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

Exclusive Q and A: Ben Spies injury latest

09 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has admitted rushing his return from a serious right shoulder injury after the Ignite Ducati rider missed last weekend’s Jerez race and will also be missing for the forthcoming French round...

Dani Pedrosa: ‘You can’t leave the door open to anybody’

08 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has given his impressions of the last corner collision between Repsol Honda teammate Marc Marquez and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo in Jerez last weekend. Pedrosa took his first...

Marc Marquez didn't fear penalty after Jorge Lorenzo collision

08 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez says he wasn’t worried that his hard overtake on title rival Jorge Lorenzo at the end of Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP race would result in a penalty from Race Direction. Marquez snatched a...

Maiden top 10 and new frame boost for Bradley Smith in Jerez

08 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has good reason to be optimistic heading to the forthcoming French MotoGP round at Le Mans after an encouraging race and test performance in Jerez last weekend. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3...

Jerez MotoGP: Championship Dashboard

08 May 2013 by MCN

With three rounds done in MotoGP, check out the state of the championship after Jerez with our dashboard infographic.

Jorge Lorenzo breaks silence on Marc Marquez clash

07 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

cJorge Lorenzo has spoken for the first time in detail about the controversial last lap clash he was involved in with hard riding compatriot Marc Marquez in Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez. The...

Ducati ‘lab’ bike gets lukewarm reception from Dovizioso and Hayden

07 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden tested Ducati’s ‘lab’ bike in Jerez yesterday (Monday) and both reported only minimal gains over the factory Desmosedici GP13 they are currently racing in MotoGP. The...

Valentino Rossi rejects new Yamaha chassis

07 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will continue to race the ‘standard’ factory Yamaha YZR-M1 frame he’s used in the opening three rounds of 2013 after failing to find any benefit from a new chassis he tested in Jerez...

Marc Marquez sorry for Jorge Lorenzo collision

06 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Marc Marquez apologised to Spanish rival Jorge Lorenzo after the Repsol Honda rider sparked the first major talking point of 2013 in a dramatic finish to yesterday’s Jerez race. Marquez collided with...

Jorge Lorenzo silent on last corner controversy in Jerez

06 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo repeatedly refused to express his views on the controversial last corner overtake by Marc Marquez that left the factory Yamaha rider third and overwhelmed by anger and frustration at the...

Valentino Rossi worried by Honda form

06 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi admitted a second successive Honda 1-2 was cause for concern after he failed to battle for a podium in a controversial Spanish MotoGP race in Jerez yesterday. The Italian finished in a...

Cal Crutchlow fights to fifth in Jerez

06 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

It may not have been the first podium of the season he was looking for, but after two big crashes on Saturday, British rider Cal Crutchlow was delighted to be leaving Jerez with a third straight top...

Andrea Dovizioso reflects on forgettable Jerez race

06 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

The final standings in Jerez didn’t make pleasant reading for factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso after the Italian struggled to a dismal eighth place. Dovizioso had not expected an easy Spanish...

Scott Redding satisfied with safe second in Jerez

06 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s impressive early season Moto2 title challenge continued in Jerez yesterday when the British rider rode to a measured second place finish. The Marc VDS Racing rider quickly realised he...

Jerez MotoGP: Pedrosa wins as Marquez and Lorenzo collide

05 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Dani Pedrosa rode to an easy race victory at his home GP at Jerez, but the real talk of the race was a dramatic last corner collision between rookie Marc Marquez and defending champion Jorge...

Jerez Moto2: Rabat untouchable for win, Redding second

05 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Esteve Rabat rode an untouchable race to finish off a perfect weekend at his home race to wake victory in dominant form. Leading from the line, he took victory by over four seconds from Brit Scott...

Jerez Moto3: Vinales takes victory in crash-strewn Moto3 race

05 May 2013

Maverick Vinales was the winner of a crash-strewn first race at Jerez this morning as he became the third winner from three races in the Moto3 class. Alex Rins initially led away from the line, and...

Cal Crutchlow ready to race after two fast crashes

04 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow will ride through the pain barrier in tomorrow’s Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez after the British rider suffered two high-speed crashes in practice and qualifying earlier. The Monster...

Valentino Rossi relieved to escape injury in qualifying crash

04 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi said he was lucky to emerge unscathed from a crash in the fastest corner in an incident-packed qualifying session ahead of tomorrow’s Spanish MotoGP showdown at Jerez. The Italian fell...

Jerez Moto2: Rabat blows away Redding for Moto2 pole

04 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Esteve Rabat blew away the opposition to take pole position for his home GP by over 0.4 seconds from early leader Scott Redding. Redding had kept his Marc VDS Kalex at the front of the grid for most...

Jerez MotoGP: Lorenzo stays cool in crash-fest qualifying

04 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo kept his cool to ride to pole for tomrrow’s Jerez Grand Prix as his title rivals buckled under pressure as they tried to close the gap to him. Pedrosa and Rossi crashed within seconds of...

Jerez Moto3: Alex Rins on pole despite crash

04 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Alex Rins will start the first Moto3 race of the season from pole position, after an early lap in qualifying allowed him to maintain the top spot despite a crash mid-session. KTM secured a...

BT Sport’s MotoGP TV deal to be announced this week

04 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

BT Sport’s successful bid for the live MotoGP TV rights in the UK in 2014 will be confirmed this week, with MCN learning the multi-million pound deal will be formally announced in London on...

Bradley Smith continues steep learning curve in Jerez

03 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s rookie MotoGP campaign continues to be a baptism of fire after the British rider ended the opening day of practice in Jerez today in 14th position. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was...

Cal Crutchlow impresses Yamaha with fast form

03 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow’s brilliant start to the 2013 MotoGP campaign continued today after the British rider set the third fastest time on the opening day of practice at the Jerez track in Spain. A best lap of...

Valentino Rossi worried about race pace in Jerez

03 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi might have ended the opening day of practice for the Jerez MotoGP clash just outside of the top three, but the Italian fears he lacks the speed over race distance to fight Jorge...

Jerez GP Free Practice: Lorenzo cruises to early lead

03 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo was the fastest rider of the opening day of his home GP today at Jerez, easily taking the lead in both free practice sessions. Lorenzo, who had a corner at the circuit named after him...

Rossi and Crutchlow play down Suzuka 8-hour assault

03 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow have played down speculation that they are to join forces in a factory Yamaha dream team to compete in the Suzuka 8-hour endurance race in late July. Just hours after...

Cal Crutchlow aims to battle factory four in Jerez

02 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

British rider Cal Crutchlow is bidding to challenge the elite factory four in this weekend’s Jerez MotoGP race to continue his brilliant start to the 2013 world championship campaign. Crutchlow...

UK MotoGP TV rights: To BT, or not to BT?

02 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Where British fans will be watching Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi racing in MotoGP next year is about to become clearer, with the hot rumour suggesting the BBC will lose the UK TV rights to the...

Michael Laverty gets electronics boost in Jerez

02 May 2013 by Matthew Birt

Michael Laverty is hoping an updated electronics package will boost his hopes of a maiden points scoring finish in the first European MotoGP clash of 2013 at the Jerez track in Spain on Sunday. The...

Kevin Schwantz announces shock Suzuka 8hr comeback

01 May 2013 by Simon Patterson

Former 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz will come out of retirement to partner Yukio Kagayama and Nori Haga for the 2013 Suzuka 8hr race. 48 year old Schwantz, who has been in retirement since...

Lowes On Pole For Assen WSS Race

27 April 2013 by Gordon Ritchie

After taking pole in the first round in Australia Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Racing Yamaha) pushed himself to the top spot in the WSS practice order by over 0.643 seconds from second place rider Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India). Sofuoglu’s team-mate Fabien Foret was third. Said Lowes after his impressive pre-race showing, “It was really good today, a very positive day, and both session...

Dani Pedrosa responds to Kevin Schwantz criticism

26 April 2013 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has spoken of his disappointment at recent comments attributed to American legend Kevin Schwantz that were critical of the Spaniard and his long-serving manager and...

Ducati MotoGP effort boosted by new CEO appointment

25 April 2013 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden and Ducati MotoGP boss Paolo Ciabatti believe Claudio Domenicali’s recent appointment as CEO of the Bologna factory can only be a major plus for its MotoGP and WSB projects. Domenicali...

MotoGP remembers Daijiro Kato

24 April 2013 by Matthew Birt

Last weekend’s inaugural MotoGP race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Japanese rider Daijiro Kato. Kato lost his life in an accident in the opening round of the 2003 world championship at Suzuka when riding for the Italian-based Gresini Honda squad. All Gresini bikes in all three classes at COTA sported tribute 74 stickers on the fairing in memory...