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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

Jorge Lorenzo completes further shoulder surgery

13 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo completes further shoulder surgery

Jorge Lorenzo has undergone a second major operation on his left shoulder in 15 days after a vicious Sachsenring high-side yesterday (Friday) ruled the reigning world champion out of the German MotoGP...

German Moto2: Xavier Simeon takes surprise pole

13 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

German Moto2: Xavier Simeon takes surprise pole

Xavier Simeon was the surprise pole man for tomorrow’s Moto2 race in Germany after a late lap gave him the first spot ahead of second front row surprise Jordi Torres and title contender Pol...

Andrea Dovizioso wrecks new Ducati chassis

13 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso wrecks new Ducati chassis

This is Andrea Dovizioso’s high-speed crash in Germany (yesterday) that wrecked Ducati’s hopes of getting priceless date and information on a brand new GP13 chassis. The Italian tested the new frame...

German MotoGP: Marquez takes pole at crashfest Sachsenring

13 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

German MotoGP: Marquez takes pole at crashfest Sachsenring

Marc Marquez is on pole for tomorrow’s German Grand prix, after a weekend of big crashes has led to a much-depleted grid for the race. Championship favourites Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa both sat...

Germany Moto3: Rins takes pole as Salom goes pop

13 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

Germany Moto3: Rins takes pole as Salom goes pop

Alex Rins will start tomorrow’s German moto3 race from pole position, after championship leader Luis Salom’s Red Bull KTM exploded during hsi fastest run of the session. Salom’s fastest lap of free...

Title defence difficult but not impossible for Lorenzo

12 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Title defence difficult but not impossible for Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi has admitted the chances of factory Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo successfully defending his MotoGP world title in 2013 will be difficult after the Spaniard’s latest injury nightmare...

Cal Crutchlow escapes serious injury after two fast practice crashes

12 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow escapes serious injury after two fast practice crashes

Cal Crutchlow’s bid for a fourth MotoGP podium of 2013 got off to a painful and tough start in Germany today after the British rider was left battered and bruised after two heavy practice...

Photos sequence: Jorge Lorenzo ruled out of Sachsenring race

12 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Photos sequence: Jorge Lorenzo ruled out of Sachsenring race

This is the spectacular high-side crash during practice at the Sachsenring earlier today that has dealt Jorge Lorenzo’s hopes of capturing a third successive MotoGP crown a massive blow. The Spaniard,...

German MotoGP: Lorenzo crashes, bends plate in shoulder

12 July 2013 by Simon Patterson

German MotoGP: Lorenzo crashes, bends plate in shoulder

World champion Jorge Lorenzo crashed heavily today out of the second free practice session for the German Grand prix at Sachsenring, having set the fastest time of the day in the opening...

Scott Redding closing on Gresini Honda MotoGP deal?

12 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding closing on Gresini Honda MotoGP deal?

Scott Redding is on the brink of signing a deal to move to MotoGP with Fausto Gresini’s Honda squad in 2014. The agreement would see the rising British star, who is currently leading the Moto2 world...

Valentino Rossi eager to continue Assen revival

11 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi eager to continue Assen revival

Valentino Rossi is eager to understand if the winning form he re-discovered in the recent Assen MotoGP clash carries on into this weekend’s German round at the tight and twisty Sachsenring. The...

Nicky Hayden: MotoGP or WSB in 2014?

11 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden: MotoGP or WSB in 2014?

Nicky Hayden’s priority might be to secure a factory prototype ride for the 2014 MotoGP campaign, but the popular American is currently weighing up potential options in World Superbikes. The 2006...

Improving wrist injury boosts Bradley Smith

11 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Improving wrist injury boosts Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith is confident his recovering left wrist will not be a major problem during this weekend’s German MotoGP round at the tight and twisty Sachsenring track. A broken scaphoid bone in his left...

Should Cal Crutchlow take a Ducati MotoGP seat if it's offered?

10 July 2013 by MCN

Should Cal Crutchlow take a Ducati MotoGP seat if it's offered?

Cal Crutchlow’s chances of a Yamaha factory ride seem to have all but disappeared, so should he take a gamble on the Ducati if he gets the chance? pollcomment

No factory Yamaha future for Cal Crutchlow

10 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

No factory Yamaha future for Cal Crutchlow

Cal Crutchlow’s ambitions to be a factory Yamaha rider in MotoGP in the future appear to have all but vanished, with the Japanese factory reluctant to guarantee him a works YZR-M1 in 2015. The British...

Cal Crutchlow predicts ‘great racing’ at new Argentina track

09 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow predicts ‘great racing’ at new Argentina track

Cal Crutchlow believes the new Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo track in Argentina will deliver great racing for fans when the South American venue joins the MotoGP calendar in 2014. Crutchlow was part...

Decision day looming for Scott Redding

09 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Decision day looming for Scott Redding

Scott Redding will agree a MotoGP deal for 2014 after this weekend’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. That’s the easy part. Where and what he will be riding is a decision the 20-year-old will...

Rossi and Crutchlow success boosts Silverstone MotoGP sales

08 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Rossi and Crutchlow success boosts Silverstone MotoGP sales

Valentino Rossi’s stunning return to winning ways and Cal Crutchlow’s record-breaking exploits in the recent Assen MotoGP race have triggered a boost in sales for the forthcoming British round at...

