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

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi dominates on home track

04 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi dominates on home track

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi made a brilliant start to his quest for a tenth home victory in Mugello today after he led a Yamaha domination of opening MotoGP practice. Rossi, who is...

MotoGP Blog Mugello - Harris Seek Speed in Moto2

04 June 2010 by Mike Nicks

MotoGP Blog Mugello - Harris Seek Speed in Moto2

Harris Seek Speed in Moto2 British chassis builders Harris are testing three different fairings, among other items here at Mugello, in an attempt to reduce a maximum speed deficit of 7-8mph over the...

Mugello MotoGP: Third for Bradley Smith in 125 opener

04 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Third for Bradley Smith in 125 opener

Bradley Smith ended first 125GP practice in Mugello today in an encouraging third place as Spanish duo Pol Espargaro and Nicolas Terol continued their domination of the 2010 series. Oxfordshire...

Mugello MotoGP blog: Is this the year?

03 June 2010 by Mike Nicks

Mugello MotoGP blog: Is this the year?

Is this the season when the Valentino era ends? That’s the question that everyone is asking here at Mugello now that Jorge Lorenzo has won two of the first three MotoGP rounds this year. The thought...

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reveals shoulder fear

03 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reveals shoulder fear

Valentino Rossi fears his damaged right shoulder will not regain full fitness until early August as he prepares for his crucial home race in Mugello on Sunday. The reigning world champion admitted...

Mugello MotoGP: Nicky Hayden sticking to 2010 forks

03 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Nicky Hayden sticking to 2010 forks

Nicky Hayden is not going to follow team-mate Casey Stoner’s lead and test last year’s Ohlins front forks in Mugello this weekend. The Australian will fit a set of 2009 forks to his factory GP10...

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner to test 2009 Ohlins forks

03 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner to test 2009 Ohlins forks

Casey Stoner will revert back to a set of 2009 spec Ohlins front forks in practice for the Italian GP as he attempts to cure a mystery front-end issue that has effectively killed off his MotoGP title...

Reading about Rossi

03 June 2010 by Carla

Reading about Rossi

Not long out of major surgery, and already wanting to keep up with Rossi…! GO VALE…!!!!!!

Casey Stoner not worrying about title chances

02 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner not worrying about title chances

Casey Stoner has insisted he will concentrate on winning races rather than dwelling on his dire MotoGP world championship prospects in 2010. Most people have already written Stoner’s title hopes off...

Bradley Smith seeks podium challenge

02 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith seeks podium challenge

Bradley Smith is hoping he can recapture the form that propelled him to a brilliant victory in the Italian GP last year as he seeks a first rostrum of the season in Mugello this weekend. Smith is...

Moto3 to replace 125 GP class

01 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Moto3 to replace 125 GP class

The technical revolution in MotoGP will be completed in 2012 when the current 125cc two-strokes are banished in favour of a 250cc four-stroke single-cylinder world championship called Moto3, MCN can...

Experience vital for Jorge Lorenzo

01 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Experience vital for Jorge Lorenzo

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo believes his growing experience and maturity are proving critical in his bid to wrestle the title away from Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in...

Valentino Rossi hopeful on shoulder fitness

01 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hopeful on shoulder fitness

Valentino Rossi is hoping a lingering right shouder injury won’t prove a handicap as he concentrates on stopping Jorge Lorenzo’s brilliant early season charge in Mugello this weekend. The 31-year-old...

Scott Redding eyes maiden top ten

01 June 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding eyes maiden top ten

British rider Scott Redding is hoping to give himself a major boost this weekend having targeted a maiden top ten finish in the Mugello Moto2 class. Redding scored his first points in the...

Nicky Hayden: ‘Don’t write Casey off yet’

28 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden: ‘Don’t write Casey off yet’

Former world champion Nicky Hayden has warned against writing off factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner after the Aussie’s title hopes suffered a crushing blow in Le Mans last weekend. Hayden, who...

Ben Spies: ‘I have to earn factory chance’

28 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies: ‘I have to earn factory chance’

Ben Spies reckons he’s still got to show Yamaha he’s worthy of a seat alongside Valentino Rossi or Jorge Lorenzo in 2011. The Texan has a two-year deal with Yamaha and has been heavily linked with a...

Yamaha target new Jorge Lorenzo deal

27 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha target new Jorge Lorenzo deal

Yamaha has insisted it intends to keep current MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo and Italian star Valentino Rossi together in its factory line-up in 2011. The future of both Lorenzo and...

Valentino Rossi predicts ‘difficult’ job for Ben Spies

27 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi predicts ‘difficult’ job for Ben Spies

Valentino Rossi fears a lack of track knowledge will be the toughest challenge American rookie Ben Spies has to overcome in 2010. Spies, who has failed to finish the last two races in Jerez and Le...

