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Nov 02

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP, Valencia

Valencia MotoGP Cancelled

Five alternative venues are reportedly being considered as replacements after the Valencia MotoGP was cancelled. Deadly floods in Valencia, where the final round of the MotoGP season is scheduled in two weeks, have caused a last-gasp re-think. MotoGP confirmed on Friday that their season-finale in Valencia was cancelled although a new plan has not yet been confirmed. The Valencia MotoGP was due on November 15-17 but wherever the replacement round is held, the date is expected to be pushed back. The likeliest weekend for the rearranged MotoGP round is November 22-24, a week later than the Valencia MotoGP was planned. The postseason test, scheduled for Tuesday November 19, will also have to be rearranged in line for the new race weekend. MotoGP statement: “MotoGP stands with the Community of Valencia following the devastating floods that have affected the area. Our hearts are with all those who have been lost and those who have lost so much. “We have been in constant contact with the local authorities and the circuit to best assess how we can help and how we should proceed. We have a responsibility to every region where we race that goes far beyond the sport and the events. […]

Oct 30

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Ducatti, Iannone, MotoGP

Iannone to make first MotoGP start since drug ban

The VR46 Racing Team has confirmed that Andrea Iannone will replace Fabio Di Giannantonio at the Grand Prix of Malaysia next weekend. This follows Di Giannantonio’s announcement last week that he would be ending his season early for surgery. His final race of the 2024 season was the recent Thai GP, where he secured fourth place. The VR46 rider dislocated his shoulder during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend and is expected to undergo surgery this Saturday. Recently rumored for a one-off MotoGP return, Iannone has been competing in the World Superbike Championship since his four-year doping ban in 2019, with GoEleven Ducati. This year, he secured a contract extension through the 2025 season. Speaking about his return to the world of MotoGP, Iannone said: “Riding the world champion bike is exciting. MotoGP™ is the most technological and high-performance bike, I’m honored that they thought of me and I felt like I had to say yes to this opportunity immediately as soon as it was offered to me. The challenge is certainly crazy, complex and demanding, as I haven’t ridden a bike in this category for years and without having done tests or similar. I’m excited to be able to work […]

Oct 24

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP, Stoner

Casey Stoner Australian Grand Prix crash a result of MotoGP aero

Two-times MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner has blamed downforce aerodynamics for a huge crash at last weekend’s Australian MotoGP race. The incident in question occurred in Saturday’s MotoGP Sprint, when Maverick Vinales passed Marco Bezzecchi on the run into turn one. Vinales edged towards the outside of the track after passing Bezzecchi to take a better line through the first corner, but Bezzecchi then ran into the back of the Aprilia rider under braking and both riders fell. “This is the result of aero,” Stoner commented on an Instagram post from the official MotoGP account. “The wake caused by them at that speed is too much.” Stoner made his opinions on downforce aerodynamics clear also earlier this year when he appeared on the Ducati Diaries podcast with Neil Hodgson. The two-times MotoGP World Champion explained that the aerodynamics, in combination with ride height devices and electronics, work to reduce the quality of racing in MotoGP by increasing grip and therefore reducing the chance for riders to make mistakes. Bezzecchi was awarded a long lap penalty for his role in the incident. One lap after serving it in Sunday’s Grand Prix at turn four, Bezzecchi crashed at the same corner before […]

Oct 20

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: KTM, Miller, MotoGP

Wildlife conspires against Jack Miller

Jack Miller’s Saturday at the 2024 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix was severely hindered by several wildlife strikes in qualifying and the sprint. The KTM rider had to go through the Q1 session on Saturday morning, but couldn’t advance on 16th after a rabbit strike left his RC16 fairing with damage. Then in the sprint, Miller hit a seagull on the opening lap at Turn 1 which left a “gaping hole” on the right side of his front fairing. The dead bird got wedged between the fairing and the brake lever, while the damage to his bike led to a severe drop in straightline speed. The Australian was able to make his way up to eighth despite all of this, before a “nothing crash” ended his race on lap eight of 13. “It could have been a better Saturday,” Miller began. “I had a good start in the Sprint from a not-great qualifying position and tipping into Turn 1 off the start a seagull flew into the front of the bike, which wasn’t ideal. “I tried to do what I could on the first lap to get rid of it but I couldn’t so I focused on the job at hand, […]

Oct 01

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: KTM, MotoGP

Aki Ajo appointed as factory KTM Team Manager from 2025

KTM has announced that Aki Ajo will lead the project as its new Team Manager for the 2025 MotoGP season, replacing the departing Francesco Guidotti. Ajo’s racing team, Ajo Motorsport, has been affiliated with KTM since 2012, and the partnership has produced three Moto3 championships in 2012, 2016, and 2021. From 2017, Ajo expanded KTM representation to Moto2, with his team claiming three consecutive titles from 2021-2023. Current MotoGP riders Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta ride for the factory and satellite teams. Both riders have won the championship in the junior categories. With Acosta joining Binder at the factory team for 2025, KTM believes that Ajo is the right fit based on previous working relations with both riders. Ajo was chosen to lead the project in 2025 due to familiarity with KTM’s operations and staff and previous success in the junior categories. Both Ajo teams in Moto3 and Moto2 will continue to develop riders as they progress up the two-wheeled ladder to the pinnacle. The Finn stated: “It’s an honor to be offered this great new role and opportunity to work in MotoGP with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. “At the moment MotoGP is at a very high level so […]

