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

Loris Capirossi ‘excited’ to see first TT

06 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi ‘excited’ to see first TT

Factory Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of witnessing the famous Isle of Man TT races for the first time next month. The veteran Italian will make his first...

Kevin Schwantz praises resurgent Nicky Hayden

05 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz praises resurgent Nicky Hayden

American legend Kevin Schwantz has hailed Nicky Hayden’s brilliant start to the 2010 MotoGP world championship. The Texan said he was impressed that Hayden’s incredible work ethic, patience and talent...

Casey Stoner: Lorenzo made us look silly

05 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: Lorenzo made us look silly

Casey Stoner reckons Spanish GP winner Jorge Lorenzo made his rivals look silly after the Fiat Yamaha rider’s brilliant late victory in Jerez last weekend. Lorenzo fought back from fifth place in the...

Andrea Dovizioso seeking easier Honda

05 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso seeking easier Honda

Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso believes Honda still needs to make its factory RC212V contender a more manageable package in 2010. Although Honda management continue to insist that the bike is not good...

Dani Pedrosa quickest at Jerez test despite crash

04 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa quickest at Jerez test despite crash

Dani Pedrosa ended a one-day test session at the Jerez circuit with the fastest time after the Spaniard had luckily escaped injury in a high-speed crash. The Repsol Honda rider ended one of only two...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo elated after home triumph

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo elated after home triumph

Jorge Lorenzo produced a stunning second half fightback in Jerez yesterday to win his first MotoGP race on home soil. The jubilant Fiat Yamaha rider had looked out of contention for victory in the...

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa shocked by victory bid

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa shocked by victory bid

Dani Pedrosa put his recent problems with Honda’s new factory RC212V contender behind him to come tantalisngly close to a shock victory in front of over 122,000 home fans in Jerez yesterday. ...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with third

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with third

Valentino Rossi declared himself satisfied with a hard fought third place in Jerez yesterday, despite surrendering the lead in the 2010 MotoGP world championship to factory Yamaha team-mate Jorge...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden fourth again

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden fourth again

Nicky Hayden admitted he was hoping to have posed a more serious podium threat after he finished yesterday’s Spanish MotoGP race in a distant fourth place. The American held third place for the...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner disappointed with fifth

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner disappointed with fifth

Casey Stoner could not disguise his disappointment after he failed to make any major impact in yesterday’s Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez. The Australian had to settle for fifth place and on a tough...

Jerez MotoGP: Mystery front tyre issue costs Ben Spies

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Mystery front tyre issue costs Ben Spies

An undiagnosed front tyre issue left Ben Spies contemplating what might have been after the Texan was forced to retire in the early stages of yesterday’s Spanish MotoGP race. Boosted by a brilliant...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith looking to improve

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith looking to improve

Bradley Smith is confident he can be back fighting for podium finishes in the 125GP world championship after a battling fourth place in Jerez yesterday. The Oxfordshire rider was gifted a 13-point...

Jerez MotoGP: Scott Redding just misses Moto2 top 15

03 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Scott Redding just misses Moto2 top 15

Scott Redding was denied his first points-scoring finish in the Moto2 world championship by just 0.2s in Jerez yesterday. The British teenager lost out in a race long scrap with former factory...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo claims stunning late win

02 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo claims stunning late win

Jorge Lorenzo seized the lead in the MotoGP world championship after claiming a stunning late victory in his home race at Jerez today. The Fiat Yamaha rider fought back superbly from a distant fifth...

Jerez MotoGP: Toni Elias wins Moto2 classic

02 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Toni Elias wins Moto2 classic

Toni Elias won a pulsating and dramatic Moto2 race in Jerez this afternoon to deny Shoya Tomizawa a second successive victory. The Spaniard used all his experience to ride a faultless final lap as the...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in Spain

02 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith fourth in Spain

Bradley Smith claimed a somewhat fortuitous fourth place in today’s Spanish 125GP as home favourite Pol Espargaro claimed a late victory. Smith benefited from a series of mistakes and misfortune in...

Jerez MotoGP: Grip bigger issue than shoulder, says Valentino Rossi

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Grip bigger issue than shoulder, says Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi reckons a rear grip issue is causing more trouble than his damaged right shoulder after he just missed claiming a place on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s Spanish MotoGP...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden talks 132mph crash

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden talks 132mph crash

American Nicky Hayden has spoken of his relief at escaping serious injury in a terrifying high-speed crash in Jerez today. The 2006 world champion recovered superbly from a horrific 132mph crash in...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner ‘surprised’ with front row

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner ‘surprised’ with front row

Despite topping the timesheets at the end of opening free practice yesterday, former world champion Casey Stoner declared himself ‘surprised’ after he claimed a front row start for the Spanish MotoGP...