Ducati plot Jorge Lorenzo swoop

26 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati plot Jorge Lorenzo swoop

Ducati will turn to Jorge Lorenzo if Casey Stoner drops a bombshell and signs a factory Honda deal for 2011. Bologna factory management confirmed to MCN that Spaniard Lorenzo has already been...

Hard work paying off, says Nicky Hayden

26 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Hard work paying off, says Nicky Hayden

Nicky Hayden says he is finally reaping the reward for all his hard work in trying to be a success for Ducati. The popular American had a wretched debut season with the Bologna factory where he...

Rumours won’t affect Honda pair

26 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Rumours won’t affect Honda pair

Honda has denied incessant rumours linking the Japanese factory with a double swoop for Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo is having a negative impact on its current line-up. Speculation is rife that Dani...

Jorge Lorenzo toasts dominant win

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo toasts dominant win

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo hailed his French MotoGP success after he demolished Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi with a second successive premier class win. Lorenzo stalked his more experienced...

Valentino Rossi settles for second

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi settles for second

Valentino Rossi conceded he was powerless to prevent Jorge Lorenzo from romping to a dominant victory in Sunday’s French MotoGP race at the iconic Le Mans track. The Italian led for 12 of the 28-laps,...

Casey Stoner reflects on costly crash

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner reflects on costly crash

Casey Stoner’s MotoGP title hopes suffered a crushing blow in Le Mans after the Australian crashed out for the second time in three races. Stoner’s latest mistake came on the third lap of the French...

Nicky Hayden fourth again

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden fourth again

Nicky Hayden claimed fourth place for the third time this season in Le Mans to continue his impressive start to 2010. Fourth on the first lap after sweeping by factory Ducati team-mate Casey Stoner,...

Rear brake issue costs Dani Pedrosa

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Rear brake issue costs Dani Pedrosa

A rear brake problem cost Dani Pedrosa a chance to celebrate his 150th Grand Prix in style at the Le Mans circuit in France. The Spaniard looked certain to claim his 40th MotoGP podium finish when he...

Andrea Dovizioso delighted with third

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso delighted with third

Andrea Dovizioso was in jubilant mood after he exacted revenge on Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa to claim third place in the French MotoGP race. A year ago Dovizioso lost third on the final lap...

Ben Spies baffled by crash

25 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies baffled by crash

American rider Ben Spies admitted he could not explain the cause of the crash that saw him fail to finish a second successive MotoGP race in 2010 at Le Mans. The Texan was running in 11th position...

Le Mans MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cruises to victory

23 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cruises to victory

Jorge Lorenzo strengthened his early 2010 MotoGP world title bid with a crushing victory at Le Mans this afternoon. The Spaniard romped to his second successive triumph at the iconic French venue...

Le Mans MotoGP: Toni Elias wins crash strewn Moto2 race

23 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Toni Elias wins crash strewn Moto2 race

Toni Elias extended his lead in the Moto2 world championship after a crash-strewn French GP at the Le Mans circuit this afternoon. The Spaniard kept his head in another dramatic 26-lap encounter to...

Le Mans MotoGP: Last lap mistake costs Bradley Smith podium

23 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Last lap mistake costs Bradley Smith podium

British rider Bradley Smith was left to rue a costly mistake on a dramatic last lap as he saw his hopes of a first 125GP podium in 2010 dashed in Le Mans. Smith rode a brilliant race to lead a...

Le Mans MotoGP: Shoulder still a worry for Valentino Rossi

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Shoulder still a worry for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi has continued to express concern about his damaged right shoulder, despite storming to the 59th pole position of his career in Le Mans today. The reigning world champion produced a...

Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of victory challenge

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of victory challenge

Casey Stoner is confident he can mount a challenge for victory in tomorrow’s French MotoGP race even though he missed the front row of the grid for the first time in 2010 this afternoon. A late attack...

Le Mans MotoGP: Nicky Hayden predicts tough race

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Nicky Hayden predicts tough race

Nicky Hayden expects a tough French MotoGP race at Le Mans tomorrow, despite qualifying in fifth place on the grid. Hayden posted a best time of 1.33.845 in this afternoon’s qualifying session,...

Le Mans MotoGP: Ben Spies hurt but not unhappy

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Ben Spies hurt but not unhappy

Ben Spies refused to be too downhearted with his 12th position on the grid for tomorrow’s French MotoGP race after he escaped serious injury in a massive practice crash. Spies braved the pain of a...

Le Mans MotoGP: Kenny Noyes tops Moto2 qualifying

22 May 2010 by James Keen

Le Mans MotoGP: Kenny Noyes tops Moto2 qualifying

Jack & Jones rider Kenny Noyes topped the timesheets at today’s Moto2 qualifying session in Le Mans. Tech 3 Racing rider Yuki Takahashi was second fastest, ahead of third place finisher Alex Debon,...