MotoGP

MOTOGP: Stoner Mugs Spies Over The Line To Win

Image by Bonnie Lane – CanBe Images

Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner pipped Ben Spies by 0.015s for the final MotoGP win of 2011, outdragging the Texan from the last corner to cross the line first after the Texan ran out of horsepower and Stoner occupied the Honda lane to take victory.

With three laps left, Spies took top spot after the Australian made an error but on the drag to the line, Stoner was able to nose in front of the Texan after taking a couple of extra risks on a damp surface in the final corners to build a fraction more momentum.

Read more…

San Carlo Honda MotoGP Rider Marco Simoncelli Has Died

The Italian succumbed to the head, chest and neck injuries he sustained in an accident on lap two of today’s Sepang MotoGP round. Simoncelli, who was 24, was taken to the circuit medical centre following the crash but was declared dead at 16.56 local time.

MotoGP medical director Michele Macchiagodena said in a subsequent press conference: “I’m very sad to be here to report about the death of Marco Simoncelli, a friend. Because of the crash he had during the race, in which he was hit by other riders, he suffered a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest. When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation).

Read more…

MOTOGP: Malaysian Grand Prix Race Cancelled After Simoncelli Crash

Today’s MotoGP race has been cancelled after Marco Simoncelli was taken to the Sepang circuit medical centre in a critical condition following a nasty accident on the second lap.

Race director Paul Butler brought out the red-flags as the Italian and Monster Yamaha’s Colin Edwards were attended to by trackside doctors. As Simoncelli went down, his RC212V gripped and speared across the track into the path of Edwards who had nowhere to go. Initally, Simoncelli was laid in the middle of the track after his helmet had been ripped off in the accident but he arrived at the medical centre conscious.

Read more…

MOTOGP: Stoner Cruises To 2011 World Title At Phillip Island

Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner cruised to the win and his second MotoGP world title at Phillip Island today after Jorge Lorenzo crashed in morning warm-up, handing the Australian his second championship on his birthday.

Lorenzo took the top off his ring finger in the accident and was flown to Melbourne Hospital for treatment. The incident meant Stoner took over the number one plate for next year and becomes only the sixth man to win the premier class title with two different manufacturers.

Read more…

MOTOGP: Pedrosa Cruises To Win At Motegi As Rossi Crashes Out

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa was left with a comparatively easy cruise to victory in today’s Motegi MotoGP round when race leader Casey Stoner was forced off track with brake issues after a tank slapper and a catalogue of crashes, including Valentino Rossi, and ride-throughs played havoc with the natural order.

Read more…

Bradley Smith signs three-year deal and will ride in MotoGP 2013!

Tech3 Moto2 rider Bradley Smith has done a three-year deal with his existing team which will see him move up to MotoGP in 2013. The youngster will spend next year trying to nail the Moto2 title before making the switch to the blue riband class.

Smith put pen to paper at Motorland Aragon last night and the deal will see him contracted to two full years with Herve Poncharal‘s team in MotoGP after the Oxfordshire lad passed up the opportunity to move up for the 2012 season. Read more…

MOTO GP: Stoner cruises to his eighth victory of 2011

Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner took no-one by surprise and cruised to another simple MotoGP win at Motorland Aragon this afternoon with team-mate Dani Pedrosa six seconds behind and reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo taking the final podium spot.

The 2007 world champion took the lead from Ben Spies at the end of lap one after passing Pedrosa for second, got his head down and promptly cleared off leaving the Spaniard to demote the Texan and then do a similar disappearing act. Read more…

MOTO GP: Lorenzo crushes the field at Misano

Factory Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo utterly marmalised the MotoGP field at Misano this afternoon, pulling a seven-second lead over Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner before the Australian was caught and passed by team-mate Dani Pedrosa with six laps to go.

The move by Pedrosa compounded Stoner’s woes by handing Lorenzo four more points back in the title chase and the gap is now 35 with five races left to run. The Australian was expected to clear off but says he is suffering from tiredness, he started to make mistakes and that allowed Lorenzo to get away. Read more…

MOTO GP: Stoner cruises to Indy victory

Helped by a nightmare opening lap for Ben Spies, Casey Stoner cruised to his 30th MotoGP victory in Sunday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix. The Repsol Honda star dropped from pole to third on lap one – behind team-mate Dani Pedrosa and title rival Jorge Lorenzo – but that was nothing compared with the first-lap misery for Spies. The only rider that looked capable of seriously challenging Stoner, Spies dropped from second to fifth off the line, was shuffled further back through the opening turns, then clipped the back of Dovizioso – leaving him ninth at the end of the lap. Read more…

MOTO GP: Stoner Czechs out at Brno, Simoncelli podium

MotoGP title leader Casey Stoner cruised to a dominant victory in Sunday’s Czech Republic Grand Prix, which saw Dani Pedrosa crash from the lead, Marco Simoncelli claim a first ever podium and Jorge Lorenzo fade to fourth.

Unlike his rivals, world champion Lorenzo chose the soften option front tyre – which helped the Yamaha rider take the lead ahead of Repsol Honda riders Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and Stoner on the opening lap. Read more…