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

Yamaha chase grip with 2010 YZR-M1

16 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha chase grip with 2010 YZR-M1

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess reckons Yamaha has achieved one of its major 2010 targets by improving rear grip with a new YZR-M1 chassis. As well as increasing performance and durability...

Scott Redding excited ahead of Moto2 test

16 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding excited ahead of Moto2 test

British rider Scott Redding has told MCN of his excitement and anticipation as he prepares to begin his 2010 Moto2 preparations tomorrow (Wednesday). Scott Redding’s Moto2 bike Redding will get his...

Ben Spies boosted by Colin Edwards advice

15 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies boosted by Colin Edwards advice

Ben Spies reckons the help and advice offered by Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards is proving invaluable in helping him make a quick transition to MotoGP. Spies and Edwards were constantly...

Loris Capirossi unfazed by Suzuki engine delay

15 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi unfazed by Suzuki engine delay

Loris Capirossi has shrugged off Suzuki’s surprise failure to roll out its 2010 factory GSV-R motor in Sepang earlier this month. The veteran Italian, poised to make his 300th Grand Prix appearance...

Scott Redding’s Moto2 bike unveiled

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding’s Moto2 bike unveiled

This is the first look at the stunning new Marc VDS Moto2 bike that British rider Scott Redding will debut in Catalunya next week. The youngest rider in history to win a Grand Prix, the...

Jorge Lorenzo breaks right hand

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo breaks right hand

Jorge Lorenzo has suffered a massive pre-season blow after the 2009 MotoGP world championship runner-up broke his right hand in a motocross training accident yesterday (Thursday). The 22-year-old was...

FB Corse unveils MotoGP contender

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

FB Corse unveils MotoGP contender

The FB Corse squad unveiled its new three-cylinder MotoGP machine in Italy yesterday (Thursday). But future plans for the team remain shrouded in mystery with the new bike still to make its track...

Nicky Hayden fit after arm surgery

12 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden fit after arm surgery

Nicky Hayden will be fit to ride his factory Ducati GP10 in Sepang later this month after a successful right arm operation in Spain this week. The 2006 MotoGP world champion underwent routine surgery...

Yamaha secrecy no big issue, insists Jerry Burgess

11 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha secrecy no big issue, insists Jerry Burgess

Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess has brushed off Yamaha’s decision to ban data sharing between the Italian and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in 2010. Yamaha confirmed during last week’s...

Marco Melandri happy with new Honda policy

11 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri happy with new Honda policy

Marco Melandri has said Honda’s new policy of starting the 2010 MotoGP campaign with all six RC212V machines at the same spec will significantly aid bike development. HRC has scrapped its usual...

MotoGP boss impressed as Silverstone revamp takes shape

11 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP boss impressed as Silverstone revamp takes shape

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta said he was ‘hugely impressed’ having caught a first look at the multi-million pound revamp of the Silverstone circuit today. Although the majority of the famous...

Silverstone MotoGP race gets title sponsor

10 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Silverstone MotoGP race gets title sponsor

The 2010 British MotoGP race at Silverstone will be sponsored by AirAsia after a three-year deal was announced today at the Northamptonshire circuit. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezepeleta flew in to sign the...

Colin Edwards motivated by Ben Spies threat

10 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards motivated by Ben Spies threat

Colin Edwards reckons the battle to be number one American in MotoGP this year will give him all the motivation he needs as he prepares for his eighth premier class campaign. Last season Edwards...

Ben Spies happy with new Yamaha performance

09 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies happy with new Yamaha performance

Ben Spies believes his 2010 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine will be a competitive package after he impressed again during winter testing in Sepang last week. The Texan made his debut on Yamaha’s new...

Aprilia and BMW silent on MotoGP plans

09 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Aprilia and BMW silent on MotoGP plans

Aprilia and BMW have not yet stated their intention to be part of the MotoGP world championship when 1000cc four-strokes are allowed to race in 2012. As part of another major shake-up of MotoGP rules,...

Honda reshuffle factory team for 2010

09 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Honda reshuffle factory team for 2010

Desperate to win its first MotoGP title of the 800cc era and first premier class crown since 2006, Honda unveiled a new management structure during last week’s winter test session at the Sepang...

Valentino Rossi cools future talk

09 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi cools future talk

Valentino Rossi has decided to step away from commenting on the constant speculation surrounding his future plans in MotoGP. The Italian is in the last year of a two-season deal with Yamaha’s factory...

Scott Redding gets crew chief boost

08 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding gets crew chief boost

Scott Redding has been given a massive pre-season boost after it was confirmed that Nicky Hayden’s former MotoGP world championship-winning crew chief Pete Benson is to oversee the British rider’s...

