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

Smith takes step forward with bike understanding

30 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Bradley Smith has said that he’s changed his understanding of his Tech3 MotoGP machine over the past few rounds, and that his new ability to work out where he’s weaker means he’s starting the weekend...

Silverstone Moto2: Zarco tops frantic free practice 2

30 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Johann Zarco finished the first day at Silverstone as top of the Moto2 riders, after emerging on top from a frantic final few minutes of the second free practice session for the middleweight...

Video: Bradley Smith on life in MotoGP

30 August 2013 by MCN

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Bradley Smith talks to his sponsor DeWalt about motorcycle racing and his first year in the premier class of motorcycle racing.

Silverstone MotoGP: Lorenzo responds to Marquez in FP2

30 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo has responded to Marc Marquez’s fastest time of the first session at the British Grand Prix, going 0.6 faster than Marquez on his flying lap before controlling the rest of the session,...

Silverstone Moto2: Redding back to the task at hand

30 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Scott Redding, fresh from signing his 2014 move to MotoGP, immediately got back to concentrating on the task at hand at Silverstone, setting the fastest time of the opening Moto2 free practice...

Silverstone MotoGP: Rookie Marquez fires FP1 warning shot

30 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Championship leader Marc Marquez finished his first session at Silverstone on a MotoGP bike as fastest of the grid, outriding his fellow Spaniards to fire an early warning shot ahead of the British...

Hayden suggests return to carbon frame Ducati

29 August 2013 by Simon Patterson

Factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden has suggested that a return to the carbon fibre frame tested by the Italian outfit back in 2011, before it was scrapped at the urging of Valentino Rossi, might be...

Scott Redding excited about MotoGP switch in 2014

29 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of racing Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow in next year’s MotoGP world championship. The British rider’s switch to ride a new...

British GP meetings key to Brazil race future

28 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

A delegation from a proposed new MotoGP project in Brazil will travel to this weekend’s British round at Silverstone for a series of meetings that will be pivotal in deciding whether the South...

Eugene Laverty not ruling out MotoGP switch in 2014

28 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

WSB title contender Eugene Laverty has joined a queue almost as long as the Boxing Day sales in Oxford Street for one of two sought after rides on a Yamaha YZR-M1 engine and chassis package in...

Jorge Lorenzo: Injuries key to 2013 MotoGP title race

28 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo says it is the fact that Marc Marquez has remained injury-free and been able to race at 100% fitness all season that has been pivotal to the Spaniard remaining on course to become the...

Jorge Lorenzo: ‘Pray and be patient’ at Silverstone

27 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo’s grip on the MotoGP world title slipped further in Brno yesterday (Sunday) when the factory Yamaha rider was overpowered by Honda duo Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. The reigning world...

Valentino Rossi unhappy with gap to podium

27 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted improvements must come from himself and Yamaha after he was unable to pose a serious podium threat in yesterday’s Czech Republic MotoGP clash. The Italian finished a distant...

Dani Pedrosa relieved to be back in victory hunt

27 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa might have fallen further behind dominant factory Honda teammate Marc Marquez in the 2013 MotoGP hunt in Brno yesterday (Sunday), but the Spaniard was just relieved to be back in the...

Cal Crutchlow: ‘I had to take risks’

27 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow could not convert his second career MotoGP pole position into a fifth podium of 2013 after the British rider tumbled out of a battle for fourth in Brno on Sunday. The Monster Yamaha Tech...

MotoGP: Marquez makes it four from four in Brno

25 August 2013 by Steve Hunt

Marc Marquez battled to victory in Brno with the Spanish rookie scoring his fourth win in as many races for Honda HRC. It didn’t come easy however and after a blistering start from the lights it was...

Cal Crutchlow savours ‘sweet’ second pole position

25 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow’s reckons his record breaking second MotoGP pole position of 2013 in Brno was sweeter than his milestone first pole in Assen earlier this season. When the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider...

Moto2 Brno: Kallio wins, Redding maintains championship lead

25 August 2013 by Steve Hunt

Mika Kallio took the chequered flag for Marc VDS racing and his first ever Moto2 victory after a tough and uncompromising race in Brno. It was a result that was doubly-celebrated in the Marc VDS...

