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

Honda unlikely to sell all production machines for 2014

26 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda has admitted as many of two of its new production RC213V racers could go unsold for the 2014 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese factory had made available five production versions of its factory RC213V prototypes at a cost of between £800,000 and £1m for next season but presently only one order has been placed by Fausto Gresini’s Italian-based squad. That bike has been strongly linked...

Ducati: No time to replace Andrea Iannone at Laguna Seca

26 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ducati has explained why it knocked back the chance to give John Hopkins a shock chance to return to MotoGP action during last weekend’s US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. Former BSB runner-up Hopkins was one of numerous candidates considered by the Pramac Ducati squad to replace injured Italian rookie Andrea Iannone, who was forced to withdraw from the American round after dislocating his right...

Aspar torn between Aprilia and Honda for 2014 MotoGP season

24 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Spain’s high-profile Aspar MotoGP squad is torn over its future premier class plans, with options to remain as Aprilia’s number one outfit or buy Honda’s new production RC213V racer on the table. The...

Andrea Iannone: Too risky to race in Laguna Seca

24 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Iannone could have wrecked his rookie MotoGP campaign had he gambled on riding in Laguna Seca last weekend just a week after dislocating his right shoulder. The Italian damaged his right...

Exclusive: Casey Stoner to test factory Honda in Japan

22 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Double world champion Casey Stoner will make a dramatic return to MotoGP action next month when he tests a factory Honda RC213V at the Twin Ring Motegi track in Japan, MCN can reveal. The outspoken...

Rossi expected more errors from rookie Marquez

22 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi believed 2013 MotoGP rookie sensation Marc Marquez would have made more mistakes at the start of his premier class career after the Spaniard claimed a stunning victory on his Laguna...

Title thoughts creeping in for Marc Marquez

22 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Laguna Seca MotoGP winner Marc Marquez has admitted he has started to think about the prospect of becoming the first rookie to win the premier class title since American legend Kenny Roberts in...

Cal Crutchlow reflects on worst finish for 12 months

22 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow saw his hopes of becoming the first British rider since Barry Sheene in 1982 to collect three consecutive MotoGP podiums end in disappointment at the US Grand Prix. The...

Engine failure ends Bradley Smith’s top 10 run

22 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

An undiagnosed engine failure robbed British rookie Bradley Smith of the chance to notch a seventh successive top 10 finish in the 2013 MotoGP campaign at Laguna Seca yesterday (Sunday). Smith was...

MotoGP Laguna Seca: Marquez secures audacious victory

21 July 2013 by Steve Hunt

With three, unfamiliar Hondas on the front row at Laguna Seca, it took superb reactions from the lights by Rossi to separate them with a blistering start. Stefan Bradl, showing no sign of rookie,...

WSBK/WSS: Remainder of Moscow races cancelled due to accident.

21 July 2013 by Steve Hunt

The remaining races for the weekend at the Moscow Raceway have been cancelled due to a tragic accident involving Go Elevent Supersport rider, Andrea Antonelli. The Italian rider fell on the final straight of the first lap of the World Supersport race – ran in severely wet conditions – and was unavoidably struck by Lorenzo Zanetti as he fell. Although there has been – as of yet – no official...

Stefan Bradl snatches last gasp Laguna Seca pole

21 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

LCR Honda rider Stefan Bradl stormed to a career first MotoGP pole position in dramatic fashion at Laguna Seca this afternoon after a late crash denied Marc Marquez top spot in qualifying. Bradl’s...

Ben Spies ready to return in Indianapolis

20 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has confirmed he will attempt to put a nightmare 10-month injury spell behind him when he returns to MotoGP action at the legendary Indianapolis track in mid-August. Spies has only raced...

Yamaha: No pressure on Jorge Lorenzo to race in Laguna Seca

20 July 2013 by Matthew BIrt

Injury ravaged reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo did not decide to make a surprise return to MotoGP action in Laguna Seca because he was under pressure from Yamaha to remain in the 2013 title...

Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa focus on damage limitation

20 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa both admitted that their primary focus for tomorrow’s US MotoGP round at Laguna Seca is to avoid crashing to collect as many vital world championship points as possible. Factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo was an impressive sixth quickest in practice yesterday and only 0.427s off the best pace on his surprise return from injury. Lorenzo emerged in California from a...

Nicky Hayden: Marquez favourite for Laguna win

20 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nobody knows better than Nicky Hayden what it takes to win at Laguna Seca and the American has already installed track newcomer Marc Marquez as favourite for Sunday’s US MotoGP victory. The Spaniard...

