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

Aspar not expecting imminent RCV1000R upgrade

04 April 2014 by Matthew Birt

Aspar not expecting imminent RCV1000R upgrade

Nicky Hayden’s Aspar squad has conceded that its underpowererd new production Honda RCV1000R is unlikely to receive a motor upgrade until the fourth race of 2014 at the earliest. A lack of...

Yamaha boss: Rossi a title contender in 2014

02 April 2014 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss: Rossi a title contender in 2014

Valentino Rossi’s brilliant victory challenge in the season’s opening MotoGP race in Qatar proves that the Italian is a genuine title contender in 2014, according to Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis. The...

Factory bike a must for Scott Redding in 2015

02 April 2014 by Matthew Birt

Factory bike a must for Scott Redding in 2015

Scott Redding must be on a prototype Honda RC213V machine in 2015 to show off his full potential in the MotoGP world championship. That’s the view of his personal manager Michael Bartholemy, who came...

Yamaha explain Open M1 test refusal for Jorge Lorenzo

28 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha explain Open M1 test refusal for Jorge Lorenzo

Yamaha denied Jorge Lorenzo’s pre-season request to test an Open class spec YZR-M1 because it made no sense in letting the Spaniard evaluate a bike they had no intention of him racing. MCN exclusively...

Kevin Schwantz and COTA amicably end dispute

28 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz and COTA amicably end dispute

Kevin Schwantz thought he would need to face the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in a bitter legal fight over promotional rights to the Austin MotoGP round. But after the row was ended amicably, the...

Honda in no rush to upgrade new RCV1000R

27 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda in no rush to upgrade new RCV1000R

Honda will not be rushed into an overhaul of its new production RCV1000R machine, despite pleas from the likes of Nicky Hayden and Scott Redding for more power. Honda’s new Open class bike doesn’t...

GBmoto concludes successful test at Cartagena

25 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

GBmoto concludes successful test at Cartagena

The GBmoto Kawasaki squad of James Ellison and Chris Walker have concluded their first test of 2014 at Cartagena, with the pair running in the team’s new Kawasaki machines ahead of the official MCE...

Qatar MotoGP: Marquez storms to victory

23 March 2014 by Liam Marsden

Qatar MotoGP: Marquez storms to victory

Reigning champion Marc Marquez battled through the pain barrier of a broken leg to take victory at the Losail circuit. The Repsol Honda rider started from pole position and had to battle with Stefan...

Qatar MotoGP: Rabat battles to Moto2 win

23 March 2014 by Liam Marsden

Qatar MotoGP: Rabat battles to Moto2 win

Marc VDS Racing rider Esteve Rabat overcame a poor start from pole position to take victory in his first race with the VDS team. In a repeat of last year Takaaki Nakagami took to the front of the pack...

Qatar MotoGP: Miller takes Moto3 win

23 March 2014 by Liam Marsden

Qatar MotoGP: Miller takes Moto3 win

Red Bull KTM rider Jack Miller capitalised on a late mistake by Alex Marquez to take victory in the opening race of 2014. Miller and Marquez spent most of the race out in front, with Marquez leading...

Qatar MotoGP: Marquez clinches pole position

22 March 2014 by Liam Marsden

Qatar MotoGP: Marquez clinches pole position

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez showed no signs of a broken leg as he set a fastest time of 1’54:507 to take pole position for tomorrow’s opening race. Marquez will be joined on the front row...

Sam Lowes shines in Moto2 qualifying

22 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Sam Lowes shines in Moto2 qualifying

Sam Lowes delivered a dazzling performance under the Losail International Circuit floodlights in Qatar tonight to qualify in fifth position for his Moto2 debut. The reigning World Supersport champion...

Qatar MotoGP: Rabat on Moto2 pole

22 March 2014 by Liam Marsden

Qatar MotoGP: Rabat on Moto2 pole

Kalex rider Esteve Rabat has clinched pole position with a fastest time of 2’00.081 at the Losail circuit – the fastest ever Moto2 lap of the track. World Supersport champion Sam Lowes surprised the...

Qatar MotoGP: Rins takes Moto3 pole

22 March 2014 by Liam Marsden

Qatar MotoGP: Rins takes Moto3 pole

Honda rider Alex Rins will start the opening Moto3 race of 2014 from pole position after setting a fastest lap of 2’05.973. Rins will be joined on the front row by team-mate Alex Marquez and KTM rider...

Smith suffers '500 crash'

21 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Smith suffers '500 crash'

Bradley Smith suffered one of the biggest crashes of his career tonight at the Losail International Circuit, with an old-school 500 era highside spitting him off his Tech 3 Yamaha half way though free...

Qatar MotoGP: Espargaro holds off factory bikes to stay P1

21 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Qatar MotoGP: Espargaro holds off factory bikes to stay P1

Aleix Espargaro was top of the time sheets in yet another mixed up day at Qatar, with the top factory bike of Marc Marquez barely making an impression on the front end of the grid. Espargaro continued...

Qatar Moto2: Cortese fastest as times go slower

21 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Qatar Moto2: Cortese fastest as times go slower

Former world champion Sandro Cortese was the fastest Moto2 of day two, as windy conditions meant many of the top riders in the 600cc class were able to improve on their times from yesterday. Cortese’s...

Qatar Moto3: Fenati fastest again on day two

21 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Qatar Moto3: Fenati fastest again on day two

Romano Fenati has topped yet another session on the Sky Italia VR46 KTM machine at Qatar, finishing 0.061 ahead of the Estrella Galicia Honda due of Alex Rins and Alex Marquez. The Hondas,...

