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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

MotoGP goes 1000cc from 2012

11 December 2009 by MCN

MotoGP goes 1000cc from 2012

FIM President Vito Ippolito and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta confirm today that MotoGP will run to a new 1000cc engine capacity for the 2012 season. Following talks between MotoGP’s governing...

MotoGP poised to confirm 1000cc switch

10 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP poised to confirm 1000cc switch

MotoGP bosses are expected to approve a switch to a 1000cc capacity limit at crunch meetings in Switzerland tomorrow (Friday). Facing mounting pressure to slash costs and stop plummeting grid numbers,...

Ex-Kawasaki MotoGP boss unveils Moto2 plan

10 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ex-Kawasaki MotoGP boss unveils Moto2 plan

Former factory Kawasaki MotoGP boss Michael Bartholemy has confirmed he will run a team in the new Moto2 world championship as part of an ambitious Belgian motorsport project. As was first reported by...

Honda chassis is major weak point, says HRC boss

09 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda chassis is major weak point, says HRC boss

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto has admitted that this year’s factory chassis was the major weak point of the 2009 RC212V. Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso complained throughout last season of problems...

Kevin Schwantz: Suzuki wrong not to sign Ben Spies

08 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz: Suzuki wrong not to sign Ben Spies

Kevin Schwantz reckons Suzuki made an appalling error of judgement in not signing Ben Spies for its factory MotoGP squad in 2009. The Texan legend says Suzuki management must regret letting Spies move...

Ben Spies: Adapting to Bridgestone quickly is vital

08 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies: Adapting to Bridgestone quickly is vital

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies has admitted his hopes of challenging for regular top six finishes in next year’s MotoGP world championship will depend on how quickly he can adapt to...

Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha future

07 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha future

Jorge Lorenzo has dismissed fears that Valentino Rossi’s influence will see him bombed out of Yamaha’s factory Yamaha at the end of 2010. World champion Rossi and highly rated Spaniard Lorenzo will...

Colin Edwards expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

07 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards expects strong challenge from Ben Spies

Colin Edwards has told MCN that he expects a strong challenge from new Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Ben Spies in next year’s MotoGP world championship. Spies will join fellow Texan Edwards in Herve...

Valentino Rossi fears engine restrictions will hurt MotoGP

04 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi fears engine restrictions will hurt MotoGP

Valentino Rossi fears cost-cutting engine restrictions in 2010 will further damage MotoGP as a spectacle. Rossi and his MotoGP rivals will only be able to use six engines for the entire 18-race world...

Honda boss eyes Andrea Dovizioso improvement

04 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda boss eyes Andrea Dovizioso improvement

Honda has warned Andrea Dovizioso his performances must improve in 2010. Aside from a brilliant wet weather victory at Donington Park, Dovizioso’s factory Honda debut campaign was largely...

Exclusive pics: Tech 3 Moto2 bike on track

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Exclusive pics: Tech 3 Moto2 bike on track

The Tech 3 team has given its new Moto2 bike its eagerly awaited track debut in France, as these MCN exclusive pictures show. Designed by Colin Edwards’ crew chief Guy Coulon and James Toseland’s...

Ben Spies cautious on 2010 prospects

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies cautious on 2010 prospects

Ben Spies insists he won’t get carried away after the reigning World Superbike champion made an encouraging start to his Yamaha MotoGP career last month. Spies finished seventh on his YZR-M1 debut in...

Rizla poised to sign new Suzuki MotoGP deal

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Rizla poised to sign new Suzuki MotoGP deal

Rizla is poised to sign a new two-year deal to stay as title sponsor of Suzuki’s factory MotoGP effort. MCN understands a new deal has already been agreed for 2010 and 2011 in what is a massive boost...

Casey Stoner impressed with Ben Spies

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner impressed with Ben Spies

Casey Stoner believes Ben Spies can make a big impact in his rookie MotoGP campaign in 2010. The Texan has already impressed ahead of his first full season in MotoGP next year after he claimed seventh...

Kevin Schwantz unsure of future Suzuki tie-up

02 December 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kevin Schwantz unsure of future Suzuki tie-up

Suzuki’s woeful year might dissuade American legend Kevin Schwantz from spearheading a new satellite team in 2011. The Texan has been locked in talks with JiR boss Gianluca Montiron about managing a...

Ex-Kawasaki MotoGP boss eyes Moto2 bid

30 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ex-Kawasaki MotoGP boss eyes Moto2 bid

Former factory Kawasaki boss Michael Bartholemy is planning to run a new team in the Moto2 600cc four-stroke world championship in 2010. MCN understands the Belgian will run a two-rider effort in the...

Loris Capirossi urges Suzuki improvement

30 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi urges Suzuki improvement

Loris Capirossi reckons Suzuki’s struggling factory GSV-R machine needs a radical revamp or risk a dismal 2010 MotoGP campaign. The Japanese factory endured a torrid 2009 with Capirossi and Chris...

British Grand Prix 125 trio at NEC Show

25 November 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

British Grand Prix 125 trio at NEC Show

Britain’s most successful GP racer Bradley Smith heads the talented trio of British 125 cc stars at the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC Birmingham. Get all the latest NEC Show...

