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: Valentino Rossi doubts victory challenge

25 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi doubts victory challenge

Valentino Rossi has virtually written off his hopes of victory in the American MotoGP race after he qualified in sixth place for the 32-lap clash at Laguna Seca. The Italian was bumped to the back of...

US MotoGP: Mika Kallio crash costly for Ben Spies

25 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Mika Kallio crash costly for Ben Spies

Ben Spies saw his hopes of a stunning maiden MotoGP front row start in his home race thwarted by a late crash from Pramac Ducati rider Mika Kallio in qualifying. The Texan was on course to move into...

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden "I'm not fast enough"

25 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden "I'm not fast enough"

Nicky Hayden pulled no punches as his hopes of a second successive home podium in American faded in Laguna Seca. The Kentucky rider, who finished third in last August’s Indianapolis clash, will start...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo extends stunning qualifying form

25 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo extends stunning qualifying form

Jorge Lorenzo stormed to his fifth successive pole position at Laguna Seca today after an action-packed qualifying session in California. As had been the case in both practice sessions, the battle for...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fastest in final practice

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fastest in final practice

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo was quickest in today’s final MotoGP practice session at Laguna Seca. The Fiat Yamaha rider posted a best time of 1.21.763 to edge out Aussie rider Casey Stoner by just 0.063s...

US MotoGP: Fitness concern for Valentino Rossi

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Fitness concern for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted a lack of strength in his right leg and shoulder is a big cause for concern as he began preparations for the American MotoGP race yesterday with the sixth best time in...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner keeping feet on ground

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner keeping feet on ground

Casey Stoner refused to get carried away after he made a storming start to the American MotoGP weekend at Laguna Seca. The 2007 world champion won an exciting opening practice duel with Spaniard Jorge...

US MotoGP: Roger Lee Hayden content with Honda debut

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Roger Lee Hayden content with Honda debut

Roger Lee Hayden declared himself satisfied with his Honda MotoGP debut today after he ended in 17th position at the end of the first practice session at Laguna Seca. The youngest brother of 2006...

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden relieved at Casey Stoner’s pace

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden relieved at Casey Stoner’s pace

Nicky Hayden said he was relieved to see factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner setting such a hot pace after opening practice for the Laguna Seca MotoGP race. Stoner was in sparkling form in...

US MotoGP: Ben Spies and Colin Edwards happy with upgrade

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Ben Spies and Colin Edwards happy with upgrade

It might not have been the big leap in performance that Ben Spies and Colin Edwards had hoped for, but an engine upgrade boosted their confidence at the start of their home race in Laguna Seca. Texan...

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fears Casey Stoner threat

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fears Casey Stoner threat

Jorge Lorenzo fears Casey Stoner could wreck his hopes of winning a first American MotoGP race in Laguna Seca on Sunday. The Spaniard, who has not finished below second place in the opening eight...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner sets Laguna Seca pace

24 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner sets Laguna Seca pace

Factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner ended opening practice for Sunday’s American MotoGP race with the fastest time after an intense early weekend battle with Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo first moved to the...

Is your photo on Rossi and Lorenzo's Laguna Seca Yamaha M1s?

23 July 2010 by Guy Procter

Is your photo on Rossi and Lorenzo's Laguna Seca Yamaha M1s?

500 Fiat Yamaha fans will be in seventh heaven this morning after Yamaha revealed its special Laguna Seca liveries. The two M1s feature 500 images submitted by fans via the team’s website. The...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi plays down podium hopes

23 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi plays down podium hopes

Valentino Rossi has played down hopes that he can claim a rostrum finish in this weekend’s American MotoGP race at Laguna Seca. Rossi arrived in California in bullish mood after his remarkable...

US MotoGP: ‘Big opportunity’ for Roger Lee Hayden

23 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: ‘Big opportunity’ for Roger Lee Hayden

Home favourite Nicky Hayden reckons younger brother Roger Lee has a big opportunity to put himself in the shop window having landed a chance to ride injured Randy de Puniet’s LCR Honda in the American...

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden shrugs off translation blunder

23 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Nicky Hayden shrugs off translation blunder

Nicky Hayden has shrugged off reports that wrongly claimed he was heavily critical of Casey Stoner’s departure from Ducati to Honda for 2011. An article that appeared in leading daily sports newspaper...

US MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa aims for landmark win

23 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa aims for landmark win

Dani Pedrosa is aiming to break two personal records in this weekend’s American MotoGP race at Laguna Seca on Sunday. Pedrosa has never won back-to-back races in the premier class but arrives in...

US MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso confident of stronger challenge

23 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso confident of stronger challenge

Andrea Dovizioso is confident he can put up more of a threat for a podium finish in Laguna Seca this weekend. Four podium finishes in the opening five races put the Italian second in the overall...

