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

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner lights up first practice

09 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner lights up first practice

Casey Stoner’s quest for a fourth straight victory in the Qatar MotoGP race started in dominant fashion tonight when the Australian topped the timesheets in the opening practice session of 2010. ...

Qatar MotoGP: Scott Redding second in Moto2 opener

09 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Qatar MotoGP: Scott Redding second in Moto2 opener

British rider Scott Redding came close to creating a slice of history for himself in Qatar tonight when he finished second fastest in the first ever official Moto2 practice session. The Marc VDS...

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith misses top ten

09 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Qatar MotoGP: Bradley Smith misses top ten

Bradley Smith made a somewhat disappointing start to the 2010 125GP world championship in Qatar tonight. The pre-season title favourite was only 11th on the timesheets at the end of the first...

Tech 3 boss excited by Ben Spies potential

09 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 boss excited by Ben Spies potential

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal reckons American Ben Spies stands a fantastic chance of becoming a major success in the MotoGP world championship. The Texan will ride alongside compatriot...

Suzuki aiming to improve new GSV-R

09 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki aiming to improve new GSV-R

Suzuki boss Paul Denning has said the Japanese factory still has plenty of room to improve its 2010 GSV-R MotoGP contender. The new 2010 V4 has improved significantly during the shortened winter...

Ben Spies plays down early MotoGP hopes

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies plays down early MotoGP hopes

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies has played down hopes that he can make an instant impact in his first full season challenging Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner in MotoGP. The Texan has been...

Valentino Rossi predicts tough 2010 fight

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi predicts tough 2010 fight

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi reckons his quest for a tenth world title in 2010 will be one of the toughest of his illustrious career. Speaking on the eve of the first race in Qatar, the...

Improved tyre life boosts Casey Stoner

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Improved tyre life boosts Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner reckons improved tyre life from Ducati’s new Big Bang GP10 motor will give his hopes of success in this year’s MotoGP world championship a massive boost. The 2007 world champion, who is...

Jorge Lorenzo hopeful on hand injury

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo hopeful on hand injury

Last year’s MotoGP world championship runner-up Jorge Lorenzo is hopeful his damaged right hand will not give him serious problems during this weekend’s Qatar clash in Doha. The 22-year-old claims...

Dani Pedrosa: No regrets over late Ohlins switch

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa: No regrets over late Ohlins switch

Dani Pedrosa insists he’s got no regrets about not opting to switch to Ohlins suspension when given the chance by Honda last August. The Spaniard goes into the eagerly anticipated season opener in...

No ‘keep it clean’ order for Fiat Yamaha duo

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

No ‘keep it clean’ order for Fiat Yamaha duo

Yamaha has insisted it doesn’t need to remind Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo to keep their expected fierce battle in 2010 a clean scrap. The Fiat Yamaha duo have raged an intense battle against...

Scott Redding aims high in Qatar

08 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding aims high in Qatar

British teenager Scott Redding believes a top five finish in the historic first Moto2 clash in Qatar on Sunday night is not an unrealistic target. The Gloucestershire rider will make his debut for the...

First race not significant, says Casey Stoner

07 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

First race not significant, says Casey Stoner

Qatar specialist Casey Stoner has played down the importance of claiming victory in the first race of the season for a fourth successive year in 2010. The Aussie ended winter testing in style recently...

Yamaha boss confident in 2010 bike

07 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss confident in 2010 bike

Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa is confident the new YZR-M1 machine can continue the Japanese factory’s domination of the MotoGP world championship in 2010. The YZR-M1 has been the dominant machine in 2008...

Consistency more crucial in 2010, says Yamaha boss

07 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Consistency more crucial in 2010, says Yamaha boss

A crucial factor in deciding the destiny 2010 MotoGP world championship will be consistency, according to Fiat Yamaha boss Davide Brivio. Brivio, who is again at the helm of Valentino Rossi’s factory...

Loris Capirossi determined to race in 2011

07 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi determined to race in 2011

Loris Capirossi is determined that his record-breaking 2010 MotoGP campaign won’t be his last. The veteran Italian will create history in Qatar this weekend when he becomes the first rider in history...

Valentino Rossi expects tough battle in 2010

06 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi expects tough battle in 2010

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has said he expects an even tougher fight to successfully defend his premier class title this year. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who was in a superb form...

Loris Capirossi ready for historic Qatar clash

06 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi ready for historic Qatar clash

Italian Loris Capirossi will re-write the record books this weekend in Qatar when he becomes the first rider in history to make 300 GP appearances. Capriossi will start his 21st year in world...

Bradley Smith ready to start title challenge

06 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith ready to start title challenge

Aspar Aprilia rider Bradley Smith is confident he will be challenging for victories from the start of the new 2010 campaign. The Oxfordshire rider begins his quest for 125GP glory under the Losail...