Casey Stoner unconcerned by Yamaha performance

08 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner unconcerned by Yamaha performance

Casey Stoner has denied being overly concerned by the impressive performance of Yamaha’s new 2010 YZR-M1 contender after last week’s Sepang test in Malaysia. Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino...

10,000 fans turnout for Valentino Rossi’s first Thai appearance

08 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

10,000 fans turnout for Valentino Rossi’s first Thai appearance

Ten thousand fans attended Valentino Rossi’s first public appearance in Thailand last weekend. Rossi and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo took part in a special two-day PR visit immediately after...

Mini Moto 125GPs

07 February 2010 by Peter Johnson

Mini Moto 125GPs

I’ve been in to motorcycles for about 22 years or so, and I’m also an amateur photographer. I took this at this MotoGP 125 race and tried this tilt shift effect just for fun.

Valentino Rossi dominates Sepang test

05 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi dominates Sepang test

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi struck a massive early psychological blow against his MotoGP rivals with a dominant performance at the two-day Sepang test. Rossi ended a rain-hit second day...

Valentino Rossi makes flying start to 2010

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi makes flying start to 2010

Valentino Rossi made the perfect start to his campaign for a 10th world title after he topped the timesheets on the opening day of 2010 winter testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The...

1000cc move to entice Valentino Rossi to race on?

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

1000cc move to entice Valentino Rossi to race on?

Valentino Rossi has hinted that he could prolong his career to race in the new 1000cc MotoGP world championship in 2012. The current 800cc four-stroke format will be scrapped at the end of 2011 with a...

Valentino Rossi expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi has backed Ben Spies to have a successful debut campaign in MotoGP. The Italian believes Texan Spies has all the attributes to be a major threat in 2010 after...

Jorge Lorenzo Q and A

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo Q and A

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo has spoken about his thoughts ahead of the 2010 MotoGP world championship campaign. Preparing for this third year in Yamaha’s official factory team, the double world 250GP...

Yamaha boss predicts podium challenge from Ben Spies

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss predicts podium challenge from Ben Spies

Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis is confident that Ben Spies will be a podium threat in his first full season in the MotoGP world championship. After a record-breaking surge to the World Superbike championship...

More secrets at Fiat Yamaha in 2010

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

More secrets at Fiat Yamaha in 2010

The controversial issue of data sharing between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo has taken another twist after Yamaha bosses insisted there will be less sharing of information between the pair next...

Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha boss talks 2010

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha boss talks 2010

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha boss Davide Brivio has given his thoughts on the forthcoming 2010 MotoGP campaign, including the much talked about future of the reigning world champion. Not...

Fewer mistakes vital for Jorge Lorenzo, says new Yamaha boss

04 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Fewer mistakes vital for Jorge Lorenzo, says new Yamaha boss

Jorge Lorenzo’s new team boss Wilco Zeelenberg reckons the key to the Spaniard mounting a stronger challenge for MotoGP glory in 2010 will be making fewer mistakes than last season. Zeelenberg, who...

MotoGP bosses set for more 1000cc talks in Sepang

03 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP bosses set for more 1000cc talks in Sepang

The introduction of a new 1000cc capacity limit for the 2012 MotoGP world championship campaign will be further discussed at this week’s Sepang test session in Malaysia. MotoGP bosses thrashed out an...

Swiss Moto2 squad shows of 2010 project

03 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Swiss Moto2 squad shows of 2010 project

The Technomag CIP squad has shown off its new Moto2 contender that will challenge for honours in the new 600cc four-stroke world championship class in 2010. The team will run Swiss rider Dominique...

Valentino Rossi: ‘Yamaha is my first choice’

03 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: ‘Yamaha is my first choice’

Valentino Rossi has reiterated his desire to remain at Yamaha in 2011 if he opts to delay retirement. Rossi’s premier class future has already been the subject of frenzied speculation with the...

Casey Stoner backs Bradley Smith for title assault

02 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner backs Bradley Smith for title assault

Casey Stoner reckons rising British star Bradley Smith will be a serious 125GP world title contender in 2010. The Aussie has been monitoring Smith’s career closely and was impressed with the...

Rizla sign new Suzuki MotoGP deal

01 February 2010 by Matthew Birt

Rizla sign new Suzuki MotoGP deal

Rizla will remain as title sponsor of Suzuki’s factory MotoGP effort in 2010 and 2011, as was first reported by MCN at the beginning of December, Suzuki announced today (Monday) that it had secured a...

McCoy back in MotoGP with FB Corse

31 January 2010 by Michael Guy

McCoy back in MotoGP with FB Corse

Garry McCoy will make a sensational return to the Grand Prix paddock where he made his name after signing a two-year deal to ride for FB Corse in MotoGP. MCN can confirm that the 37 year old...