MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks - ... that there are some weekends he would rather forget

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 556: Bulega Victory March Continues At Most

David Emmett — Thu, 21 May 2026 20:05:32 +0000

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 556: Bulega Victory March Continues At Most

Nicolo Bulega cleaned up at Most in the Czech Republic, but he did not get it all his own way this time. Iker Lecuona gets closer to beating his Aruba.it Ducati teammate every round, pushing Bulega to the last lap in Race 2. Steve and Gordo talk through what happened at Most, the ups and the downs, and ask if Bulega will finally be challenged.

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 Thu, 21/May/2026 - 20:05

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2026 Misano WorldSBK Test Day 2 Times: Bulega Within A Tenth Of Pole Record

David Emmett — Thu, 21 May 2026 19:15:02 +0000

2026 Misano WorldSBK Test Day 2 Times: Bulega Within A Tenth Of Pole Record

The WorldSBK domination of the 2026 Ducati Panigale V4R, and the domination by Nicolo Bulega in particular continued at the two-day Misano test. The 2025 WorldSBK runner up and current championship leader was four tenths faster than his Aruba.it Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona, and just a tenth shy of his pole record at the Misano World Circuit.

Bulega led a Ducati onslaught at Misano. Lecuona was second fastest, a tenth of a second quicker than Yari Montella on the Barni Ducati. Montella had been testing a Suter swingarm on Wednesday, dropping it for the standard item on Thursday.

David Emmett Thu, 21/May/2026 - 19:15

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Barcelona MotoGP Tire Pressures - Why Did Five Riders Get Penalties?

David Emmett — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Barcelona MotoGP Tire Pressures - Why Did Five Riders Get Penalties?

Amid all the chaos and carnage of the Barcelona round of MotoGP, adding insult to injury was the fact that of the seventeen finishers, six were investigated for being under the minimum tire pressure. Though Pecco Bagnaia was eventually cleared - his wheel rim was found to be leaking, though at what rate we do not know - Toprak Razgatlioglu, Raul Fernandez, Joan Mir, Alex Rins, and Jack Miller were all handed a 16-second penalty.

For Razgatlioglu, Fernandez, Rins, and Miller, the penalties did not make a vast amount of difference. Rins dropped from eleventh to fourteenth, Miller from fourteenth, Razgatlioglu dropped out of the points from fifteenth to sixteenth, and Raul Fernandez had already lost so much time in his collision with Jorge Martin on the opening lap of the third attempt to start the race that he was already out of the points.

David Emmett Thu, 21/May/2026 - 09:00

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2026 Misano WorldSBK Test Day 1 Times: Bulega Leads Ducati Onslaught

David Emmett — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:07:29 +0000

2026 Misano WorldSBK Test Day 1 Times: Bulega Leads Ducati Onslaught

Just a few days after the Czech round of WorldSBK has finished, the Superbike grid is back in action, this time at Misano. Under perfect conditions for a change - hot and sunny, instead of the rain that has plagued pretty much all of preseason testing - the Ducatis once again stamped their authority on proceedings.

David Emmett Wed, 20/May/2026 - 17:07

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LCR Honda Press Release: Johann Zarco Undergoes Evaluation On Injured Knee

Press Release — Tue, 19 May 2026 11:46:05 +0000

LCR Honda Press Release: Johann Zarco Undergoes Evaluation On Injured Knee

The LCR Honda team issued the following press release with an update on Johann Zarco's knee that was injured in the Turn 1 crash at Barcelona:

Johann Zarco: update after knee assessment in Lyon

Press Release Tue, 19/May/2026 - 11:46

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Barcelona MotoGP Test: What Was Each Factory Testing At The Last Ever 1000cc MotoGP Test?

David Emmett — Mon, 18 May 2026 22:55:29 +0000

Barcelona MotoGP Test: What Was Each Factory Testing At The Last Ever 1000cc MotoGP Test?

The final official test of the 1000cc era was something of a damp squib. Literally: the rain held off until around 1pm, at which point it became torrential, chasing everyone into the pits, and eventually out of the paddock and off toward Mugello for the following round. There was not all that much to test, as the manufacturers shift their focus to the 850cc machines they will contest the 2027 MotoGP championship on under new technical regulations.

The Barcelona MotoGP test was also the last test of 2026 that will be held in public. The switch of tire suppliers from Michelin to Pirelli creates an awkward situation commercially. Michelin are paying a lot of money for the privilege of being official tire supplier to MotoGP, and don't want another tire manufacturer stealing their thunder.

David Emmett Mon, 18/May/2026 - 22:55

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2026 Barcelona MotoGP Test Final Times: Acosta Fastest, Afternoon A Washout

David Emmett — Mon, 18 May 2026 13:59:16 +0000

2026 Barcelona MotoGP Test Final Times: Acosta Fastest, Afternoon A Washout

The rain we had been expecting came to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya around 1pm, bringing proceedings to an early close, to the relief of most of the riders. There was not a great deal to test in this last official test of the 1000cc MotoGP machines, as the factories start to switch focus to the 850cc machines they are building for the 2027 regulations.

David Emmett Mon, 18/May/2026 - 13:59

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Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 555: MotoGP Walked The Tightrope In Barcelona

David Emmett — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:22:39 +0000

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 555: MotoGP Walked The Tightrope In Barcelona

MotoGP got very lucky in Barcelona. Two horrific crashes saw Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco hospitalized, but it looked like it could have been so much worse. It all overshadowed a brave and considered ride by Fabio Di Giannantonio to take a double-edged victory. Neil, Adam and David talk through the crashes, the restarts, what happened to Pedro Acosta's bike, why the first corner pile-up happened, and much more from Barcelona.

David Emmett Mon, 18/May/2026 - 07:22

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Barcelona MotoGP Sunday Round Up: A Harsh Reminder That Motorsports Are Dangerous

David Emmett — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:33:53 +0000

Barcelona MotoGP Sunday Round Up: A Harsh Reminder That Motorsports Are Dangerous

"I will not talk today about the race because I think it's not really important today," Pedro Acosta said. Even though both Alex Márquez and Johann Zarco came away from Barcelona with just - "just" - serious injuries, it is hard to think about what in other circumstances would have been an entertaining race. But the fact is, Alex Márquez was extremely lucky to come away with his life - saved in part by his own skill and ability - and Johann Zarco was not far off meeting the same fate.

On Sunday evening, after an afternoon that seemed to go on forever, Luca Marini managed to express to Italian and English-speaking journalists how a lot of us felt. "Bikes are dangerous," the Honda HRC Castrol rider said. "We're all here ready to risk our lives every corner, every lap. Unfortunately, it's part of our sport, and also its beauty, so if that feeling reaches the fans, I think it gains even more value."

David Emmett Mon, 18/May/2026 - 00:33

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2026 Motomutterers Standings After Round 6, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

spongedaddy — Sun, 17 May 2026 18:07:32 +0000

2026 Motomutterers Standings After Round 6, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

1. LeeroyJenkins - 569	M. Mar - 57	M. Bez - 142	A. Mar - 67	J. Mar - 127	P. Aco - 92	A. Mar - 67	D. Mor - 17
2. onsight512 - 556	M. Bez - 142	M. Mar - 57	A. Mar - 67	J. Mar - 127	P. Aco - 92	A. Mar - 67	T. Raz - 4
3. SG_moto - 556	M. Mar - 57	M. Bez - 142	J. Mar - 127	A. Mar - 67	P. Aco - 92

spongedaddy Sun, 17/May/2026 - 18:07

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