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

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith takes second successive rostrum

03 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith takes second successive rostrum

Bradley Smith claimed his second successive 125GP podium finish at the Twin Ring Motegi today, the British rider finishing third after he narrowly avoided a major incident at the first corner.

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi elated with front row

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi elated with front row

Valentino Rossi could barely contain his delight after he claimed his first front row start since returning from the broken right leg injury that blighted his 2010 MotoGP campaign. The Fiat Yamaha...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner content with front row

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner content with front row

Casey Stoner declared himself satisfied after he claimed a tenth front row start of the season ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi. The 24-year-old steered his factory Ducati GP10...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to undergo shoulder surgery

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to undergo shoulder surgery

Dani Pedrosa will have surgery on the left collarbone he badly damaged in a heavy practice crash at the Twin Ring Motegi later on today (Saturday). The Spaniard has arrived back in Europe and been...

Motegi MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso confident of victory challenge

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso confident of victory challenge

Andrea Dovizioso is confident he can claim only his second career MotoGP victory in Japan having romped to his first premier class pole position at the Twin Ring Motegi today. A brilliant lap of...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo loses front row record

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo loses front row record

Having lost his 100 per cent podium record at the Motorland Aragon race a fortnight ago, Jorge Lorenzo saw another impressive run come to an end in Japan today. The Spaniard, who earlier in the day...

Motegi MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso lifts Honda spirits

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso lifts Honda spirits

Andrea Dovizioso did his best to lift the gloom surrounding Honda’s factory squad at the Twin Ring Motegi today by storming to his career first MotoGP pole position. With Repsol Honda team-mate Dani...

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith secures front row

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith secures front row

Bradley Smith secured his ninth front row start of the season for tomorrow’s Japanese 125GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. The British teenager will start round 13 of this year’s world championship from...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo signs new Yamaha deal

02 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo signs new Yamaha deal

Jorge Lorenzo has agreed a new two-year year deal with Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad. Protracted negotiations have finally been resolved and the Spaniard has confirmed he will partner Texan Ben Spies...

2000 miles on restricted XJ Newcastle to Interlaken

01 October 2010 by BobScott

2000 miles on restricted XJ Newcastle to Interlaken

Sue on her first big trip. We covered five countries in six days. Over 2000 miles on restricted XJ from Newcastle to Interlaken.

Motegi MotoGP: Jammed throttle caused Dani Pedrosa crash

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jammed throttle caused Dani Pedrosa crash

A jammed throttle caused the crash that ended Dani Pedrosa’s hopes of winning the 2010 MotoGP world title in Japan today. The Spaniard was violently thrown from his factory Honda RC212V machine in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo on brink of world title

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo on brink of world title

Jorge Lorenzo could win in his first MotoGP world championship crown in Malaysia next weekend. The 23-year-old was already in a commanding position with a 56-point lead over Spanish rival Dani Pedrosa...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi shocked at fast pace

01 October 2010 by Matthwe Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi shocked at fast pace

Valentino Rossi admitted he got a ‘big surprise’ after he topped the timesheets in first practice for this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP race. The Italian had feared a gruelling weekend with the hard...

Motegi MotoGP: Ben Spies fifth in FP1 despite crash

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Ben Spies fifth in FP1 despite crash

Ben Spies showcased his talent in impressive fashion again today at the Twin Ring Motegi, the American ending his first session at the Japanese venue with the fifth quickest time. The 26-year-old...

Dani Pedrosa crash pics

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa crash pics

This is the moment Dani Pedrosa’s 2010 world title hopes suffered a painful and fatal blow at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit today. The 25-year-old crashed on his third lap in free practice and suffered...

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in first practice

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in first practice

Bradley Smith’s hopes of a second successive 125GP podium finish received an early boost today when he set the fourth quickest in opening practice for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Oxfordshire...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi defies pain to top timesheets

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi defies pain to top timesheets

Valentino Rossi defied the constant pain from his damaged right shoulder to top the opening practice timesheets at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit today. The 31-year-old feared severe tendon damage in...

Motegi MotoGP: Lorenzo wins world championship as Pedrosa breaks left collarbone

01 October 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Lorenzo wins world championship as Pedrosa breaks left collarbone

Dani Pedrosa’s slim chances of winning the 2010 MotoGP world championship all but disappeared this afternoon in Japan when the Repsol Honda rider broke his left collarbone in a practice crash. The...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi aims to finish season

30 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi aims to finish season

Valentino Rossi has insisted he will do his utmost to finish his final season with Yamaha, despite the on-going pain and discomfort caused by his badly damaged right shoulder. After struggling to a...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner cautious on victory chances

30 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner cautious on victory chances

Casey Stoner says he is unsure whether a radical new set-up that helped end his long winless streak in MotoGP earlier this month will propel him to more success in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix. The...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo hoping for new engine boost

30 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo hoping for new engine boost

Jorge Lorenzo is hoping an updated factory Yamaha YZR-M1 motor will help catapult him close to the 2010 MotoGP world championship crown in Japan this weekend. The 23-year-old holds a commanding...