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner looks for grip and grunt

23 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

US MotoGP: Casey Stoner looks for grip and grunt

Casey Stoner reckons more grip from Bridgestone and extra acceleration from his factory Ducati would help him mount a bigger threat for victories in MotoGP. Stoner is looking to end his long-running...

Ben Spies targets home podium challenge

22 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies targets home podium challenge

Ben Spies is confident he will be a serious challenger for a podium finish in his vital home race at Laguna Seca this weekend. Spies’ optimism that he can register a second MotoGP rostrum to follow up...

Andrea Dovizioso’s factory Honda future in doubt

22 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso’s factory Honda future in doubt

Andrea Dovizioso could be forced out of Honda’s factory MotoGP squad for 2011. The Japanese factory looks certain to abandon plans to form a star-studded ‘super team’ with Honda struggling to attract...

Ducati close to new Nicky Hayden deal

22 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati close to new Nicky Hayden deal

Ducati has admitted its big money pursuit of Valentino Rossi has delayed finalising a deal to extend Nicky Hayden’s contract. Hayden though is a certainty to re-sign with Ducati having significantly...

Casey Stoner: ‘I need to get the job done’

22 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: ‘I need to get the job done’

Casey Stoner has conceded that he must step up his game to try and compete closer for a first MotoGP victory since last October. The 24-year-old hasn’t won since the Sepang race in Malaysia nine...

Jorge Lorenzo ‘curious’ to see Casey Stoner at Honda

21 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo ‘curious’ to see Casey Stoner at Honda

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo says he’s curious to see how Aussie rival Casey Stoner will gel with Honda’s factory RC212V machine in 2011. Stoner was the first of the big four to...

Ducati denies bike revamp for Valentino Rossi

21 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati denies bike revamp for Valentino Rossi

Ducati will not radically revamp its 2011 factory MotoGP contender for the arrival of Italian icon Valentino Rossi. The GP11 will only feature minor modifications to the current bike ridden by Casey...

Suzuki gets increased engine allocation

20 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki gets increased engine allocation

Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista will have access to three new factory Suzuki GSV-R engines this season, MCN can reveal. MCN understands Suzuki has been given special dispensation to increase its...

Roger Lee Hayden relishing LCR Honda chance

20 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Roger Lee Hayden relishing LCR Honda chance

Roger Lee Hayden reckons the chance to replace injured Randy de Puniet in Laguna Seca this weekend is a great opportunity to put himself in the shop window for 2011. The younger brother of 2006 world...

Honda closing in on new Dani Pedrosa deal

20 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Honda closing in on new Dani Pedrosa deal

Honda held more talks with Dani Pedrosa in Germany last weekend as it looks to retain the Spaniard to partner Casey Stoner in 2011. HRC bosses discussed the Spaniard’s future with his long-term...

Petronas could back Yamaha’s MotoGP effort

20 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Petronas could back Yamaha’s MotoGP effort

Yamaha will approach Far Eastern fuel giant Petronas to takeover as its title sponsor if Fiat quits with Valentino Rossi. As well as losing prized asset Rossi, the latest rumour is that cash-strapped...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi surprised with fantastic fourth

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi surprised with fantastic fourth

Valentino Rossi came within 0.366s of a fairytale return to MotoGP in Germany as he lost out at the end of a monumental scrap with Ducati rival Casey Stoner. Rossi produced an all action display just...

German MotoGP: Ben Spies rues qualifying crash

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Ben Spies rues qualifying crash

Ben Spies is adamant he could have challenged for a top five result in yesterday’s German MotoGP race after he settled for a hard fought eighth in front of over 98,000 fans at the Sachsenring. The...

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy with safe second

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy with safe second

Jorge Lorenzo decided to play safe and settle for an easy second place at the Sachsenring as he suffered a rare defeat in 2010. The 23-year-old led the shortened 21-lap race until lap ten when Repsol...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner snatches last gasp podium

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner snatches last gasp podium

Casey Stoner continued his recent MotoGP revival with a brilliant last ditch overtake to deny Valentino Rossi a heroic podium on his return to action in Germany. Stoner and Rossi were locked in an...

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa thrilled with vital win

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa thrilled with vital win

Dani Pedrosa put the brakes on Jorge Lorenzo’s relentless surge to the 2010 MotoGP world title with a deserved victory in Germany yesterday. Pedrosa lost the lead in the restarted race on the second...

Roger Lee Hayden gets LCR Honda chance

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

Roger Lee Hayden gets LCR Honda chance

Roger Lee Hayden, younger brother of factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, will replace injured Randy de Puniet in this weekend’s American MotoGP race at Laguna Seca. Hayden will substitute for French...

German MotoGP: Randy de Puniet breaks left leg

19 July 2010 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Randy de Puniet breaks left leg

A second big crash in less than 24 hours left luckless French rider Randy de Puniet with a double break in his left leg at the Sachsenring. Having escaped injury when he crashed at high speed on oil...