LCR admit MotoGP expansion plan likely to be delayed

08 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

LCR admit MotoGP expansion plan likely to be delayed

An expansion plan by the LCR Honda squad to a two-rider effort next year seems certain to be delayed until the 2015 MotoGP campaign. Before the start of the current season Italian team boss Lucio...

Scott Redding rides historic Kevin Schwantz Suzuki 500

08 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding rides historic Kevin Schwantz Suzuki 500

A typical Sunday afternoon on two wheels for Scott Redding is fighting for victories in the Moto2 world championship or having a play on his supermoto bike. Last Sunday was anything but typical for...

Yamaha hoping for more wins from Valentino Rossi

05 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha hoping for more wins from Valentino Rossi

Yamaha hopes that Valentino Rossi’s long-awaited return to winning form in Assen last weekend is the catalyst for the Italian legend to claim more victories in the 2014 MotoGP world...

Poncharal: Crutchlow sure to be tempted by Ducati move

05 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Poncharal: Crutchlow sure to be tempted by Ducati move

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal might be desperate to keep Cal Crutchlow for 2014 but admits the British rider could be seriously tempted to switch to Ducati’s factory squad. Crutchlow has...

Honda power for Colin Edwards in 2014?

04 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Honda power for Colin Edwards in 2014?

Colin Edwards could be poised to renew his association with Honda in 2014. The veteran Texan hasn’t ridden a Honda since he rode for Fausto Gresini’s MotoGP squad in 2004 and his previous association...

Dorna boss: Cal Crutchlow pivotal for MotoGP

04 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dorna boss: Cal Crutchlow pivotal for MotoGP

MotoGP Cal Crutchlow has become such an integral figure in the MotoGP world championship that Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta is working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure the British rider has the...

Shane Byrne not ruling out MotoGP switch in 2014

03 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Shane Byrne not ruling out MotoGP switch in 2014

Triple British Superbike champion Shane Byrne is refusing to rule out a shock return to MotoGP in 2014. The 36-year-old, who last raced in the premier class back in 2005, was strongly linked with a...

Dutch TT Dashboard

02 July 2013 by MCN

Dutch TT Dashboard

With the Hondas suffering in Holland and Lorenzo set back by injury, it was the return of the King at Assen as Valentino Rossi took his first win in two years. See how it’s affected the championship.

Suzuki on Crutchlow, Rossi and Redding

02 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki on Crutchlow, Rossi and Redding

Before Suzuki’s recent decision to delay its MotoGP return until 2015, rumour was rife about who would be riding its new 1000cc machine in 2014 and beyond. British rider Cal Crutchlow was rumoured to...

HRC poised to take up option on Stefan Bradl for 2014

02 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

HRC poised to take up option on Stefan Bradl for 2014

Honda is poised to invoke an option in Stefan Bradl’s contract that will see the German remain with the LCR Honda squad for 2014. After an impressive rookie campaign in MotoGP last year, Bradl was...

Bradley Smith eager to rest recovering wrist

01 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

A career best qualifying performance and a fifth successive top 10 finish of 2013 in Assen last weekend didn’t come as comfortably as British rider Bradley Smith might have hoped. Surgery after finishing in a career best sixth in Barcelona to insert a screw in a fractured scaphoid bone in his left wrist didn’t alleviate the pain and discomfort as much as he’d anticipated. Continuing to struggle...

No Laguna Seca return for Ben Spies

01 July 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies will not be returning from a serious shoulder injury in his forthcoming home race at Laguna Seca after his Ignite Ducati squad announced Alex de Angelis will ride his GP13 machine in the California clash. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro will continue to deputise for the Texan at the next race in Germany, but the Italian is unavailable for the Laguna Seca race on July 21 because of a...

Valentino Rossi ranks Assen win as one of best ever

30 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi ranks Assen win as one of best ever

Valentino Rossi ranked his 80th MotoGP victory in an enthralling Assen race yesterday (Saturday) as one of the best of his career after he rolled back the years to win for the first time since...

Rivals hail Jorge Lorenzo’s bravery and skill

30 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Rivals hail Jorge Lorenzo’s bravery and skill

Valentino Rossi reckons the superhuman efforts of factory Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo meant the reigning world champion was the real hero of a thrilling Assen MotoGP race in Holland yesterday...

Dani Pedrosa rues missed opportunity in Assen

30 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa rues missed opportunity in Assen

If the MotoGP world title continues to elude Dani Pedrosa at the end of 2013, the Spaniard might well look back on yesterday’s Assen race as a game changing moment. With main title rival Jorge Lorenzo...

Mixed feelings for Cal Crutchlow after Assen podium

30 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Mixed feelings for Cal Crutchlow after Assen podium

Delighted to have secured a third MotoGP podium of 2013 but disappointed not to have pushed Valentino Rossi for the win in yesterday’s Dutch TT, Cal Crutchlow left Assen with mixed feelings. Starting...

Scott Redding happy despite last lap defeat

30 June 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding happy despite last lap defeat

Scott Redding refused to be too downbeat after he saw a third Moto2 victory of the season slip from his grasp on the final lap of a pulsating scrap with main world title rival Pol Espargaro in Assen...

Assen MotoGP: Rossi takes dominant win

29 June 2013 by Liam Marsden

Assen MotoGP: Rossi takes dominant win

Valentino Rossi took his 80th premier class win with a dominant performance at Assen today onboard the factory Yamaha. The victory marks Rossi’s first win since the Malaysian grand prix in...