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☆ ‘Drive to Survive’ or Ride to Thrive? MotoGP looks to break out of F1’s shadow after $4.2 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jonathan Hawkins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

One thing that MotoGP has in its favor is its frequently raucous unpredictability, a far cry from the sometimes-processional nature of F1. Reigning double world champion Pecco Bagnaia agreed. What that documentary series delivered in spades was human drama, making household names out of F1’s competitors and their teams. Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty ImagesThree-time MotoGP world champion Wayne Rainey now runs the MotoAmerica series, which nurtures US motorcycle track talent, as well as King of the Baggers. We need entertainment, and now Baggers are here at MotoGP, strictly to help build the crowd, build the excitement, and in the end it’s about entertainment.”Wayne Rainey is a three-time MotoGP world champion.

Persons: COTA, ” Carlos Ezpeleta, Pecco Bagnaia, “, ”, Dan Rossomondo, doesn’t, Rossomondo, ’, ’ ”, Marc Marquez, ” Marquez, Valentino, Rossi, Dani, Pedrosa, Jorge, Lorenzo, Casey, Stoner, Roland Sands, Jonathan Hawkins, Harley Davidson, Sands, “ You’ve, who’s, ” Sands, Viñales, ” Rossomondo, Lionel Messi, Valentino Rossi, Mirco Lazzari, Wayne Rainey, King, Wayne, Rainey, ” Wayne Rainey, Natalie Cardenas, Christopher, Silas, Jack, “ We’ve, Natalie, ” Christopher, Maverick Viñales, Pedro Acosta’s, Bastianini, you’ve, it’s Organizations: Texas CNN, Formula, Liberty Media, MotoGP, Liberty, CNN, One, Premier League, “, Sprint, CNN Sport, Ducati, Maverick, Aprilia, MotoGP’s Locations: Austin, Texas, Austin , Texas, Americas, California, America, Italian, States, Spain, COTA

☆ ‘Sleeping giant’ MotoGP awakens in Qatar, with eyes on US – and a little help from rapper Pitbull and AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Jonathan Hawkins | Becky Anderson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Bagnaia rides during the second free practice session ahead of the 2023 French Grand Prix. The 2024 season will also see the debut of a US based-team, Nashville’s Trackhouse Racing, which is co-owned by musician Pitbull. Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty ImagesThe American sees the Sprints as a gateway to the main race for new fans. He says the newly refurbished Qatar facility, which also hosts F1, is a boon for the participants, too. “The race at night is something that was [the Qataris’] idea 20 odd years ago, and they did it.

Persons: Daniel Rossomondo, “, CNN’s Becky Anderson, ”, Rossomondo, Mirco Lazzari, Francesco ‘ Pecco, Bagnaia, Marc Márquez, Álex, Jorge Martín, Pedro Acosta, Márquez, Jean, Francois Monier, Nashville’s, Pitbull, ” Rossomondo, Dorna, ” Marc Márquez, Toshifumi Kitamura, it’s Organizations: CNN, NBA, Qatar –, MotoGP, Ducati, Honda, Warner Bros Discovery, TNT Sports, ” MotoGP, Getty, “ Riders, Warner Bros . Locations: Qatar, Americas, Murcia, AFP, United States, American, Europe

☆ Bagnaia keen to seal title and join greats Rossi, Marquez
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Only Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have won consecutive titles and while Bagnaia would love to join them, he says his focus must be on racing. "From my memory, just Vale and Marc did it," Bagnaia said at the pre-event press conference on Thursday. Tomorrow (Friday) will be very important to understand everything and Saturday will be very important to be competitive and to try and win the sprint race," he added. "The maximum goal will be to start on the front row and then push in the sprint race to have the possibility to win." I will try to enjoy the weekend and win both races."

Persons: Francesco Bagnaia, Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Martin, Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez, Bagnaia, Marc, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Ducati, Thomson Locations: Valencia, Qatar, Bengaluru

☆ Di Giannantonio takes Qatar GP win, Bagnaia extends championship lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Victory marked a special weekend for Di Giannantonio, who also finished second in Saturday's sprint . I was struggling with the front (tyre) but I saw Pecco (Bagnaia) making little mistakes," a grinning Di Giannantonio said in a post-race interview. Bagnaia lost the lead with four laps to go but the Ducati rider has still put one hand on the rider's championship after extending his lead over Martin to 21 points. Up front, Di Giannantonio did not let up. "We managed to do a perfect start, I tried to create a gap but Diggia (Di Giannantonio) was incredible.

