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

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner blows hat-trick bid

11 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s hopes of winning a third successive MotoGP race ahead of his vital home clash at Phillip Island this weekend ended in disaster yesterday in Malaysia. The Aussie had quickly gained two...

Sepang MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso foiled again

11 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso’s quest for a first dry MotoGP victory continues after he was narrowly defeated by a startling performance from fellow Italian Valentino Rossi in Sepang. For the second time in a...

Sepang MotoGP: Toni Elias savours Moto2 success

11 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias said a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders after he clinched a historic first Moto2 world title in Sepang yesterday. The Spaniard finished fourth and with closest challenger...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo crowned world champion, Valentino Rossi wins

10 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi gatecrashed Jorge Lorenzo’s MotoGP world championship party in stunning fashion in Malaysia this afternoon. Lorenzo wrapped up his maiden premier class world title with a safe and...

Sepang MotoGP: Toni Elias wins inaugural Moto2 title

10 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Toni Elias created history in Malaysia today when he won the inaugural Moto2 world title with three races to spare. The Gresini Moriwaki rider finished fourth to wrap up the title after...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith fifth, Marc Marquez dominates

10 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith had to settle for a distant fifth place in punishing heat at the Sepang circuit today as Spaniard Marc Marquez produced another dominant display to seize the initiative...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo poised for title glory

09 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo set himself up perfectly for the biggest race of his life tomorrow when he qualified in pole position for the Malaysian MotoGP. Needing only a top ten finish to become only the second...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi disappointed in sixth

09 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Having topped the timesheets in yesterday’s opening practice session at a sweltering hot Sepang circuit, Valentino Rossi couldn’t hide his disappointment this afternoon after he qualified in a lowly...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley Smith claims tenth front row

09 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith came close to notching his third pole position of the season today at a sweltering hot Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Air temperatures soared to a scorching 35 degrees but Smith looked like...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of victory challenge

09 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner remained confident he can mount a challenge for a third successive victory in tomorrow’s Malaysian MotoGP race, despite a frustrating qualifying session leaving the Australian on the...

Sepang MotoGP: Nicky Hayden ‘shocked’ at front row

09 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden admitted he was ‘shocked’ after he narrowly missed claiming a first MotoGP pole position since 2007 by one-tenth-of-a-second in Sepang today. The factory Ducati was languishing down in 15th place after yesterday’s practice session but came close to scoring his first pole position since the Estoril round in the inaugural 800cc world championship campaign. Hayden’s best time of 2.01.637...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo storms to pole position

09 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo will start the biggest race of his career from pole position tomorrow after he denied Nicky Hayden a shock Malaysian MotoGP pole in baking hot conditions. Lorenzo could not have wished...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi relieved at fast pace

08 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi got another pleasant surprise today when he topped the timesheets in opening practice for the Sepang MotoGP race. Unsure how his damaged right shoulder would react just five days after...

Sepang MotoGP: Scott Redding continues brilliant form

08 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

British rider Scott Redding’s brilliant recent form continued in Sepang today after he ended a rain-hit Moto2 practice session in second position. The Marc VDS Racing rider only completed 11-laps in a...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner fourth after early crash

08 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner said he was more worried about a lack of rear grip than a small crash that left him in fourth place at the end of first practice for this weekend’s Malaysian MotoGP race. Stoner had just...

Sepang MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista claims surprise fifth

08 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista was the big surprise on the opening day of practice at a scorching hot Sepang today, the Spaniard riding his factory Suzuki GSV-R machine to the fifth quickest time. Bautista proved...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi quickest in first practice

08 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi continued where he left off in winter testing at the Sepang circuit today, the Italian topping the opening practice timesheets in baking hot conditions in Malaysia. The 31-year-old,...

Sepang MotoGP: Suzuki to run one-bike in 2011

08 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki looks certain to run one factory GSV-R machine in 2011 after several team members were told in Sepang yesterday (Thursday) that they were unlikely to be offered new contracts. The majority of...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi vows to finish season

07 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has denied he will end his final world championship campaign with Yamaha immediately after this weekend’s Malaysian MotoGP race at Sepang. Rossi insists he will race on and try and...

Sepang MotoGP: Valentino Rossi shocked at Jorge Lorenzo complaints

07 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has told MCN that he was shocked at Jorge Lorenzo’s criticism about his aggressive overtakes after their enthralling podium fight at the Twin Ring Motegi last weekend. Rossi came in...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo silent on Motegi row

07 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has refused point-blank to continue his complaints about the tactics employed by Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi during their thrilling podium fight at last weekend’s Japanese...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes third straight win

07 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner is confident he can fight for a third straight win in this weekend’s Sepang race in Malaysia to further boost his confidence ahead of his crucial home race in Australia later this...

Dani Pedrosa rules out shock Sepang return

07 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has ended speculation that he will make a shock return to MotoGP action in Sepang this weekend. Rumour spread like wildfire in the Sepang paddock earlier today that Pedrosa would make a...