Laguna MotoGP practice

20 July 2013 by reestyboy

I just spent the afternoon of Friday practice at Laguna Seca on the pit wall. Igot chatting to Dec Crutchlow – what a true gent, and it was really good of him to explain to us how the timing screens work – all whilst he was doing Cal’s pit board. We were also taken into the Ducati garage by Paulo Ciabatti – another genuinely nice guy! Thanks for making our day guys – I just can’t wait to get back...

Colin Edwards unsure of MotoGP future

19 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

American veteran Colin Edwards admits he is unsure if he will still be racing in MotoGP in 2014. The Texan’s Forward Racing squad will lease Yamaha YZR-M1 engines for next season but there has been no...

Cal Crutchlow nearing future decision

19 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow is nearing making a final decision on his 2014 MotoGP plans, with the British rider’s future dominating paddock gossip once again in Laguna Seca. The 27-year-old is likely to make a...

Nicky Hayden pondering options after confirming Ducati departure

19 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden fears his MotoGP career could be coming to an end after the American confirmed on the eve of his home race at Laguna Seca that he wouldn’t be having his factory Ducati renewed for...

German MotoGP dashboard

17 July 2013 by MCN

With major title contenders Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa highsiding themselves out of contention it was left to the rookie, the King and the satelitte rider to make ground at the top of the...

Where would you like to see Nicky Hayden next?

17 July 2013 by MCN

With Nicky Hayden’s future in the factory Ducati squad seemingly non-existent the 2006 MotoGP champion may have to move classes. But where? pollcomment

Lorenzo heads to Laguna

17 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo has confirmed on twitter that he will travel to Laguna Seca for the next round of the MotoGP world championship. The reigning world champion was in doubt after two operations in two...

HRC boss: Laguna challenge no problem for Marc Marquez

16 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

The fact that Marc Marquez will have never ridden anything bigger than a scooter around the Laguna Seca track when he begins the first MotoGP practice session on Friday morning will not pose any...

Nicky Hayden told no factory Ducati ride in 2014

16 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden will not be offered a new factory Ducati contract for 2014. The universally popular American was told by Ducati during last weekend’s German MotoGP round at the Sachsenring’s of the...

Scott Redding unfazed by shrinking title advantage

16 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

British rider Scott Redding says he is not overly concerned at seeing a big Moto2 world championship advantage cut to just 23-points after he struggled to a season worst result of seventh in Germany...

Cal Crutchlow not upset to miss out on maiden win

15 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow may still be seeking to end Britain’s 32-year winless run in the MotoGP world championship but denied he had missed a golden chance to claim a first premier win in Germany yesterday...

Forward Racing sign Yamaha engine deal?

15 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

The Italian-based Forward Racing squad is understood to have clinched a deal to lease YZR-M1 engines from Yamaha for the 2014 MotoGP world championship. The final deadline for confirming orders with...

Marquez, Crutchlow and Rossi talk 2013 title race

15 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

A dramatic German MotoGP weekend blew the 2013 world championship wide open with rookie Marc Marquez’s fourth straight win at the Sachsenring moving him to the top of the points standings. Marquez...

Jorge Lorenzo to race in Laguna Seca?

15 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Injury-ravaged Jorge Lorenzo might have ruled himself out of competing in this weekend’s Laguna Seca MotoGP round, but Yamaha has left the door open for the reigning world champion to return in...

German MotoGP: Marquez scorches to win

14 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

Marc Marquez has scorched to victory in Germany, taking the win easily despite a late challenge from Cal Crutchlow. Valentino Rossi led off the line, although Stefan Bradl was able to squeeze past on...

German Moto2: Torres takes surprise victory

14 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

Jordi Torres was the unexpected winner of today’s Moto2 race at the Saschenring, in a race that was unhelpful to the fortunes of the leading championship contenders. Torres was part of an early four...

German Moto3: Rins makes it a double with German win

14 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

Texan Moto3 winner Alex Rins has added to his total by taking victory today in Germany to consolidate his hold on third in the championship, ahead of main rivals Luis Salom and Maverick Viñales. Rins...

Dani Pedrosa ruled out of German MotoGP race

14 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

A vicious high-side crash in yesterday morning’s third practice session at the Sachsenring has ruled Dani Pedrosa out of this afternoon’s German MotoGP round. The Spaniard suffered a small fracture in...

Jorge Lorenzo withdraws from Laguna Seca MotoGP race

14 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has confirmed that he will not compete in the forthcoming Laguna Seca MotoGP clash in California to give himself as much time as possible to make a full recovery from an injury-ravaged...

Dani Pedrosa unsure of Sachsenring start

13 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Dani Pedrosa remains a doubt for tomorrow’s German MotoGP round at the Sachsenring after he suffered a sickening high-side crash in this morning’s third free practice...