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

Tech 3: Equal treatment for Smith and Espargaro in 2014

06 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Pol Espargaro will not get any preferential treatment over Bradley Smith at Yamaha in 2014. The Spanish Moto2 world title contender will replace Cal Crutchlow in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad next year but he will be contracted directly with Yamaha in Japan. That will not get him a higher spec YZR-M1 1000cc machine than Smith though and his bike won’t be any closer to the factory bikes that will...

Tech 3 ‘positive’ after Sam Lowes Moto2 talks

05 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 ‘positive’ after Sam Lowes Moto2 talks

Sam Lowes has kicked off serious talks about a Moto2 switch that could see him form an all-British Tech 3 line-up with Danny Kent in 2014. Lowes, who extended his World Supersport lead in Germany last...

Yamaha backs Pol Espargaro for MotoGP success

05 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha backs Pol Espargaro for MotoGP success

Yamaha has backed Pol Espargaro to emerge as a top MotoGP rider in the future after signing the Spaniard on a two-year factory contract. Espargaro is currently locked in a battle for the Moto2 world...

Aprilia bike revamp keeps Aspar for 2014

05 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Aprilia bike revamp keeps Aspar for 2014

Aprilia has kept its link with the high-profile Aspar squad after vowing to give its ART 1000cc MotoGP bike a radical makeover for 2014. Torn between continuing with Aprilia or switching to campaign...

John Hopkins plotting racing return in 2014

04 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins plotting racing return in 2014

John Hopkins is plotting a return to racing in 2014 in a bid to end an injury-ravaged spell that threatened to end his career. The American is currently taking a year out of racing after undergoing...

HRC: Less pressure on Redding racing new production bike

04 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

HRC: Less pressure on Redding racing new production bike

Honda believes Scott Redding’s deal to race the Japanese factory’s new production RCV1000R in 2014 will put the rising British star under much less pressure and scrutiny in his rookie MotoGP...

Tech 3 expecting big step from Danny Kent in 2014

04 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 expecting big step from Danny Kent in 2014

Danny Kent has the potential to challenge for race wins in the ultra-competitive Moto2 world championship in 2014. That’s the view of Tech 3 Racing boss Herve Poncharal after the British teenager...

Yamaha full of admiration for ‘extraordinary’ Marc Marquez

04 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha full of admiration for ‘extraordinary’ Marc Marquez

Yamaha has hailed the stunning performances of rookie sensation and new Honda foe Marc Marquez as ‘extraordinary’ in 2013. Many expected the reigning Moto2 world champion to spend as much time in the...

Marc VDS boss explains why no MotoGP switch in 2014

03 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc VDS boss explains why no MotoGP switch in 2014

Scott Redding’s Marc VDS Racing squad would have been willing to move to MotoGP with the British rider next season if the Belgian-based team could have secured the lease of a factory prototype from...

Michael Laverty expected better in first British GP

03 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Michael Laverty expected better in first British GP

Michael Laverty started and finished his first British MotoGP race in 19th position, the PBM rider admitting that he’d anticipated being closer to challenging for a points scoring finish in front of a...

Soft tyre choice backfires for Bradley Smith

03 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Soft tyre choice backfires for Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith’s first MotoGP race on home soil at Silverstone proved to be a frustrating affair after he ended the 20-lap clash down in ninth position. The 22-year-old blamed his decision to race...

Cal Crutchlow to undergo arm injury assessment

03 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow to undergo arm injury assessment

Cal Crutchlow flew back to his Isle of Man base last night to undergo checks on the right arm he damaged in the first of three big crashes during his home round at Silverstone last weekend. The...

Valentino Rossi's biggest little fan

03 September 2013 by Louise Quin

Valentino Rossi's biggest little fan

Here are some pictures of our little boy Wright aged 4 months at Silverstone MotoGP. He got lots of attention in his little Rossi Baby Grow. So many people commented on how cute he looked, including...

Dani Pedrosa in Brno

02 September 2013 by Adam Wilkinson

Dani Pedrosa in Brno

Me and Dani Pedrosa Sunday night in Brno. He was eating in the Hotel we were staying at and kindly agreed to have his photo taken.

Cal Crutchlow crestfallen after Silverstone struggle

02 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow crestfallen after Silverstone struggle

Three big crashes and a lonely and frustrating ride to seventh ensured Cal Crutchlow endured another instantly forgettable British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone. Hopes of a first British podium on...

Valentino Rossi bemoans early speed at Silverstone

02 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi bemoans early speed at Silverstone

It was a case of too little, too late again for nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi at Silverstone yesterday (Sunday) after the Italian finished in fourth position for the third consecutive...

Foggy: Fingers crossed Scott Redding can clinch Moto2 title

02 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Foggy: Fingers crossed Scott Redding can clinch Moto2 title

One of Scott Redding’s biggest fans believes the rising British star can go onto clinch the 2013 Moto2 world title after his stunning home victory at Silverstone yesterday (Sunday). The 20-year-old...

Scott Redding revels in ‘amazing’ home win at Silverstone

02 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding revels in ‘amazing’ home win at Silverstone

Scott Redding thrilled a record home crowd at Silverstone yesterday (Sunday) with a stunning victory that put him firmly back in control of the Moto2 world championship chase. The Gloucestershire...

