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

Valentino Rossi: ‘I need to be faster for the podium’

18 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: ‘I need to be faster for the podium’

Valentino Rossi might have been happy to have finished fifth quickest in today’s opening MotoGP practice at Phillip Island, but the Italian admits he needs to improve his pace to claim a 14th podium...

New surface propels Lorenzo to record pace in Australia

18 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

New surface propels Lorenzo to record pace in Australia

Jorge Lorenzo drew first blood on a new track surface at the spectacular Phillip Island circuit today, the reigning world champion topping the MotoGP practice timesheets in Australia. The factory...

Nicky Hayden talks ‘special’ Honda return in 2014

17 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden talks ‘special’ Honda return in 2014

Nicky Hayden started his MotoGP career with Honda back in 2003 and it appears the popular American will finish his premier class spell with the Japanese factory after it was confirmed today he will...

No high-risk strategy from Marc Marquez in Australia

17 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

No high-risk strategy from Marc Marquez in Australia

Marc Marquez has admitted he will not adopt a high-risk strategy to try and wrap up an historic first MotoGP world title at the spectacular Phillip Island track in Australia on Sunday. The factory...

Aspar confirms production Honda switch with Nicky Hayden

17 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Aspar confirms production Honda switch with Nicky Hayden

The high profile Spanish-based Aspar squad has confirmed it will ditch Aprilia for 2014 and run Honda’s new production RCV1000R machine for Nicky Hayden and an as yet undisclosed second rider. Aspar...

Lorenzo: Marquez is ‘talented, fast, ambitious and brave’

17 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Lorenzo: Marquez is ‘talented, fast, ambitious and brave’

Jorge Lorenzo has delivered a glowing appraisal of Honda rival Marc Marquez on the eve of the race weekend in Australia that could see the factory Yamaha rider surrender his MotoGP crown. Should...

Pedrosa: Oz victory hopes higher without Stoner

17 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Pedrosa: Oz victory hopes higher without Stoner

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa is confident he can challenge for a first MotoGP success at Phillip Island, with former HRC teammate Casey Stoner’s retirement paving the way for a new winner in...

Jorge Lorenzo aiming to end Phillip Island drought

16 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo aiming to end Phillip Island drought

Jorge Lorenzo might have wrapped up his second MotoGP title success at Phillip Island a year ago, but the Spaniard is hoping he can finally break his premier class victory duck at the spectacular...

Valentino Rossi targets Phillip Island podium

16 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi targets Phillip Island podium

Valentino Rossi is hoping he can notch a first MotoGP podium at Phillip Island since 2010 this weekend after being returned to fourth position behind dominant Spanish trio Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo...

Stefan Bradl hoping to start Phillip Island practice

16 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Stefan Bradl hoping to start Phillip Island practice

German Stefan Bradl intends to start practice for this weekend’s Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island on Friday, less than a week after breaking his right ankle in a crash in Malaysia. The LCR...

Tech 3 ‘surprised’ at Moto2 switch for Sam Lowes

15 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 ‘surprised’ at Moto2 switch for Sam Lowes

Tech 3 Racing boss Herve Poncharal said he was surprised to learn that newly crowned World Supersport Sam Lowes will move to Moto2 in 2014, having been told the British rider’s signature was off...

Casey Stoner to become MotoGP Legend in Phillip Island

15 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner to become MotoGP Legend in Phillip Island

Casey Stoner will become the 20th rider to be awarded the prestigious title of MotoGP Legend during his home race at Phillip Island this weekend. The double MotoGP world champion was nominated as a...

Caterham ready for Moto2 challenge

14 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Caterham ready for Moto2 challenge

The new British-based Caterham Moto2 squad was officially unveiled at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia yesterday (Sunday). The new squad, which will be managed by former 250GP racer Johan Stigefelt,...

Podium eludes Valentino Rossi in Sepang

14 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Podium eludes Valentino Rossi in Sepang

Valentino Rossi had to settle for yet another fourth position in punishing heat at the Sepang track in Malaysia yesterday (Sunday). The Italian was optimistic of a podium challenge after he started...

Marc Marquez chases historic title in Australia

14 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez chases historic title in Australia

Marc Marquez moved a step closer to an historic first MotoGP world title after he took a safe second behind factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa in Sepang yesterday (Sunday). The 20-year-old’s 14th...

Jorge Lorenzo: ‘I’ll fight to the end’

14 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo: ‘I’ll fight to the end’

Jorge Lorenzo’s hopes of successfully defending his MotoGP title in 2013 suffered another big blow in Sepang when he finished third behind dominant Repsol Honda duo Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez. The...

Sepang MotoGP: Pedrosa eases to victory

13 October 2013 by Liam Marsden

Sepang MotoGP: Pedrosa eases to victory

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa bounced back from his Aragon crash to take victory at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The Spaniard got a good start from the second row and didn’t waste his time...

Sepang MotoGP: Rabat takes Moto2 win

13 October 2013 by Liam Marsden

Sepang MotoGP: Rabat takes Moto2 win

Esteve Rabat won the Malaysian Moto2 race after topping every session over the weekend. Rabat took the top step of the podium ahead of his team-mate and championship hopeful Pol Espargaro in second.

Stefan Bradl breaks ankle in unlucky Sepang crash

12 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Stefan Bradl breaks ankle in unlucky Sepang crash

Stefan Bradl will miss tomorrow’s Malaysian MotoGP race at Sepang after he suffered a broken right ankle in an unlucky accident during this afternoon’s fourth practice session. The LCR Honda rider...

