February

Year: 2016

Month: February

Yamaha and VR46 Academy sign supply deal

01 March 2016 by Simon Patterson

Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy, the nine-time world champion’s development and mentoring program, has signed an exclusive deal with Yamaha to supply machines for the youth riders. The deal will see 26...

Lowes pleased with progress ahead of final tests

27 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 rider Sam Lowes says he’s in a good place ahead of the final tests of the pre-season, after completing his second test on the new-to-him Kalex machine at Jerez. Sometimes...

Lowes reveals Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 machine

26 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

British Moto2 hopeful Sam Lowes has pulled the covers off the 2016 Kalex machine he will campaign in this year’s world championship. He revealed the bike – in the colours of new Indonesian title...

Baz: Not much grip in the snow!

26 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Avintia Ducati racer Loris Baz has admitted that there wasn’t much grip form his Michelins yesterday, as he rode across the snow at Andorra’s Grandvilara ski resort for the team’s unusual...

Michelin testing stymied by mystery issue

26 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

New tyre providers Michelin were left fighting exactly what they didn’t want on the opening days of the Phillip Island test as they continue to work to finalise their race tyres – a mystery quality...

Smith still has work to do at Qatar

24 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha racer Bradley Smith says it’s clear that there’s still work to be done for the squad ahead of the opening round of the 2016 MotoGP championship late next month. Finishing...

Ducati boss Dall’Igna: We have to win

24 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Ducati Corse Racing Manager Gigi Dall’Igna has firmly set out his targets for the 2016 season – winning races. The Italian manufacturer, which Dall’Igna has been heralded as playing a key role in...

Dovizioso aiming big for new season

23 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso says it’s time for him and the Italian manufacturer to start aiming big for the upcoming season, after a strong winter of development and testing. Working to...

2016 Aprilia RS-GP on track in Qatar

23 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

The 2016 Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP machine has broken cover at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit, with Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista completing a three-day test ahead of next month’s final official...

Ducati roll out painted wings on new GP16

23 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Ducati have rolled out their new 2016 MotoGP machine in the colours it’ll sport for the 2016 season, live streaming the event from the firm’s Italian firm’s headquarters in Borgo Panigale,...

Watch: Ducati to unveil 2016 MotoGP machines

23 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Ducati are set to pull the covers off their 2016 MotoGP machines later this morning at the Ducati Auditorium in their Borgo Panigale factory in Italy. The entire event will be live-streamed thanks to...

Petrucci to undergo surgery for broken hand

20 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Octo Pramac Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci will undergo surgery on Monday to plate the second, third and fourth metacarpals he broke in his right hand after a high-speed fall at Phillip Island’s turn...

Lorenzo downplays testing crash

20 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo has played down his crash in the closing stages of this week’s second pre-season test at Phillip Island. The Movistar Yamaha racer was one of a number of racers to fall in the closing...

Marquez tops final day of Phillip Island testing

19 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Marc Marquez has topped the final day of testing at Phillip Island, taking the top spot by 0.1 from overall fastest man Maverick Viñales. Faster consistently than the rest of the field, they were...

Viñales tops day two at Phillip Island

18 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Maverick Viñales has further reinforced the credentials of the changes made to the Suzuki GSX-RR machine for 2016 by finishing the second day of testing at Phillip Island top of the time...

Smith confident after advances in wet and dry

17 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Bradley Smith was left one of the few riders pleased with his progress on the opening day of the Phillip Island test, after making the most of damp conditions that hampered many of his rivals. Working...

Petrucci tops rain-hit opening day at Phillip Island

17 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Octo Pramac Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci has topped the opening day of testing at Phillip Island, after making the most of brief spells of dry track at the rain-hit Australian circuit. With showers on...

Video: Repsol Honda launch 2016 bike at Sentul

17 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Repsol Honda have unveiled their 2016 livery in front of huge crowds, travelling to Sentul, the circuit set to host the new Indonesian MotoGP round from 2016. Pulling the covers off the bike in front...

