Simon Patterson

MotoGP

MotoGP riders concerned over Red Bull Ring safety in wet

The weekend weather forecast for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring could spell trouble for MotoGP, with heavy rain beginning to hit the track and riders already on edge about racing on the low-grip surface in torrential conditions

MotoGP

Crunch races for Dovizioso as he gets his tyre wish

Ducati has had a miserable time with MotoGP’s 2020 tyre, but the 2019 version is back for the Austrian races. So now Andrea Dovizioso has to shine

MotoGP

Iannone’s appeal delayed, giving Aprilia a rider quandary

Andrea Iannone finally has a date for his doping ban appeal, but it’s not until October – creating headaches for Aprilia and Cal Crutchlow

MotoGP

Twelve months that transformed MotoGP’s new winning team

KTM certainly has its own way of doing things, but it has found its way to the front in MotoGP. Simon Patterson goes behind the scenes of its rise

MotoGP

MotoGP locks in Algarve as 2020 season finale venue

The Portimao circuit has been confirmed as the host of the final round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship, with the Portuguese Grand Prix returning to the calendar for the first time since 2012.

MotoGP

Just how good is KTM’s shock rookie winner Binder?

Brad Binder was last in his first MotoGP tests in November 2019. On Sunday he won in only his third premier class start, and broke KTM’s duck in the process

MotoGP

What went wrong for Yamaha at Brno?

The Yamaha riders who dominated at Jerez were nowhere at Brno. But the fact Valentino Rossi did well provides a clue to why Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Vinales didn’t

MotoGP

KTM vs Ducati over Espargaro and Zarco’s controversial clash

Pol Espargaro was fuming over his collision with Johann Zarco in MotoGP’s Czech Grand Prix – but Ducati management was just as angry at Espargaro and the officials

MotoGP

Why Zarco is thriving as other Ducatis flounder

Twelve months after the split with KTM that could’ve ended his MotoGP career, Johann Zarco is on pole with a third-tier Ducati – at a time when the factory Ducatis are struggling

MotoGP

First postive COVID-19 test reported in MotoGP paddock

The Race’s sources in the MotoGP paddock have been informed that the series has had its first suspected coronavirus case, with a member of series organiser Dorna’s TV production crew testing positive this morning at the Czech Grand Prix

MotoGP

Has injured Bagnaia done enough for Ducati promotion?

Francesco Bagnaia’s tibia fracture came just as the Pramac rider was bolstering his case to replace Andrea Dovizioso at Ducati in 2020. But can it significantly weaken his position?

MotoGP

MotoGP riders want ‘disaster’ Brno surface repaved

MotoGP riders are keen for the Brno circuit to be resurfaced, with Aleix Espargaro describing it as a “disaster” after Friday practice

MotoGP

Ducati lining up replacements for Dovizioso amid stalemate

With no progress in the talks over Andrea Dovizioso’s future, Ducati is starting to look at alternatives for the 2021 MotoGP season

MotoGP

‘Domestic accident’ caused Marquez’s new surgery – Honda

Honda MotoGP team boss Alberto Puig says Marc Marquez’s second surgery was required due to a “domestic accident”, and insisted Marquez wouldn’t have tried to ride in the second Jerez race if doctors had foreseen that the plate in his arm could break

MotoGP

Honda’s over-reliance on Marquez is about to bite it hard

Honda has got away with making flawed MotoGP bikes because Marc Marquez could make them work. Now he’s sidelined, it must finally listen to its riders – says Simon Patterson

MotoGP

Marquez’s title defence really is over now – but needlessly

The second surgery Marc Marquez needs to fix the plate in his broken arm surely means he won’t be 2020 MotoGP champion. Simon Patterson thinks it could’ve been a very different story had Marquez not tried to rush his comeback

MotoGP

Marquez to sit out Brno as Honda drafts in Bradl

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will miss this weekend’s third round of the 2020 championship as he continues to recover from a second surgery on his broken right arm, with factory test rider Stefan Bradl instead stepping into the Repsol Honda team

MotoGP

Marquez forced into second surgery due to plate damage

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has had to undergo a second surgery on the right arm injury he sustained during the opening round of the 2020 championship at Jerez

MotoGP

How MotoGP’s ambitious underdog’s big week went wrong

Aprilia went into the 2020 MotoGP season expecting a breakthrough, but there’s been very little sign of that so far. Simon Patterson finds out why

MotoGP

MotoGP abandons flyaways but will add Portugal finale

MotoGP has abandoned its plans to hold races outside Europe at the end of the curtailed 2020 season, but will instead add a race at a Portuguese venue

Motorcycle racing

New Isle of Wight motorcycle road race launched

A new motorcycle road race on the Isle of Wight is being launched for 2021, with key Isle of Man TT figures involved

MotoGP

How Nakagami unlocked his inner Marquez

Extra support and attention from Honda has helped Takaaki Nakagami to a career-best MotoGP finish, as he seeks to emulate Marc Marquez’s style

MotoGP

Has MotoGP traded one runaway leader for another?

