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

MotoE: Energica's electric revolution

04 April 2019 by Jon Urry

MotoE: Energica's electric revolution

This year sees the introduction of the electric MotoE series within selected rounds of the MotoGP calendar – and providing they can get through the rest of the year without burning the paddock to the...

MotoGP: Honda highlight rule loopholes with spoiler device

29 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Honda highlight rule loopholes with spoiler device

Honda have apparently succeeded in their goal of highlighting the loopholes in MotoGP’s rule books by submitting their own version of Ducati’s spoiler for approval by technical control – having the...

MotoGP: Marquez cruises to Argentina victory

29 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez cruises to Argentina victory

Marc Marquez has cruised to victory in the Argentine Grand Prix, converting his blistering practice pace into race pace and taking the win at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit by well over ten seconds.

Moto2: Two from two for Baldassarri

29 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Two from two for Baldassarri

Lorenzo Baldassarri has made it two wins from two races in the 2019 Moto2 season, backing up his Qatar Grand Prix win with victory in today’s Argentine Grand Prix. He held off the advances of Remy...

Moto3: Debut win for Masia after fierce scrap

29 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Debut win for Masia after fierce scrap

Pole position sitter Jaume Masia has taken his debut victory in the Moto3 class at the Argentine Grand Prix, not making life easy for himself after dropping back in the early stages to outside the top...

Video: Golfing with Lowes and McPhee

29 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Video: Golfing with Lowes and McPhee

Ahead of this weekend’s Argentine Grand Prix, Moto2 and Moto3 riders Sam Lowes and John McPhee joined some of their rivals for a round of golf as part of MotoGP’s pre-event promotional work. We tagged...

MotoGP: Marquez expecting Honda to copy Ducati spoiler

28 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez expecting Honda to copy Ducati spoiler

Marc Marquez has admitted that he expects his Honda team (and other manufacturers on the MotoGP grid) to try out their own version of Ducati’s new swing arm-mounted spoiler device sooner rather than...

MotoGP: Suzuki boss Brivio says Ducati protest ‘good for the sport’

28 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Suzuki boss Brivio says Ducati protest ‘good for the sport’

Suzuki MotoGP boss Davide Brivio has told MCN exclusively that he hopes that the process of lodging an appeal against Ducati’s new under-bike spoiler after the Qatar Grand Prix will be good for the...

MotoGP: Court of appeal reject protests against Ducati spoiler

21 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Court of appeal reject protests against Ducati spoiler

The FIM Court of Appeal have ruled that Ducati’s spoiler device, trialled in the opening round of the 2019 MotoGP season, is legal – despite protests filed by Aprilia, Honda, Suzuki and KTM in the...

MotoE: Energica address fire risks of electric bikes

20 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoE: Energica address fire risks of electric bikes

MotoE one-make manufacturer Energica have moved to address consumers fears in the wake of last week’s disastrous fire in the series’ paddock in Jerez, explaining the limited risks of fire that come...

MotoE: Short circuit suspected as cause of Jerez fire

14 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoE: Short circuit suspected as cause of Jerez fire

MotoE bosses have confirmed initial reports that a short circuit in one of their charging units appears to have been responsible for the devastating fire that destroyed the entire 2019 grid on...

MotoGP: Qatar result to be decided in court?

11 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Qatar result to be decided in court?

Andrea Dovizioso will have a wait before he can properly celebrate Sunday’s race win in the opening MotoGP race of 2019, after protests from Ducati’s opposition after the race saw the result referred...

Moto2: ‘No better start’ for returning Luthi

11 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: ‘No better start’ for returning Luthi

Returning Moto2 rider Tom Luthi says that his first race back in the class after an ill-fated season in MotoGP couldn’t have gone better, after the Swiss rider was able to hunt down race winner...

MotoGP: Marquez’s race ‘exactly like last year’

11 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez’s race ‘exactly like last year’

Marc Marquez says this year’s Qatar Grand Prix brought back memories of last year’s duel for him, after he got beaten for the second year in a row in a last corner duel with Andrea Dovizioso. But...

MotoGP: Dovi beats Marquez as Crutchlow returns in third

10 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi beats Marquez as Crutchlow returns in third

Andrea Dovizioso has taken another last corner race win over Marc Marquez to kick start the 2019 MotoGP season, winning against his rival from last season at the Qatar Grand Prix. Brit Cal Crutchlow...

Moto2: Baldassarri victorious in first Triumph-powered race

10 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Baldassarri victorious in first Triumph-powered race

Lorenzo Baldassarri has taken the first victory of Moto2’s new Triumph-powered era, winning a thrilling race at the Qatar Grand Prix to just about hold off the advances of Tom Luthi on the line.

Moto3: Toba takes debut victory in first race of 2019

10 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Toba takes debut victory in first race of 2019

Honda Team Asia rider Kaito Toba has taken his first ever Grand Prix victory in the opening Moto3 race of 2019, managing the race perfectly at the Losail circuit to win the Qatar Grand Prix. Setting...

MotoGP: Viñales starts in front for opening race of 2019

09 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales starts in front for opening race of 2019

Maverick Viñales will start the opening MotoGP race of 2019 from the front of the grid tomorrow, after setting an impressive lap time in tricky conditions to take pole position for tomorrow’s Qatar...

