In order to use footage from a Dorna-sanctioned MotoGP test session — say, for marketing or promotional reasons — a team must receive approval from Dorna. The process is tedious, and even if permission is granted, there are strict limitations as to what the material may or may not be used for. So when Honda decided to conduct its own private test (which Yamaha also joined), at the Circuit of the Americas, it was free from any and all Dorna mandates.

Rest assured, Honda took full advantage.  Continue Reading »

LCR Honda rider Stefan Bradl took to the streets of San Francisco on his MotoGP race bike for a video promoting the upcoming U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Bradl, the runaway favorite to take home MotoGP rookie of the year honors this season, took his Honda RC213V out for a spin on San Franciscio’s Treasure Island before going for a ride down the city’s iconic Lombard St., no doubt using the steep, winding road as practice for Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew.

Later in the day, Bradl and LCR team owner Lucio Cecchinello were guests in a conference at Stanford University titled “Embracing Risk in the Pursuit of Victory”. Bradl, the 2011 Moto2 World Champion, is still looking for his first MotoGP podium but with three top-five finishes including a fourth-place result at Mugello, it may be just a matter of time before his pursuit of victory becomes a success. Continue Reading »

Missing a day of testing didn’t appear to have a negative effect on Honda riders Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa. After missing the second day of testing because of a potential engine problem, the Repsol Honda riders were back on the track for Day 3 where they regained the top two spots on the time sheets.

Honda held back Stoner and Pedrosa as well as satellite team riders Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl yesterday to investigate an engine warning light that lit up on the dash of Pedrosa’s RC213V on Day 1. Continue Reading »

A red warning light prevented Honda riders from taking part in the second day of MotoGP testing at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit.

While its competitors were hitting the track, Honda was forced to wait for analysis on the engine of Dani Pedrosa‘s RC213V. A red warning light on the RC213V’s dash came on late in the first day of testing, indicating a potential failure.

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It’s been about a month since Casey Stoner last tested the Honda RC213V racebike at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit but the defending World Champion remains the man to beat, setting the fastest lap at the first day of MotoGP’s February Sepang test.

Heavy rain limited teams’ testing and Stoner only completed 16 laps but still managed to set a time of 2:01.761. Stoner was the only rider to lap under 2:02, though his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa came close with a time of 2:02.005 while completing 36 laps.

Honda released onboard video of Stoner lapping the 3.44 mile circuit (look for it after the jump). Continue Reading »

To be the man, you have to beat the man, and after the final day of MotoGP’s pre-season test in Malaysia, Repsol Honda‘s Casey Stoner continues to be the man.

The reigning MotoGP World Champion didn’t let lingering soreness from the back problems that sidelined him for the first day of testing at Sepang slow him down. On just his second of 21 laps on the final day, Stoner set a blistering lap time of 1:59.607, besting second-fastest rider Jorge Lorenzo by 0.591 seconds. Continue Reading »

Casey Stoner made his return to the track after missing the first day of the MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang and showed everyone why he deserved the #1 plate.

After skipping the first day of the test due to back pain, Stoner was back on the Repsol Honda RC213V and set the top lap time of all riders. Stoner rode 29 laps and set the pace with a lap time of 2:00.895, 0.157 seconds faster than Ben Spies and 0.173 seconds ahead of Jorge Lorenzo.

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Reigning MotoGP Champion Casey Stoner pulled his back during his morning stretches leaving teammate Dani Pedrosa to fly the Repsol Honda colors on the first day of the MotoGP pre-season test at Mayalsia’s Sepang circuit.

As Stoner received treatment for his back, Pedrosa put in 48 laps to lead all riders. Riding the Honda RC213V, Pedrosa’s best lap time was 2:02.003, making him second fastest on the day behind only Yamaha‘s Jorge Lorenzo and his 2:01.657 time.

Honda test rider Kosuke Akiyoshi put in some shakedown laps on Pedrosa’s bike before adding four more on Stoner’s RC213V. Continue Reading »