MotoGP Archives - Octane Photography

Feb 14

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

Key takeaways from 2025 MotoGP pre-season testing

The most atypical pre-season in recent years concluded on Thursday in Thailand, with Marc Marquez revealing his intention to become the top dog in MotoGP again – no matter what the cost. MotoGP held five days of testing in Malaysia and Thailand in February, giving all five manufacturers a chance to hone their new bikes before the start of the season later this month. The winter turned out to be a lesson in humility for Ducati, which is set to begin the season in practically the same way as it ended last year: mostly likely winning and with a bike that is nearly identical. Far from hiding from the situation, those at the helm of the Borgo Panigale marque have recognised the lack of progress, aware that the GP24 it built for last year was the perfect bike. However, this ‘stagnation’ at Ducati has created the perfect situation for the competition to regain ground on it for the first time in years. Over at Yamaha, a discrete performance in Buriram has raised questions about the extent of improvement seen at Sepang, while also highlighting the upward trend at fellow Japanese manufacturer Honda. Aprilia ended pre-season in a solid manner, with Marco […]

Feb 13

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

Enea Bastianini Struggling on the KTM MotoGP bike

“It’s not natural for me and, at the moment, I can’t be very fast like Pedro…” The end of the 2025 MotoGP winter testing period seems to have come too soon for Enea Bastianini, who feels he still has to adapt his style to the KTM RC16 he has moved to from Ducati for this year. The Italian ended the 2025 MotoGP preseason in Buriram feeling like he’d made progress, but also like there was much more margin for him to improve. “Overall, I’m a bit happier than [Wednesday], because this afternoon I improved a bit my lap time,” Bastianini said after the final day of MotoGP preseason testing in Buriram. “About my pace, I’m not very happy at the moment because I committed many mistakes during my laps – sometimes I can’t brake hard, sometimes yes, and at the moment I don’t know very well the situation. “For the race we have to do something more, to understand better. “Now, it’s important this period [between the test and the race] to study better the data and to learn, because the bike is different and my approach at the moment is not correct.” Bastianini said he and his crew chief – Alberto Giribuola, […]

Feb 09

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

Yamaha encouraged by Sepang testing performance

While Honda made some strides forward at Sepang this week, Yamaha appears to have taken significant strides toward reclaiming a competitive position in the MotoGP field. While it’s still too early to draw definitive conclusions, further assessments in Thailand next week will provide more clarity. That said, the early signs are highly encouraging for Yamaha, particularly for Fabio Quartararo. The Frenchman expressed plenty of optimism after completing over 150 laps during the three-day test at Sepang. Fabio Quartararo “I am really happy! This is the first time that I reached a 1’56s here, so I am happy, and I think that today was a good day for us. The conditions were really good, so in general it was a positive day. Hopefully, during the Buriram Test we will have the same feeling. I’ve been working during the winter break, and not just on a road bike. In general, I was trying to be faster on one lap. I think this was a good point of improvement, but I also think the bike improved in some areas, which helps me to be fast on one lap. I think the goals I set for this test were neither too positive nor too negative. […]

Feb 08

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Aprillia, MotoGP, Sepang

Martin Faces Surgery After Crash

Jorge Martin, the reigning MotoGP champion, had a rough start to the 2025 season during the first day of official testing at the Sepang International Circuit. The Spanish rider was involved in a serious incident as he lost control of his Aprilia bike, resulting in being thrown off and crashing violently onto the asphalt. This accident has left him facing multiple fractures, including one at the 5th metacarpal of his right hand and three fractures (3rd, 4th, and 5th metatarsals) to his left foot. During the testing session, which began on February 1, Martin’s crash led to a temporary suspension of the tests to facilitate medical assistance. Initially, he was taken to the circuit’s medical center, but due to the severity of his condition, he was later transferred to Nilai Hospital, located six kilometers away from Sepang, for dedicated treatment and evaluation. According to official communications from Aprilia, Martin underwent several medical assessments including CT and MRI scans, all of which thankfully returned negative results, ruling out more severe head injuries related to the diagnosed concussion. Nonetheless, the fractures he sustained will necessitate surgical intervention. After securing hospital care overnight, he is scheduled to fly back to Europe the following […]

Feb 05

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

2024 GP Crash Statistics

Any grand prix season that ends without any serious crash injuries merits a sigh of relief. Thankfully, that means most of them – nowdays thanks to the active safety of ever-improving rider gear and the passive safety of Dorna’s insistence that circuits are sufficiently safe, in terms of run-off, protected barriers, and so on. Thankfully again, 2024 was one such season. Motorcycle racing is intrinsically dangerous and surviving intact is a matter of getting away with it, time and time again. Because there is one kind of crash – fallen riders hit by other bikes – when only luck determines the outcome. MotoGP came close twice over the past two seasons. In 2024, it was at Sepang, and the hair’s-breadth escapee was Jack Miller, knocked off under the wheels of the pack. His helmet was grabbed by the back wheel of Fabio Quartararo’s fallen Yamaha, which made a good attempt at pulling his head off, “then (Joan)Mir used his legs as a double jump”. By a small miracle, Jack was able to walk away. In 2023 it was Pecco Bagnaia, leading a tight pack when he flipped over the high-side in Catalunya. He was also run over, by Brad Binder. […]

Feb 04

by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: MotoGP, Sepang, Shakedown

2025 MotoGP Sepang Shakedown

The 2025 MotoGP season is fast approaching as the three-day Shakedown test kicked off last weekend in Malaysia, where all five factories put the early versions of their new machines through their paces. The test was topped by Fabio Quartararo, who was the only rider lapping in one minute, 57 seconds by the close of day three. Yamaha’s (and Honda’s) full-time riders were allowed to test thanks to the concessions currently afforded to the two Japanese factories. Quartararo was three-tenths of a second quicker than Pramac Yamaha new boy Jack Miller. The Australian was a lowly 22nd at the Barcelona test last November, 2.2 seconds off the fastest time as he got to grips with the Yamaha M1. But there was huge progress on the final afternoon session as he took a full second out of his time from day two. Despite rumors to the contrary, there was no sign of Yamaha’s new V4 engine on track, with its riders instead focusing on the inline-four configuration. Technical Director Max Bartolini did reveal the V4 could well make its race debut this year in the hands of new test rider Augusto Fernandez, who will make six wildcard appearances in 2025. Surprisingly […]

Jan 12

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

Defiant KTM to begin building 2025 MotoGP bikes

KTM technical chief Wolfgang Felber says “everything is currently going as normal” regarding KTM’s preparations for the 2025 MotoGP season. The Austrian firm faces an uncertain future in MotoGP as the company navigates its way through a financial crisis, which triggered a restructuring process. A report from the first creditors hearing also stated that a withdrawal from grand prix racing is “planned” for KTM, though it will carry on as normal in 2025. KTM’s racing division has also been acting on a 100-point plan to cut spending amid the company’s current financial troubles, which includes scaling back its factory involvement in various disciplines. For 2025, it will field four factory KTMs in MotoGP spread across its works team and Tech3 for Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini. In an interview with German publication Speedweek, Felber offered a positive development on KTM’s 2025 preparations. “As far as preparations for the new season are concerned, everything is currently going as normal,” he said. “In recent years we have trimmed all processes so that we build the new machines in the third week of the year. “It will be the same in 2025. Next Monday we will start rebuilding all […]

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 27

by darren in Track 0 comments tags: Bagnaia, Buriram, MotoGP

Bagnaia Pole Lap Buriram 2024

MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia twice smashed the lap record in warm and humid conditions at the Buriram International Circuit on Saturday to take pole for the 2024 Thailand MotoGP.