MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks - ... that he is glad the summer break is here

By The Numbers: Manu Gonzalez Snub Would Be Unprecedented For MotoGP

Valentin Khorounzhiy — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:22:51 +0000

By The Numbers: Manu Gonzalez Snub Would Be Unprecedented For MotoGP

A lot could change between now and 2027 but, as it stands, Moto2 leader Manu Gonzalez only has a shot at one MotoGP seat - and following the latest reporting, he is not the favourite to claim it.

Gonzalez has over 50 points over his nearest title chaser, and him being reeled in seems very unlikely (even if a similarly unlikely thing happened last year versus Diogo Moreira).

He is in a clearly anomalous situation, a huge favourite to win the Moto2 crown but with three of the riders he's set to beat (David Alonso, Dani Holgado and expected Pramac signing Izan Guevara) already certain to be on the 2027 premier-class grid, and a fourth (team-mate Senna Agius) his main rival for the sole available seat at Tech3 KTM.

Gonzalez has at best a 50-50 shot there, if team boss Guenther Steiner is to be believed. Incidentally, I ran into Steiner in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock recently and quizzed him as to any new developments - but could not extract an answer.

Valentin Khorounzhiy Sat, 25/Jul/2026 - 15:22

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Pirelli's Giorgio Barbier On 2027: Tire Pressures, Qualifiers, And The Challenges Of Making MotoGP Tires

David Emmett — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:13:09 +0000

Pirelli's Giorgio Barbier On 2027: Tire Pressures, Qualifiers, And The Challenges Of Making MotoGP Tires

2027 will arguably see the biggest shake up in MotoGP since 2007, when the series dropped capacity from 990cc to 800cc and changed tire regulations. Next year, we reduce engine capacity from 1000cc to 850cc, lose the ride-height devices, reduce aerodynamics, and switch from Michelin to Pirelli as official tire supplier.

The new technical regulations will have a huge impact on MotoGP. While the engine capacity reduction and loss of the ride-height devices are the most eye-catching changes, it is the switch from Michelin to Pirelli that is likely to have the most profound effect on the racing. Tires are the most important component in how a motorcycle behaves and feels. Adapting to the Pirellis is going to be the biggest challenge facing the 2027 MotoGP grid, both riders and manufacturers.

To find out where Pirelli's MotoGP project stands, I spoke to Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli's Motorcycle Racing Director. I interviewed him at Brno, a couple of days before the first test for the contracted riders on Pirelli's prototype MotoGP tires. That test was held behind closed doors, and limited to just two riders per manufacturer. But Barbier was very forthcoming about the development process so far, and what the Italian tire manufacturer's philosophy is when it comes to MotoGP tires.

David Emmett Thu, 23/Jul/2026 - 22:13

Superbike Shooter: Tony Goldsmith Shoots Donington Park

David Emmett — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Superbike Shooter: Tony Goldsmith Shoots Donington Park

He can in fact be beaten. In Race 1 at Donington Park, Nicolo Bulega finally had to submit to teammate Iker Lecuona

David Emmett Wed, 22/Jul/2026 - 08:00

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Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 570: The Best And Worst Of 2026 So Far

David Emmett — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:22:47 +0000

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 570: The Best And Worst Of 2026 So Far

We are at the halfway mark of the 2026 MotoGP season, so Adam, David and Neil go through their highs and lows of the season so far. Who or what has been the biggest surprise of the first 11 races? What has been the biggest disappointment? Which GP was the best of 2026 so far, and which needs to be dropped from the calendar? Which team has performed best in 2026 so far, and what has been the hardest thing to watch in the first half of the season?

Please join our merry band of supporters by signing up to the Paddock Pass Podcast Patreon to get access to our Discord server and a host of exclusive content. Show you are listening to the world's smartest racing podcast by getting your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more from our merch store. Enjoy the show!

David Emmett Tue, 21/Jul/2026 - 14:22

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15 Down, 7 To Go: Keeping Score Of The 2027 MotoGP Rider Contract Announcements

David Emmett — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:24:12 +0000

15 Down, 7 To Go: Keeping Score Of The 2027 MotoGP Rider Contract Announcements

After a quiet week without announcements directly after the Sachsenring, a new wave of press releases has hit journalists' inboxes. Today, it is the turn of Honda Racing Corporation, with HRC announcing that Fabio Quartararo has signed a two-year deal to race in the factory Honda team, and that HRC has signed a multi-year deal with David Alonso, with his team still to be defined, either going directly to the factory squad, or moving to LCR Honda to take the place of Diogo Moreira, who would in that case be promoted to the factory team.