Rossi and Lorenzo explain poor Brno qualifying

24 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Factory Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have explained their troubles after being easily outgunned by British rider Cal Crutchlow in today’s qualifying session at the Brno track. Rossi will start tomorrow’s 22-lap race from a lowly seventh, the nine-times world champion the slowest Yamaha, with rookie Bradley Smith finishing 0.172s clear to claim the final spot on the second row of...

Bradley Smith thrilled by best ever qualifying

24 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith was thrilled with his best ever MotoGP qualifying performance in Brno this afternoon when the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider finished less than 0.2s away from a maiden front row. Smith’s...

Brno: Pole and lap record for Crutchlow

24 August 2013 by Steve Hunt

Cal Crutchlow took his second pole position of the 2013 season with a track record around the Brno track on his Tech 3 Yamaha and a stunning 1:55.527 in a second qualifying session which came alive in...

Set-up eludes Cal Crutchlow again on Yamaha upgrades

23 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

All year Cal Crutchlow has wanted the same factory spec fuel tank and seat unit that works Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have been racing. But after racing the new parts to fifth in...

Valentino Rossi predicts big Brno battle

23 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is expecting a titanic multi-rider battle for the victory in Sunday’s Brno MotoGP race after a closely contested opening day of practice in the Czech Republic earlier. The top six on...

New chassis joins Rossi and Lorenzo’s Yamaha wish list

23 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha’s engineering staff are coming under increasing pressure from Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo to upgrade its factory YZR-M1 in a bid to fight off the threat posed by rivals Honda. The factory...

Brno MotoGP: Bradl takes provisional pole with late lap

23 August 2013

A late lap from Stefan Bradl in the second of today’s two free practice sessions at Brno was enough to make the German the fastest rider of the day at the Czech circuit, taking the top spot from Jorge...

Cal Crutchlow unsure on new fuel tank future

22 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow could ditch a new fuel tank and seat unit for his home race at Silverstone next weekend after struggling for pace in the latter stages of last weekend’s Indianapolis clash...

Valentino Rossi urges Yamaha to upgrade M1

22 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi doesn’t believe the introduction of a new seamless shift gearbox will suddenly transform his factory YZR-M1 into a package capable of consistently beating the rival Honda RC213V...

Ducati speak to Hayden and Dovizioso after Indy tangle

22 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden has confirmed that Ducati management has spoken to him and factory Desmosedici teammate Andrea Dovizioso about avoiding a repeat of recent tangles for the remainder of the 2013 MotoGP...

Cal Crutchlow's Ducati race debut pencilled in for March 23

21 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow’s Ducati race debut in 2014 is expected to be under the Losail International Circuit floodlights in Qatar on March 23. The season’s opening race will follow three pre-season test...

Stefan Bradl never worried by Cal Crutchlow speculation

21 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Stefan Bradl says he never got nervous that his prized LCR Honda seat would go to Cal Crutchlow for 2014. Crutchlow was linked with an 11th hour switch to Lucio Cecchinello’s squad before the British...

Alex Lowes linked with PBM MotoGP ride

21 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Alex Lowes could be set for a MotoGP switch in 2014, with strong rumours in Indianapolis last weekend that the BSB title contender is close to agreeing a deal to move to Paul Bird’s squad. MCN...

LCR Honda: Cash support needed to run Nicky Hayden in '14

20 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Five years after being unceremoniously dumped by Honda less than 18 months after winning the 2006 MotoGP world championship, Nicky Hayden could be poised to renew his association with the Japanese...

Big interest in Forward Racing Yamaha seats

20 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Forward Racing’s recent deal to lease a Yamaha YZR-M1 engine and chassis package for 2014 has sparked a huge surge in interest from riders keen to secure one of two spots up for grabs. Current riders...

Ducati duo tangle at last corner in Indianapolis

19 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

This is the moment that got home crowd favourite Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso hauled before Race Direction after the factory Ducati duo tangled at the final corner in Indianapolis. Battling for...

Jorge Lorenzo disappointed to lose second in Indy

19 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo admitted victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway might have been an impossible task given the red-hot form of world championship leader Marc Marquez, but the reigning champion...

New parts create set-up issue for Cal Crutchlow

19 August 2013 by Matthew Birt

A new Yamaha fuel tank and seat unit that Cal Crutchlow raced for the first time in Indianapolis yesterday reversed the British rider’s strong points after he finished in fifth position. Crutchlow has...