It’s been a particularly chaotic start to the 2020 MotoGP season so far, with the running order practically tipped upside down after two races at Jerez – but will the chaos continue or does the championship already belong to one rider in particular?

MotoGP

Nakagami: Bagnaia situation ‘terrifying’ and ‘big mistake’

Takaaki Nakagami says it was “terrifying” to ride behind Francesco Bagnaia’s smoking Ducati in the Andalucian Grand Prix, and believes it was a “big mistake” that Bagnaia wasn’t told to stop earlier

MotoGP

Yamaha riders call for fix to engine failures

Yamaha riders are hoping for a swift fix to the M1’s engine troubles, following the failure that cost Franco Morbidelli dearly at Jerez

MotoGP

Rossi’s ‘very good step’ not enough for title challenge

Valentino Rossi feels he’s made a “very good step” in the second MotoGP weekend at Jerez, but doesn’t see himself as part of the title race

MotoGP

How MotoGP’s injured trio fared on ‘hard and painful’ day

Marc Marquez, Cal Crutchlow and Alex Rins are back in Jerez after breaking bones last weekend – but there’s no guarantee all three will race

MotoGP

Marquez will skip Friday practice before riding on Saturday

Having been cleared to attempt to race at Jerez just days after his arm surgery, MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will sit out Friday practice before returning to the track on Saturday

MotoGP

Injured Marquez declared fit to ride at Jerez

Marc Marquez has been declared fit to ride in this weekend’s Andalucian Grand Prix at Jerez, only two days after undergoing surgery to have a plate installed on the arm bone he broke in last Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix at the same track. The reigning world champion fell heavily during the race and w

MotoGP

The MotoGP injury comebacks Marquez is bidding to emulate

In light of Marc Marquez’s bid to race at Jerez, we take a look at the expedited injury comebacks the MotoGP champion is seeking to emulate

MotoGP

Marquez’s attempt to race at Jerez isn’t right

Marc Marquez risking his health to race in Jerez is foolish despite the pressure upon him, and could set a worrying precedent for other injured MotoGP riders in the future

MotoGP

What his first win says about MotoGP’s new title favourite

Although aided by Marc Marquez’s unforced error, Fabio Quartararo’s first MotoGP win highlights the improvements made during and after a breakout rookie season in 2019 – and marks him as a genuine title favourite

MotoGP

Marquez in bid to ride in second Jerez race

Honda’s MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will attempt to ride in the second Jerez race weekend despite his humerus fracture a week prior

MotoGP

Is a title without Marquez worth less? Depends who wins…

Honda MotoGP team boss Alberto Puig has declared whoever wins the 2020 MotoGP title will value it less because Marc Marquez is compromised by injury. Simon Patterson sees his point, but thinks some riders are more likely to have that asterisk on their names than others

MotoGP

Marquez has successful surgery, aims to miss just one race

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has undergone successful surgery this morning to have a plate installed on his broken right humerus following his high-speed fall during Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix

MotoGP

Who will Honda call on as Marquez’s stand-in?

Honda has left itself very short of options if it needs a long-term stand-in for Marc Marquez in MotoGP. Simon Patterson looks at what it might do

MotoGP

Winners and catastrophic losers from the MotoGP opener

Honda’s title bid could be over already, Suzuki missed a huge chance and even winner Yamaha has things to think about. Simon Patterson runs through what each MotoGP team will be thinking after the Jerez opener

MotoGP

Crutchlow to have wrist surgery, but hopes to race next week

Cal Crutchlow will undergo minor surgery later this week to repair damage to a small fracture to his scaphoid bone, but hopes to race in next weekend’s Andalucian Grand Prix

MotoGP

Nerve damage means Marquez injury could be worse than thought

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez’s arm injury from his Spanish Grand Prix crash could be worse than first thought, with potential nerve damage alongside the bone fracture

MotoGP

Marquez set for surgery after breaking arm in Jerez crash

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez’s 2020 season has got off to the worst possible start, with Honda rider suffering a broken right humerus after crashing out of today’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez