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

US MotoGP: Motivation waning, admits Valentino Rossi

30 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Motivation waning, admits Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted finding it increasingly hard to stay motivated to ride Ducati’s struggling factory Desmosedici machine after he suffered a dismal US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. The Italian...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner triumphs in Laguna Seca

29 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner triumphs in Laguna Seca

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner fought off pre-race favourite Jorge Lorenzo to claim his second successive victory in the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca earlier today. Factory Yamaha rider and...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo claims pole with record lap

29 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo claims pole with record lap

Jorge Lorenzo claimed his third pole position of the season in record-breaking fashion at the spectacular Laguna Seca track in California this afternoon. The Spaniard secured his first pole position...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes blame for practice crash

28 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes blame for practice crash

Valentino Rossi blamed himself for the fast practice crash in Laguna Seca that saw yesterday afternoon’s session red flagged. Rossi had just started to push to improve his pace from a 1.22.772 on a...

US MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow ‘lucky’ after fast practice crash

28 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow ‘lucky’ after fast practice crash

British rider Cal Crutchlow admitted he was lucky to escape a serious leg injury after he suffered a high-speed crash during the second practice session at Laguna Seca yesterday. The 26-year-old was...

US MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa quickest on new Honda

28 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa quickest on new Honda

Dani Pedrosa took full advantage of an all-new factory Honda RC213V machine at Laguna Seca today to head the timesheets at the end of the opening day of practice in California. The Spaniard had set...

US MotoGP: Ducati confirm new deal for Nicky Hayden

27 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Ducati confirm new deal for Nicky Hayden

Ducati has announced in Laguna Seca this morning that American rider Nicky Hayden has signed a new one-year deal with its factory MotoGP squad. The 2006 world champion has signed a deal for 2013 with...

US MotoGP: Ben Spies cagey on future plans

26 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Ben Spies cagey on future plans

Ben Spies has refused to discuss his future plans or elaborate on his reasoning for deciding to quit Yamaha at the end of the season on the eve of his home race at Laguna Seca today. Spies dropped a...

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden close to new Ducati deal

26 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden close to new Ducati deal

Nicky Hayden has confirmed he is close to agreeing a contract extension with Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad for 2013. An official announcement is likely to be made during his home race in Laguna Seca...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi nearing future decision

26 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi nearing future decision

Valentino Rossi says he will decide whether to stay with Ducati or make a shock move back to Yamaha in 2013 during the forthcoming short summer break. Speculation about Rossi’s future plans has hit...

Ben Spies leaves Yamaha

24 July 2012 by MCN

Ben Spies leaves Yamaha

It’s emerged this afternoon that factory Yamaha MotoGP star Ben Spies will part company with the Japanese firm’s team at the end of the 2012 season. In a short statement on Twitter, the Texan, whose...

Toni Elias replaces Hector Barbera at Laguna Seca

24 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias replaces Hector Barbera at Laguna Seca

Toni Elias will replace injured compatriot Hector Barbera on the Pramac Ducati GP12 in this weekend’s US MotoGP round at Laguna Seca. Barbera is currently recovering from a double break in his left...

Hector Barbera begins recovery from broken leg

23 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Hector Barbera begins recovery from broken leg

Hector Barbera has started the recovery process from a broken left leg that will certainly rule him out of this weekend’s US Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca track in California. The Pramac Ducati rider...

Jorge Lorenzo unfazed by Valentino Rossi’s potential Yamaha return

20 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo unfazed by Valentino Rossi’s potential Yamaha return

Jorge Lorenzo wouldn’t be fazed by Valentino Rossi’s potential return to Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad next season. Rossi is being strongly linked to return to the Yamaha factory squad he quit at the...

Gino Rea not worried by Moto2 axe rumours

19 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Gino Rea not worried by Moto2 axe rumours

Gino Rea says he hasn’t been told his Moto2 future is under serious threat, despite team boss Fausto Gresini hinting he could axe the British rider ahead of the next race in Indianapolis. The Italian...

Crutchlow backs Marquez to be immediate MotoGP podium threat

19 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Crutchlow backs Marquez to be immediate MotoGP podium threat

British rider Cal Crutchlow has backed rising Spanish star Marc Marquez to be an instant podium contender in the 2013 MotoGP world championship. Marquez’s move to MotoGP was confirmed last week when...

Valentino Rossi never an option to replace Casey Stoner at HRC

19 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi never an option to replace Casey Stoner at HRC

It was heralded as a potential HRC dream team with Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez together in a master and apprentice scenario for 2013. The reality though was Rossi was never even considered a...

Ducati to utilise Audi expertise

18 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Ducati to utilise Audi expertise

Ducati will start utilising Audi’s vast technical expertise immediately to try and improve its Desmosedici project in the MotoGP world championship. Ducati technical boss Filippo Preziosi said Audi’s...

