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Crutchlow in Qatar

21 March 2011 by Michael Harris

Qatar GP 2011 – Very relaxed, Cal & family met me on their way to the paddock. His dad kindly took the pic!

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner toasts fairytale Honda win

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner marked his factory Honda debut with an outstanding debut victory at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar last night. A 24th MotoGP victory never looked in serious doubt once he...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi struggles to seventh

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi blamed a first corner mistake and a lack of strength in his right shoulder for his failure to finish higher than seventh position in his much-anticipated factory Ducati debut in...

Qatar MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa concerned by arm issue

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa was left to contemplate what might have been as a numb left arm cost him the chance to fight Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner for the win in Qatar last night. Pedrosa faded suddenly...

Qatar MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ecstatic with second

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

You could have been mistaken for thinking Jorge Lorenzo had won the Qatar MotoGP race last night after he claimed a thrilling second place in the floodlit season opener. The factory Yamaha rider...

Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow fights for top ten

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow put up a tremendous fight for a top ten finish in his MotoGP debut at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar last night. The British rider was in close pursuit of the battle for ninth...

Qatar MotoGP: Nightmare start for Scott Redding

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding suffered early disappointment in Qatar when he crashed out of the season opening Moto2 race on only the second lap. The Marc VDS Racing rider was trying to force his way into the top ten...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith claims stunning debut top ten

21 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith produced one of the performances of the first race in Qatar last night after he claimed a brilliant ninth place in his Moto2 debut. The Oxfordshire was as high as fifth in the early...

Qatar MotoGP: Stoner takes first win on Honda

20 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda new boy Casey Stoner topped off a perfect weekend at Qatar by taking victory in the first MotoGP race of 2011. Team-mate Dani Pedrosa got the holeshot, only for Stoner to take the lead...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradl romps to Moto2 victory

20 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

German Stefan Bradl took his second ever victory in Qatar today after dominating from the very first corner. Andrea Iannone finished second after fighting his way through the field due to a poor...

Qatar MotoGP: Terol takes 125GP victory

20 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Nico Terol continued his dominance of the 125GP class by taking victory at the first race in Qatar by over seven seconds. Sandro Cortese took second place ahead of Sergio Gadea on the Blusens...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi waiting for Ducati upgrades

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi said he was looking forward to the introduction of new parts from Ducati after he could only qualify in ninth position for his GP11 debut in Qatar tomorrow night. Rossi finished one...

Qatar MotoGP: Anthony West denied Suzuki chance

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Anthony West was refused permission to ride injured Alvaro Bautista’s factory Suzuki in the opening round of the 2011 MotoGP world championship tomorrow night. With nominated replacement rider...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner surprised at pole position pace

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner proved why he is the overwhelming favourite to kick off the 2011 MotoGP world championship with victory in Qatar tomorrow night after he claimed pole position for the 22-lap season...

Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow faster than Rossi

20 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow produced arguably the performance of the night in Qatar this evening when he qualified in eighth position for his MotoGP debut. The British rider shrugged off the non-stop pain from a...

Qatar MotoGP: Terol dominates to claim 125GP pole

19 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Nico Terol continued his dominant from at Qatar by taking pole position during 125GP qualifying today. It looked like Sandro Cortese would pip Terol to pole position, after dipping under his time by...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradl on pole for Moto2 race

19 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Stefan Bradl will start from pole position in the Moto2 race tomorrow ahead of rookie Marc Marquez. Thomas Luthi, Yuki Takahashi and Jules Cluzel round out the top five. Moto2 newcomer Bradley Smith...

Qatar MotoGP: Stoner starts from pole

19 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner will start the first race of the 2011 season on pole after setting the fastest time during qualifying today. Team-mate Dani Pedrosa was the only other rider who could...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi struggles with shoulder

19 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s bid to fight for a top five on his much anticipated Ducati GP11 debut in Qatar on Sunday night continues to be badly hampered by his injured right shoulder. Nearly a year since he...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner promises more from Honda

19 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has warned his MotoGP rivals that he has not yet unearthed the full potential of the impressive new factory Honda RC212V machine after he continued his domination of the Qatar MotoGP this...

Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow thrilled with progress

19 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow’s injury heroics were rewarded tonight when he finished less than 0.2s away from the top six in the third and final practice session in Qatar. The British rider finished only 12th on the...

Qatar MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista breaks left femur

18 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista suffered a devastating injury blow tonight in Qatar when he broke his left femur following a high-speed crash during tonight’s final practice session at the Losail International...

Qatar MotoGP times: Repsol Honda dominate

18 March 2011 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda dominated the final free practice today (Friday) by taking the top three spots, with man of the moment Casey Stoner posting the fastest time yet again. Team-mates Dani Pedrosa and Andrea...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner continues dominant form

18 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner continued his unrivalled domination of the Qatar MotoGP weekend into a second night this evening, the Aussie comfortably heading the timesheets at the end of second practice at a...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled with Ducati breakthrough

18 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

For the first time in a long time, Valentino Rossi was sporting a beaming smile in the MotoGP paddock tonight. The Italian was ecstatic having enjoyed his most productive 45-minutes to date on board...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner surprised at advantage

17 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner admitted he didn’t expect to have such a commanding advantage after he ended first free practice for Sunday’s Qatar MotoGP race over 0.6s faster than his closest rival. Stoner’s brilliant...

Qatar MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo not worried by Stoner speed

17 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can fight with Casey Stoner for victory in Sunday’s season opening MotoGP in Qatar. The factory Yamaha rider was only seventh quickest in the...

Qatar MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow braves pain for 14th

17 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow rode through the pain barrier in Qatar tonight to finish the opening practice for the season’s first race at the Losail International Circuit in 14th position. Riding in excruciating...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominates first practice

17 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner carried his ominous pre-season form into the new MotoGP world championship season in Qatar tonight, the Aussie topping the timesheets at the end of opening free practice at the Losail...

Honda duo back Japanese MotoGP postponement

16 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Factory Honda duo Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa have supported the decision to postpone the Japanese MotoGP race following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last week. The...

Colin Edwards: Casey Stoner is clear title favourite

16 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner is an overwhelming favourite to win the 2011 MotoGP world championship, according to American Colin Edwards. The Repsol Honda rider has been in ominously fast form throughout the winter...

Valentino Rossi admits struggle to trust shoulder strength

16 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has admitted to MCN that he’s struggling to regain full confidence with the physical capability of his right shoulder following an injury that has dogged the Italian now for nearly a...

Ducati looking to mount stronger challenge in 2011

16 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ducati hope the arrival of Italian icon Valentino Rossi will help the Bologna factory sustain a longer challenge for glory in the 2011 MotoGP world championship. Ducati never really seriously...

Wayne Gardner dismisses Suzuki podium aspirations

16 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has got no chance of ending its long search for a podium in the 2011 MotoGP world championship, according to Wayne Gardner. The Japanese factory hasn’t scored a top three finish since Loris...

Honda excited by Stoner and Pedrosa battle

16 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

Honda bosses reckon the intense internal battle between Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa will provide a fascinating sub-plot during the 2011 MotoGP world championship. The Repsol Honda pair have been is...

Japanese MotoGP date change confirmed

15 March 2011 by Matthew Birt

The 2011 Japanese MotoGP race, originally scheduled to take place on April 24, has been moved to October 2. The FIM has just confirmed the switch, which follows a devastating earthquake and tsunami...