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

Indy MotoGP: Loris Capirossi confirms new Suzuki deal

27 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Loris Capirossi confirms new Suzuki deal

Veteran Italian Loris Capirossi will partner rookie Alvaro Bautista in Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad next season. As was revealed by MCN last week, the Japanese factory confirmed Capirossi has signed...

Indy MotoGP: Scott Redding still hampered by ankle injury

27 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Scott Redding still hampered by ankle injury

British teenager Scott Redding fears his hopes of notching a first 125GP podium outside of the UK in Indianapolis this weekend could be ruined by a lingering right ankle injury. The 16-year-old is...

Indy MotoGP: Suzuki to run new chassis

27 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Suzuki to run new chassis

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will run a new chassis on their factory Suzuki GSV-R machines in Indianapolis this weekend. Both tried the new frame during the recent one-day test session in Brno...

Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden ducks home race predictions

27 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden ducks home race predictions

Nicky Hayden has refused to make any predictions about his potential ahead of this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP clash in America. Hayden scored one of only two premier class podium finishes in 2008...

Indy MotoGP: Points deficit hard to claw back for Jorge Lorenzo

27 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Points deficit hard to claw back for Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo’s factory Yamaha team boss has told MCN it will be incredibly difficult for the Spaniard to force his way back into MotoGP world title contention in 2009. The 22-year-old has suddenly...

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expecting Jorge Lorenzo backlash

27 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expecting Jorge Lorenzo backlash

Valentino Rossi fears a backlash from factory Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in this weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP race. Lorenzo has given himself a mountain to climb to win the 2009 premier class...

Yamaha delighted to keep Jorge Lorenzo

25 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha delighted to keep Jorge Lorenzo

Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis has spoken of his delight at Jorge Lorenzo’s decision to sign a one-year extension to his factory Yamaha contract. The Spaniard shunned a multi-million pound offer to join...

Jorge Lorenzo signs new Yamaha deal

25 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo signs new Yamaha deal

Jorge Lorenzo has rejected a multi-million pound deal to join Ducati and will stay with Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s official factory team. The 22-year-old, who currently sits second in the MotoGP...

Indy MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa looking for more American glory

24 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa looking for more American glory

Just eight weeks after his victory in Laguna Seca, Dani Pedrosa is looking for a repeat success in America in the Indianapolis MotoGP clash this weekend. Pedrosa ended a 13-month losing streak when...

Chris Vermeulen not ruling out World Superbike return

24 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen not ruling out World Superbike return

Chris Vermeulen might be keen to keep his MotoGP place after splitting from Suzuki’s factory squad, but the Aussie has refused to rule out a dramatic return to World Superbikes in 2010. Vermeulen’s...

Valentino Rossi: Jorge Lorenzo staying is better for Yamaha

24 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: Jorge Lorenzo staying is better for Yamaha

Valentino Rossi has accepted that if Jorge Lorenzo rejected a lucrative deal to join Ducati that it would massively benefit Yamaha. It is no secret that Rossi and Lorenzo don’t get on, but the pair...

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ready to ram home advantage

24 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ready to ram home advantage

Valentino Rossi is hoping he can bolster his hopes of a seventh MotoGP world title in 2009 by claiming a second successive Indianapolis GP win this weekend. The Italian heads to America with a...

Indy MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo looking to end losing streak

24 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo looking to end losing streak

Jorge Lorenzo is determined to end his losing streak when the MotoGP world championship makes its second trip across the Atlantic to Indianapolis this weekend. The 22-year-old Spaniard hasn’t won...

Jorge Lorenzo would be brave to join Ducati, says Nicky Hayden

22 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo would be brave to join Ducati, says Nicky Hayden

Nicky Hayden has told MCN that Jorge Lorenzo would be taking a massive gamble if he opted to quit Yamaha and complete a multi-million pound switch to Ducati. Lorenzo has been locked in negotiations...

Yamaha confident Jorge Lorenzo will stay in 2010

22 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha confident Jorge Lorenzo will stay in 2010

Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha boss is confident the Spaniard will turn down a massive pay deal from rivals Ducati to commit his future to the Japanese factory. Ducati and Marlboro have offered Lorenzo...

Jerry Burgess understands Casey Stoner’s shock absence

22 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess understands Casey Stoner’s shock absence

Valentino Rossi’s legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess has said he understands why Casey Stoner opted to concede his 2009 MotoGP world title hopes to try and recover from mystery health issues. Stoner...

Suzuki delighted with Alvaro Bautista capture

22 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki delighted with Alvaro Bautista capture

Suzuki boss Paul Denning has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of Alvaro Bautista riding a factory GSV-R machine in 2010. Suzuki signed the 24-year-old on a two-year deal during last weekend’s...

Tech 3 Yamaha nearing James Toseland decision

22 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha nearing James Toseland decision

James Toseland could be told whether he has a MotoGP future at the next race in Indianapolis. The British rider is out of contract at the end of the season and desperate to stay with the Monster...

