Mir withdraws from MotoGP Italian GP after FP2 crash
The Repsol Honda rider crashed at Turn 1 around the halfway mark of the hour-long session, ending his day. It marked the 2020 MotoGP world champion’s 12th crash so far this season, more than he had in the whole of 2022 while riding for Suzuki. Honda said Mir had suffered damage around the fifth finger […]
Quartararo splits with long-time MotoGP manager Eric Mahe
Although neither the rider nor Yamaha has anything to say about it, Motorsport.com has learned that both parties have decided to end their agreement. It is not yet known who will assume that role ahead of 2024, a key season in which the 2021 MotoGP world champion must decide his future. Mahe did not travel […]
Espargaro left with ‘destroyed heel’ after bicycle crash while on mobile phone
The Aprilia rider was cycling at Mugello on Thursday when he had a “big, big crash”, injuring his back, arm and “destroying” his heel. He said he is now in “a lot of pain” and though nothing was broken in the crash, is unable to use his rear brake. Despite his injuries, Espargaro finished ninth […]
Bagnaia leads Bezzecchi in FP2, Quartararo misses Q2 cut
The reigning world champion set a 1m45.436s to top the timesheets in the final five minutes of the session, having entered FP2 in 16th overall. Having been running outside the top 10 early on, factory Ducati rider Bagnaia had a brief off at San Donato, heading into the gravel. He continued before improving to third with […]
Alex Marquez leads Quartararo in FP1
Marquez topped the 45-minute session with a time of 1m46.121s, which put him 0.087s aheadof Quartararo and 0.104s clear of KTM’s Brad Binder, as three different manufacturers finished inside the top three. It was Ducati wildcard Michele Pirro that headed the timesheets in FP1, lapping the circuit in 1m47.905s in the first five minutes of […]
Quartararo frustrated by Yamaha’s wasted MotoGP development work
The 2021 world champion has scored just one podium from the opening five rounds of the 2023 campaign and is currently 45 points off the championship lead. Yamaha threw a lot of development parts to its M1 over the winter which ended up making matters worse for Quartararo throughout testing. This forced him to go […]
Rossi mentorship «has kept me alive» through Yamaha woes
Having ended 2020 as championship runner-up on the Petronas SRT Yamaha, Morbidelli’s time in MotoGP has grown immensely difficult. Since switching to the factory Yamaha squad midway through 2021, Morbidelli has scored a best of fourth – which came in 2023 in Argentina in the sprint and grand prix – and is now under pressure […]
Yamaha’s once leading light fighting for his MotoGP future
I wouldn’t say there are any rude riders in the MotoGP paddock. But there are definitely those who treat media duties as part of the job description. Franco Morbidelli is always the opposite. As he rocks up to the Yamaha hospitality at Le Mans, Morbidelli is keen to chat about life and his time off […]
Pol Espargaro ruled out of MotoGP Italian GP as recovery continues
The Tech3 rider had hoped to return to racing this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, but is still suffering from an edema around his vertebrae that needs treatment. The Spaniard was thrown from his GASGAS-branded KTM in the latter stages of FP2 at the season opener in Portugal and hit an unprotected […]