Danny Webb eyes Qatar top ten

06 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb eyes Qatar top ten

British rider Danny Webb has targeted a top ten finish when the new 125GP world championship gets underway in Qatar on Sunday night. Webb, who will ride for the Andalucia Cajasol Aprilia squad in...

Dani Pedrosa ‘positive’ ahead of first race

06 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa ‘positive’ ahead of first race

Factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa insists he is in positive mood heading to the eagerly anticipated first MotoGP clash in Qatar this weekend. The Spaniard has endured a nightmare winter testing...

Scott Redding gets new Moto2 team-mate

04 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding gets new Moto2 team-mate

Scott Redding will start the inaugural Moto2 world championship in Qatar next week with a new team-mate in the Belgian-based Marc VDS Racing squad. A series of disappointing testing performances on...

Casey Stoner backs Ben Spies to succeed in MotoGP

01 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner backs Ben Spies to succeed in MotoGP

Former world champion Casey Stoner reckons Ben Spies has all the credentials to become a major force in the MotoGP world championship. The 24-year-old is one of a growing list of admirers of the...

Hiroshi Aoyama eyes top ‘rookie’ prize

01 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Hiroshi Aoyama eyes top ‘rookie’ prize

Reigning 250GP world champion Hiroshi Aoyama has set his sights on finishing top rookie in his first attempt at the MotoGP world championship. The Japanese rider, who has struggled to make a major...

Colin Edwards looks to race beyond 2010

01 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards looks to race beyond 2010

Colin Edwards reckons he’s no intention of quitting MotoGP at the end of the 2010 world championship campaign. The Texan is poised to start his eighth premier class campaign after he enjoyed arguably...

Suspension switch delay costly for Dani Pedrosa

01 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Suspension switch delay costly for Dani Pedrosa

Andrea Dovizioso reckons factory Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa may have made a big mistake by not switching to Ohlins suspension when he had the chance last August. HRC gave Italian Dovizioso and...

Nicky Hayden expresses qualifying concern

01 April 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden expresses qualifying concern

American Nicky Hayden has admitted he’s worried about his failure to master Bridgestone’s new soft tyre as the start of new MotoGP campaign draws closer. Hayden fears his failure to quickly adapt to...

Results to determine Loris Capirossi’s future decision

31 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Results to determine Loris Capirossi’s future decision

Suzuki boss Paul Denning reckons 2010 performances will determine whether Italian veteran Loris Capirossi opts to prolong his career. Triple world champion Capirossi has already hinted that 2010 might...

Ducati boss: ‘I see a new Casey Stoner’

31 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss: ‘I see a new Casey Stoner’

Ducati boss Vittoriano Guareschi believes Casey Stoner is a transformed character after the trials and tribulations of a tough 2009. The Australian rider had to miss three races last season while he...

Pressure on Jorge Lorenzo to win MotoGP crown

31 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Pressure on Jorge Lorenzo to win MotoGP crown

Jorge Lorenzo will be under immense pressure to deliver his first MotoGP world crown in 2010, according to Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio. The Spaniard is poised to start his third...

Mika Kallio targets consistent top six challenge

31 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio targets consistent top six challenge

Finnish rider Mika Kallio has set himself the target of becoming a regular top six contender in the 2010 MotoGP world championship. The Pramac Ducati rider ended 15th overall in his rookie campaign...

Alvaro Bautista adjusts to MotoGP electronics

31 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Alvaro Bautista adjusts to MotoGP electronics

Suzuki rookie Alvaro Bautista reckons he’s making big progress in understanding the high level of influence that electronics have in MotoGP. The former world 125GP champion and 250GP title contender...

Toni Elias in fitness fight for first Moto2 race

30 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias in fitness fight for first Moto2 race

Pre-season favourite Toni Elias is facing a race to be fit for the inaugural Moto2 world championship clash in Qatar next month. The Spaniard is due to undergo surgery today (Tuesday) in Barcelona...

Scott Redding buoyant after final Moto2 test

30 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding buoyant after final Moto2 test

Scott Redding’s confidence rocketed after he ended the final Moto2 test in Jerez with the fourth quickest time. The British teenager, who was second fastest on day two, ended with a best time of...

New Ducati boss determined to keep Casey Stoner

30 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

New Ducati boss determined to keep Casey Stoner

New factory Ducati boss Vittoriano Guareschi has told MCN one of his main priorities for 2010 is to ensure Casey Stoner remains with the Bologna factory beyond the forthcoming MotoGP season. Stoner’s...

Ben Spies targets improved early race speed

29 March 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies targets improved early race speed

Ben Spies reckons he still needs to improve his speed on new Bridgestone tyres as his eagerly anticipated first full season in MotoGP draws closer. Spies has impressed throughout the winter testing...