ECU glitch halts Valentino Rossi’s Mugello test

17 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

ECU glitch halts Valentino Rossi’s Mugello test

Valentino Rossi’s hopes of getting in vital development miles on a revised Ducati GP12 engine in Mugello were wrecked by an engine management glitch that forced the Italian to miss most of the...

Dani Pedrosa likely to race new Honda at Laguna Seca

17 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa likely to race new Honda at Laguna Seca

Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa could give a race debut to Honda’s brand new factory RC213V machine in the forthcoming US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. Pedrosa may have only completed two laps on the new bike...

Casey Stoner expected to race new Honda motor in Laguna Seca

17 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner expected to race new Honda motor in Laguna Seca

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner is expected to race a brand new Honda RC213V motor in the Laguna Seca MotoGP round later this month. The Aussie got his first chance to evaluate a brand new RC213V...

Illness rules Ben Spies out of Mugello test

16 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Illness rules Ben Spies out of Mugello test

A virus that ruined yesterday’s Italian MotoGP race for Ben Spies also ruled the Texan out of today’s test session at the Mugello circuit. Spies had a disastrous Mugello race after he was struck by a...

Mugello MotoGP: Bradl praises Dovizioso after podium fight

16 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Bradl praises Dovizioso after podium fight

Stefan Bradl praised Andrea Dovizioso’s composure and smooth riding style after the German came within 0.046s of claiming a sensational debut MotoGP rostrum in yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix. The LCR...

Mugello MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow punished for sluggish start

16 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow punished for sluggish start

Cal Crutchlow says he must improve his performance in the opening laps in MotoGP after he returned to the top six in Mugello yesterday. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider bemoaned his pace on a full fuel...

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reflects on missed podium chance

16 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reflects on missed podium chance

A stunning charge in the second half of yesterday’s Italian MotoGP race came close to securing Valentino Rossi a brilliant home podium for Ducati at Mugello. The 33-year-old ended the first lap in...

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner loses more ground in title race

16 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner loses more ground in title race

Casey Stoner’s hopes of walking away from MotoGP at the end of the season as world champion suffered another major blow in Mugello yesterday. The Australian ended a difficult weekend in a...

Mugello MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tightens grip on title chase

16 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tightens grip on title chase

Jorge Lorenzo strengthened his grip on the 2012 MotoGP world title chase with an emphatic victory in yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix. The Spaniard started the 23-lap as an overwhelming favourite after...

Mugello MotoGP: Lorenzo eases to victory

15 July 2012 by Liam Marsden

Mugello MotoGP: Lorenzo eases to victory

Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo extended his championship lead today, dominating at Mugello to win by over five seconds. Lorenzo took advantage of Dani Pedrosa running slightly wide at the first corner to...

Mugello MotoGP: Iannone takes home victory

15 July 2012 by Liam Marsden

Mugello MotoGP: Iannone takes home victory

Italian rider Andrea Iannone has taken his second victory in three years at the Mugello circuit in front of his home crowd. Iannone took the lead for the first time on the first corner of the final...

Mugello MotoGP: Vinales takes hard fought Moto3 victory

15 July 2012 by Liam Marsden

Mugello MotoGP: Vinales takes hard fought Moto3 victory

FTR Honda rider Maverick Vinales took his fourth Moto3 victory of the season at Mugello after a hard race long battle. Despite running wide in the latter half of the final lap, Vinales managed to hold...

Colin Edwards to test three CRT bikes in Mugello

14 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards to test three CRT bikes in Mugello

Colin Edwards seems certain to be on the brink of ditching the struggling Suter-BMW project after confirming to MCN he will test three different CRT bikes at Mugello on Monday. The Texan has been...

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi too slow on soft tyre

14 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi too slow on soft tyre

Valentino Rossi conceded he simply didn’t have the same pace as Ducati rivals Hector Barbera and Nicky Hayden on soft tyres after he slumped to a lowly 10th on the grid for his home race in...

Mugello MotoGP: Late crash costs Cal Crutchlow pole bid

14 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Late crash costs Cal Crutchlow pole bid

British rider Cal Crutchlow was left to rue a late crash in qualifying at a scorching hot Mugello this afternoon that he believes denied him the chance to score his first ever MotoGP pole...

Mugello MotoGP: Espargaro takes Moto2 pole position

14 July 2012 by Liam Marsden

Mugello MotoGP: Espargaro takes Moto2 pole position

Kalex rider Pol Espargaro will start tomorrow’s 21 lap race from pole position after stealing the top spot from title rival Marc Marquez in the dying moments of qualifying. Despite setting the third...

Mugello MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa storms to pole position

14 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa storms to pole position

Dani Pedrosa ended fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo’s domination of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello this afternoon after putting his Repsol Honda on pole position for the second time in 2012. Pedrosa,...

HRC presents RC212V to Marco Simoncelli’s family

14 July 2012 by Matthew Birt

HRC presents RC212V to Marco Simoncelli’s family

The parents of late Italian rider Marco Simoncelli were presented with one of his factory RC212V MotoGP machines during an emotional ceremony at the Mugello circuit earlier today. HRC Vice-President...