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

British MotoGP: Ben Spies bounces back from crash

19 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Ben Spies bounces back from crash

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies bounced back strongly from a heavy crash in this morning’s final practice to qualify his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine in seventh place for tomorrow’s...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith thrilled with second

19 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith thrilled with second

Bradley Smith refused to be too downbeat after narrowly missing out on the chance to claim a second successive home 125GP pole position at Silverstone today. Smith looked certain to claim the seventh...

British MotoGP: Corti on pole for Moto2, Redding 12th

19 June 2010 by James Keen

British MotoGP: Corti on pole for Moto2, Redding 12th

Forward Racing rider Claudio Corti will start from pole in tomorrow’s Silverstone Moto2 clash after finishing at the top of the timesheets in today’s qualifying session. The Italian’s team mate Jules...

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo storms to Silverstone pole

19 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo storms to Silverstone pole

Jorge Lorenzo claimed his first pole position of 2010 today as fellow front row qualifiers Randy de Puniet and Dani Pedrosa suffered fast late crashes in a dramatic session. Lorenzo steered his Fiat...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith denied home pole position

19 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith denied home pole position

Bradley Smith came within 0.3s of claiming a stunning home pole position for the British 125GP at Silverstone tomorrow. The 19-year-old looked like he’d done enough to secure his seventh career pole...

British MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa heads crash strewn final practice

19 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa heads crash strewn final practice

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa continued his impressive form to top the second MotoGP practice session at a blustery and cold Silverstone this morning. Pedrosa clocked a best time of 2.04.944 on his Repsol...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith tops final practice

19 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith tops final practice

Home favourite Bradley Smith boosted his hopes of a first victory of the season at Silverstone after he topped the timesheets in final 125GP practice this morning. In bright but windy and cold...

Warren on pole for Silverstone Superstock

18 June 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Warren on pole for Silverstone Superstock

Sam Warren annexed pole position in a damp and gloomy second qualifying session at Silverstone this evening, riding his Midland Motorsport Honda. His best time of 2:39.36 was just 0.08s ahead of BMW...

British MotoGP: Scott Redding sixth in rain-lashed Moto2 practice

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Scott Redding sixth in rain-lashed Moto2 practice

Scott Redding made a wet but morale-boosting start to his home race in Silverstone today when the British teenager logged the sixth best time in a rain-hit Moto2 practice session. Redding, who has a...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith happy with fast start

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith happy with fast start

Bradley Smith declared himself happy after he made a solid start to his all-important home race at the Silverstone track today. The 19-year-old finished first practice in fourth position having been...

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner hails amazing but bumpy Silverstone

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner hails amazing but bumpy Silverstone

Casey Stoner heaped praise on the revamped Silverstone circuit despite joining a chorus of complaints about a bumpy surface after opening MotoGP free practice. The 2007 world champion steered his...

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo thrilled with early pace

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo thrilled with early pace

Jorge Lorenzo is confident he will be able to mount a strong challenge for his third victory of the 2010 MotoGP campaign at Silverstone this weekend. The Spaniard made the perfect start to the first...

British MotoGP: Ben Spies content with fifth

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Ben Spies content with fifth

Ben Spies was in impressive form at the fast and challenging Silverstone circuit today after the Texan clocked the fifth best time in opening practice. The reigning World Superbike champion showed...

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo sets Silverstone pace

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo sets Silverstone pace

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo mastered the long and fast new Silverstone circuit faster than anybody else this afternoon to top the opening practice session for Sunday’s British MotoGP clash. Lorenzo was...

Richards quickest in Silverstone Superstock practice

18 June 2010 by Gary Pinchin

Richards quickest in Silverstone Superstock practice

The first bikes out on track on the Silverstone GP track today were those in the National Superstock support class. Glen Richards posted the quickest time of 2:13.064s on the Padgetts Honda, from HM...

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in 125GP opener

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in 125GP opener

Bradley Smith made an encouraging start to the first British Grand Prix to be held at Silverstone for over two decades when he clocked the fourth fastest time in 125GP free practice this afternoon. ...

British MotoGP: Title chase ‘easy’ for Jorge Lorenzo

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Title chase ‘easy’ for Jorge Lorenzo

Dani Pedrosa has told MCN that arch Spanish rival Jorge Lorenzo should find it a formality to lift his first MotoGP world crown in 2010 with Valentino Rossi sidelined through injury. The broken right...

British MotoGP: Suzuki not showing full potential, says boss

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Suzuki not showing full potential, says boss

Suzuki boss Paul Denning is adamant that the 2010 factory GSV-R machine has not yet shown its true potential after a frustrating and disappointing start to the campaign. Veteran campaigner Loris...