Marc VDS Racing jubilant after Scott Redding’s home win

02 September 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc VDS Racing jubilant after Scott Redding’s home win

Scott Redding’s Marc VDS Racing boss Michael Bartholemy admitted watching the highly rated British rider win his home Moto2 round at Silverstone (yesterday) was one of the most nerve-wracking races...

Silverstone 200: Ellison romps to race two victory

01 September 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone 200: Ellison romps to race two victory

Milwaukee Yamaha rider James Ellison made his second win in the Silverstone 200 look as easy as the first, taking the lead at the start and stretching it to over thirteen seconds at the chequered flag...

Silverstone Moto3: Salom takes win in epic battle

01 September 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone Moto3: Salom takes win in epic battle

Luis Salom has taken an epic win in the Moto3 race at Silverstone, after a four-way battle that lasted from the lights went out to the chequered flag. With the lead swapping on almost every lap, any...

Silverstone MotoGP: Lorenzo takes win despite Marquez's best efforts

01 September 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone MotoGP: Lorenzo takes win despite Marquez's best efforts

Jorge Lorenzo has taken an emphatic win today at Silverstone to break Marc Marquez’s win streak, despite the best efforts of the rookie and one of the most exciting last laps of the season so...

Silverstone Moto2: Redding takes home win!

01 September 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone Moto2: Redding takes home win!

Scott Redding has taken the win in front of his home fans at Silverstone, dominating for most of the Moto2 race despite a mistake at two thirds distance that forced him to fight for the race at the...

Silverstone MotoGP: Marquez dislocates shoulder in warmup

01 September 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone MotoGP: Marquez dislocates shoulder in warmup

Championship leader and winner of the past four races, Marc Marquez, has crashed out of morning warmup at Silverstone, dislocating his collarbone and potentially leaving him unfit to defend his win...

Marquez admits Lorenzo remains favourite

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Marquez admits Lorenzo remains favourite

Marc Marquez has said that although he was 0.2 faster today in qualifying, Jorge Lorenzo should still be the favourite for the race due to his blisteringly fast race pace. The Spanish rookie, who has...

Crutchlow: A podium will be difficult

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Crutchlow: A podium will be difficult

Cal Crutchlow has said that it will be difficult for him to finish on the podium at his home Grand Prix tomorrow, after not one but two fast crashes today left the Coventry rider both injured and...

Valentino Rossi: Marquez is best rookie ever

31 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: Marquez is best rookie ever

Valentino Rossi added to an already long list of plaudits for MotoGP sensation Marc Marquez when the Italian legend hailed the Repsol Honda rider as the best rookie he has ever seen. Marquez continued...

Silverstone Moto2: Nakagami denied Redding pole by only 0.04

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone Moto2: Nakagami denied Redding pole by only 0.04

Takaai Nakagami will start tomorrow’s Moto2 race at Silverstone from pole position, having denied Scott Redding a home pole by only 0.039 seconds. Nakagami led for most of the session, despite a brief...

Silverstone MotoGP: Marquez decimates lap record for pole

31 August 2013

Silverstone MotoGP: Marquez decimates lap record for pole

Marc Marquez has decimated the outright lap record at Silverstone in order to beat fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo back to second on the grid for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix. Lorenzo led the session...

Silverstone MotoGP: Smith dominates Q1 to move forward

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone MotoGP: Smith dominates Q1 to move forward

Bradley Smith dominated the Qualifying 1 field to move himself forwards to Q2, finishing the session a second clear of second placed Colin Edwards, who will also go through to Q2. Smith, who was...

Silverstone Moto3: Vinales takes pole with ease

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone Moto3: Vinales takes pole with ease

Maverick Vinales has taken his first pole position since Le Mans back in May, rounding out a trio of P1 finishes this weekend at Silverstone. He beat championship rival Alex Rins by 0.192, blowing...

Silverstone Moto2: Zarco fastest but Redding closing

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone Moto2: Zarco fastest but Redding closing

Johann Zarco has contented his form of yesterday to maintain his lead in the Moto2 class at Silverstone ahead of qualifying, although he was forced to push to lap record pace to beat local hero Scott...

Silverstone MotoGP: Marquez fastest as Crutchlow crashes twice

31 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone MotoGP: Marquez fastest as Crutchlow crashes twice

Marc Marquez again topped the time sheets in free practice three at Silverstone, but the story of the session was two big crashes for local hopeful Cal Crutchlow. Crutchlow crashed early in the...

Silverstone Red Bull Rookies: At least one Brit on front row start with Ray P2

30 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Silverstone Red Bull Rookies: At least one Brit on front row start with Ray P2

At least one British rider will start his home race from the front row of the grid, with Bradley Ray regaining some of his early season form to qualify second for tomorrow and Sunday’s Red Bull...

Valentino Rossi buries Ducati demons at Silverstone

30 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi buries Ducati demons at Silverstone

Silverstone has never been a happy hunting ground for Valentino Rossi. He missed the return to the historic British venue in 2010 with a badly broken right leg suffered in Mugello and then in 2011 and...

Cal Crutchlow stung into action at Silverstone

30 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow stung into action at Silverstone

Cal Crutchlow’s bid for success in Sunday’s British Grand Prix got off to a difficult start at Silverstone today. The 27-year-old is bidding to become the first British rider to score a premier class...