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

Red Bull Rookies: Double victory for Oncu at Assen

04 July 2018 by Kristen Cummings

Red Bull Rookies: Double victory for Oncu at Assen

The Red Bull Rookies championship headed to the Cathedral of Speed- Assen last weekend. A track that is guaranteed to produce dramatic, enthralling and edge-of-your-seat racing from its flat, twisting...

MotoGP: Marquez wins epic Assen duel

01 July 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez wins epic Assen duel

Few races are written immediately into the history books as the flag flies at the finish line, but the 2018 Dutch GP will be one of them. It was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who emerged from the...

Moto2: Bagnaia extends title challenge

01 July 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Bagnaia extends title challenge

Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) took a dominant fourth victory of the season at the Motul TT Assen after leading from start to finish, eventually taking the checkered flag 1.748 seconds ahead...

Moto3: Martin takes back championship lead with Assen win

01 July 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin takes back championship lead with Assen win

Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) has become the first to win a Moto3™ race at the TT Circuit Assen from pole position, breaking the jinx in style to fight it out at the front before pulling the...

Moto2: Bagnaia ahead in red flagged qualifying

30 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Bagnaia ahead in red flagged qualifying

After topping every Free Practice session at the Motul TT Assen, Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) set a 1:37.608 to win the battle for pole position, beating Marcel Schroetter (Dynavolt Intact...

MotoGP: Marquez tops frantic qualifying

30 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez tops frantic qualifying

It’s reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who will be starting from pole at the Motul TT Assen – his first at the venue in the premier class, only second of the 2018 season and 75th...

Moto3: Business as usual as Martin takes Assen pole

30 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Business as usual as Martin takes Assen pole

Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) will start Sunday’s lightweight class race from pole position for a record 14th time in his Moto3™ career, setting a 1:42.039 to beat Catalan GP winner Enea...

Moto2: Bagnaia continues run by topping Assen

29 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Bagnaia continues run by topping Assen

Francesco Bagnaia’s (Sky Racing Team VR46) Motul TT Assen got off to the perfect start as the Championship leader topped both FP1 and FP2 on Friday, with Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) second on the...

MotoGP: Vinales tops opening day in Assen

29 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Vinales tops opening day in Assen

After two weekends ruled by one man, the timesheets have had a shake up once again at the Motul TT Assen – with Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) taking to the top late in FP2 to go fastest on...

Moto3: Canet holds off Martin for top spot

29 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canet holds off Martin for top spot

Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was the quickest rider in Moto3™ FP2 at the Motul TT Assen to top the combined timesheets on the opening day, after finishing fourth in the morning. The Spaniard...

MotoGP: Pedrosa’s deal with Petronas Yamaha imminent

27 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa’s deal with Petronas Yamaha imminent

MCN’s sources believe that an announcement is imminent about Dani Pedrosa’s future in the MotoGP championship, with the Spaniard believed to have already signed a contract that will see him join the...

MotoGP: Poncharal expecting strong weekend for Tech 3 duo

27 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Poncharal expecting strong weekend for Tech 3 duo

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal says he’s expecting a good weekend in Assen for his duo of Johann Zarco and Hafizh Syahrin, with both of the pair looking to bounce back after average...

Moto2: Triumph’s Moto2 engine breaks cover

27 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Triumph’s Moto2 engine breaks cover

Triumph’s new Moto2 engine has broken cover for the first time fitted to race bike chassis, with Kalex, KTM and NTS taking to the track at Motorland Aragon for a three-day outing last week with the...

MotoGP: Barcelona test sets up Marquez for Assen

27 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Barcelona test sets up Marquez for Assen

MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez says he’s expecting a strong weekend at the Dutch TT this weekend, coming off the back of a strong one-day test after the last round of the championship in...

MotoGP: Marquez leaves it late to top test

18 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez leaves it late to top test

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) topped the one-day Official Test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a late 1:38.919 despite a fall, with most of the grid back on track on Monday after the...

MotoGP: Lorenzo makes it two from two with sublime win

17 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo makes it two from two with sublime win

Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) hammered home the victory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in flawless style, taking the win by over four seconds to secure his second consecutive win. Marc...

Moto2: Quartararo demolishes the field for debut win

17 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Quartararo demolishes the field for debut win

Fabio Quartararo (HDR – Speed Up Racing) stormed to a stunning first Grand Prix victory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya to take his first podium finish since Assen 2015 in Moto3™, with...

Moto3: Bastianini wins in chaotic battle

17 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bastianini wins in chaotic battle

Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) took his first victory since Motegi 2016 in a dramatic Moto3™ race at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, with Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrüstelGP) taking second...

Moto2: Quartararo ups the pace for debut pole

16 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Quartararo ups the pace for debut pole

Fabio Quartararo (HRD – Speed Up Racing) will start tomorrow’s Moto2™ Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya race from pole position, setting a blistering 1:43.474 to beat 2017 race winner Alex...

