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

Le Mans MotoGP: Valentino Rossi storms to pole

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Valentino Rossi storms to pole

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi claimed his first pole position of the 2010 MotoGP campaign in Le Mans this afternoon. In an exciting climax to the decisive qualifying session, 31-year-old...

Le Mans MotoGP: Bradley Smith suffers late crash

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Bradley Smith suffers late crash

A final minute crash cost British rider Bradley Smith his chance to secure a first front row start of the 2010 125GP world championship in Le Mans today. Boosted by a third place finish in this...

Le Mans MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista withdraws after crash

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista withdraws after crash

Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista has opted to withdraw from tomorrow’s French MotoGP race at Le Mans after suffering a massive high-side crash in the final free practice session. The former world 125GP...

Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner tops crash strewn final practice

22 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner tops crash strewn final practice

Australian Casey Stoner has topped the timesheets at the end of a crash-strewn final practice session in Le Mans this morning. Second quickest in yesterday’s opening session, the factory Ducati rider...

Le Mans MotoGP: Shoulder still troubling Valentino Rossi

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Shoulder still troubling Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi expressed more concerns about his damaged right shoulder in Le Mans today, despite the Italian topping the timesheets in free practice. The reigning world champion could not have timed...

Le Mans MotoGP: Marco Melandri runs Showa suspension

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Marco Melandri runs Showa suspension

Italian Marco Melandri has made a surprise switch to Showa suspension on the first day of the French GP at Le Mans today. The former world 250GP champion ended opening practice in 10th place on the...

Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner happier with Ducati performance

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner happier with Ducati performance

Having failed to claim a podium finish in the opening two races of the 2010 season, Casey Stoner is confident he can mount a serious rostrum threat in this weekend’s French GP at Le Mans. The...

Le Mans MotoGP: Ben Spies happy with eighth

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Ben Spies happy with eighth

Ben Spies wasted no time in mastering the iconic Le Mans circuit after he ended opening practice in an encouraging eighth place. The Texan clocked a best time of 1.35.291 to finish just 0.889s slower...

Le Mans MotoGP: Nicky Hayden finds French form

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Nicky Hayden finds French form

Nicky Hayden went some way to burying his Le Mans jinx this afternoon when the 2006 world champion ended the first free practice session in seventh place. The Kentucky rider has never scored a front...

Le Mans MotoGP: Valentino Rossi heads first practice

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Valentino Rossi heads first practice

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi left it late to top the timesheets at the end of opening practice for the French GP at Le Mans this afternoon. The Italian looked like he might have to...

Le Mans MotoGP: Technical issue hits Bradley Smith

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans MotoGP: Technical issue hits Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith’s hopes of a good start to the French 125GP weekend to help kickstart his 2010 title challenge were wrecked by a mechanical fault this afternoon. The Oxfordshire teenager, who is chasing...

Big four cautious on 2011 talk

21 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Big four cautious on 2011 talk

Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa have faced a barrage of questions about their future plans in Le Mans. But all of them have adopted a cautious approach when discussing...

Jorge Lorenzo targets new Yamaha deal

20 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo targets new Yamaha deal

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo has again insisted he intends to race with Yamaha in 2011. The Spaniard has already been strongly linked with a big money move to Ducati’s factory team...

Casey Stoner confident for Le Mans

19 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner confident for Le Mans

Former world champion Casey Stoner is confident he can kickstart his 2010 MotoGP world title challenge in Le Mans this weekend. Stoner has yet to score a podium in the opening two races and the...

Suzuki duo ditch new chassis

18 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki duo ditch new chassis

Factory Suzuki duo Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista will not debut a new chassis during this weekend’s French GP at Le Mans. The pair evaluated the new frame during the recent Jerez test session in...

Nicky Hayden aims for Le Mans best

18 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden aims for Le Mans best

Nicky Hayden is hoping he can bury his French GP jinx at Le Mans this weekend. The American has scored 26 podiums in his MotoGP career but none have ever come at the legendary Le Mans venue. Hayden’s...

Bradley Smith hopes for French success

18 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith hopes for French success

Bradley Smith is hoping a return to the Le Mans circuit will fire his 2010 125GP world championship challenge into life this weekend. The iconic French venue has been a happy hunting ground for the...

Jorge Lorenzo hopes for easier Le Mans

17 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo hopes for easier Le Mans

Jorge Lorenzo has targeted a second successive French MotoGP victory this weekend at the famous Le Mans circuit. But the Spaniard is certainly hoping for an easier race than the recent Spanish GP in...

Valentino Rossi fit and ready for Le Mans

17 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi fit and ready for Le Mans

A fully fit Valentino Rossi is hoping he can forget a nightmare French MotoGP last year to mount a strong challenge for glory in Le Mans this weekend. Last year’s flag-to-flag race was a disaster for...