Valentino Rossi buoyed by season best qualifying

12 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi buoyed by season best qualifying

Valentino Rossi played down his hopes of claiming a second MotoGP victory of 2013 at the Sepang track in Malaysia tomorrow after the factory Yamaha rider secured a season best grid position. The...

Arm pain no concern for Cal Crutchlow in Sepang

12 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Arm pain no concern for Cal Crutchlow in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow isn’t worried that pain in the right arm he first damaged in a crash strewn home race at Silverstone last month will be a major issue in tomorrow’s Malaysian MotoGP clash. The Monster...

Malaysian Moto2: Rabat takes pole as Redding slumps to 10th

12 October 2013 by Simon Patterson

Malaysian Moto2: Rabat takes pole as Redding slumps to 10th

There were no surprises in Sepang as Tito Rabat rode to a dominant pole position after finishing top of the time sheets in every session for the 600cc class all weekend. The Spanish rider rode to a...

Sepang MotoGP: Marquez takes yet another pole

12 October 2013 by Simon PattersonMalaysian MotoGP: Marquez takes yet another pole

Sepang MotoGP: Marquez takes yet another pole

Rookie sensation Marc Marquez will start the Malaysian Grand Prix from pole position, as the championship leader takes his fourth consecutive and eighth of the season. Running wide on his second fast...

Nicky Hayden shocked at Dall’Igna’s Ducati defection

11 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden shocked at Dall’Igna’s Ducati defection

Nicky Hayden admitted in Malaysia today that Gigi Dall’Igna’s shock defection from Aprilia to Ducati for 2014 had caught him completely by surprise. Dall’Igna initially appeared to reject Ducati’s...

Dovizioso and Hayden unmoved by Gobmeier exit

11 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dovizioso and Hayden unmoved by Gobmeier exit

Factory Desmosedici duo Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden weren’t shedding a tear for departed Ducati MotoGP boss Bernhard Gobmeier when quizzed about the German’s exit in Malaysia today. The former...

Valentino Rossi fears Honda romp in Malaysia

11 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi fears Honda romp in Malaysia

Valentino Rossi fears defeating Honda duo Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa in Sunday’s Malaysian MotoGP clash at Sepang will be a thankless task after the Spanish duo dominated the opening day of...

Crutchlow and Dovizioso eager to work with new Ducati boss

11 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Crutchlow and Dovizioso eager to work with new Ducati boss

Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso have spoke of their excitement and anticipation at the prospect of working with new Ducati MotoGP boss Gigi Dall’Igna in 2014. The Italian’s appointment as the new...

Jorge Lorenzo delivers ironic verdict on Marc Marquez penalty

10 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo delivers ironic verdict on Marc Marquez penalty

Jorge Lorenzo’s reaction to Marc Marquez’s latest punishment might have been delivered with more than a hint of sarcasm, but the reigning world champion’s frustration about his fellow Spaniard’s...

MotoGP Race Director explains Marc Marquez sanction

10 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Race Director explains Marc Marquez sanction

Marc Marquez has been warned to show his MotoGP rivals more respect after his involvement in an incident with Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa at the Motorland Aragon track last month saw him hit...

Aprilia boss moves to Ducati for 2014

10 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Aprilia boss moves to Ducati for 2014

Aprilia boss Gig Dall’Igna will lead Ducati’s effort to stop its disastrous slide in both MotoGP and World Superbikes, having been confirmed as the new boss of Ducati Corse today. In a surprise...

Bradley Smith eager to assess rookie season progress in Sepang

10 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith eager to assess rookie season progress in Sepang

British rider Bradley Smith is eager to understand how much progress he had made in a tough rookie MotoGP campaign when the gruelling flyaway tripe header kicks off in Sepang this weekend. Smith...

HRC introduces rear wheel speed sensor protector in Sepang

10 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

HRC introduces rear wheel speed sensor protector in Sepang

The fallout from Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa’s Motorland Aragon incident has seen every single Honda fitted with a new carbon protector for the rear wheel speed sensor at this weekend’s Sepang race...

Scott Redding backed to cope with title pressure

08 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding backed to cope with title pressure

The pressure of trying to become the first British rider in over 35 years to capture a Grand Prix world title will not overwhelm ice cool Scott Redding. The Marc VDS Racing rider is 20-points clear in...

Brazil given six months to be ready for 2014 MotoGP

08 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Brazil given six months to be ready for 2014 MotoGP

Brazil’s much anticipated return to the MotoGP world championship in 2014 will depend on strict construction deadlines being met months in advance of the planned race in late September. Brasilia has...

Yakhnich confirm Lowes Moto2 move

07 October 2013 by Simon Patterson

Yakhnich confirm Lowes Moto2 move

Sam Lowes will make the move to Moto2 next season for an as-yet unnamed team, according to a statement released by his team hours after the Lincolnshire rider lifted the World Supersport title. In the...

Danny Kent to quit Tech 3 Moto2 squad at the end of 2013

04 October 2013 by Matthew Birt

Danny Kent to quit Tech 3 Moto2 squad at the end of 2013

Just over a month after confirming he will be staying with the Tech 3 Racing squad in 2014, British rider Danny Kent has dropped a bombshell by confirming he will quit the Mistral 610 project at the...