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

Ben Spies can improve Yamaha

11 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies can improve Yamaha

Ben Spies has the technical and development skills to maintain Yamaha’s status as the dominant force in MotoGP, according to former team boss Herve Poncharal. Spies has moved to Yamaha’s factory squad...

Casey Stoner: Honda and Ducati difference is extreme

11 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: Honda and Ducati difference is extreme

Casey Stoner reckons it is impossible to make a direct comparison between the Ducati he rode last season and the factory Honda RC212V he will campaign in 2011 because the differences are so...

Scott Redding ninth as Moto2 pre-season kicks off

11 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding ninth as Moto2 pre-season kicks off

British rider Scott Redding kicked off his 2011 Moto2 preparations in Valencia yesterday by posting the ninth best lap in sunny but cool conditions. The Marc VDS Racing rider logged an unofficial best...

Pramac Ducati unveils 2011 livery

09 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Pramac Ducati unveils 2011 livery

The most experienced squad in MotoGP was officially unveiled this afternoon when Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet took part in the launch of the 2011 Pramac Ducati team. Launched on the MSC...

Jerry Burgess: Consistency key for Casey Stoner

09 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess: Consistency key for Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner will have to make fewer mistakes in 2011 if he is to have any chance of ending Honda’s barren run in the MotoGP world championship. That’s the view of Valentino Rossi’s experienced crew...

Ben Spies looks to pose bigger podium threat

09 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies looks to pose bigger podium threat

Ben Spies is confident the new 2011 factory Yamaha YZR-M1 will help his bid to become a more consistent podium challenger in this year’s MotoGP series. The Texan had a stellar debut season in 2010...

John Hopkins to make shock Suzuki MotoGP return

08 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins to make shock Suzuki MotoGP return

John Hopkins will make a shock return to MotoGP action with Suzuki, MCN can reveal. The American will test a factory GSV-R at next month’s Qatar test at the Losail International Circuit having been...

Casey Stoner: Rossi's potential hard to understand

08 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: Rossi's potential hard to understand

Casey Stoner reckons it is too difficult to understand Valentino Rossi’s true potential at Ducati while the Italian is still recovering from winter surgery on his right shoulder. Stoner, who will ride...

Ducati wanted to keep Casey Stoner for 2011

07 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ducati wanted to keep Casey Stoner for 2011

If Ducati had got its way, Valentino Rossi would never have had the chance to join the iconic Italian manufacturer for the 2011 MotoGP world championship. Pictures of Rossi riding in Ducati red for...

Colin Edwards: Valentino wasn't pushing

07 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards: Valentino wasn't pushing

Colin Edwards reckons it is way too early to draw any conclusions into Valentino Rossi’s performance in last week’s Sepang test in Malaysia. Rossi was thrilled with his first ride on the Ducati GP11...

Nicky Hayden: Ducati playing catch-up

07 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden: Ducati playing catch-up

Nicky Hayden has conceded that Ducati is currently playing catch-up to rivals Honda and Yamaha following the first 2011 pre-season test in Malaysia last week. No Ducati rider was able to break into...

Front confidence restored for Casey Stoner

07 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Front confidence restored for Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner is confident he won’t be tormented by the same front-end problems at Honda that badly hindered his 2010 title tilt with Ducati. Stoner struggled with front-end feeling at Ducati for most...

Cal Crutchlow shortens steep learning curve

04 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow shortens steep learning curve

Cal Crutchlow is confident he is making big progress with learning how to master Yamaha’s YZR-M1 machine after he ended only his second MotoGP test with the 17th quickest time. The British rider, who...

Marco Simoncelli surprised to be fastest in Sepang

04 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Marco Simoncelli surprised to be fastest in Sepang

Marco Simoncelli seemed as surprised as anyone to leave Kuala Lumpur with the fastest time at the end of this week’s MotoGP test at the Sepang circuit. Riding a full factory Honda RC212V machine, the...

Ben Spies buoyed by 2011 Yamaha performance

04 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies buoyed by 2011 Yamaha performance

Ben Spies was full of praise for the job Yamaha has done in the winter break as he ended this week’s three-day MotoGP test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia with the sixth fastest time. The Texan...

Shoulder boost for Dani Pedrosa

04 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Shoulder boost for Dani Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa said he was thrilled to have completed this week’s three-day Sepang test without any major problems with the left shoulder injury that wrecked his 2010 MotoGP title bid. Pedrosa badly...

Casey Stoner annoyed with crash

04 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner annoyed with crash

A final day crash didn’t dampen Casey Stoner’s spirits after he completed another impressive testing display for Honda’s official factory squad in Malaysia yesterday. The 2007 world champion, who...

Sepang MotoGP test: Simoncelli ends test on top

03 February 2011 by MCN

Sepang MotoGP test: Simoncelli ends test on top

San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli has surprisingly ended the three-day Sepang MotoGP test on top. The Italian has been on top form throughout the test, finishing in the top five on the...