Persons: Racing's Fabio Di Giannantonio, Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Di Giannantonio, Bagnaia, Luca Marini, It's, Martin, Marini, Marc Marquez, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Jack Miller, Giannantonio, we've, Jorge, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Qatar, Prix, MotoGP, Circuit, VR46 Racing, Ducati, Thomson Locations: LUSAIL, Qatar, Bengaluru

☆ Motorsport icon Marc Marquez shares the biggest lesson and toughest decision of his career
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

BURIRAM, THAILAND - OCTOBER 28: No.93 Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team during qualifying at Chang International Circuit on October 28, 2023 in Buriram, Thailand. (Photo by Supakit Wisetanuphong/MB Media/Getty Images) Supakit Wisetanuphong/mb Media | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesMotoGP legend Marc Márquez says leaving Repsol Honda — where he has won six premier class world titles over the last decade — was the biggest and most difficult decision of his career. Márquez will leave his current team at the end of this season of Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP). Since then, a series of serious injuries and a drop-off in performance of the Honda bike relative to rival manufacturers, particularly the currently dominant Ducati, have prevented him from tilting at a record-equalling seventh premier class world championship. At Gresini Ducati, a satellite team of the flagship Ducati Lenovo factory team, Márquez will be riding what is currently the most dominant bike on the grid.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Spain, Supakit Wisetanuphong, Supakit, Marc Márquez, Repsol, —, Márquez, Joan Mir, Gresini, PHILLIP, Mirco Lazzari Organizations: Repsol Honda Team, Chang, Circuit, Getty, Repsol Honda, Prix, Honda, Ducati, Gresini Ducati, CNBC, videolink, Malaysian, Phillip, Ducati Lenovo Locations: BURIRAM, THAILAND, Buriram, Thailand, Malaysia, PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA, San Remo, Phillip Island, Australia

☆ Pramac's Martin smashes lap record to grab pole at Thailand Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 28 (Reuters) - Title-challenger Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing secured his third pole position of the season at the Thailand Grand Prix by setting a lap record on Saturday, with VR46 Racing's Luca Marini and Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro joining him on the front row. I am strong, and this is the most important thing," the 25-year-old Martin said after his performance, including the record 1 minute 29.287 second lap. "I did not expect to do 29.2, I think that is a very good lap... The Marquez brothers, Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez topped Q1, with the Gresini Racing rider coming ahead of the six-time MotoGP champion, who also has the most wins at Buriram. Alex Marquez managed to finish seventh and Marc Marquez eighth in the final session.

Persons: Jorge Martin, VR46 Racing's Luca Marini, Aprilia's, Espargaro, Francesco Bagnaia, Martin, Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, Marquez, Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Maverick, Fabio Quartararo, Johann Zarco, Augusto Fernandez, Quartararo, Pearl Josephine Nazare, William Mallard Organizations: Pramac Racing, VR46, Chang, Circuit, Buriram, Aprilia, Thomson Locations: Thailand, French, Bengaluru

☆ Bagnaia wins Indonesia GP as Martin throws away championship lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Ducati Lenovo's Francesco Bagnaia celebrates after winning the MotoGP race at the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia, October 15, 2023. Antara Foto/Wahyu Putro A via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMANDALIKA, Indonesia, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia battled heroically from 13th on the grid to win a thrilling Indonesia Grand Prix in Mandalika on Sunday, as he reclaimed the lead in the riders' championship after Jorge Martin crashed out. Bagnaia crossed the line 0.306 seconds ahead of Aprilia's Maverick Vinales in second, while Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 world champion, finished third. Champion Bagnaia is back on top of the riders' standings with 346 points, with Martin (328) in second and VR46 Racing's Marco Bezzecchi (283) in third. After Martin crashed, Vinales was briefly in the lead but Bagnaia kept up his aggressive riding, slowly and steadily gaining ground on the Aprilia rider before blowing past him in the 20th lap.

Persons: Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia, Antara, Jorge Martin, Bagnaia, Aprilia's, Vinales, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Martin, Marco Bezzecchi, Pramac Racing's Martin, Pramac, Johann Zarco, Pecco, it's, Quartararo, Gresini's Fabio Di Giannantonio, Red Bull, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Luca Marini, Binder, Marc Marquez, Aadi Nair, Muralikumar Organizations: MotoGP, Circuit, REUTERS Acquire, Aprilia, Red, Red Bull KTM, Gresini Racing, Thomson Locations: Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia, Mandalika, Bengaluru

☆ Marquez to join Gresini Racing team after Honda exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But I'm also sure that the whole Team Gresini will help me a lot," he added. Marquez, who joined the Repsol Honda team in 2013, won the last of his six championships in 2019, finishing 151 points clear of his nearest rival. He will join his brother Alex, who has impressed since he made the switch from LCR Honda to Gresini ahead of the 2023 season. "This is a historical moment for the Gresini Family," Gresini boss Nadia Padovani Gresini said. "The fact that Marc Marquez chose to race with us in the upcoming season is absolutely fantastic and I'm extremely happy to be able to make it official."

