08 December 2014 by Simon Patterson Valentino Rossi has taken second place in this year’s Monza Rally, finishing only twelve seconds behind former F1 and current WRC driver Robert Kubica. The event, which uses the infamous banked... Read more ...
Albesiano cries freedom in MotoGP 04 December 2014 by Gordon Ritchie The man in charge of Aprilia’s big move from full WSB factory status to full MotoGP status in 2015, Romano Albesiano was encouraged by the first real test of the new pneumatic valve Aprilia engine and... Read more ...
Baz adjusts to MotoGP 03 December 2014 by Gordon Ritchie After all the controversy surrounding Loris Baz’s initial MotoGP plans that ended in accusations that he was just too tall for a Honda MotoGP bike, the lanky Frenchman and recent WSB rider for... Read more ...
Melandri struggling to start his new MotoGP adventure 02 December 2014 by Gordon Ritchie Marco Melandri spent the previous four years unlearning all he knew about MotoGP in order to be a top Superbike rider. He won more WSB races at the end of this year than anyone but his re-introduction... Read more ...
Celebrating a year of glory for the Marquez brothers 01 December 2014 by MCN Staff Of the many records smashed in 2014 by the Marquez brothers, the most impressive by far is surely their double world titles. Doing something never before achieved by a pair of brothers, the duo took... Read more ...
Aprilia working on seamless shift gearbox for 2015 28 November 2014 by Matthew Birt Aprilia is working on a new seamless shift gearbox ahead of its factory return to the MotoGP world championship in 2015. But Aprilia boss Romano Albesiano has said he can’t give any cast iron... Read more ...
HRC outline RC213V plan for Crutchlow and Redding 28 November 2014 by Matthew Birt The factory prototype RC213V machine that Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding will race at the start of the 2015 MotoGP campaign will be a compromise of the spec used by official HRC duo Marc Marquez and... Read more ...
Wet and wild at Jerez testing 27 November 2014 by Gordon Ritchie The promised rains came along with a vengeance at the Jerez tests, accompanied by near gale force winds that effectively stopped any track action at times on Thursday. Michele Pirro took his MotoGP... Read more ...
Honda extends Moto2 engine supply deal until 2018 27 November 2014 by Matthew Birt The Moto2 world championship will be Honda-powered until the end of 2018 at least after HRC signed an extended three-year deal to be exclusive engine supplier to the intermediate class. Honda has... Read more ...