Moto2: Schrotter takes debut pole in new format

09 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Schrotter takes debut pole in new format

Marcel Schrotter has taken his debut pole position for tomorrow’s Qatar Grand Prix after 158 attempts, edging out Xavi Vierge and Lorenzo Baldassarri for the top spot as Moto2 took to the track for...

Moto3: Canet gives Biaggi pole on team debut

09 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canet gives Biaggi pole on team debut

Aron Canet has given Max Biaggi’s new Max Racing Team the first pole position of the 2019 Moto3 season on their debut, taking the top spot at the Losail circuit for tomorrow’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Moto2: Triumph to present special trophy for first race

09 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Triumph to present special trophy for first race

Triumph will present a special trophy to the winner of Sunday’s opening race of the 2019 Moto2 season at the Qatar Grand Prix, as they make their debut as the exclusive engine supplier for the...

MotoGP: Quest signs two-year deal for free to air highlights

09 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Quest signs two-year deal for free to air highlights

Eurosport subsidiary channel Quest have signed a two-year deal to being free to air highlights of the 2019 and 2020 MotoGP seasons to British television, starting with this weekend’s opening round at...

MotoGP: Marquez smashes lap record in first night of practice

08 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez smashes lap record in first night of practice

Marc Marquez has smashed the lap record at the Losail circuit on the opening night of practice for the first round of the 2019 MotoGP season, going nearly half a second under Johann Zarco’s old record...

Moto2: Baldassarri tops day one of Triumph era

08 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Baldassarri tops day one of Triumph era

Lorenzo Baldassarri has topped the opening day of Moto2’s Triumph era at the Losail circuit in Qatar, ending the first day of British power in the intermediate series a quarter of a second faster than...

Moto3: Canet from Fenati on first day of action

08 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canet from Fenati on first day of action

Aron Canet has topped the first day of Moto3 action of 2019, ending up over half a second clear of pre-race favourite Romano Fenati after the day’s two sessions. Niccolo Antonelli, the first crasher...

Moto2: Qualifying changes in support classes for 2019

08 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Qualifying changes in support classes for 2019

The 2019 Moto2 and Moto3 classes will see a big change in format, with the two support series moving to mimic MotoGP’s two-part sessions. The move comes after repeated complaints about dangerous...

Gallery: Grand Prix racing class of 2019 assembles for photos

07 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Gallery: Grand Prix racing class of 2019 assembles for photos

The 2019 Grand Prix racing grids assembled for their official ‘back to school’ photos ahead of the season kicking off properly tomorrow at the Qatar Grand Prix. Lining up at the Losail circuit for...

Video: Preseason chat with Cal Crutchlow

07 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Video: Preseason chat with Cal Crutchlow

With the 2019 MotoGP season only hours away, the LCR Honda squad have sat down with British racer Cal Crutchlow to preview the upcoming season. Talking about the road back to full recovery after...

Moto2: Lowes on a high ahead of opening round

07 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes on a high ahead of opening round

Sam Lowes goes into this weekend’s first round of the 2019 Moto2 season brimming with confidence, with blistering pace in the final preseason test and topping the three-day outing at the Losail...

Moto2: Dixon unveils Angel Nieto KTM's new Qatari sponsor

06 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Dixon unveils Angel Nieto KTM's new Qatari sponsor

Jake Dixon has pulled the covers off his new Sama Investments-backed Angel Nieto KTM machine ahead of this weekend’s opening round of the 2019 Moto2 championship, with the Qatari investment fund...

MotoGP: Rossi ‘able to understand many things’ on Friday

06 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi ‘able to understand many things’ on Friday

Valentino Rossi says he’ll be able to understand many things about Yamaha’s progress over the past two years when the 2019 season kicks off properly on Friday at Qatar’s Losail circuit. Struggling...

MotoGP: Marquez and Lorenzo gear up for opening round

06 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez and Lorenzo gear up for opening round

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez says he can’t wait to get going when the opening round of the 2019 MotoGP season starts on Friday. Still not fully fit after undergoing surgery to fix his shoulder...

Moto3: McPhee happy with sixth as Fenati tops test

03 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee happy with sixth as Fenati tops test

John McPhee has finished the final preseason Moto3 test of 2019 happy with sixth overall, walking away from the outing at the Losail circuit pleased to have set his lap times alone as well as working...

Moto2: Lowes dominates final preseason test

03 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes dominates final preseason test

Sam Lowes has dominated the final day of preseason testing for the 2019 moto2 season at Qatar’s Losail circuit, ending the final day faster a quarter of a second faster than the opposition and in...

Moto3: Fenati continues to control Losail test

02 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Fenati continues to control Losail test

Romano Fenati has continued to control the Moto3 action at the class’s final preseason test of 2019, ending day two of three at the Losail circuit 0.1 ahead of Snipers Honda teammate Tony Arbolino.

Moto2: Lowes tops day two in Qatar

02 March 2019 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes tops day two in Qatar

Sam Lowes has topped the combined times after two days of testing at Qatar’s Losail circuit, ending the day confident and clear of the field despite sitting out the final of three sessions. Lapping...