Yamaha celebrates 50 years of racing

03 February 2011 by MCN Sportsdesk

Yamaha celebrates 50 years of racing

This year witnesses a landmark of World Championship Grand Prix racing for Yamaha, having successfully competed at the highest level for 50 years. From the very first Grand Prix entry in the French...

Cal Crutchlow brushes off late crash

02 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow brushes off late crash

Cal Crutchlow shrugged off a late high-speed crash on the second day of MotoGP testing in Malaysia today to finish with the 15th quickest time. Crutchlow had posted a best time of 2.03.032 earlier in...

Dani Pedrosa dominates second day in Sepang

02 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa dominates second day in Sepang

Honda’s impressive start to the 2011 winter testing campaign continued today with Dani Pedrosa topping the timesheets on the second day of action at the Sepang circuit. The Spaniard took advantage of...

Valentino Rossi boosted by Ducati progress

02 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi boosted by Ducati progress

Valentino Rossi was in an upbeat and bullish mood in Malaysia tonight despite finishing in a lowly 13th place on the timesheets and being close to two seconds off the pace of Honda rival Dani...

Sepang MotoGP test: Pedrosa fastest at the end of day two

02 February 2011 by Liam Marsden

Sepang MotoGP test: Pedrosa fastest at the end of day two

The second day of MotoGP testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia has ended, with Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa leading the way. Team-mate Casey Stoner continued his good form with the second...

Valentino Rossi struggles with shoulder in Sepang

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi struggles with shoulder in Sepang

Valentino Rossi admitted that his on-going right shoulder injury is still a major problem as the Italian slumped to a lowly 12th place on the timesheets as MotoGP winter testing resumed at the Sepang...

Casey Stoner shocked to top Sepang timesheets

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner shocked to top Sepang timesheets

Casey Stoner declared himself ‘surprised’ after he kicked off preparations for the 2011 MotoGP world championship in brilliant fashion today, the Aussie ending the opening day of testing at Sepang...

Cal Crutchlow satisfied with 16th in Sepang

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow satisfied with 16th in Sepang

Cal Crutchlow made a steady rather than spectacular start to the 2011 winter testing campaign in Malaysia earlier today, the British rider ending the opening day with the 16th best time. Today’s test...

Jorge Lorenzo still seeking engine step from Yamaha

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo still seeking engine step from Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo reckons Yamaha still needs to work on improving engine performance and rear grip despite the reigning world champion making an impressive start to the 2011 testing campaign in Sepang...

Ben Spies baffled by early crash

01 February 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies baffled by early crash

Ben Spies had an eventful return to MotoGP action in Sepang today, the Texan recovering from an early crash to post the fifth fastest time as 2011 testing resumed in Malaysia. Spies was on an out-lap...

MotoGP Sepang Test Times

01 February 2011

MotoGP Sepang Test Times

Day one of the first official test for the 2011 MotoGP season has just ended at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, with Honda’s Casey Stoner at the top of the timesheets, followed by Jorge Lorenzo on the...

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

Casey Stoner has moved quickly to play down pre-season hype that he will start the 2011 MotoGP world championship as favourite having moved to Honda. The Australian made an impressive debut on Honda’s...

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner plays down 2011 title prospects

Casey Stoner has moved quickly to play down pre-season hype that he will start the 2011 MotoGP world championship as favourite having moved to Honda. The Australian made an impressive debut on Honda’s...

Casey Stoner proud to follow Mick Doohan at Repsol Honda

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner proud to follow Mick Doohan at Repsol Honda

Casey Stoner has told MCN of his delight at fulfilling a lifelong dream to ride for the Repsol Honda team and follow in the illustrious footsteps of fellow Aussie Mick Doohan. Giving his thoughts on...

Andrea Dovizioso predicts strong Honda challenge

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso predicts strong Honda challenge

Andrea Dovizioso reckons Honda’s 2011 factory MotoGP line-up is one of its most formidable in years as the Japanese factory seeks to end its barren run of success in the premier class. HRC has yet to...

Dani Pedrosa unsure of shoulder strength

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa unsure of shoulder strength

Dani Pedrosa reckons the left shoulder he badly broke during a practice crash in Japan in early October could still give him some problems when the 2011 winter testing schedule kicks off in Malaysia...

Honda determined to win final 800cc crown

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Honda determined to win final 800cc crown

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto has spoken of his desire and determination to win the final 800cc MotoGP crown in 2011 at the launch of the Repsol Honda squad in Malaysia tonight. Speaking at a special...

Ducati move to prolong Valentino Rossi’s career

31 January 2011 by Matthew Birt

Ducati move to prolong Valentino Rossi’s career

Valentino Rossi’s Ducati move is likely to extend his career in MotoGP. The 31-year-old stunned the racing world last year when he opted to quit Yamaha and sign for the Bologna factory in a lucrative...