Persons: Honda, Marc Marquez, Issei Kato, Marquez, it's, I'm, Gresini, Alex, Nadia Padovani Gresini, Rohith Nair, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Prix, MotoGP, Gresini Racing, Ducati, Honda, Repsol Honda, Thomson Locations: Motegi, Japan, Bengaluru

☆ Marc Márquez: MotoGP maestro officially set to leave Honda
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Jonathan Hawkins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez will end his 11-year association with Honda, the factory team announced Wednesday, finally ending weeks of speculation around the rider’s future. “Honda Racing Corporation and Marc Márquez have mutually elected to terminate their four-year contract prematurely at the end of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season,” HRC announced in a statement. In an emotional social media post following Honda’s announcement, Márquez shared what he said was a message to one of his team. “I don’t know where to begin. I don’t know if I’m doing right or wrong, I don’t know what will happen in the future, I don’t know if all this will turn out well, but what I do know is everything we have achieved together,” the post read.

Persons: Marc Márquez, “, Álex, Márquez, I’m, Santi Hernández, Clive Mason, Álex Márquez, ” Organizations: CNN, Honda, “ Honda Racing Corporation, ” HRC, Ducati, MotoGP, Great, Triple Locations: Great Britain

☆ Perfect Martin wins Japanese Grand Prix sprint from pole
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 30 (Reuters) - Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing put on a masterclass to win Saturday's MotoGP sprint race at the Japanese Grand Prix after starting from pole position, piling the pressure on championship leader and reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia. Title challenger Martin grabbed his fifth sprint race win of the season hours after he clinched his second pole position of the campaign by setting a lap record of 1:43.198 seconds at the Mobility Resort Motegi. The 25-year-old Spaniard led from the first corner to the chequered flag and was joined by KTM's Brad Binder and Bagnaia of Ducati on the sprint podium. Martin has closed the gap with the 26-year-old Bagnaia by eight points in the championship ahead of Sunday's race. Frenchman Johann Zarco finished fifth ahead of VR46 Racing's Marco Bezzecchi, who won the inaugural Indian Grand Prix last week.

Persons: Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Martin, KTM's Brad Binder, Let's, Jack Miller, Bagnaia, Frenchman Johann Zarco, Marco Bezzecchi, Marc Marquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Maverick Vinales, Pearl Josephine Nazare, William Mallard Organizations: Pramac, MotoGP, Prix, Mobility, Ducati, KTM, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ India welcomes MotoGP: Monsoon rains, Bollywood superstars and a mystery monkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jonathan Hawkins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

First-placed Bezzecchi (C), second-placed Prima Pramac Racing's Spanish rider Jorge Martin (L) and third-placed Monster Energy Yamaha's French rider Fabio Quartararo pose on the podium after the Indian MotoGP Grand Prix. Last year Poncharal says he bumped into Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, who told him about the potential interest in an Indian MotoGP Grand Prix. As at the G20, the MotoGP race branding also featured the name ‘Bharat,’ rather than India. Bezzecchi is third overall in the championship, 44 points behind Bagnaia after the Indian Grand Prix. “It has been an incredible experience and success for MotoGP to be in India for the first time,” said Ezpeleta.

Persons: India CNN —, Jorge Martin, Fabio Quartararo, Money Sharma, Pramac, Hervé Poncharal, Poncharal, Carmelo Ezpeleta, Prakash Singh, we’ve, Ikjot Singh Bhasin, ” Paolo Ciabatti, “, ” Ciabatti, it’s, ” Poncharal, Herve Poncharal, Jonathan Hawkins, Tissot, Bharat, Marco Bezzecchi, ”, Marc Marquez, Martin, ” Martin, I’m, ” KTM's Jack Miller, Jack Miller, ” Miller, there’s, ” Sebastian Vettel, Andrew Hone, “ I’m, –, Repsol, Suresh Raina, SHARMA, Pecco Bagnaia, Marquez –, Ranveer Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Yogi Adityanath, Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, appreciatively, Yamaha’s Frenchman, ” Ikjot Singh Bhasin, don’t Organizations: India CNN, India CNN — Briefly, Buddh, Circuit, Formula One, Pramac, Energy, Getty, Racing, Prix, CNN Sport, Ducati Lenovo, Buddh Circuit, MotoGP, CNN, Ducati, YouTube, Honda, Sprint, Financial Times, Manufacturers, KTM, Husqvarna, Indian, One, India MotoGP Bharat Locations: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, New Delhi, East, Asia, South America, Kazakhstan, Delhi, Greater Noida, AFP, Yamaha’s, “

