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

No regrets for Casey Stoner

21 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

No regrets for Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner has said he won’t look back and ponder what might have been in 2009 after his brilliant return to winning ways in Australia last weekend. The Aussie’s bid to regain the world title he...

My new MotoGP tattoo

20 October 2009 by Anonymous

My new MotoGP tattoo

My new tattoo. MotoGP rules!

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner revels in home success

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner revels in home success

Casey Stoner became the second most successful Australian rider in Grand Prix history with a stunning victory over Valentino Rossi at Phillip Island. Making only his second appearance since returning...

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland furious with start penalty

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland furious with start penalty

James Toseland slammed a decision by race bosses to penalise him for a jump start that robbed him of a certain top ten finish in Australia today. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Monster Yamaha...

Rossi and crew chief rubbish Ducati rumours

19 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Rossi and crew chief rubbish Ducati rumours

With one hand now firmly on the 2009 MotoGP title, Valentino Rossi strenuously denied his other hand was poised to sign a mega money deal to join Ducati in Phillip Island. He told MCN: “There are a...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled with vital second

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled with vital second

Valentino Rossi might not have been able to halt Casey Stoner’s home domination in Phillip Island, but the Italian was still in buoyant mood as a crucial second place moved him to the brink of a...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo suffers title blow

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo suffers title blow

Jorge Lorenzo’s MotoGP title hopes suffered a massive blow in Australia today, the factory Yamaha rider crashing out of the 27-lap Phillip Island race at the first corner. Trying to recover from a...

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa frustrated with Honda threat

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa frustrated with Honda threat

Dani Pedrosa could not disguise his frustration after the Spaniard was easily beaten by Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in Phillip Island. Leader on the first lap after a trademark fast start from...

Australia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden suffers more first lap misery

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden suffers more first lap misery

Nicky Hayden counted himself lucky after he avoided a high-speed crash following his first corner clash with Jorge Lorenzo at Phillip Island. Having been struck from behind by Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha,...

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith’s 125GP title hopes finish

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith’s 125GP title hopes finish

Bradley Smith saw his slim hopes of pulling off an unlikely 125GP world championship triumph ended in Australia. The 18-year-old needed to finish in front of Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon for...

Phillip Island: Simoncelli closes in on title with win

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island: Simoncelli closes in on title with win

Reigning 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli closed to within12 points of the championship lead at Phillip Island after victory at Phillip Island. Championship leader Hiroshi Aoyama was unable to run at...

Phillip Island MotoGP: Simon takes win and 125GP championship

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island MotoGP: Simon takes win and 125GP championship

Aspar Aprilia rider Julian Simon won the Phillip Island 125GP race ahead of team-mate Bradley Smith and with it the 125GP championship. Simon didn’t have it all his own way during the race, and had to...

Phillip Island MotoGP: Stoner takes home win

18 October 2009 by Liam Marsden

Phillip Island MotoGP: Stoner takes home win

Australian Casey Stoner has won his home GP at Phillip Island for the third year in a row after battling with reigning champion Valentino Rossi. The two riders soon pulled away from the rest of the...

Valentino Rossi’s stepfather commits suicide

18 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi’s stepfather commits suicide

Valentino Rossi was rocked by a personal tragedy on the eve of the Phillip Island MotoGP race, with news of the suicide of the Italian’s stepfather. Mauro Tecchi, second husband of Rossi’s mother...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eyes title boost

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi eyes title boost

Valentino Rossi told MCN that he aims to pounce on a bad Phillip Island weekend so far for MotoGP title rival and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. Rossi starts tomorrow’s 27-lap race with an...

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa bounces back for front row

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa bounces back for front row

Dani Pedrosa admitted he was lucky to escape injury after he bounced back from a heavy qualifying crash to claim a place on the front of the grid for tomorrow’s Australian MotoGP clash. Hopes of the...

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith ‘annoyed’ at late mistake

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith ‘annoyed’ at late mistake

British teenager Bradley Smith admitted he was annoyed with himself after a late crash in 125GP qualifying cost him his chance of a front row start for tomorrow’s Phillip Island race. Smith was...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fourth and frustrated

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fourth and frustrated

Jorge Lorenzo couldn’t hide his frustration in Phillip Island today after he surrendered his 100 per cent front row qualifying record in 2009. For the first time in 15 races this season, the...

