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

Moto3: Rivals line up to take on Martin

02 October 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Rivals line up to take on Martin

Moto3 championship leader Jorge Martin put on quite a show at MotorLand Aragon, taking pole and then disappearing from the holeshot to stretch out an incredible lead and cross the line in clear air.

MotoGP: Last chance saloon for title fight?

02 October 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Last chance saloon for title fight?

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will head to Buriram and the new-to-the-calendar Chang International Circuit with a massive 72-point lead, almost three race wins clear, and it’s fast...

MotoGP: Marquez and Dovi divided on title battle

29 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez and Dovi divided on title battle

MotoGP championship rivals Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso remain divided on whether this season’s championship remains up for grabs, despite a dramatic victory for the Repsol Honda rider in...

MotoGP: Suzuki lose concessions after podium battle

29 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Suzuki lose concessions after podium battle

Suzuki will lose their status as one of MotoGP’s concession teams for 2019 – but at a fair cost, after both Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins got involved in the podium battle at Sunday’s Aragon Grand...

MotoGP: British Grand Prix in jeopardy

29 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: British Grand Prix in jeopardy

The future of the British GP is in doubt after Dorna’s top boss confirmed to MCN that, following last month’s rain-lashed debacle, Silverstone is not currently licensed to hold a MotoGP race and needs...

MotoGP: Factory teams pushing for schedule changes

27 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Factory teams pushing for schedule changes

There could be a dramatically different looking schedule coming for MotoGP in 2019 if Yamaha and others get their way, with MCN’s sources believing they’re among the teams pushing to make changes to...

Moto2: Speed Up dump Kent for final rounds

25 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Speed Up dump Kent for final rounds

2015 world champion Danny Kent’s time in the Grand Prix paddock looks to have come to a premature end, with the Brit dumped by his Speed Up team for the final rounds of 2018. Crashing out of Sunday’s...

MotoGP: Marquez wins hard-fought Aragon battle

23 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez wins hard-fought Aragon battle

Marc Marquez has moved one step closer to retaining his MotoGP world championship by taking an impressive home victory at the Aragon Grand Prix. Looking strong all weekend, he was nonetheless forced...

Moto2: Binder strikes for second middleweight win

23 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Binder strikes for second middleweight win

South African Brad Binder has converted his debut Moto2 pole into his second win in the middleweight class in today’s Aragon Grand Prix, taking the win as championship contenders Francesco Bagnaia and...

Moto3: Martin rides away from rivals to extend title lead

23 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin rides away from rivals to extend title lead

Moto3 championship leader Jorge Martin has extended his championship lead further still by taking a stunning victory in the Aragon Grand Prix, riding away from the pack on the opening lap and never...

Moto2: Binder the surprise package in Aragon qualifying

22 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Binder the surprise package in Aragon qualifying

Brad Binder has delivered a surprise pole position for tomorrow’s Aragon Grand Prix at Motorland Aragon, with the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider taking his first pole in the middleweight class and demoting...

MotoGP: Lorenzo leaves it late to snatch pole

22 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo leaves it late to snatch pole

Jorge Lorenzo has taken a stunning pole position for tomorrow’s Aragon Grand Prix, leaving it late in the session to set a stunning lap time that demoted teammate Andrea Dovizioso to second and...

Moto3: Masterful Martin takes ninth pole of the season

22 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Masterful Martin takes ninth pole of the season

Jorge Martin has once again displayed a masterclass in qualifying performance to line up first for his home race at tomorrow’s Aragon Grand Prix, after a blistering lap despite heavy traffic. Plagued...

Moto2: Dixon joins Angel Nieto squad for 2019

22 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Dixon joins Angel Nieto squad for 2019

Bennetts British Superbike front runner Jake Dixon will make the switch to Grand Prix racing for 2019, as he joins the Angel Nieto KTM team for next year’s radically different championship. First...

Moto2: Triumph present new engines to 2019 grid

22 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Triumph present new engines to 2019 grid

Triumph have completed their official handover of the first engines that will power the 2019 Moto2 grid, presenting them to the one-engine-series’ technical partner at their base at Motorland Aragon...

Moto2: Schrotter the man to beat at Aragon

21 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Schrotter the man to beat at Aragon

Marcel Schrötter ended day one at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon at the top of the combined timesheets thanks to his FP1 time of 1:58.570, with the Dynavolt Intact GP rider once again unleashing...

MotoGP: Marquez breaks the Ducati domination

21 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez breaks the Ducati domination

After Ducati dominated Friday morning at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon with a 1-2-3-4 led by Andrea Dovizioso, championship leader Marc Marquez responded in the afternoon to finish Friday on top.

Moto3: Bastianini tops opening day at Aragon

21 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bastianini tops opening day at Aragon

Enea Bastianini ended Friday at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon as the fastest rider in the Moto3 field after pulling out two tenths on Gabriel Rodrigo Nicolo Bulega moved up to take third on his...