☆ Bezzecchi takes pole at inaugural Indian MotoGP
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bezzecchi clocked the best time of one minute, 43.947 seconds to pip Pramac Racing's Martin by 0.043 seconds for his first pole since the British GP in August. Bagnaia holds a 36-point lead over Martin in the overall standings, with Bezzecchi a further 29 points behind in third. Luca Marini, Bezzecchi's team mate, qualified in fourth place ahead of factory Honda duo Joan Mir and Marc Marquez. "I want to dedicate this pole to a friend of mine that unfortunately left us a couple of days ago." Gresini Ducati's Alex Marquez has been ruled out of the remaining MotoGP weekend after suffering a double rib fracture in qualifying, his team said.

Persons: Marco Simoncelli, Misano, Mooney VR46, Marco Bezzecchi, Jennifer Lorenzini, VR46 Racing, Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Bezzecchi, pip Pramac Racing's Martin, Bagnaia, Martin, Luca Marini, Bezzecchi's, Joan Mir, Marc Marquez, Gresini Ducati's Alex Marquez, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Marino, Marino Grand Prix, MotoGP, Rights, VR46, Ducati, Honda, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Marino Grand, Misano Adriatico, Italy, Rights NOIDA, India, New Delhi, Hyderabad

☆ Gresini waiting for Marc Marquez decision, says Ducati director Ciabatti
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Gresini Racing have the opportunity to sign Marc Marquez next season and are waiting for a decision from the six-times MotoGP champion, Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti said on Saturday. Marquez has struggled with Honda this season and the Spaniard has finished only three races, his best finish being seventh place at Misano earlier this month. The 30-year-old said earlier this month that he will come to a decision during the Indian and Japanese Grands Prix. "As far as Gresini goes, I think it obviously looks like they have this opportunity and they are waiting for Marquez’s decision," Ciabatti said in an interview with MotoGP at the Indian Grand Prix. "For sure one is to stay with Honda, the other two we can only guess... You should ask Marc Marquez and Gresini what's going on.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Paolo Ciabatti, Marquez, Ciabatti, Alex, Gresini, Gresini what's, Rohith Nair, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Ducati, Honda, Prix, MotoGP, Lenovo, LCR Honda, Thomson Locations: Japanese, Japan, Bengaluru

☆ Martin holds off wounded Italians to seal San Marino GP double
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MISANO ADRIATICO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin led the San Marino Grand Prix in Misano Adriatico from start to finish on Sunday to complete a second sprint and race double of the season and cut Francesco Bagnaia's championship lead to 36 points. Ducati's MotoGP world champion Bagnaia, who had his leg run over in a separate crash last week, finished third. Bagnaia is top of the riders' standings with 283 points, with Martin (247) in second and Bezzecchi (218) in third. After his sprint and race double this weekend and a third-placed finish in Catalunya, Martin has reduced Bagnaia's lead by 30 points in just two weeks. Veteran Pedrosa's creditable fourth-placed finish gave KTM some reason to cheer, after they suffered a double blow when Brad Binder and Jack Miller crashed in successive laps.

Persons: MISANO ADRIATICO, Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Misano Adriatico, Francesco Bagnaia's, Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing, Bagnaia, Martin, Marco, Bezzecchi, leapfrogged, BAGNAIA, Dani Pedrosa, Brad Binder, Jack Miller, Maverick Vinales, Miguel Oliveira, RNF, Marc Marquez, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: San Marino, San Marino Grand Prix, Spaniard, VR46, Bagnaia, KTM, Aprilia, RNF Aprilia, Thomson Locations: San Marino Grand, Misano, Catalunya, Italy, Bengaluru

☆ Martin wins San Marino GP as rivals chip away at Bagnai's championship lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Martin took the chequered flag 1.445 seconds ahead of VR46 Racing's Bezzecchi to claim his third sprint win of the season. World champion Bagnaia finished third. Bagnaia is top of the riders' standings with 267 points, with Martin (222) in second and Bezzecchi (196) in third. Martin's sprint win reduced the gap to Bagnaia by five points, while Bezzechi's second-placed finish saw him reduce the deficit by two. After Bezzecchi recovered from a slow start to leapfrog Bagnaia, Martin was given more of a challenge, though the Spaniard proved triumphant.