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner seeks faster pace

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Casey Stoner seeks faster pace

Casey Stoner has admitted he needs to significantly improve his pace to bring an end to a bitterly disappointing start to the 2010 MotoGP world championship. The Australian hasn’t finished on the...

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy to be joined by Colin Edwards

18 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo happy to be joined by Colin Edwards

Jorge Lorenzo says he would relish the chance to partner veteran American Colin Edwards in Yamaha’s official factory MotoGP squad. The Texan is leading candidate to take Valentino Rossi’s vacant...

Jorge Lorenzo: Title is less value without Valentino Rossi

17 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo: Title is less value without Valentino Rossi

Jorge Lorenzo fears winning the 2010 MotoGP world championship will be a hollow victory without the formidable threat of Valentino Rossi to defeat. Lorenzo is now red-hot favourite to win this year’s...

Bradley Smith British GP Q and A

16 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith British GP Q and A

Home favourite Bradley Smith has spoken of his hopes and expectations ahead of the first British MotoGP clash to be staged at Silverstone since 1986. Smith is the best hope of British podium success...

Cal Crutchlow declines Yamaha MotoGP chance

15 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow declines Yamaha MotoGP chance

British rider Cal Crutchlow has declined the chance to partner American Ben Spies in at least three MotoGP races this season, MCN can exclusively reveal. Crutchlow held lengthy talks with Yamaha...

Yamaha prepare Jorge Lorenzo for spotlight

15 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha prepare Jorge Lorenzo for spotlight

Yamaha is confident Jorge Lorenzo will be able cope with the pressure now that the spotlight is fixed firmly on the Spaniard in MotoGP. The absence of Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi with the...

Dani Pedrosa looks for consistency during vital spell

14 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa looks for consistency during vital spell

Dani Pedrosa reckons consistency will be the key as the MotoGP world championship gets ready to embark on a gruelling schedule of five races in the next six weeks. Pedrosa travels to Silverstone this...

Bradley Smith: 'I can win British GP'

14 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith: 'I can win British GP'

Bradley Smith is confident he can break his victory duck in 2010 at his home race this weekend at the revamped Silverstone circuit. Smith goes into Sunday’s crunch home clash without a podium in the...

Scott Redding aims for more home glory

14 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding aims for more home glory

Scott Redding is determined to overcome a tough start to his Moto2 career and maintain his fantastic British Grand Prix record at Silverstone this weekend. Redding has not yet missed the podium on...

Danny Webb sets sights on home top ten

14 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb sets sights on home top ten

Danny Webb has targeted a top ten finish in his home race at Silverstone this weekend. The Kent rider, who has been in the top ten at the last two races in Le Mans and Mugello, is just outside the...

Cal Crutchlow to get big MotoGP chance?

11 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow to get big MotoGP chance?

British rider Cal Crutchlow is heading the race to join Ben Spies in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP squad for at least three races, MCN understands. The reigning World Supersport champion is being...

Valentino Rossi hints at Brno return

11 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hints at Brno return

Valentino Rossi believes he might be fit enough to return to the MotoGP world championship at the Czech Republic GP in Brno in the middle of August. While refusing to fix a definite date for his...

Valentino Rossi: ‘The error was mine’

11 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: ‘The error was mine’

Valentino Rossi has accepted the blame for the horrific crash that ruined his hopes of winning a third successive MotoGP crown in 2010. Rossi pushed too hard on a new rear Bridgestone tyre that had...

Yamaha cautious on Valentino Rossi’s return date

11 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha cautious on Valentino Rossi’s return date

Yamaha has refused to name a specific race when injured star rider Valentino Rossi will be fit to return to the MotoGP world championship. Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio said it was too...

Six-month recovery for Valentino Rossi

11 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Six-month recovery for Valentino Rossi

The surgeon who operated on Valentino Rossi’s broken right leg reckons the nine-times world champion will need six months to make a complete recovery. The prognosis by Professor Roberto Buzzi, who...

Yamaha cagey on Valentino Rossi’s replacement

11 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha cagey on Valentino Rossi’s replacement

Ever since Valentino Rossi broke his leg in Mugello last weekend, speculation has been rife about who could replace the Italian legend during his long rehabilitation. Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Colin...

Tech 3 to run Yamaha 800cc bike in 2011

10 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 to run Yamaha 800cc bike in 2011

Ben Spies’ Tech 3 Yamaha squad will definitely race a factory-backed Yamaha YZR-M1 800cc machine in 2011. MotoGP has been engulfed by persistent rumours that some independent teams will ditch their...

Rossi released from hospital

10 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Rossi released from hospital

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has been released from hospital in Florence to begin the long recovery from a broken right leg closer to his Tavullia home. The 31-year-old has been...