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Assen MotoGP Preview: Weathering The Heat At One Of The World's Great Racetracks

David Emmett — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:52:18 +0000

Assen MotoGP Preview: Weathering The Heat At One Of The World's Great Racetracks

There are very few motorcycle races which have been going long enough to make a significant dent in history. The Isle of Man TT and the Dutch TT at Assen are the only two I can think of. While the Isle of Man TT is older - the first running of that iconic race was in 1907 - the Dutch TT is unique. For it is the only race which will have not one, but two centenary editions.

The 2025 Dutch TT marked 100 years since the first running of the race. But that edition of the Dutch TT, run by the motorcycle club "Assen en Omstreken" (Assen and surrounding area), took place on closed roads between the villages of Rolde, Borger, Schoonlo and Grollo.

The event was a success, but because the mayor of Borger, where the race started, didn't want to pave some of the sand roads the circuit used, and widen a narrow bridge, the organizers moved the race in 1926 to the villages just southwest of Assen, starting in De Haar, going north through Barteldsbocht, then south to Hooghalen, west to Laaghalen and Laaghalerveen, before heading back north again to De Haar. Turn 1 at Assen is still called De Haarbocht, after the village.

David Emmett Wed, 24/Jun/2026 - 15:52

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6 Down, 16 To Go: Keeping Score Of The 2027 MotoGP Rider Contract Announcements

David Emmett — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:26:12 +0000

6 Down, 16 To Go: Keeping Score Of The 2027 MotoGP Rider Contract Announcements

The first of the official MotoGP signings has just dropped after the MSMA announcement embargo got lifted. The disagreement between the manufacturers, gathered in the MSMA, and MSEG, the promoters of the sport, meant that all of the contract announcements got put on hold, despite the fact contracts continued to be signed, or in many cases, were already signed.

David Emmett Wed, 24/Jun/2026 - 12:26

Manufacturers

People

Race Series

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Part 2: Ducati Confirms Signing Of Pedro Acosta Through 2028

David Emmett — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:13:43 +0000

Part 2: Ducati Confirms Signing Of Pedro Acosta Through 2028

The announcement of Pecco Bagnaia's departure from Ducati opened the way for the Italian factory to the announce the arrival of Pedro Acosta from KTM. The Spaniard has signed a two-year deal to partner Marc Marquez in the factory Ducati team, and is without doubt the rider Ducati see as their future once Marquez retires.

The announcement from Ducati was not a surprise, but the lack of a departure press release from KTM was slightly unusual. Organizing the timing and sequence of these releases is immensely complicated, with so many riders swapping teams and factories, which may explain it.

Below is the press release from Ducati about Acosta's signing:

Pedro Acosta will be Marc Márquez's new teammate. Agreement with the Ducati Lenovo Team until 2028

Among the most talented riders in the MotoGP nursery, the Spaniard will race with Ducati in the 2027 and 2028 seasons

David Emmett Wed, 24/Jun/2026 - 12:13

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Ducati Confirms Pecco Bagnaia Leaving At End Of 2026 Season

David Emmett — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:07:37 +0000

Ducati Confirms Pecco Bagnaia Leaving At End Of 2026 Season

The next shoe has dropped. After Ducati confirmed they had signed a two-year deal with Marc Marquez, today they have announced that Pecco Bagnaia will be leaving the Borgo Panigale factory at the end of this season.

What has not yet been officially announced is where Bagnaia is going, but that announcement has to wait for a press statement from Aprilia that Jorge Martin is leaving. This press release is the first step in a three-step process which paves the way for Ducati announcing Pedro Acosta at the factory Ducati team, to partner Marc Marquez. But first, we will see a press release from KTM thanking Acosta for his service at KTM.

With so many riders changing teams and factories, coordinating all of the announcements is a very tricky and sensitive process.

David Emmett Wed, 24/Jun/2026 - 10:07

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Brno MotoGP Post-Race Round Up: A Moment Of Madness, A Masterful Marquez, And Ogura Shows His Potential

David Emmett — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:45:16 +0000

Brno MotoGP Post-Race Round Up: A Moment Of Madness, A Masterful Marquez, And Ogura Shows His Potential

There is a huge amount going on in MotoGP this week. The first private test of the Pirellis at Brno on Monday, with official riders on the 2027 850cc prototypes. A test which happened behind closed doors, with no electronic timing, and team members sent to stand trackside all day with stopwatches.

At the weekend, the announcement that the MSMA had signed their contract with MSEG for the next five years, bringing to an end a stand off which had lasted almost a year. And which is about to unleash a veritable tidal wave of official rider contract announcements, starting today. If you thought the first announcement would be anyone other than Marc Márquez, you were wrong.

Then there's the usual practicalities of attending a race: packing up in Brno, driving down to Vienna, catching a flight to Amsterdam, taking a train home. An announcement about grid spacing, the removal of front holeshot devices, and factories being allowed a maximum of 6 bikes from 2028. In between, recording a podcast. It is all immensely time consuming.

David Emmett Tue, 23/Jun/2026 - 21:45

Marc Marquez Confirmed In Ducati Factory Team For 2027 and 2028

David Emmett — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:37:37 +0000

Marc Marquez Confirmed In Ducati Factory Team For 2027 and 2028

With the factories and MotoGP having reached agreement over their contract for the next five years, the unofficial embargo on announcing rider signings has been lifted, and a tidal wave of contract announcements has been unleashed. First up is of course the reigning champion: as was widely known, Marc Marquez has signed on with Ducati for a further two season, and will race in the factory team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Though Marquez' renewal was never in doubt, there had been a brief moment of doubt as to whether it would be a one-year or a two-year deal. Marquez wanted to test his shoulder racing before committing to a two-year deal. But after the first race at Buriram, Marquez had understood that he was going to recover sufficiently to be competitive. As the last couple of races have demonstrated.

David Emmett Tue, 23/Jun/2026 - 07:37

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Pirelli Press Release:

Press Release — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:30:30 +0000

Pirelli Press Release:

After today's private tire test at Brno, at which a number of riders tested the Pirelli tires on the 850cc bikes which will be used from the 2027 MotoGP season, Pirelli issued the following press release:

PRESS RELEASE

Press Release Mon, 22/Jun/2026 - 17:30

Grand Prix Commission: Front Holeshot Devices Banned, Grid Changes From Sachsenring, 6 Bikes Per Manufactuer

David Emmett — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:19:15 +0000

Grand Prix Commission: Front Holeshot Devices Banned, Grid Changes From Sachsenring, 6 Bikes Per Manufactuer

MotoGP is getting a head start on the 850cc era, and attempting to make the starts a little safer. Today, the FIM issued abpress release announcing that the Grand Prix Commission, MotoGP's rule-making body, has decided to ban front holeshot devices starting from the Dutch TT at Assen, increase the spacing between the grid rows from the German GP at the Sachsenring, and to limit MotoGP manufacturers to a maximum of six bikes from the 2028 season.

David Emmett Mon, 22/Jun/2026 - 15:19

Pirelli Tire Test Underway At Brno - New Bikes, No Times

David Emmett — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:10:34 +0000

Pirelli Tire Test Underway At Brno - New Bikes, No Times

MotoGP is entering a new era today, but sadly for the fans, it is all happening behind closed doors. At Brno, 12 MotoGP riders are circulating on the 850cc MotoGP bikes which will be used in the 2027 season, using the 2027 tires. But because MotoGP still has a contract with Michelin as official tire supplier for the 2026 season, the test is happening behind closed door, as bike are riding around on development versions of the Pirelli tires to be used in 2027.

MotoGP has attempted to lock down the test as much as possible: only a limited number of team members are permitted, and permanent pass holders have to have a special pass to enter the circuit. Teams have been restricted to one official photographer and a videographer, with a strict embargo on using material collected before the end of 2026.

David Emmett Mon, 22/Jun/2026 - 11:10

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Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 565: Marc Marquez Cashes In On Marco Bezzecchi's MIstake

David Emmett — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:48:28 +0000

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 565: Marc Marquez Cashes In On Marco Bezzecchi's MIstake

Marco Bezzecchi's moment of madness may turn out to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 MotoGP championship. In a few seconds, with panic and terror descending after he found himself sliding through the gravel, crashing out of the sprint race, Bezzecchi ran over to his bike and slapped a marshal as he tried to recover Bezzecchi's bike, accidentally revving it up. That earned Bezzecchi a trip to the stewards and a ban from Sunday's Czech GP.

David Emmett Mon, 22/Jun/2026 - 06:48

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