MotoGP: Lorenzo on a roll with Barcelona pole

16 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo on a roll with Barcelona pole

Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) secured a tantalising first pole position since Valencia 2016 at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in a spectacular Q2 session, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda...

Moto3: Bastianini comes out top in frantic qualifying

16 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bastianini comes out top in frantic qualifying

Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) will start tomorrow’s Moto3 race at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya from pole position as he took top spot in qualifying for the first time since Aragon...

Moto2: Bagnaia maintains championship momentum

15 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Bagnaia maintains championship momentum

Francesco Bagnaia’s (Sky Racing Team VR46) FP1 time was enough to keep the Championship leader at the top of the combined timesheets on Friday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, leading a...

MotoGP: Lorenzo finds his mojo at home race

15 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo finds his mojo at home race

Mugello race winner Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was the man to beat on the opening day at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, ending FP2 top of the timesheets after setting a 1:38.930 – the...

Moto3: Bezzecchi tops opening day in Barcelona

15 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bezzecchi tops opening day in Barcelona

Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrüstelGP) set the quickest time of the day on his final run in FP2 to take top honours on Friday at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The Italian...

Moto2: Martin’s step up to KTM for 2019 confirmed

13 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Martin’s step up to KTM for 2019 confirmed

Moto3 championship front-runner Jorge Martin’s step up to the Moto2 class for 2019 has been confirmed, with the Red Bull KTM Ajo team announcing this morning that the Spaniard will replace the...

MotoGP: Suzuki confirm Mir as Iannone’s replacement

11 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Suzuki confirm Mir as Iannone’s replacement

Suzuki have confirmed that Joan Mir will step up to the premier class for 2019 with them, as the reigning Moto3 world champion confirmed weeks of rumours linking him to the Japanese factory on the eve...

CEV: Reale Avintia rider Andreas Perez dies after Moto3 crash

11 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

CEV: Reale Avintia rider Andreas Perez dies after Moto3 crash

Reale Avintia rider Andreas Perez has tragically died after a crash in yesterday’s Moto3 junior world championship race at the Circuit Catalunya in Barcelona. The 14-year-old fell during the second...

Moto2: Barbera fired following drink driving conviction

08 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Barbera fired following drink driving conviction

Pons Racing Moto2 rider Hector Barbera has been fired by the team following his conviction today for drink driving offences in his native Spain. He was arrested on Wednesday night after being found...

MotoGP: Iannone replaces Redding at Aprilia

08 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone replaces Redding at Aprilia

Andrea Iannone has been signed by the Aprilia MotoGP team as replacing Brit Scott Redding for the 2019 season, joining the Italian manufacturer on a two-year deal and confirming weeks of paddock...

MotoGP: Suzuki confirm Iannone departure

08 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Suzuki confirm Iannone departure

The Suzuki MotoGP team have confirmed that Andrea Iannone will not remain with them for next season, opening the door for the Italian to be replaced by rookie Joan Mir for next season. The news comes...

MotoGP: Petrucci completes factory Ducati line-up

06 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Petrucci completes factory Ducati line-up

Danilo Petrucci has been confirmed, as expected, to complete the factory Ducati line-up for 2019 and 2020, joining fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso after a successful two-year apprenticeship on the...

MotoGP: Syahrin remains with Tech 3 after KTM switch

06 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Syahrin remains with Tech 3 after KTM switch

Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin will remain with Tech 3 next season despite the French team’s switch to KTM machinery, with his impressive rookie performances meaning that he’s been offered what he...

MotoGP: Lorenzo confirmed as Pedrosa replacement

06 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo confirmed as Pedrosa replacement

Repsol Honda have confirmed that Jorge Lorenzo will be joining them as Dani Pedrosa’s replacement for the 2019 and 2020 MotoGP seasons, with the five-time world champion set to become teammates to...

MotoGP: Lorenzo to replace Pedrosa at Honda?

05 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo to replace Pedrosa at Honda?

Italian Grand Prix winner looks Jorge Lorenzo set to make a huge shift for the 2019 MotoGP season, leaving the factory Ducati team only 48 hours after taking his first win for the Italian...

MotoGP: Honda confirm Pedrosa departure after 13 seasons

05 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Honda confirm Pedrosa departure after 13 seasons

The Repsol Honda team have confirmed that Dani Pedrosa will leave them after twelve seasons with the squad, announcing today that they would not be renewing his contract beyond the end of the current...

MotoGP: Lorenzo takes first Ducati win as Marquez crashes

03 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo takes first Ducati win as Marquez crashes

Jorge Lorenzo has blown the 2018 MotoGP championship wide open by taking his first win since switching from Yamaha to Ducati at today’s Italian Grand Prix. The five-time world champion put on an old...