In case you haven’t heard, at the recent MotoGP test at the new Circuit of the Americas (CotA) track, 1993 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz was unceremoniously removed from the property. In protest to this rude (and in our opinion unwarranted) treatment of a motorcycling icon, a group of motorcycle racing enthusiasts have organized the FreeKevin34 movement, culminating in the FreeKevin34  weekend, April 19-21, the same weekend as the CotA round of MotoGP. Continue Reading »

The International Motorcycling Federation has named Franco Uncini the FIM Grand Prix Safety Officer and circuit inspector. The 1982 500cc Grand Prix World Champion (pictured on the left above) takes over for the retired Claude Danis (right in the photo) to oversee safety in MotoGP.

The now 58-year-old Uncini won the 1982 World Championship for Roberto Gallina‘s factory-backed Suzuki. After retiring as a racer in 1985, Uncini managed Ducati‘s factory World Superbike team for Doug Polen‘s 1992 championship-winning campaign.

Uncini first worked in a safety advisory capacity in 1993 after being Grand Prix racers appointed him the IRTA rider safety delegate. Part of his duties involved working with Danis, making Uncini a logical choise as Danis’ successor. Continue Reading »

Max Biaggi will retire as a champion, announcing his decision to step away from the sport after winning his second World Superbike Championship by just half a point.

The man known as the Corsair and the Roman Emperor announced his retirement this morning at a press conference at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome, Italy. Biaggi ends his 21-year international racing career with six world championships, with four consecutive 250cc Grand Prix titles from 1994 to 1997 to go along with his 2010 and 2012 WSBK titles.

All but one of Biaggi’s titles were won on Aprilia machines with his 1997 250cc World Championship recorded on a Honda. By retiring now, Biaggi leaves on his own terms while still a competitive racer, turning down a contract extension with Aprilia. Continue Reading »

KTM will enter the three-rider lineup of Sandro Cortese, Arthur Sissis and Danny Kent in the 2012 Moto3 class in the manufacturer’s return to Grand Prix road racing.

The Austrian manufacturer last competed in the World Championship in 2009, racing in the 125cc Grand Prix class. KTM’s return comes as the 125cc class is being replaced with the new 250cc Moto3 class. Cortese, Sissis (pictured above) and Kent will ride KTM’s new Moto3 machine for the Red Bull KTM AJO team, led by Team Manager Aki Ajo.

Continue Reading »

KTM revealed its new 250cc four-stroke engine that will be used in the Moto3 World Championship which is set to replace the 125cc class in 2012.

The single cylinder engine is all new and not a repurposed motor from KTM‘s 250cc offroad engine portfolio and is said to weigh just 55 pounds.

Official specs were not released, but Moto3 regulations dictate a maximum bore of 81mm, a rev limit of 14,000rpm. Pneumatic or hydraulic valve systems are not allowed and the valve timing system must be chain driven. Continue Reading »

Racing legend and three-time 500cc Grand Prix Champion Wayne Rainey paid a visit to Yamaha Motor Racing’s headquarters just outside of Milan, Italy.

The 1990-1992 World Champion met with employees of Yamaha Racing, Yamaha Motor Italy and Yamaha Motor RD Europe and officially opened a new boardroom named in his honor. Rainey, along with current Yamaha factory MotoGP racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, took time to take photographs and sign autographs with the Yamaha staff.

Continue Reading »

Loris Capirossi announced he will retire at the end of the 2011 MotoGP season, closing off a quarter century of racing including 22 years at the Grand Prix level and three World Championships.

“It’s an important moment in my career, and the decision I made has come about after a lot of reflection,” says Capriossi. “I’m happy that after 25 years, of which 22 were in the world championship, I’m at a point where I can still have a smile on my lips as I part ways, even if it’s difficult to think that I won’t be riding a bike next year.”

The announcement was made during a press conference at Misano for the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix, the final Italian stop of the 2011 season. An emotional Capirossi received a standing ovation from those in attendance.

Continue Reading »

Wayne Rainey will return to the Misano circuit for the first time since he suffered a career-ending crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

The Sept. 5, 1993 crash at the circuit then-known as the Circuito Internazionale Santamonica brought a sudden end to what had been an incredibly successful Grand Prix racing career. Rainey, the 1990-1992 500cc Grand Prix World Champion was three rounds away from what would have been his fourth consecutive world title when he broke his back in a high-speed low-side.

Yamaha is organizing a special ceremony to honor Rainey on Friday, Sept 2 at Misano, ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix.

[Source: MotoGP]

The final entry list for the Moto2 race at the 2011 Indianapolis Grand Prix includes some familiar names for American racing fans. American racers JD Beach and Jake Gagne along with 2010 AMA Daytona Sportbike Champion Martin Cardenas are on the entry list for the Aug. 28 Moto2 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Continue Reading »