gp Articles
News
Watch Marc Marquez's stunning first lap at Motegi
"Marquez is very, very special," writes reader Robin. "His daring passes after fluffing the start at Motegi needs to be seen to be believed. This is similar to that infamous clip of Schwantz at Hockenheim." ""I made a huge mistake on the start —it was ...
15 October 2012
News
A letter from Soichiro
On March 20, 1954, Soichiro Honda addressed this letter to all employees of his motor company. In it, he announces his intention, for the first time, to go racing. It’s a moment in time. It’s history being made. It’s the world changing. Totally and forever. It’s also a call to action, asking his company to be inspired by his actions into elevating Japanese industry to new levels. It reads...
29 December 2011
Retro: 1975 Suzuki RG500 XR14
In 1975, this motorcycle, the 7th Suzuki RG500 XR14 ever made, was imported into New Zealand where it was raced by a privateer team. That moment was a historical milestone because it was the first time a top-tier GP machine was made available to non-factory teams. This XR14 is identical to the one Barry Sheene would ride to World Championships in 1976 and 1977. Suzuki employed rotary disc valve ...
07 October 2011
News
Two-stroke racing ends in 2012
It's the weekend for confirming things we all know at the Czech Grand Prix. Before Valentino Rossi announces he is moving to Ducati next year, FIM have confirmed their own news-that's-not-really-news-at-all and announced 2011 will be the last season of two-stroke racing, with the 125 class being replaced by Moto3 from 2012. The Moto3 bikes will use a single cylinder 250cc four-stroke engine with ...
14 August 2010
News
The 250GP racer of the future?
HFL reader and Art Center College of Design student Jeremy D'Ambrosio envisions GP racing evolving in a different direction than the current close-to-production direction or at least a class situated below Moto2 that could remain two-stroke. The leading arm front suspension on these concepts certainly differs from current racing practice and production norms, as do the tubular aluminum cradle fram...
19 November 2009
News
KTM quits GP racing
KTM has announced that it will not field a factory team for the 2010 125GP season, effectively ending its involvement in GP racing. KTM will continue to participate in the Red Bull Rookie's cup, largely because those machines require no further development and are largely funded by sale of energy drinks made from extract of bovine testicle. The money saved by quitting 125GP will be redirected to c...
05 October 2009