David Emmett Tue, 21/Jul/2026 - 09:24

Manufacturers

People

Fabio Di Giannantonio

Race Series

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Parts 9 & 10: Honda Announce Fabio Quartararo And David Alonso

David Emmett — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:51:43 +0000

Parts 9 & 10: Honda Announce Fabio Quartararo And David Alonso

The final factory line ups for 2027 have been officially filled, though we are still not sure exactly who is going to be racing in the factory Honda HRC team next year. Today, Honda first announced the signing of a multi-year deal (which extends 'beyond 2028' according to Motorsport.com's Oriol Puigdemont) with Aspar CFMOTO sensation David Alonso, then a two-year deal with current Monster Energy Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo.

David Emmett Tue, 21/Jul/2026 - 08:51

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Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 569: Bulega's Run Is Broken At Last

David Emmett — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:27:31 +0000

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 569: Bulega's Run Is Broken At Last

Ducati wrapped up the Manufacturers' title at the UK Round at Donington Park. The season of dominance by the Aruba.it squad also confirmed their Teams' success but as the summer break dawned for WorldSBK, Nicolo Bulega's unbeaten run was halted at last by a stunning win for Iker Lecuona.

Steve and Gordo break down the action from Round 8 of the Superbike World Championship and get you up to date from the WorldSBK paddock.

David Emmett Sun, 19/Jul/2026 - 14:27

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Editor's Blog: A Brief Hiatus After A Busy First Half Of The Season

David Emmett — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:13:56 +0000

Editor's Blog: A Brief Hiatus After A Busy First Half Of The Season

It has been an incredibly busy first half of the year in MotoGP, and a very busy year for me. I traveled to the Sachsenring, the final MotoGP round before the summer break by motorcycle with my wife, and we are slowly wending our way home through Germany. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: an utterly charming and deeply underrated holiday destination, and a great place to ride motorcycles, especially at the leisurely pace my wife and I prefer when traveling together.

David Emmett Thu, 16/Jul/2026 - 09:13

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Thursday MotoGP News Round Up: Bagnaia Has Arm Pump Surgery, Quiles To Moto2 In 2027

David Emmett — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:59:17 +0000

Thursday MotoGP News Round Up: Bagnaia Has Arm Pump Surgery, Quiles To Moto2 In 2027

The summer break is upon us, but there are still one or two small bits of news emerging from the MotoGP paddock. The first was something of a surprise: Ducati announced that after the German GP at the Sachsenring, Pecco Bagnaia underwent arm pump surgery on his right arm. The procedure was a fasciotomy, where they cut open the sheaths encasing the the muscles in the forearm, rather than a more rigorous fasciectomy, where they remove them.

The news is surprising because Bagnaia has never to my recollection complained of arm pump in his time in MotoGP. A reminder that riders are very good at hiding problems and not discussing health issues in public. There are always things going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of.

Bagnaia was not the only rider to have arm pump surgery. Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider Collin Veijer also had arm pump surgery earlier this week.

David Emmett Thu, 16/Jul/2026 - 08:59

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KTM Admits Engine Issues, Asks Other Manufacturers To Allow Them To Change Parts

David Emmett — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

KTM Admits Engine Issues, Asks Other Manufacturers To Allow Them To Change Parts

KTM's reliability problems have been prominent throughout the 2026 MotoGP season. Engines have cut out and stopped working on multiple occasions, with the Austrian factory blaming a range of issues for the problems. A clutch issue for Brad Binder in Barcelona, multiple electronics problems, as well as blown engines.

The most prominent issue was Pedro Acosta's problem during the race in Barcelona, where his engine cut power right in front of Alex Marquez, causing the Gresini Ducati rider to slam into the back of Acosta's KTM causing a huge crash, from which Marquez escaped miraculously without the kind of serious injury we all feared when we saw the crash.

David Emmett Tue, 14/Jul/2026 - 09:00

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