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland aims high

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland aims high

British rider James Toseland believes he can still mount a strong challenge for a top six finish in tomorrow’s Australian MotoGP, despite only qualifying in 12th position on the grid. The 28-year-old...

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner storms to home pole

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner storms to home pole

Casey Stoner stormed to his first pole position since the opening round of the season to delight a large home crowd at Phillip Island this afternoon. Just two minutes of an exciting qualifying session...

Australia MotoGP: Late crash costs Bradley Smith front row

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Late crash costs Bradley Smith front row

A last lap crash cost Bradley Smith his eighth front row start of 2009, the British rider starting tomorrow’s Phillip Island 125GP from fifth place spot on the grid. The 18-year-old was looking good...

Australia MotoGP: Niccolo Canepa out of next two races

17 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Niccolo Canepa out of next two races

Niccolo Canepa will miss tomorrow’s Australian MotoGP clash in Phillip Island and next weekend’s Sepang race in Malaysia. The Italian suffered a massive crash at Phillip Island’s fast first corner in...

Exclusive: Tech 3 unveil Moto2 contender

16 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Exclusive: Tech 3 unveil Moto2 contender

This is the first look at the Tech 3 Moto2 contender that will contest the new four-stroke world championship in 2010. The French team will release this picture of its prototype Moto2 bike in...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo bemoans slow start

16 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo bemoans slow start

Jorge Lorenzo came crashing back down to earth with a bump in Phillip Island today after the Spaniard could only finish opening practice in a lowly sixth place. Fresh from his dominant victory in the...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled at fast start

16 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled at fast start

Valentino Rossi declared himself delighted with his opening practice performance in Phillip Island today after the Italian struck a crucial early blow against Jorge Lorenzo. A best lap of 1.31.032 saw...

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied in seventh

16 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied in seventh

British rider James Toseland didn’t let a small crash dampen a positive start to the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island today after he ended opening practice in an encouraging seventh place. The...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi tops opening practice

16 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi tops opening practice

Valentino Rossi fired an early and ominous warning to MotoGP title rival Jorge Lorenzo after the Italian dominated today’s opening practice session at Phillip Island. Desperate to bounce back from his...

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith makes strong start

16 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Bradley Smith makes strong start

Bradley Smith kicked off his quest for a fourth straight 125GP podium in impressive fashion, the British teenager clocking the second quickest time in opening practice for Sunday’s Phillip Island...

FTR's Moto2 debut a success

15 October 2009 by Gary Pinchin

FTR's Moto2 debut a success

The all-new British-built FTR Moto M209 made a successful debut in the Spanish Moto2 championship round at Barcelona and the machine will now continue the development in Spain with the Joe Darcey...

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner not worried by title fight

15 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner not worried by title fight

Home favourite Casey Stoner says the MotoGP title fight between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo is of little concern to him as he chases a third straight victory in Phillip Island on...

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi focused on Jorge Lorenzo threat

15 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi focused on Jorge Lorenzo threat

Valentino Rossi insists he will not let the threat posed by Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa distract him from trying to win his thrilling MotoGP title fight against Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge...

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of home hat-trick

15 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident of home hat-trick

Casey Stoner believes he can mount a strong challenge for a third successive home victory at Phillip Island this weekend. Recovered from the recent chronic fatigue issues that forced him to miss three...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ‘I need at least two wins’

15 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ‘I need at least two wins’

Jorge Lorenzo reckons he will need to win at least two of the final three races of the season to have any chance of beating Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in the 2009 MotoGP world...

Australia MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen aims for strong finish

15 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen aims for strong finish

Aussie Chris Vermeulen hopes to bow out of MotoGP with a strong finish as he prepares to return to World Superbikes in 2010. Vermeulen will leave Suzuki’s factory squad at the end of the season having...

James Toseland to make Yamaha WSB debut in Portimao test

15 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland to make Yamaha WSB debut in Portimao test

James Toseland will definitely make his Yamaha R1 World Superbike debut in a test session at the Portimao circuit in Portugal later this month. Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal confirmed in Phillip...

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo plays down title prospects

14 October 2009 by Matthew Birt

Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo plays down title prospects

Jorge Lorenzo has again played down his 2009 MotoGP title prospects ahead of this weekend’s crucial Australian race at Phillip Island. The 22-year-old believes all the pressure is on Fiat Yamaha...