Motegi MotoGP: Scott Redding confirms new two-year deal

30 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Scott Redding confirms new two-year deal

Scott Redding has confirmed signing a new two-year Moto2 deal with the Marc VDS Racing squad today, as was first reported by MCN earlier this week. The 17-year-old’s new deal was confirmed at a cold...

Motegi MotoGP: 2011 MotoGP calendar unveiled

30 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: 2011 MotoGP calendar unveiled

The 2011 British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place on June 12 after next season’s MotoGP calendar was unveiled in Japan today. The Silverstone race will be round seven of the campaign and...

Charlie Cox laughs off Formula One link

29 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Charlie Cox laughs off Formula One link

BBC MotoGP commentator Charlie Cox has laughed off rumours linking him with a surprise switch to the Beeb’s Formula One team in 2011. According to recent speculation, the BBC will axe current...

Valentino Rossi not pushed to Ducati by Jorge Lorenzo’s form

29 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi not pushed to Ducati by Jorge Lorenzo’s form

Valentino Rossi was not pressurised into moving to Ducati for 2011 because of the impressive form of Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo. That’s the opinion of Aussie legend Mick Doohan, who won the world 500cc...

Data sharing to return at Yamaha in 2011

29 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Data sharing to return at Yamaha in 2011

Yamaha will abolish its controversial ban on the sharing of data in its factory team for 2011. There will be no technical secrets between Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies next season, with both open to...

Scott Redding signs new Moto2 deal

28 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding signs new Moto2 deal

Scott Redding has signed a new two-year with the Marc VDS Racing squad, MCN can reveal. The highly rated Gloucestershire rider clinched a deal for 2011 and ’12 last weekend before he embarked on the...

Valentino Rossi expects tough weekend in Japan

28 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi expects tough weekend in Japan

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi has said he is anticipating another tough physical challenge in this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Italian continues to be...

Kev Coghlan targets Moto2 for 2011

27 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kev Coghlan targets Moto2 for 2011

British rider Kev Coghlan is hoping he can secure a full-time switch to the Moto2 world championship in 2011. The 22-year-old is currently second in the Spanish Moto2 series having won two races and...

Loris Capirossi fit for 2010 run-in

27 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi fit for 2010 run-in

Italian Loris Capirossi has been declared fit to return to action at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi. The 37-year-old was forced to miss the previous round at the Motorland...

Key meetings to decide Suzuki 2011 strategy

27 September 2010

Key meetings to decide Suzuki 2011 strategy

Several key meetings will take place in Japan ahead of this weekend’s Twin Ring Motegi race to determine the future racing strategy of Suzuki. The Japanese factory has refused to confirm it will...

Ducati expects Jerry Burgess to sign 2011 deal

23 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati expects Jerry Burgess to sign 2011 deal

Ducati boss Filippo Preziosi has told MCN he expects all of Valentino Rossi’s crew to follow the Italian when he joins the Bologna factory for the 2011 MotoGP world championship. Yamaha has confirmed...

MotoGP boss thrilled by Valentino Rossi's Ducati switch

23 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP boss thrilled by Valentino Rossi's Ducati switch

MotoGP supremo Carmelo Ezpeleta has admitted Valentino Rossi’s Ducati deal is a massive boost for the premier class world championship. Rossi’s transfer to Ducati has already heaped huge attention on...

Randy Krummenacher makes grovelling apology

23 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Randy Krummenacher makes grovelling apology

Randy Krummenacher has issued a grovelling apology after he took out world 125GP title contender Marc Marquez in the recent Motorland Aragon race. The Swiss rider lost the front at the first corner...

Valentino Rossi to set up Moto2 team in 2011

22 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi to set up Moto2 team in 2011

Valentino Rossi has launched a bid to become a team owner in the 2011 Moto2 world championship. MCN understands Rossi will help fund the project with lifelong friend Uccio Salucci installed as boss of...

Danger is part of the attraction, says Casey Stoner

22 September 2010 by Matthew Birt

Danger is part of the attraction, says Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner reckons fear and danger are two of the major reasons why riders love bike racing so much. The Australian gave a heartfelt answer when asked his feelings on the recent Misano crash that...