Qatar Moto2: Nakagami fastest with last minute lap

20 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Qatar Moto2: Nakagami fastest with last minute lap

A race to the chequered flag with the fastest Moto2 lap of the day has left Honda Asia rider Takaai Nakagami top of the time sheets after the opening day at Qatar, with the Japanese rider finishing up...

Qatar Moto3: Fenati provisional pole on VR46 debut

20 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Qatar Moto3: Fenati provisional pole on VR46 debut

Romano Fenati has taken the Valentino Rossi Team Sky KTM to the top of the timesheets on day one of the 2014 season at Qatar, finishing 0.022 ahead of Jakub Kornfeil with a late lap only seconds of a...

Qatar MotoGP: Espargaro tops first session of 2014

20 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Qatar MotoGP: Espargaro tops first session of 2014

Aleix Espargaro has capitalised on his knowledge of the Qatar circuit gained from last week’s test absent of the factory riders to finish the first day of the 2014 season top of the timesheets,...

Yamaha thrilled with Movistar title sponsor deal

20 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha thrilled with Movistar title sponsor deal

Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis has spoken of his delight now the Japanese factory has been able to secure a long-term five-year title sponsorship deal with Spanish communications giant Movistar. Jorge Lorenzo...

Alvaro Bautista hoping for podium return in 2014

20 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista hoping for podium return in 2014

Gresini Honda rider Alvaro Bautista is hoping for a return to the MotoGP podium in 2014 after his consistent run of form at the end of last season. In the last 11 races of 2013, the Spaniard only...

Aleix Espargaro plays down extra soft tyre advantage

20 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Aleix Espargaro plays down extra soft tyre advantage

Forward Racing rider Aleix Espargaro has played down the benefit he could get from the use of an extra soft Bridgestone tyre in the new Open class in 2014. The extra soft tyre has been pivotal in...

Yamaha deny Jorge Lorenzo Open test request

19 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha deny Jorge Lorenzo Open test request

Jorge Lorenzo believes he would have a better chance of winning back the premier class crown on Aleix Espargaro’s Open-spec Yamaha YZR-M1. Lorenzo is adamant that the Forward Racing YZR-M1, which can...

Movistar Yamaha colours revealed!

19 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Movistar Yamaha colours revealed!

The Yamaha MotoGP team have unveiled their new livery today at Qatar, with Movistar returning to MotoGP as a title sponsor after a gap of a number of years. The colour scheme is very busy, after...

Pol Espargaro: Hard to beat Smith in 2014

19 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Pol Espargaro: Hard to beat Smith in 2014

Spaniard Pol Espargaro has admitted he faces a tough battle to defeat new Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Bradley Smith in the 2014 MotoGP world championship. Reigning Moto2 world champion Espargaro...

Pedrosa: Open class soft tyre a key advantage

19 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Pedrosa: Open class soft tyre a key advantage

Factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa believes the crucial advantage for the likes of Aleix Espargaro in the new Open category in MotoGP is access to the range of softer compound Bridgestone...

Valentino Rossi delighted with new crew chief

18 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi delighted with new crew chief

When Valentino Rossi rocked the MotoGP paddock in Valencia last November by axing long-serving crew chief Jerry Burgess, many questioned the wisdom of his ruthless decision. Burgess had been at...

Aleix Espargaro aims for ‘dream’ top five in 2014

18 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Aleix Espargaro aims for ‘dream’ top five in 2014

Aleix Espargaro has set his sights on a ‘dream’ top five finish in the MotoGP world championship this season after the Spaniard was the major surprise package of winter testing. Riding the new Forward...

Honda expecting stronger Stefan Bradl in 2014

18 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Honda expecting stronger Stefan Bradl in 2014

Honda is expecting German rider Stefan Bradl to close the gap to dominant Spanish trio Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa in his third MotoGP campaign this year. The former Moto2 world...

Forward Racing expect exposure surge in Open class

18 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Forward Racing expect exposure surge in Open class

Forward Racing boss Giovanni Cuzari believes the new Open class will present his Italian-based squad with a great opportunity to drastically increase its profile in MotoGP. Ever since it joined MotoGP...

Optimistic Valentino Rossi more confident for 2014

17 March 2014 by Valentino Rossi

Optimistic Valentino Rossi more confident for 2014

Valentino Rossi is convinced he will pose a stronger threat to dominant Spanish trio Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa when the new MotoGP campaign kicks off in Qatar this weekend. The...

Tito Rabat plays down Moto2 favourite tag

17 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

Tito Rabat plays down Moto2 favourite tag

Marc VDS Racing’s Tito Rabat has played down suggestions he is the overwhelming pre-season favourite for this year’s Moto2 world championship. With compatriot Pol Espargaro and British rider Scott...

HRC confident Marquez will be close to full fitness in Qatar

17 March 2014 by Matthew Birt

HRC confident Marquez will be close to full fitness in Qatar

Honda is confident reigning world champion Marc Marquez will be close to 100% fitness to begin the defence of his MotoGP crown in Qatar this weekend. The 21-year-old has missed pre-season tests in...

Miller fastest Moto3 on final day; McPhee 6th, Kent 7th

14 March 2014 by Simon Patterson

Miller fastest Moto3 on final day; McPhee 6th, Kent 7th

Jack Miller has taken the top spot on the final day of the 2014 preseason at Jerez, holding off the Estrella Galicia Honda of Alex Marquez by 0.1 to take the top sport with a 1:46.259 lap of the...