Simon Patterson

MotoGP

Vinales leads Yamaha 1-2-3 on day two of second MotoGP test

Maverick Vinales headed a Yamaha 1-2-3 on the second day of MotoGP’s second 2021 pre-season test in Qatar

MotoGP

MotoGP accepts Qatar offer for COVID-19 paddock vaccination

Qatar has offered the COVID-19 vaccination to MotoGP personnel attending this week’s official tests and the upcoming opening rounds of the championship

MotoGP

Marquez fractures foot in fifth crash of MotoGP testing

A fifth crash in four days of testing is set to end Alex Marquez’s MotoGP pre-season, as he is believed to have suffered a foot injury

MotoGP

‘Unbelievable’ record MotoGP test pace isn’t the reality

The MotoGP pacesetters are setting record times in Qatar testing, but they’re convinced it’s deceptive

MotoGP

Why Marquez’s new team-mate is MotoGP testing’s star so far

The Honda MotoGP bike is notoriously hard to adapt to, yet KTM convert Pol Espargaro is being tipped by rivals as a potential winner when the 2021 season starts

MotoGP

Rossi ‘feeling like a real rider again’ in MotoGP testing

Despite finishing only 13th on the first day of MotoGP’s second Qatar test, Valentino Rossi says he “felt like a real rider again”

MotoGP

Yamaha’s special retro MotoGP livery explained

Yamaha has unveiled a 60th anniversary MotoGP livery for test rider Cal Crutchlow to use in 2021, evoking its fan favourite ‘speedblocks’ colours

MotoGP

Six questions the final MotoGP test needs to answer

It’s crunch time for the MotoGP teams as the final 2021 pre-season test begins. Simon Patterson runs through what to look out for this week

MotoGP

MotoGP’s king of testing thinks he’s solved his weakness

Every year Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales flies in winter testing. And every year it all seems to fall apart when the racing begins. Why’s he so optimistic that’s changing in 2021?

MotoGP

Zero wins in 17 years – but is Lorenzo’s Espargaro jibe fair?

Jorge Lorenzo has now set his mischievous sights on Aleix Espargaro and his poor MotoGP record. Simon Patterson leaps to Espargaro’s defence – but also warns not to take Lorenzo too seriously

MotoGP

Rossi: New Yamaha ‘very similar’ to 2020 bike, not 2019

Yamaha’s new MotoGP chassis was supposed to mimic the successful 2019 bike – but Valentino Rossi believes it is closer to the lesser 2020 version

MotoGP

‘Grow up, mate’ – Lorenzo gets pushback for Crutchlow jibe

The feud between new Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow and the man he replaces – Jorge Lorenzo – has continued into a new MotoGP season, with Jack Miller stepping in on social media

MotoGP

Aprilia needs to prove test-topping pace is ‘more real’

Aprilia can be “proud” of topping the first proper day of MotoGP’s Qatar testing, but should be mindful of the 2020 false dawn, says Aleix Espargaro

MotoGP

Yamaha riders ‘can’t say’ yet if 2021 MotoGP bike is better

The newly-promoted Fabio Quartararo and team-mate Maverick Vinales will need more time before they can judge the all-important new Yamaha chassis

MotoGP

Grieving Aprilia gives deadline for MotoGP satellite decision

Aprilia’s MotoGP outfit will take time to come to terms with the passing of team boss Fausto Gresini before firming up its 2022 plans

MotoGP

Suzuki debuts revised Monster-backed MotoGP livery for 2021

MotoGP’s champion team Suzuki has unveiled a revised livery for the 2021 season, featuring prominent Monster Energy branding

MotoGP

Crutchlow begins ‘difficult’ test as Rossi admits high hopes

Cal Crutchlow, who Valentino Rossi believes can be the difference-maker for Yamaha, anticipates a “difficult” first MotoGP test in his new role.

MotoGP

Each MotoGP team’s target for Qatar testing

Even with the development restrictions, there’s a lot MotoGP teams want to achieve in just five days of pre-season testing in Qatar. Simon Patterson outlines each team’s target

MotoGP

Bradl fastest as sandstorms hamper first 2021 MotoGP test

Stefan Bradl was fastest for Honda as sandstorms and high winds spoiled the first day of 2021 MotoGP testing

MotoGP

All the riders who turned Aprilia’s MotoGP bike down

Aprilia chased a multiple world champion, two MotoGP race winners and some of Moto2’s hottest riding stars to replace Andrea Iannone – but they all said no. And then it snubbed a man who actually wanted to ride its bike

MotoGP

Aprilia unveils 2021 bike, Gresini tribute in sombre launch

The Gresini MotoGP team unveiled its 2021 bike, with a poignant tribute to its late team boss Fausto Gresini, who passed away last month

MotoGP

The new reality for Valentino Rossi: satellite MotoGP rider

MotoGP 2021 is going to be a very different experience for Valentino Rossi – ostensibly underdog in satellite team Petronas SRT rather than having Yamaha factory pressure. Here’s how he’s finding his new life so far

MotoGP

Rossi’s new MotoGP bike unveiled at Petronas Yamaha launch

Valentino Rossi’s new MotoGP team Petronas Yamaha has showed off the liveries he and team-mate Franco Morbidelli will run in 2021

MotoGP

Why Petronas MotoGP team is exactly what Rossi needs

Valentino Rossi unveiled his 2021 MotoGP bike with new team Petronas SRT Yamaha today. In theory being switched to the satellite squad is a demotion, but this is likely to be a very happy home for Rossi

MotoGP

KTM MotoGP test plans disrupted as Kallio injured in ice race

KTM’s pre-season MotoGP programme has been disrupted by news that test rider Mika Kallio has suffered a double break to his left leg while ice racing at home in his native Finland

MotoGP

MotoGP’s shock underdog hero can fight for 2021 title too

All eyes will be on Valentino Rossi when his new team Petronas SRT Yamaha holds its 2021 MotoGP launch on Monday. But it’s his team-mate Franco Morbidelli who’s a serious championship threat

MotoGP

Old-timers, rising stars and oddities – Pramac’s rider history

Pramac is the route to works Ducati glory for rising MotoGP stars – yet also the place a leftfield oddity or returning former hero seems most likely to crop up. As it launches its 2021 programme with Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco, we look at the highlights of its past rider line-ups

MotoGP

MotoGP team boss Gresini passes away after long COVID battle

Aprilia MotoGP team boss Fausto Gresini has passed away aged 60 following a two-month hospital stay after contracting COVID-19

MotoGP

Undiagnosed neck injury disrupts Petrucci’s pre-season

Tech3 KTM rider Danilo Petrucci has revealed that his 2021 MotoGP pre-season build-up has been disrupted by an undiagnosed injury sustained last July

MotoGP

Why Honda’s MotoGP title bid relies on its underdog again

Amid Honda’s miserable 2020 MotoGP season and Marc Marquez’s injury, a shock title bid from satellite team LCR was a rare bright spot. And there’s reason to think LCR might be its best 2021 hope too

MotoGP

Gresini condition critical in fight with COVID-19

Doctors treating Aprilia MotoGP boss Fausto Gresini say “complications have occurred” in his battle with COVID-19, and that the current clinical picture is “critical”

MotoGP

Aprilia tests new MotoGP bike with ‘interesting improvements’

Aleix Espargaro reckons Aprilia has “a lot of work to do” but has made some “interesting improvements” for its 2021 MotoGP bike after the first test of 2021 at Jerez, while its rider scenario remains unclear

MotoGP

Yamaha’s latest bid to crack its MotoGP enigma

False dawns and frustrations have defined Maverick Vinales’ time as a Yamaha MotoGP rider so far – so why should season five be different?

MotoGP

VR46’s MotoGP ‘half-debut’ with Ducati explained

Valentino Rossi’s team isn’t a MotoGP team yet, but will dip its toe in the water by backing his half-brother Luca Marini at Avintia Ducati

MotoGP

What Rossi’s future as a MotoGP team boss might look like

Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team joins the MotoGP grid this year. As it holds a 2021 launch today, Simon Patterson looks at how Rossi’s transition from racer to team boss is progressing

MotoGP

Yamaha shows off 2021 livery in bizarre MotoGP launch event

The 2021 Yamaha MotoGP bike that Maverick Vinales and newcomer Fabio Quartararo will campaign has broken cover in an unorthodox virtual launch event

MotoGP

The strength in MotoGP’s singular voice for equality

While several motorsport series publicly confronted racial inequality last year, MotoGP remained largely silent – except for Franco Morbidelli. The SRT Yamaha rider is continuing to speak up and is using his platform to take on a critical issue

MotoGP

Why Mir snubbing #1 is so disappointing

MotoGP world champion Joan Mir will stick with recent convention and use his traditional #36 on his Suzuki for 2021, rejecting the chance to use #1. Simon Patterson is underwhelmed

MotoGP

Marquez making progress, but return to racing still distant

Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez’s latest check-up on his damaged right arm suggests good progress is now being made, but also indicates he’s some way from being ready to race again

MotoGP

Why KTM’s MotoGP 2021 mission is harder than it looks

KTM’s 2020 season was an enormous breakthrough success, yet it was a particular campaign – and the marque still has a lot to prove in MotoGP