Oct 01

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP, Oliveira, Trackhouse

Trackhouse update on Miguel Oliveira after surgery to fix fracture

Miguel Oliveira is likely to miss the next MotoGP rounds after successful surgery. The Trackhouse rider crashed during practice for the Indonesian MotoGP at Mandalika. Oliveira was taken to hospital by helicopter where they confirmed he suffered multiple fracture of the radius bone. A statement released by Oliveira has now confirmed: “Promptly assisted at the circuit’s medical centre, he was then evacuated to the local hospital to assess the severity of the injury. “After diagnostic tests, the fracture was reduced and immobilised. “The Almada rider was then able to travel to Lisbon and be accompanied by Dr. Gonçalo Morais Sarmento and his team at the Sant’Ana Hospital in Parede, where a plate was implanted to stabilise the bone. “Miguel Oliveira will have a careful recovery ahead of him, focused on the success of the surgery, and the first week will be of absolute rest so that he can then evaluate and define the best and appropriate strategy to get back on the bike as soon as possible. “At the moment, everything indicates that the rider will sit out the next two races, in Japan and Australia.” Trackhouse confirmed: “On Monday, Miguel was admitted to the Sant’Ana Hospital in Parede, Lisbon, […]

Sep 30

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Guidotti, KTM, MotoGP

KTM confirm departure of team boss Francesco Guidotti

Red Bull KTM has confirmed that Team Manager Francesco Guidotti will be leaving the team at the end of the 2024 MotoGP season. Guidotti was appointed team manager in 2022 to replace Mike Leitner, and has overseen two wins for the manufacturer in the hands of Miguel Oliveira, as well as sprint success for Brad Binder at last season’s Argentinian Grand Prix. The Italian was believed to have had a contract scheduled to run until the end of 2025, but after two years without victory, he has been released by the Austrian manufacturer early. “After three years with Francesco and a lot of positive progress and working methods, we are moving the team with a different leadership approach,” said KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer. “Making these changes is never an easy process and we can only thank Francesco warmly for what he has done in our MotoGP story. “2025 will bring some big movements to the whole program in this close and exciting sport and we are laying the foundations now to keep making steps ahead.” The news of Guidotti’s departure means a big shift is scheduled for KTM for 2025, as they welcome new management into their stable alongside […]

Sep 20

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Miller, MotoGP, Yamaha

Jack Miller joins Prima Pramac Yamaha in 2025

The Australian rider’s move completes the rider line-up Jack Miller is set to embark on a new chapter in his MotoGP™ career, joining Prima Pramac Yamaha Factory Team for the 2025 season. The Australian rider’s move completes the rider line-up for the upcoming campaign. After a two-year stint with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Miller’s switch to Yamaha’s new-look Independent Team will see him partnering with Miguel Oliveira. This move represents Miller’s fourth different manufacturer in his MotoGP™ journey, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in the premier class. Miller is no stranger to Prima Pramac Racing, having spent three successful years with the team from 2018 to 2020. During this period, the duo celebrated nine podium finishes, including three impressive second-place results in 2020. This prior experience is likely to ease Miller’s transition into the team for the 2025 season. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, expressed enthusiasm about Miller’s arrival, stating, “With 10 years of experience in the MotoGP class with three different manufacturers, Jack will be a valuable asset for Yamaha. His speed, knowledge, work ethic, and team spirit will be invaluable to our project as we plan to improve the performance of the M1 in […]

Sep 20

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP, Yamaha

Yamaha confirms V4 engine plans for MotoGP

Yamaha, which has raced Inline four-cylinder engines since the start of the MotoGP era, is ‘busy developing a V4 powerplant’. Yamaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis confirmed the news in an interview with MotoGP.com. Jarvis stopped short of giving a timeframe for the V4’s debut, which will be “when it is quicker than the Inline”. But the engine is already being bench-tested and could be on track “in the middle of next year”. “I can confirm that we are busy developing a V4 powerplant,” Jarvis said. “It’s something that goes back a while, because when Suzuki was still here, there were two manufacturers running with the Inline4. And obviously the other competitors running with the V4. “In the last years, however, we’ve seen many, many technical developments in this sport and of course Suzuki stepped out. So we’ve been the only manufacturer remaining with the Inline4. “The Inline4, in our opinion, still has plenty of capacity to be developed and to be improved. “But when you have all of your competitors using V4s and now as we look towards the 2027 regulations, it’s important for us to fully understand the potential of a V4 versus the Inline4. “So based on […]

Sep 19

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Honda, Mir, MotoGP

Repsol ends Honda deal

MotoGP’s iconic Repsol Honda partnership will cease at the end of the 2024 season. Spanish petroleum company Repsol has served as the title sponsor of the works Honda premier-class team since 1995, with the likes of Mick Doohan (pictured below), Alex Criville, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez all winning titles in its colours. There had been persistent rumours in recent years, however, that Honda – whose MotoGP competitiveness has declined badly since it last won the title with Marquez in 2019 – and Repsol may be headed for a split. It hadn’t materialised until now, but Marquez’s departure for 2024 seemingly left the partnership on particularly shaky ground – as evidenced by Repsol branding being relegated to just part of the motif on Honda’s works livery for 2024, rather than providing the dominant colours. “Repsol is grateful for HRC’s [Honda Racing Corporation] commitment and dedication during all these years in which we have worked together,” a Repsol statement read. “The multi-energy company will continue to be linked to motor racing to continue developing products and services of the highest quality.” The news arrived – surely coincidentally – on a day in which Repsol-branded Hondas were already […]