The veteran Italian squad, which has raced in the premier class full-time since 2002 – having made its debut in 1998 – returns to running as a truly independent team in 2022 after a seven-year stint starting in 2015 as Aprilia’s factory entrant. The team was rocked in February of last year when founder and […]
Tag: MotoGP
Marc Marquez back on track at Portimao to step up MotoGP return preparations
The six-time MotoGP world champion has been out of action since suffering concussion in a motocross training incident in November which triggered a return of a double vision – or diplopia – he previously had in 2011 after a Moto2 crash. After missing the final two rounds of the 2021 MotoGP campaign and the post-season […]
MotoGP ace Marquez’s vision problems show “clear improvement”
The Honda rider missed the final two rounds of the 2021 MotoGP season after a concussion he suffered in a training accident damaged a nerve in his eye and led to a return of the double vision – or diplopia – problems he experienced back in 2011. Marquez’s racing career was threatened at the end […]
Doctors didn’t know how long eye injury would take to recover
Marquez was forced to miss the final two rounds of the 2021 season when a concussion suffered in a motocross training incident in November led to a return of the double vision issues he previously had in 2011 after a Moto2 crash. Honda confirmed on Thursday that Marquez’s recovery had progressed sufficiently enough for him […]
Espargaro gained “realistic” understanding of Marquez’s MotoGP speed in 2021
The 2013 Moto2 world champion switched from KTM to the factory Honda squad last season, ending a largely difficult campaign with one podium and pole position to his credit. Despite missing four races through injury and crashing out of four others, Marquez won three times and was comfortably top Honda rider in seventh in the […]
MotoGP winner Petrucci “crying like a baby” after historic Dakar Rally stage win
Petrucci is making his Dakar debut this year having lost his ride with Tech3 KTM in MotoGP at the end of 2021. Having broken his ankle during training and almost being denied his Dakar debut due to a false positive COVID-19 test on the eve of the rally raid, Petrucci has impressed hugely on his […]
Tank Slappers Podcast: Pecco Bagnaia Special
The Italian’s third season in the premier class saw him promoted to the factory Ducati squad from Pramac. Having made a solid start to the 2021 season, it was in the second half of the year where Bagnaia really kicked on. Taking his maiden win at Aragon after a thrilling battle with Marc Marquez, Bagnaia […]
Ex-MotoGP star Rossi out of Gulf 12 Hours due COVID-19 contact
Nine-time grand prix motorcycle world champion Rossi was scheduled to make his now-regular Gulf 12 Hours appearance in Abu Dhabi with the Kessel Racing squad in a Ferrari 488 GT3. A class winner and overall podium finisher at previous events, Rossi was set to share a car with close friend Alessio Salucci and half-brother and […]
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike “already raceable” after first test
The 2021 MotoGP championship runner-up won four races last season and only missed the title by 26 points after a strong second part to the campaign. Ducati won more races than any other manufacturer in 2021, with Bagnaia (4), Jack Miller (2) and Pramac rookie Jorge Martin (1) tallying up seven between them – securing […]
Aprilia has “a long way to go” to reduce MotoGP deficit
The Italian marque made its biggest stride towards the front in MotoGP in 2021 seven seasons into its return, having been one of only two manufacturers allowed to build an all new bike amidst the COVID-enforced development freeze. Aleix Espargaro proved to be a consistent top eight finisher across the campaign and scored Aprilia’s first-ever […]