Simon Patterson

MotoGP

Catalan Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP rider rankings

One fairytale win, one canny win and a lot of mistakes - MotoGP's Catalan Grand Prix offered plenty for Simon Patterson to get his teeth into in our rider rankings

MotoGP

Every Barcelona MotoGP sprint lead crash explained

Three riders crashed out of the Barcelona MotoGP sprint race while leading, all in separate incidents. And there wasn't a common cause

MotoGP

What's behind Espargaro's unexpected Aprilia 2025 admission

Aleix Espargaro's MotoGP career will always be linked to his exploits at Aprilia - and his role in transforming its fortunes. A test role with the manufacturer would seem a natural fit, then - so why doesn't he think he'll stay with the brand when he retires?

MotoGP

Is Ducati using Marquez as a Pramac bargaining tool?

Getting Marc Marquez to agree to a 2025 Pramac seat might solve Ducati's rider conundrum. But it's not straightforward

MotoGP

Six MotoGP rider market questions as a big vacancy opens

Aleix Espargaro's retirement opens up a very appealing factory MotoGP seat for 2025. Here are all the repercussions

MotoGP

Espargaro announces MotoGP retirement

MotoGP veteran Aleix Espargaro has announced his retirement. Simon Patterson gives his take on a career trajectory unlike any other and a unique character

MotoGP

Honda needs to treat Mir like Yamaha treats Quartararo

Joan Mir has not had a Fabio Quartararo-level impact at Honda - but he remains its most important rider asset in MotoGP

MotoGP

Ducati's third option is still too good to be an afterthought

A silly season battle against Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez is the stuff of nightmares for any MotoGP rider - but Enea Bastianini is too good to be an afterthought

MotoGP

Would KTM risk a 'Senna + Senna' 2025 MotoGP line-up?

Just when you thought you knew what KTM was planning for its 2025 MotoGP rider line-up, along come rumours it's got an audacious swoop in mind that would set up a very, very bold factory pairing

MotoGP

What Ducati's likely Marquez/Martin solutions are

Ducati has more top-level riders than seats, which is a nice problem until you have to place them all somewhere they are happy. Here's how the team could move - or not - Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini

MotoGP

Is India's MotoGP 2024 date really in jeopardy?

After weeks of paddock speculation that MotoGP's second Indian GP is under threat, a new report suggests it's as good as gone - but promoters are insisting that's not true

MotoGP

MotoGP's best crowd has the heroes it deserves

The Le Mans MotoGP weekend broke attendance records - with a vast number of the 300,000 fans there to see the riders currently 12th and 19th in the championship. Simon Patterson takes a closer look at the atmosphere the French GP's created, and how Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco rose to it

MotoGP

French Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP rider rankings

MotoGP's current 'big three' duked it out for victory in a thrilling conclusion to the French GP. But which of them leaves Le Mans having topped Simon Patterson's rider rankings?

MotoGP

The clash between MotoGP's 'slap' rivals you missed at Le Mans

Unseen by the TV cameras - and continued in the media centre afterwards - Aleix Espargaro and Franco Morbidelli another run-in at Le Mans. But Espargaro's anger was, again, mainly directed at the stewards

MotoGP

What was so extraordinary about Martin's Le Mans MotoGP win

There was more to Jorge Martin's victory in the French Grand Prix than just the 25 points that boosted his MotoGP championship lead. It's the manner of his ride - using a strategy that screamed 'bad idea' - that bodes so well

MotoGP

What Marquez learned from his best Ducati ride yet

Marc Marquez followed up his worst day and a half as a Ducati MotoGP rider with arguably his best race performance on the Desmosedici yet - converting 13th on the Le Mans sprint grid to a second-place race finish

MotoGP

The mystery of Bagnaia's miserable Le Mans sprint

What caused Pecco Bagnaia's Le Mans sprint to go so hideously wrong? He has an idea, but not one he's willing to share

MotoGP

'Struggling' Marquez's first real backwards step at Ducati

A fall, ill-feeling with the Ducati, and failure to advance directly to Q2. It's no wonder Marc Marquez admitted he was "struggling" and over-riding on his first difficult Friday since making his Gresini MotoGP switch for 2024

MotoGP

Key takeaways from MotoGP's 2027 rules explanation

Leading MotoGP figures used the Friday of the French GP at Le Mans to discuss the recently announced 2027 rules package in more detail. Here are the key things we learned from that media address

MotoGP

Why a rider who rejected MotoGP suddenly has another chance

MotoGP's greatest hope of ending its US rider drought has made an impressive turnaround at the start of 2024. Simon Patterson talks to Joe Roberts to find out what's behind his title-leading start

MotoGP

Ducati's intriguing 2025 hint and where Marquez fits in

Ducati has acknowledged that the battle for its second factory MotoGP seat for 2025 is between Marc Marquez, Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin - and has offered a window into its current thinking

MotoGP

'What the f**k is that for?' - riders react to MotoGP 2027 rules

MotoGP riders have given a tentative thumbs up to the 2027 rules package unveiled in the lead-up to this year's French Grand Prix - while making it clear that there is a wide variety of opinion on where the championship should be headed

MotoGP

Who should replace Yamaha's iconic MotoGP boss?

Yamaha's long-serving MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis is stepping aside, and there's a favourite to replace him - but what about the alternatives?

MotoGP

Device ban, aero reined in: MotoGP's 2027 rules unveiled

MotoGP has announced its new regulations for 2027, featuring a reduction in engine capacity from as the series tries to slow down bikes and make traditional circuits safer as well as reduced aero freedom and a complete ban on ride height devices

MotoGP

Fresh doubt for Kazakh MotoGP race as flooding puts debut on hold

The inaugural 2024 Kazakhstan Grand Prix has once again been put on hold indefinitely by MotoGP owing to severe flooding in the central Asian country

MotoGP

Honda riders say its new MotoGP prototype not 'born' well

The new-look Honda MotoGP bike raced by Stefan Bradl in the Spanish GP has far from impressed its full-time riders in testing

MotoGP

Jerez MotoGP 2024 rider rankings

An all-timer of a duel between Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia underlined a MotoGP weekend of messy conditions and chaotic action at Jerez.

MotoGP

'Anyway, I don't like you' - The unseen Jerez MotoGP outburst

Johann Zarco has revealed he let loose on chief MotoGP steward Freddie Spencer in the aftermath of the Spanish Grand Prix, after being summoned to discuss his crash with Aleix Espargaro

MotoGP

What caused MotoGP's shocking 15-crash Jerez sprint

MotoGP riders explain what they encountered in the remarkable 12-lap sprint race at Jerez - as 15 of them hit the deck.

MotoGP

Why Bagnaia sees link between Ducati struggles and Acosta's rise

Reigning MotoGP world champion Pecco Bagnaia believes the cause of his and his Ducati peers' chatter struggles is also what's supercharging Pedro Acosta's premier-class debut.

MotoGP

Honda MotoGP strength Marquez used to exploit now 'completely lost'

Honda's new MotoGP bike has "completely lost" the big strength that made even the fading previous version of the RC213V at least occasionally potent

MotoGP

MotoGP set to unveil 2027 ruleset BMW's arrival hinges on

MotoGP is set to unveil its long-awaited new regulations for 2027 and beyond in the coming days.

MotoGP

The fresh Marquez dilemma Ducati is facing

Marc Marquez could still be a 2024 MotoGP title contender - but he might need a key Ducati decision to go his way. One that will potentially have huge ramifications for his future

MotoGP

MotoGP's US rider drought finally has a chance of ending

It didn't initially look like American team Trackhouse's arrival in MotoGP was going to lead to a US rider getting on the grid. But suddenly that seems a realistic prospect for 2025

MotoGP

What's giving Quartararo hope as the bike he rejected dominates

Fresh from committing his future to Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo had a blunt demonstration of what he'd turned down as Aprilia dominated at Austin. But Yamaha has a plan, and Quartararo believes in it

MotoGP

What happens if Ducati loses its title-winning MotoGP team?

The long-standing Pramac-Ducati partnership looks like it may well end in 2025 thanks to Yamaha's efforts to lure Pramac away. But what would that mean for Ducati?

MotoGP

MotoGP just showed Liberty what it must - and mustn't - change

The first MotoGP event since Liberty Media's tentative takeover was exceptional. What can the championship's new owner learn from that?

MotoGP

Austin MotoGP rider rankings 2024

There are two obvious standout heroes from MotoGP's Grand Prix of the Americas weekend, and a lot of riders who should've done better

MotoGP

Marquez explains crash that ended fairytale COTA MotoGP win bid

Marc Marquez has revealed that a persistent brake problem was the culprit behind him crashing out of the lead in MotoGP's Grand Prix of the Americas

MotoGP

Why Acosta wants the modern MotoGP rider to change

Nascent MotoGP star Pedro Acosta says modern premier-class riders need to be "more natural, like 10 years ago"