Cal Crutchlow believes Jorge Lorenzo should accept more blame than him for the pair’s collision in first MotoGP practice for the Japanese Grand Prix. With five minutes left on the clock in the opening session at a soaked Motegi, Crutchlow was on a flying lap when he came across a touring Lorenzo into the V–corner at Turn 9. […]
Tom Luthi ended the opening day of action from a wet Motegi ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix fastest of all despite crashing in the afternoon session. The first 45-minute session was topped by Marc VDS rider Alex Marquez with a 2m05.460s, while Luthi was just under half a second adrift in second with championship […]
Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati responded to Marc Marquez’s blistering first practice pace by ending a wet Friday at Motegi fastest of all as the Spaniard crashed. After a steady start to proceedings this morning in fifth, Dovizioso went top of the pile in the afternoon immediately with a 1m55.837s, which put him nine tenths clear […]
Nicolo Bulega ended a soaking Friday at Motegi fastest of all, while world champion elect Joan Mir struggled for pace. The 2.98-mile Motegi circuit was left saturated by heavy overnight rain when the first 40-minute session go underway this morning. This did not deter the Sky VR46 duo, however, with Bulega and team-mate Andrea Migno riding […]
Championship leader Marc Marquez dominated a soaking first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix from Motegi, with Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro his nearest challenger in second. Avintia Ducati’s Hector Barbera was the early pacesetter in the sodden first session with a 2m00.685s, though this was soon eclipsed by Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales with a 1m59.344s. Typically finding […]
Andrea Dovizioso believes Ducati has done ‘almost everything perfect’ this season, but is unsure if it can sustain its charge for the MotoGP title in the final four races. Dovizioso comes into this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix 16 points adrift of standings leader Marc Marquez, after the Honda rider romped to his fifth win of […]
Yamaha test rider Kohta Nozane says he is honoured to make his MotoGP debut in front of his home fans as Tech3 bring him in to replace the ill Jonas Folger. German Grand Prix podium finisher Folger pulled out of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday after he was advised to return home for […]
Maverick Vinales believes Yamaha will be strong throughout MotoGP’s flyaway campaign, but anticipates a difficult weekend at Motegi should the weather play a part. This weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix is the first of three back–to–back races across the Pacific region, and serves as a crucial portion of the world championship battle with 75 points up […]
British rider Leon Camier will move from MV Agusta to the Red Bull Honda World Superbike team for the 2018 season, the squad has confirmed. 31-year-old Camier dominated the 2009 British Superbike Championship before stepping up to WorldSBK in 2010 with Aprilia, having made a wildcard appearance with the Italian marque at Donington in 2009. Camier […]
Jonas Folger will miss this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix to return to Germany for medical checks due to illness, and will likely miss the remaining flyaway MotoGP races. The German complained of feeling weak during the Misano and Aragon races, and has seen his condition worsen since arriving to Japan for this weekend’s 15th round […]
KTM has confirmed it will honour the second year of Bradley Smith’s MotoGP contract, ending speculation he will be dropped in favour of test rider Mika Kallio. After four seasons with the Tech3 Yamaha team in the premier class, Smith switched to the fledgling factory KTM outfit for the squad’s first MotoGP campaign alongside former […]
Jorge Lorenzo believes the characteristics of the Motegi circuit offer him a big opportunity to secure his maiden MotoGP win as a Ducati rider in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Spaniard led the Aragon Grand Prix for 15 laps on his Desmosedici before dropping to third behind the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez […]