Qatar MotoGP 2016

No more testing, the 2016 MotoGP championship finally gets underway at the 3.3 mile floodlit Losail circuit, with all signs pointing towards reigning champ Jorge Lorenzo as the man to beat.

The factory Yamaha rider set an incredible 11 laps under the lap records over the winter, while his team-mate and rival Valentino Rossi only managed one.

Will Marquez finally click with the new Honda, control ECU and Michelin tyres, or will he just be an occasional annoyance for the title contenders? And let's not forget th surprise of winter testing - wunderkid Maverick Vinales, who pushed Lorenzo all the way in testing in just his second year on the Suzuki.

Year: ALL

Bradley Smith boosted by engine braking improvements

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith put a tough Catalunya GP weekend behind him today when the British rider set the second fastest time during a post race test session in Spain. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider raised his...

Rossi and Lorenzo test 2015 Yamaha motor

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo got their first chance to test a 2015-spec factory Yamaha engine during today’s post race test session at the Catalunya track near Barcelona. Next year’s motor was...

Andrea Dovizioso: Difficult to analyse Suzuki performance

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso says it is too difficult to assess the performance potential of Suzuki’s new 1000cc project after today’s one-day post race test at the Catalunya track in Spain. The Italian has been...

Cal Crutchlow: 'I'm still motivated'

16 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow reckons his motivation has not suffered a massive jolt after a nightmare start to his Ducati career. The British rider retired with an electronics issue in yesterday’s thrilling...

Catalunya MotoGP: Magnificent seven for Marquez

15 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Marc Marquez continued his amazing start to the 2014 season, picking up his seventh win from seven races at the Catalunya circuit today under stormy skies. Marquez had to fight hard for victory as the...

Catalunya Moto2: Rabat cruises to victory

15 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Rabat extended his Moto2 championship lead with a dominant victory at Catalunya today. The Spaniard started from pole position and after early challenges from team-mate Mika Kallio and Maverick...

Catalunya Moto3: Marquez eases to victory

15 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Spaniard Alex Marquez secured his second Moto3 victory in dominant fashion after his team-mate was forced to retire. Alex Rins led the early stages of the race by a comfortable margin before he was...

Catalunya Moto2: Rabat takes home pole

14 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Moto2 championship leader Esteve Rabat will start from pole position at his home race ahead of team-mate Mika Kallio and Moto2 rookie Maverick Vinales. 2012 Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese will head the...

Catalunya MotoGP: Pedrosa takes surprise pole

14 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa claimed a surprise pole position ahead of tomorrow’s MotoGP race at the Catalunya circuit. Pedrosa’s pole position breaks team-mate Marc Marquez’s run of six previous...

Catalunya MotoGP: Marquez takes pole

14 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Estrella Galicia Honda rider Alex Marquez will start tomorrow’s Moto3 race at the Catalunya circuit from pole position after setting a best time of 1:50.232. The Spaniard will be joined on the front...

Tech 3 hoping to keep Pol Espargaro in 2015

10 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal is hoping Jorge Lorenzo inks a new factory Yamaha deal, so he can keep reigning Moto2 world champion Pol Espargaro in 2015. Should a shock switch to Ducati or Suzuki...

Jack Miller set for Moto2 move with Marc VDS?

10 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Rising Aussie star Jack Miller is on the brink of clinching a Moto2 move to the high profile Marc VDS Racing squad for 2015. MCN understands the current Moto3 world championship leader, who crashed...

MotoGP decision looming for Marc VDS Racing

09 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Marc VDS Racing– one of the highest profile teams outside of MotoGP – could be thwarted in its bid to move to the premier class in 2015. The Belgian-based squad, which has dominated Moto2 this season with Tito Rabat and Mika Kallio, has again launched ambitious plans to move into MotoGP after a failed attempt last season. Marc VDS boss Michael Bartholemy has already entered lengthy negotiations...

Honda: No regrets losing Jack Miller to KTM

09 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda has denied it was a major mistake not keeping Aussie sensation Jack Miller in its Moto3 stable for 2014. Miller impressed on an underpowered FTR-Honda last season but moved to join the high profile Red Bull KTM squad before HRC confirmed it was upping its effort in Moto3 with a completely revamped machine. Miller has already established himself as one of the brightest future prospects in...

MotoGP riders to test revised Sachsenring layout next month

05 June 2014 by Mattew Birt

A select group of top MotoGP riders will take part in a special pre-race test in the Sachsenring next month to assess whether the German venue’s jaw-dropping Turn 11 needs modifying for 2015. The...

Ducati: Essential to keep Andrea Dovizioso in 2015

05 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna reckons it is essential to keep Andrea Dovizioso on a Desmosedici machine in 2015. The Bologna factory is facing stiff competition from Suzuki for the experienced Italian’s...

Freddie Spencer marvels at Marquez talent

04 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

American legend Freddie Spencer says he is not surprised to see Marc Marquez continue his record-breaking exploits in MotoGP, with the Spaniard unbeaten so far in six races in 2014. Marquez smashed...

Bradley Smith not concerned by recent slump

04 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has denied the pressure is building on the British rider after his early crash out of last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider made a brilliant...

Nicky Hayden has successful wrist surgery

03 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has undergone successful surgery on the long-running right wrist injury that forced the American to withdraw from last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. Hayden has been plagued...

Ducati starts work on 2015 Desmosedici

03 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Ducati has started working on the radical revamp of its Desmosedici machine it hopes will finally end a winless run stretching back to the end of 2010. That’s the good news for British rider Cal...

Marquez and Rossi to assess Michelin tyres in Valencia’s November test?

03 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and the rest of the MotoGP grid are likely to get their first opportunity to evaluate Michelin’s new 2016-spec tyres in Valencia in November. Michelin will take over from...

Michelin contact Colin Edwards about testing role

03 June 2014 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has moved a step closer to playing a pivotal role in development of Michelin’s new MotoGP tyres in 2016. Michelin bosses made initial contact with the American last Friday in Mugello and...

Mugello MotoGP: Marquez knocks Lorenzo for six

01 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Marc Marquez was forced to fight hard with fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo to make it six wins from six races in 2014 at Mugello. Lorenzo and Marquez moved to the front of the pack early on in the race...

Mugello Moto2: Rabat victorious

01 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

After a slow start Marc VDS rider Esteve Rabat fought back to extend his championship lead with his third victory of the season at Mugello. German Jonas Folger, who led for most of the race was unable...

Mugello Moto3: Fenati battles to home win

01 June 2014 by Liam Marsden

Italian Romano Fenati has taken victory in the Moto3 race at his home circuit after a breath taking race long scrap which saw just one tenth of a second cover the top three across the line. The Sky...

Mugello Moto2: Rabat on pole, Lowes second

31 May 2014 by Liam Marsden

Championship leader Esteve Rabat will start from pole position in tomorrow’s Moto2 race, ahead of Moto2 rookie Sam Lowes. The Brit was less than two tenths slower than Espargaro as he set a time of...

Mugello MotoGP: Marquez romps to pole

31 May 2014 by Liam Marsden

Marc Marquez continues to break records, setting the fastest time in Qualifying 1 at Mugello to take his sixth pole position from six races in 2014. The reigning champion set a best time of...

Melanie Sykes leaves BTSport

30 May 2014 by Liam Marsden

BTSport has officially announced that presenter Mel Sykes is no longer part of the MotoGP team. Craig Doyle, presenter for ITV4’s Isle of Man TT coverage and BTSport’s MotoGP Tonight programme, will...

Marco Simoncelli honoured as MotoGP legend

30 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli, the rising star of MotoGP who tragically lost his life in a racing accident at Sepang in 2011, has been inducted as a MotoGP Legend on the opening day of this weekend’s Italian Grand...

Marc Marquez unaware of rival interest for 2015

27 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez reckons he knew nothing about potential interest from Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki for 2015. As was widely expected, the Spaniard penned a new two-year HRC contract just before the recent...

Extra soft tyres unlikely in MotoGP in 2016

27 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Special tyres like the extra soft rear option currently available to Open class riders are likely to be binned when Michelin takes over from Bridgestone as official tyre supplier in MotoGP in 2016. In...

Michelin clinches MotoGP tyre deal

23 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Michelin will take over from Bridgestone as the official tyre supplier for the MotoGP world championship in 2016. The French brand was the only one to submit a tender for the exclusive contract by...

Cal Crutchlow happy with bigger brake disc move

23 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow has supported a move to give all MotoGP riders the option of running bigger brake discs from next weekend’s Italian round in Mugello onwards. The Grand Prix Commission announced...

Suzuki insist Randy de Puniet still candidate for 2015 ride

23 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Randy de Puniet is still a leading candidate for one of the two sought after factory Suzuki seats in 2015. The Frenchman has been Suzuki’s permanent test rider for more than a year and he quit...

Honda contemplating RCV1000R revamp for 2015

23 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda has conceded it might have to radically change its new production Honda RCV1000R package to make it appealing for potential customers in 2015. The RCV1000R is Honda’s Open class project,...

Honda eager to give MotoGP chance to Jonathan Rea

22 May 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda will push to find a MotoGP spot in 2015 for current World Superbike championship leader Jonathan Rea. The Ten Kate Honda rider has rocketed into the points lead in WSB after three successive...