Repsol Honda unveil largely unchanged 2016 livery

17 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Repsol Honda have unveiled their 2016 livery ahead of this week’s second test of the 2016 MotoGP pre-season, pulling the covers off the now-familiar design in front of huge crowds in Indonesia. A key...

Rossi: ‘The bike is more beautiful without the wings!’

08 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Valentino Rossi has admitted that while he’s also not convinced about the effects that Yamaha’s aerodynamic ‘wings’ have on the M1, there’s another reason that he has used the feature much less than...

Marquez brothers part ways with VR46 Racing Apparel

08 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Marc and Alex Marquez’s management agency have this morning officially confirmed that the brothers have split with VR46 Racing Apparel, Valentino Rossi’s highly successful merchandising company. The...

FIM mandate MotoGP tyre pressure sensors

06 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

The FIM have, in the wake of Loris Baz’s high-speed crash earlier this week at Sepang, mandaded the compulsory use of tyre pressure sensors for the forthcoming MotoGP season. With a sensor supplier...

Alpinestars release Baz crash data

05 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Alpinestars have released the data recorded by Avintia Ducati racer Loris Baz’s Tech-Air suit during his ultra-high-speed fall at Sepang on Tuesday. Baz was thrown form his bike when his rear tyre...

Dovizioso hits the wall in Ducati development at Sepang

05 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso has left the first test of the season at Sepang disappointed with his final of the three-day test, after admitting that the team had temporarily hit the limit of...

Lorenzo: ‘I'm very happy with Michelin'

04 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Rather unsurprisingly, reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo says he’s delighted with the performances so far of the Michelin tyres, as he leaves the opening test of 2016 the fastest man on the grid...

Crutchlow pleased with updated-spec Honda engine

04 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow says he’s left Sepang content, especially after getting the opportunity to try one of the latest spec of engines for his Honda RCV213, as the Japanese manufacturer continues...

Watch Loris Baz's 180mph Sepang smash

03 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Avintia Ducati rider Loris Baz was fired down the start-finish straight at Sepang yesterday at over 180mph, when a problem caused his rear Michelin to explode. Luckily, however, the Frenchman was able...

Lorenzo dominates Sepang test, Stoner quickest Ducati

03 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo made a blistering start to the 2016 MotoGP campaign by topping the timesheets at the end of the opening official winter test in Sepang today. The Spaniard will be...

MCN exclusive: See the full sequence of Loris Baz's 180mph crash!

02 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

In an MCN exclusive, check out this full sequence of photos of Loris Baz’s horrific 180mph crash this morning at Sepang from CormacGP. Baz was fired down the start-finish straight of the Malaysian...

Surprise fastest lap from Petrucci on day two of test

02 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Danilo Petrucci was a surprise fastest man on the second day of 2016 MotoGP pre-season testing at Sepang, making the most of an odd day to finish 0.06 ahead of reigning world champion Jorge...

Michelin withdraw soft tyre after horror smash for Baz

02 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

New MotoGP tyre manufacturer Michelin have had a disastrous start to their return to the sport, having been forced to withdraw the soft option tyre after a horrific crash for French rider Loris...

Laverty escapes serious injury in high-speed crash

01 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

Aspar Ducati rider Eugene Laverty has been lucky to escape injury in a high-speed crash on the opening day of the 2016 season at Sepang. “It seems we had a mechanical problem and I had to jump off the...

Lorenzo and Rossi go 1-2 on opening day at Sepang

01 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

The factory Movistar Yamaha pairing of reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi have made it a one-two at the top of the timesheets after the first day of the 2016 season. Lorenzo was...

KTM reveal plans for Moto2 entry

01 February 2016 by Simon Patterson

KTM have revealed shock plans to make their debut in the Moto2 class, unveiling a finished bike using Honda’s standardised CBR600 engine. The move has been long rumoured, but it has always been...