Scott Redding aims for improved qualifying

17 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding aims for improved qualifying

British rider Scott Redding has admitted he must dramatically improve his qualifying performances to bolster his hopes of a maiden top 15 Moto2 finish in Le Mans this weekend. The Marc VDS Racing...

Alvaro Bautista fit for Le Mans

14 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista fit for Le Mans

Alvaro Bautista will be fit to ride his factory Suzuki GSV-R in Le Mans next weekend. The Spaniard had looked a major doubt for round three of the MotoGP world championship when he broke his...

Bayliss takes one step closer to WSB comeback

14 May 2010 by Michael Guy

Bayliss takes one step closer to WSB comeback

Troy Bayliss exceeded all expectations when he completed his scheduled two day test at Mugello this week onboard a development Ducati 1198. On day one the three time WSB champion completed 60 laps...

Alvaro Bautista breaks collarbone

14 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista breaks collarbone

Factory Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista looks a certainty to miss next weekend’s French GP at Le Mans after breaking his collarbone in a motocross training accident. Suzuki is making no official comment...

Honda VFR1200 to Jerez

14 May 2010 by GrahamW0

Honda VFR1200 to Jerez

Graham & Ann-Marie White from Tingley, West Yorkshire at Jerez MotoGP on their new VFR1200.

Yamaha boss: ‘Keeping Valentino Rossi is priority’

13 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss: ‘Keeping Valentino Rossi is priority’

Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa has insisted the top priority for the Japanese factory is to keep Valentino Rossi for the 2011 MotoGP world championship campaign. The 31-year-old Italian has once again...

Kevin Schwantz looks at 2011 MotoGP market

13 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz looks at 2011 MotoGP market

With speculation currently rife about the future plans of some of the big name stars in the MotoGP world championship, American legend Kevin Schwantz has assessed the 2011 rider market. Valentino...

Aspar confirms Moto2 chassis switch

13 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Aspar confirms Moto2 chassis switch

Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez has confirmed his Moto2 squad will switch to a Suter MMX chassis from next weekend’s French GP at Le Mans. The Spaniard has ditched chassis supplier RSV after an indifferent...

Jerry Burgess hopes Valentino Rossi will stay at Yamaha

11 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess hopes Valentino Rossi will stay at Yamaha

Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess is hoping the nine-times world champion will pen a new deal to remain with Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in 2011. Rossi’s contract with the Fiat...

Colin Edwards targets Le Mans boost

11 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards targets Le Mans boost

Colin Edwards is confident he can kickstart his 2010 MotoGP campaign in Le Mans later this month having made significant progress with the set-up of his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine. Edwards...

Ducati 'working hard' to keep Casey Stoner

10 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati 'working hard' to keep Casey Stoner

Ducati bosses say they will leave no stone unturned to ensure Casey Stoner is not tempted by a rival offer to quit the Bologna factory at the end of the 2010 MotoGP world championship. Honda has...

Jerry Burgess praises Nicky Hayden revival

10 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess praises Nicky Hayden revival

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha crew chief Jerry Burgess has praised American Nicky Hayden’s brilliant revival in 2010. Hayden has been transformed by Ducati’s smoother Big Bang GP10 motor and he’s...

Suzuki boss expects axe for 800s

10 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki boss expects axe for 800s

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP boss Paul Denning believes the current generation 800cc four-stroke bikes will race for only one more season after 2010. Denning believes that every manufacturer entering the...

Aspar to switch to Suter Moto2 chassis

10 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Aspar to switch to Suter Moto2 chassis

Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez’s Moto2 squad will switch to a Suter MMX chassis for the remainder of the 2010 world championship. The Spaniard will ditch current chassis supplier RSV after an indifferent...

Honda cagey over Casey Stoner talks

06 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Honda cagey over Casey Stoner talks

Honda management are being cagey about an approach for 2007 world champion Casey Stoner. The Australian’s father and manager Colin Stoner attended last weekend’s Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez where he...

Nicky Hayden satisfied with 2010 form

06 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden satisfied with 2010 form

Nicky Hayden has declared himself satisfied with his impressive start to the 2010 MotoGP world championship. The Kentucky rider endured a nightmare debut season with Ducati but has been a revelation...

Colin Edwards hails Jorge Lorenzo’s Jerez win

06 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards hails Jorge Lorenzo’s Jerez win

American rider Colin Edwards has hailed Jorge Lorenzo’s late victory in last weekend’s Spanish MotoGP race as ‘brilliant’. The double World Superbike champion is a big admirer of 23-year-old Lorenzo,...