Motegi MotoGP Thursday Preview: Ducati Domination, Orange Crush, Honda's Future, And Yamaha's Development Direction

By David Emmett | Thu, 28/09/2023 - 22:53

Chapter 2 of MotoGP's Eastern Tour sees the paddock alight at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, a couple of hours north of Tokyo. After the excitement of tension of a brand new venue, the Buddh International Circuit just outside of New Delhi, Motegi is almost the polar opposite. Everything about Motegi is known: owned by Honda, and raced at since Daijiro Kato's untimely death just over 20 years ago made it impossible for MotoGP to return to Suzuka.

Honda and Yamaha test here – Cal Crutchlow was here in August, testing the latest iteration of the Yamaha M1 – and the riders, teams, and bikes all have thousands of laps around the track. MotoGP is back into its familiar routine, driving from the same hotel they have been staying in for the last decade at Mito up the hill to the Motegi Twin Ring circuit, then after the race to the same bar for Karaoke and strong drink.

Motegi is very much a known quantity. So much so that it gets its own mention in the MotoGP technical regulations: as the circuit where the brakes are tested the hardest, Motegi was the first track to be added to the list where the use of 340mm brake discs are compulsory, to prevent the brakes from overheating and fading. Spielberg in Austria and Buriram in Thailand were added to that illustrious list a little later.

Burning brakes

48 Hours From Madrid To Motegi - Alex Rins Returns To MotoGP For The Japanese Grand Prix

By David Emmett | Thu, 28/09/2023 - 14:52

It's been a very intense 48 hours or so for Alex Rins. On Tuesday, the LCR Honda rider was in Madrid for a medical checkup on the right leg he broke during the sprint race at Mugello. On Wednesday he was boarding a flight for Japan, preparing to get back on a MotoGP bike for the first time since that crash on June 10th. At 6am on Thursday he landed at Narita Airport near Tokyo, Japan, before heading to Motegi.

22 Races For MotoGP In 2024 - Kazahstan Back On, Hungary On Reserve List, 4 Races In Spain

By David Emmett | Wed, 27/09/2023 - 09:17

The 2024 MotoGP calendar is back up to the agreed maximum of 22 races. Kazakhstan is back on the calendar for next year, and all four Spanish circuits are on the calendar alongside Portimão. After the successful Indian round of MotoGP, Buddh International Circuit stays on the calendar. But apart from that, the calendar is pretty conventional.

The season kicks off in Qatar on March 10th, a date that was published earlier. Two weeks later, the MotoGP circus makes a quick stop off in Portimão before heading to the Americas, with Argentina happening on April 7th, and Austin a week later.

After a two-week break, MotoGP resumes its usual European round, going from Jerez to Le Mans to Barcelona and then Mugello. Kazakhstan fits in between Mugello and Assen, with a weekend off either side of the track situated north west of Almaty. Then Assen in its traditional slot of the last weekend in June, and the Sachsenring a week later.

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 358: India GP - A New Track, A Rising Star, And Open Leathers

By David Emmett | Tue, 26/09/2023 - 20:49

MotoGP opened a new frontier at the Buddh International Circuit, the inaugural Indian round of MotoGP making history, in many ways. Adam Wheeler, Steve English, Neil Morrison, and David Emmett discuss how MotoGP was received in India, why Marco Bezzecchi dominated so thoroughly at the circuit, what happened with Jorge Martin and his leathers, and whether the strong results for Marc Marquez and Joan Mir is the start of a Honda revival. We also hear from Marc Marquez' Repsol Honda crew chief Santi Hernandez on adapting to a brand new circuit.

India MotoGP Sunday Subscriber Notes: A Championship Reopened, How Martin's Leathers Opened, And Why Honda And Yamaha Were Fast

By David Emmett | Sun, 24/09/2023 - 23:07

As the most populous nation in the world, and one that is absolutely mad for motorcycles, India deserved a motorcycling grand prix. And as a successful economy, it had the capacity to organize one. On Sunday, it got a proper MotoGP spectacle. The racing for the win in all three categories wasn't particularly exciting – three races, three runaway victories – but there was spectacle and sensation up and down the field. Surprises, and championships blown wide open. What more could you want?

Initial fears of disaster proved to be overblown. The track was as safe as most European tracks, with some room for improvement. The asphalt could do with being repaved, but the same is true for half a dozen circuits on the calendar. The facilities were generally outstanding, the crowds were decent for a first race with little promotion (making it happen mattered more than packing the grandstands to the rafters) and incredibly passionate. The standard of marshalling left something to be desired, though it was not outright dangerous, just not up to world championship standard.

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