MotoGP: Marquez coping without wins

18 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez coping without wins

Marc Marquez has admitted that he’s coping just fine without winning races in the premier class at the minute, as he continues to edge closer to a seventh world title. Now not a race winner since...

MotoGP: Rossi floats the idea of radical Yamaha switch

17 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi floats the idea of radical Yamaha switch

Valentino Rossi has hinted at a radical solution to Yamaha’s current engine woes, admitting after another disappointing race at his home circuit of Misano last week that now might be the time to...

MotoE: Inaugural grid starting to take shape

17 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoE: Inaugural grid starting to take shape

Grand Prix racing’s inaugural electric bike series is starting to take shape, with the MotoE team line-up and 2019 calendar announced at the San Marino Grand Prix. The new class will run a five-race...

Moto2: Fenati summoned to FIM as Cardelus replaces him

17 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Fenati summoned to FIM as Cardelus replaces him

Former Moto2 rider Romano Fenati has been summoned to the headquarters of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme to explain his actions in last week’s San Marino Grand Prix. The Italian rider...

Moto2: Fenati loses 2018 and 2019 rides over ‘disgraceful’ actions

10 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Fenati loses 2018 and 2019 rides over ‘disgraceful’ actions

Romano Fenati has lost both his current Moto2 ride with the Marinelli Snipers team and his 2019 ride with the Forward Racing squad, after yesterday’s high-profile clash with Stefano Manzi at the San...

Moto2: Bagnaia makes it two from two at home

08 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Bagnaia makes it two from two at home

Francesco Bagnaia sealed his first back-to-back pole positions in Grand Prix racing at the San Marino Grand Prix after setting an unmatchable 1:37.121, with Marcel Schrötter 0.210 back in second,...

MotoGP: Lorenzo gearing up for flag-to-flag win?

08 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo gearing up for flag-to-flag win?

Jorge Lorenzo broke his own 2016 pole lap record at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in an adrenaline-fuelled qualifying on the Adriatic, searing around the venue in a 1:31.629 to lower his own...

Moto3: Martin prepares for Misano challenge with another pole

08 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin prepares for Misano challenge with another pole

Another weekend, another pole position. Jorge Martin secured his 17th Moto3 pole in fine style at the San Marino GP, smashing the lap record at Misano by 0.324 to spearhead the lightweight class grid...

MotoGP: Silverstone commit to Sunday refunds

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Silverstone commit to Sunday refunds

Silverstone have committed to refunding all fans who attended race day at last month’s cancelled British Grand Prix, telling spectators in a series of emails issued tonight [Friday] that they can...

Moto3: Martin maintains the momentum in Misano

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin maintains the momentum in Misano

He was eighth in FP1 but championship challenger Jorge Martin ended the opening day at the San Marino Grand Prix on top of the pile, setting a 1:42.324 in the second practice session to go 0.092...

Moto2: Schrötter holds off the locals in Misano

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Schrötter holds off the locals in Misano

After finishing the first free practice session in third and despite a crash at the end of FP2, Marcel Schrötter sits top of the combined practice timesheets on Friday at the San Marino Grand Prix,...

MotoGP: Crutchlow the closest to Ducati one-two

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow the closest to Ducati one-two

Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo made it a one-two for Ducati on day one at the San Marino Grand Prix, with the two split by just 0.160 at the top. Reigning champion Marc Marquez was back in fifth...

MotoGP: Riders call for F1-style super license

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Riders call for F1-style super license

MotoGP riders have called for the introduction of an F1-style super licence to race in the premier class, after news that MotoGP rookie Christophe Ponsson would be replacing the injured Tito Rabat at...

MotoGP: Aprilia confirm Smith as test rider

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aprilia confirm Smith as test rider

Aprilia have confirmed that, as reported by MCN last week, Bradley Smith will become their official test rider for 2019. The Brit, who was let go by the Red Bull KTM team, will become the Italian...

MotoGP: Panto dramatics between Rossi and Marquez

07 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Panto dramatics between Rossi and Marquez

Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez have resumed their pantomime dramatics ahead of this weekend’s San Marino Grand prix at Rossi’s home circuit of Misano. Trading barbs in the Thursday press conference,...

MotoGP: Abraham in and Simeon out at Avintia for 2019

06 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Abraham in and Simeon out at Avintia for 2019

Karel Abraham will make the switch from Aspar to Avintia Ducati in 2019, making a step up in machinery as he also moves from a GP16 Ducati to a two-year-younger GP18. Not officially confirmed, the...

MotoGP: Silverstone recruit Zaffelli as investigation gets underway

06 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Silverstone recruit Zaffelli as investigation gets underway

The investigation into what went wrong at this year’s British Grand Prix is underway, with Silverstone bosses and asphalt supplier Aggregate Industries beginning the examination into why last week’s...

MotoGP: Yamaha admit Morbidelli first in line to replace Rossi

06 September 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Yamaha admit Morbidelli first in line to replace Rossi

Yamaha MotoGP bosses have admitted exclusively to MCN that VR46 Academy rider Franco Morbidelli is first in line to replace his mentor Valentino Rossi at the factory squad, should the Italian show...