Jerez MotoGP: Ben Spies confident of top six assault

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Ben Spies confident of top six assault

Ben Spies is confident he can emulate his top six finish in the season’s opening race in Jerez tomorrow after he produced another impressive qualifying display. The Texan will start his second race...

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa plays down victory hopes

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa plays down victory hopes

Dani Pedrosa snatched a shock pole position for his home race in Jerez today and then quickly played down his hopes of winning the Spanish MotoGP race. Pedrosa cast aside his early season woes to...

Jerez MotoGP: Shoya Tomizawa tops Moto2 qualifying

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Shoya Tomizawa tops Moto2 qualifying

Shoya Tomizawa continued his brilliant start to the new Moto2 world championship today when he set the fastest time in a closely fought and enthralling qualifying session. Tomizawa, who created...

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa claims shock pole position

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa claims shock pole position

A rejuvenated Dani Pedrosa stormed to a shock pole position for his home race in Jerez tomorrow after a thrilling qualifying session for the Spanish MotoGP race. Just over one second split the top 11...

Jerez MotoGP: Marquez takes pole and lap record

01 May 2010 by James Keen

Jerez MotoGP: Marquez takes pole and lap record

Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider Marc Marquez secured pole for tomorrow’s Jerex 125cc GP with a record-setting lap of the Spanish track. The all Spanish front row is completed by Tuenti Racing team...

Jerez MotoGP: Second row for Bradley Smith

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Second row for Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith will need to produce the performance of his career if he is to capture a second successive 125GP victory in the Spanish GP at Jerez tomorrow. The British teenager, who won his first...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden walks away from massive crash

01 May 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden walks away from massive crash

American Nicky Hayden was fortunate to escape injury after he was involved in a high-speed crash during the final practice session in Jerez this morning. The 2006 world champion was lying in fourth...

Jerez MotoGP: Ben Spies ‘super-happy’ with 11th

30 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Ben Spies ‘super-happy’ with 11th

Ben Spies declared himself ‘super-happy’ after the Texan made an impressive debut at the Jerez circuit in Spain today. The Texan underlined again how quickly he can master a new track when he surged...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden on pace again

30 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden on pace again

Nicky Hayden showed his brilliant fourth place in Qatar earlier this month was no fluke after the American rider set the third fastest time in opening free practice for this weekend’s Jerez clash.

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner undaunted by late crash

30 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner undaunted by late crash

Casey Stoner shrugged off yet another front-end crash on his factory Ducati GP10 machine in Jerez today after the Australian topped the opening practice timesheets. Stoner denied his confidence was...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi doubts victory challenge

30 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi doubts victory challenge

Valentino Rossi has cast doubt on whether he can claim a 105th Grand Prix victory in Jerez this weekend after he ended opening practice down in fifth place. The Italian conceded his hopes of success...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest after late crash

30 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest after late crash

Casey Stoner’s bid to claim his first ever victory at the Jerez circuit in Spain got off to a mixed start today. The Australian ended the session with the fastest time having impressively led the way...

Jerez MotoGP: Top ten start for British 125 duo

30 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Top ten start for British 125 duo

Bradley Smith and Danny Webb both ended first practice for Sunday’s Spanish 125GP in Jerez in the top ten. It wasn’t the speedy recovery Aspar Aprilia rider Smith might have been hoping for as his bid...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of victory challenge

29 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of victory challenge

Casey Stoner is confident he can mount a strong challenge for victory in Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP race at Jerez. The Australian is looking to bounce back from the bitter disappointment of crashing out...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi admits shoulder fear

29 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi admits shoulder fear

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has expressed concerns that his damaged right shoulder will be a severe handicap during this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez. The Italian stretched...

Jerez MotoGP: Honda to test new engine on Monday

29 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Honda to test new engine on Monday

Andrea Dovizioso has revealed he will test a new RC212V factory Honda engine during Monday’s MotoGP test session at the Jerez circuit in Spain. The engine is a brand new V4 and is designed to tame...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden cautious despite fast start

29 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden cautious despite fast start

Nicky Hayden has insisted he will not get swept away on a new wave of optimism after his brilliant first race performance in Qatar. Hayden heads into this weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez buoyant after...