Persons: Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Lisi Niesner, Marco Bezzecchi, Francesco Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Marco, Spaniard Martin, leapfrog Bagnaia, Dani Pedrosa, I'm, Jorge, Aleix Espargaro, Luca Marini, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Marc Marquez, Aadi Nair, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: San Marino, San Marino Grand Prix, Ducati, Catalunya, Thomson Locations: Ernstthal, Germany, San Marino Grand, Misano Adriatico, VR46, Misano, Modena, India, Japan, Bengaluru

☆ Aprilia's Espargaro wins in Britain with last-lap pass
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Espargaro denied Bagnaia his fifth grand prix win of the season by 0.215 of a second, with the top four separated by just 0.750. Espargaro was up to second by lap six, helped also by team mate Maverick Vinales and Jack Miller clashing and running wide ahead of him. "At that time, my plan was to pass him (Bagnaia) and try to go away," said Espargaro. "But when it started to rain I said 'OK, stay quiet behind Pecco, it's better that he open the track'. Honda's six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez fell five laps from the finish, continuing a grim run for the struggling Spaniard who has yet to complete a grand prix this season.

Persons: Aleix Espargaro, Francesco Bagnaia, Binder, Marc Marquez, Espargaro, Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia, Bagnaia, Brad Binder, Marco Bezzecchi, Pramac Ducati's, Jorge Martin, Espargaro's, Maverick Vinales, Jack Miller, Portugal's Miguel Oliveira, Martin, Younger, Alex, Alan Baldwin, Alex Richardson, Ed Osmond Organizations: Prix, Silverstone Circuit, Aprilia, Ducati Lenovo, Red Bull KTM Factory, MotoGP, KTM Bezzecchi, Silverstone, South, KTM, Stowe, Spaniard, Ducati, Thomson Locations: Silverstone, Britain, Bagnaia's, Argentina, London

☆ Marquez withdraws from Dutch GP after being declared unfit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 25 (Reuters) - Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez on Sunday said he will miss the Dutch Grand Prix after failing to recover from injuries suffered at last weekend's German Grand Prix. The 30-year-old Spaniard pulled out of the German Grand Prix after crashing five times before the race at the Sachsenring - a track where he has won eight times in his MotoGP career. The Honda driver has yet to finish a race this season and languishes in 19th place in the standings, in a season so far dominated by Ducati. "I have not arrived at Assen (race track) at 100% physically. In addition to the sprain and the finger fracture, there is a fractured rib that has been causing me a lot of pain," Marquez said in a statement.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Marquez, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Christopher Cushing Organizations: MotoGP, Honda, Ducati, Thomson Locations: Assen, Bengaluru

☆ Bezzecchi breaks lap record to take pole at Dutch Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] MotoGP - TT Assen - TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands - June 26, 2022 Mooney VR46 Racing Team's Marco Bezzecchi in action during the race REUTERS/Piroschka Van De WouwJune 24 (Reuters) - Marco Bezzecchi smashed the Assen lap record on Saturday to claim pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix ahead of championship leader Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati and VR46 Racing team mate Luca Marini. Japanese manufacturer Yamaha have struggled this season but Fabio Quartararo finished a creditable fourth and will be joined on the second row by Red Bull KTM's Brad Binder and Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro. Honda's troubles followed them to Assen as Marc Marquez collided with the back of Ducati's Enea Bastianini in Q1, bringing out the yellow flags. Marquez, who has yet to finish a race this season, will start 17th on the grid as a result. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mooney VR46, Marco Bezzecchi, Van De Wouw, Francesco Bagnaia, Luca Marini, Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin leapfrogged, Bezzecchi, Fabio Quartararo, Red Bull, Brad Binder, Marc Marquez, Marquez, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: TT, REUTERS, Ducati, VR46, Speed, Yamaha, Thomson Locations: Assen, Netherlands, Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Marquez says commitment to Honda is 'maximum' amid exit rumours
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 22 (Reuters) - Honda rider Marc Marquez said he is committed to the Japanese manufacturer and already has an eye on next year's project after a disappointing season. "If I'm here, my commitment with Honda is maximum. I want to work with them to improve for the future, improve our project," Marquez told the MotoGP website ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix. "At the moment, of course I'm here to work with them for the future, which means next year's project. It's important to be here because two of the main Honda riders are injured - Mir and Rins.

