Ducati «in no hurry» to re-sign Bagnaia beyond MotoGP 2024
The Italian snapped a 15-year title drought for Ducati in 2022 when he beat Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo to the championship, marking the Italian brand’s first since 2007. Bagnaia then successfully defended his crown in 2023, fending off Ducati rival Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing in a showdown at the final round of the season. With […]
LCR boss feels Honda’s MotoGP approach «much more efficient» in 2024
The team founded by the ex-racer has been competing with Honda equipment since its entry into the premier class in 2006 with Casey Stoner as its rider. Since then, it has accumulated four victories, three with Cal Crutchlow and the last one with Alex Rins, at last year’s United States Grand Prix, which is the […]
Quartararo has “good connection” with Yamaha’s ex-Ducati MotoGP engineer
Bartolini is a result of a recruitment drive from Yamaha in a bid to improve its form, after going from title contenders in 2021 and 2022 to a first winless season in 20 years in 2023. The Italian previously served as Gigi Dall’Igna’s right-hand man at Ducati before he was approached by Yamaha. The Japanese […]
Marini urges patience at Honda as new MotoGP season approaches
Honda is looking to snap a barren period that has seen it score one race win in two years and go without a title since 2019. While HRC made big gains with its 2024 RC213 compared to its predecessor, Honda is still lagging behind its rivals as the new season approaches. “I think we tried […]
Marquez now ‘looking for final three tenths’ on Ducati MotoGP bike
The eight-time grand prix world champion ended pre-season testing in Qatar on Tuesday fourth overall and just under four tenths off the pace set by factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia. That came despite a first crash on the Gresini Ducati, which he says was the result of him exploring the limits of the GP23 for […]
Bagnaia says 2024 Ducati MotoGP bike “working perfectly” after testing
The Italian swept both days of this week’s Qatar test and led the way with a record-smashing 1m50.952s on Tuesday to lead team-mate Enea Bastianini by 0.120s. The 2024 Ducati also looked strong in the opening test of the year in Malaysia, with Bagnaia left beaming after the Qatar running. However, he does express a […]
Bagnaia destroys lap record as testing wraps up
The reigning world champion topped proceedings on Monday at the Losail International Circuit and cemented this on day two in the desert. Bagnaia clocked the first ever sub 1m51s lap of the Qatar Grand Prix venue, posting a 1m50.952s to lead team-mate Enea Bastianini by 0.120 seconds. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro capped off a solid pre-season […]
Honda relocates HRC general manager Kuwata out of MotoGP project
This is the latest move in the restructuring process that the Japanese brand is going through, which started more than a year ago and will most likely not stop with the departure of Kuwata, who will become part of HRC’s car division. The executive, who will remain in his post until 1 April – which is […]
Mir feels Honda is “getting closer” with every run in MotoGP testing
The 2020 world champion has generally been upbeat about Honda’s current direction since last November, as the Japanese marque strives to snap a barren spell. Mir was 13th at the end of the opening day of the Qatar test on Monday, just under eight tenths off the best pace, and noted that areas in which the […]