Gowland with Moto2 FTR at NEC Show

25 November 2009 by MCN Sports Desk

Gowland with Moto2 FTR at NEC Show

British star Graeme Gowland and the FTR Moto M209 he took to second place in the final Spanish championship round at Valencia recently, will be at the NEC Show. Get all the latest NEC Show news The...

Josh 'Elbows' Elliot - One to watch

24 November 2009 by Michael Neeves

Josh 'Elbows' Elliot - One to watch

You probably haven’t heard of him, but this is the outrageously talented Josh Elliott from Northern Ireland. He’s only 15 and has been a front runner in the German Supersport Championship this year.

What a load of cocks

23 November 2009 by crazypigfarmer

What a load of cocks

We had a good time in Valencia! We even made it on to Eurosport and BBC.

Gino Rea tests Moto2 machine

20 November 2009 by Michael Neeves

Gino Rea tests Moto2 machine

2009 European Superstock 600 Champion Gino Rea tested Racing Team Germany’s Moto2 bike in Almeria in southern Spain on Wednesday.  The British rider adapted quickly to the new machine, which is built...

Dani Pedrosa: “We must improve the stability"

19 November 2009

Dani Pedrosa: “We must improve the stability"

The 2009 season was not an easy season for Dani Pedrosa. An accident-filled pre-season, with operations and recovery time included, prevented the Repsol Honda rider from arriving at the first race in...

Niccolo Canepa signs for Scot Racing in Moto2

19 November 2009 by Liam Marsden

Niccolo Canepa signs for Scot Racing in Moto2

Italian rider Niccolo Canepa will race in the new Moto2 class in 2010 with the Scot Racing team after a deal was signed today. Scot Racing won the last ever 250cc championship this year with Hiroshi...

2010 race calendar updated

17 November 2009 by Liam Marsden

2010 race calendar updated

The latest provisional calendar for the 2010 MotoGP season has been announced, with Brno moving back to its original date of 15 August. If one of the circuits on the calendar is unable to hold the...

Video: Casey Stoner's warm-up lap crash

16 November 2009 by Liam Marsden

Video: Casey Stoner's warm-up lap crash

Video of Casey Stoner’s warm-up lap crash in Valencia has appeared on video sharing website Youtube. See the video here Previously, the only perspective fans had of the crash was from an onboard...

Gowland fourth in Jerez Moto2 debut

16 November 2009 by Gary Pinchin

Gowland fourth in Jerez Moto2 debut

FTR Moto’s new Moto2 machine put in its most impressive display to date as Graeme Gowland finished fourth in class and 13th overall among 1000cc Extreme class bikes at Jerez on Sunday Gowland was...

Casey Stoner talks Valencia warm-up lap crash

13 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner talks Valencia warm-up lap crash

Casey Stoner has finally talked about the warm-up lap crash that ended his hopes of claiming victory in the final MotoGP clash of the season in Valencia last weekend. The Aussie started the 30-lap...

Nicky Hayden: "Ben Spies belongs in MotoGP"

13 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden: "Ben Spies belongs in MotoGP"

Former world champion Nicky Hayden said it is obvious that Ben Spies deserves to be in MotoGP after the Texan’s impressive performance in Valencia. Spies rode to a brilliant seventh place on his...

Colin Edwards ends 2009 on the toilet

13 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards ends 2009 on the toilet

Colin Edwards had a miserable ending to a brilliant 2009 after the Texan had to quit the Valencia test earlier this week with a severe virus. The 35-year-old, who claimed a stunning fifth place in...

Scott Redding unsure of future

13 November 2009 by MCN

Scott Redding unsure of future

Eighteen months after becoming the youngest rider in history to win a Grand Prix, Scott Redding heads into the winter with no job.  The 16-year-old will quit 125GPs but as yet has no offers in Moto2...

Hiroshi Aoyama draws on Daijiro Kato inspiration

13 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hiroshi Aoyama draws on Daijiro Kato inspiration

Hiroshi Aoyama reckons he drew inspiration from late Japanese star Daijiro Kato after he claimed a historic victory in the final 250GP world championship in Valencia last weekend. The Scot Honda...

Best race at Valencia Moto GP

12 November 2009 by alan joy

Just back from Valencia where we froze, was it ever cold! Bradley did his usual excellent job, pity it was second AGAIN. Ben Spies kept us on out toes with his overtaking manoevres, and the 250 race was entertaining which could have ended in disaster for the eventual world champ. Did anybody see the last race for the youngsters on the 50cc bikes? 5 abreast into the first corner and no...

Hector Barbera top rookie at Valencia test

11 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hector Barbera top rookie at Valencia test

Hector Barbera grabbed some of the attention away from Marco Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista to end the Valencia test session as best rookie. Making his debut on the Aspar Ducati, the Spaniard ended...

Casey Stoner ends 2009 on top

11 November 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner ends 2009 on top

Casey Stoner ended a turbulent 2009 campaign on a high today, the Australian posting the fastest time at the end of testing at a sun drenched Valencia.  Continuing to put in crucial early development...

More Bradley Smith please

11 November 2009 by hyabusa47

Bradley Smith in MCN this week. Hi all first of all well done on the MCN being reading it weekly for years so keep up the good work. My only issue was that reading the sports section this week I see no mention of Bradley Smith at all. Come on whats going on?  The guy has rode exceptional well this year and has produced some excellent viewing and sometimes the 125 racing has been better viewing...