Persons: Marc Marquez, Marquez, Joan Mir, Alex Rins, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Honda, Ducati, MotoGP, Thomson Locations: Germany, Bengaluru

☆ Martin claims second sprint win at German Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HOHENSTEIN-ERNSTTHAL, Germany, June 17 (Reuters) - Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin scorched to his second sprint win of the MotoGP season at the German Grand Prix on Saturday to move up to second in the world championship standings, while Ducati's world champion Francesco Bagnaia finished second. Martin took the chequered flag 2.468 seconds ahead of Bagnaia, denying the Italian a fourth sprint win of the season. I'm happy, it's another sprint win and I hope we fight for the win tomorrow." "It was fun in the first laps, I really liked the fight with Jack (Miller), it was intense," overall leader Bagnaia said. MotoGP said no further action would be taken after reviewing the incident, with the Frenchman finishing ahead of the Australian.

Persons: Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Martin, Bull, Jack Miller, Bagnaia, Miller, Marco Bezzechi, Jack, Jorge, It's, Marc Marquez's, Pramac, Johann Zarco, Brad Binder, jostling, Frenchman, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Aadi Nair, Hugh Lawson Organizations: MotoGP, Honda, Thomson Locations: ERNSTTHAL, Germany, Bagnaia, Nashik, India

☆ Honda say Marquez fit for French Grand Prix
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Honda rider Marc Marquez will return at the French Grand Prix this weekend after recovering from a hand injury, the MotoGP team said on Wednesday. Marquez underwent surgery after breaking the first metacarpal on his right hand following a collision in the season-opening race in Portugal. "Now I am here and fully focused on riding, I have no worries about the injury since it's fully healed. Let's see what the French GP brings and most importantly, work to our maximum." The Spaniard has scored only seven points this season after finishing third in the sprint race in Portugal.

☆ Marquez will not serve penalty for Portugal crash, says FIM
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 9 (Reuters) - Honda rider Marc Marquez will not serve a double long lap penalty imposed for his crash with Miguel Oliveira in Portugal, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) said on Tuesday. Marquez was granted a stay of execution last month on the penalty imposed after the six-times premier class champion locked up and barged straight into Oliveira, with both crashing out in the season-opener. "Marc Marquez is hence allowed to compete in the next race in which he will be able to participate, without any further sanction," FIM said in a statement. Marquez, who won his last title in 2019, has scored only seven points this season after finishing third in the sprint race in Portugal. The 30-year-old is targeting a return at the next round at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, which will host the 1,000th Grand Prix in history.

☆ Savadori to replace injured Oliveira at French GP
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 4 (Reuters) - Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori will stand in for the injured Miguel Oliveira at next week's French Grand Prix, his RNF Racing team said on Thursday. Oliveira crashed on the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on Sunday, the Portuguese taken out by Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo and dislocating his left shoulder. Malaysia-based RNF Racing said doctors had repositioned the shoulder at the time but further assessments revealed a more severe injury. It will be the second time this season that Oliveira has missed a race after being downed by another rider. Savadori took part in the official MotoGP test with RNF at Jerez last Monday.

☆ Marquez to miss Spanish GP, hopes to return in France
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Marquez underwent surgery to his right hand after a collision in the season-opening race in Portugal last month and did not race in the last round in Texas. Honda said the six-times premier class champion underwent checks on Tuesday and the medical team advised him to continue his recovery and focus on a possible return for the French GP, scheduled for May 12-14. "Together with the medical team, we decided not to take any risks, to wait two more weeks and return in Le Mans." Marquez will be replaced by Iker Lecuona at the Spanish GP. Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bagnaia baffled after throwing away another 25 points
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AUSTIN, Texas, April 16 (Reuters) - MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia was baffled and angry after throwing away 25 points by crashing out of Sunday's Grand Prix of the Americas while leading from pole position. "For the second weekend in a row I don't know (how it happened)," Bagnaia, who won the Saturday sprint but is now 11 points behind Bezzecchi after three rounds, told BT Sport. I did many, many laps this weekend without having any issues, and then in the race just controlling, I crashed." Bagnaia said something different had happened on the bike compared to two weeks ago in Argentina, when he had pushed perhaps too hard and crashed out of second place. "It's true that our bike is so fast, so competitive, but then if you crash and you don't know why it doesn't help anything," he added.

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