Hector Barbera’s Ducati MotoGP deal confirmed

20 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hector Barbera’s Ducati MotoGP deal confirmed

Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez has confirmed Hector Barbera will spearhead his first assault on the MotoGP world championship in 2010. Following Alvaro Bautista’s move to Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad,...

Aleix Espargaro gets shock Ducati MotoGP chance

20 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aleix Espargaro gets shock Ducati MotoGP chance

Aleix Espargaro has been thrust into the limelight after the Spaniard landed a shock slot in the Pramac Ducati squad for the Indianapolis and Misano races. The 20-year-old, who had no ride in 2009,...

JT spotted in his Alfa

19 August 2009 by barry coker

On monday the 17th in the afternoon driving along the A610 heading out of Nottingham towards j 26 of the M1 around 5 PM , I looked to my right side and saw a red ALFA ROMEO with the reg 52 JT coming along side when it was level with me I realised it was our own JAMES TOSLAND, I thought he was quick to get from sundays race at BRUNO back home and hanging in NOTTINGHAM.

Cal Crutchlow closing in on Moto2 switch

19 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Cal Crutchlow closing in on Moto2 switch

Cal Crutchlow is closing in on a deal to move to the new Moto2 600cc world championship next season, MCN can exclusively reveal. Crutchlow held lengthy discussions with Fausto Gresini during last...

LCR Honda hopeful of retaining Randy de Puniet

19 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

LCR Honda hopeful of retaining Randy de Puniet

LCR Honda boss Lucio Cecchinello has told MCN he is confident Randy de Puniet will sign a new deal for 2010. British GP podium finisher de Puniet is locked in talks with LCR Honda and Tech 3 Yamaha...

Loris Capirossi to sign new Suzuki deal in Indianapolis

19 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi to sign new Suzuki deal in Indianapolis

Loris Capirossi will partner rookie Alvaro Bautista in Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad next season. MCN understands the Japanese factory will make an official announcement on the veteran Italian’s...

Ducati offer Jorge Lorenzo £13m bumper pay deal

18 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati offer Jorge Lorenzo £13m bumper pay deal

Ducati has made Jorge Lorenzo a lucrative multi-million pound offer to quit Yamaha. Desperate to sign a top rider while the future of Casey Stoner remains the subject of intense speculation, Marlboro...

No third factory Honda for Jorge Lorenzo

18 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

No third factory Honda for Jorge Lorenzo

Honda has rubbished the prospect of expanding its factory MotoGP line-up to three bikes in 2010 to prise Jorge Lorenzo away from rivals Yamaha. New HRC President Tetsuo Suzuki confirmed that Honda...

Jorge Lorenzo dominates Brno MotoGP test

18 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo dominates Brno MotoGP test

A new electronics package on his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 helped Jorge Lorenzo dominate the Brno MotoGP test yesterday. Shrugging off the bitter disappointment of crashing out of the lead in Sunday’s...

Ducati disappointed with Alvaro Bautista’s Suzuki decision

18 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati disappointed with Alvaro Bautista’s Suzuki decision

Ducati boss Livio Suppo has spoken of his disappointment that Alvaro Bautista shunned the chance to ride a GP10 next year. The 24-year-old turned down the chance to ride in the new Aspar Ducati squad...

Mika Kallio opens talks with Tech 3 Yamaha

18 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio opens talks with Tech 3 Yamaha

Mika Kallio has joined the increasing queue of MotoGP talent looking to secure a ride with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team in 2010, MCN can reveal. The Finn’s management held talks with Tech 3 boss...

Meeting JT

17 August 2009 by Sam Williams

Meeting James Toseland at MOTOGP I was working in the hospitality suite at Donnington park a very long day but was made bareable by getting to see JT a lovely Guy and he made time for everyone in...

Flew back from Afghanistan for the Donny GP

17 August 2009 by Stitch Ritchie

Flew back from Afghanistan for the Donny GP

I have attached a photo of my two sons, Jordan and Kobey with a cracking mad bunch of Vale fans at Donington – what a day it was. I was back on R&R from Afghanistan and could not miss the last GP...

Brno MotoGP test: Moto2 test rider breaks foot

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP test: Moto2 test rider breaks foot

Former MotoGP racer David de Gea has suffered a small break in his foot after crashing the new Blusens Honda Moto2 600cc machine in Brno earlier today. The Spaniard had clocked a best time of...

Brno MotoGP test: Mattia Pasini makes Ducati debut

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP test: Mattia Pasini makes Ducati debut

Mattia Pasini has made his debut on the Pramac Ducati GP9 at the Brno MotoGP test session in the Czech Republic this morning. The 24-year-old, who finished runner-up in yesterday’s 250GP, has...

Brno MotoGP test: Honda test Ohlins suspension

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP test: Honda test Ohlins suspension

Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso have started to assess Ohlins suspension during today’s at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic. The factory Honda duo will run back-to-back tests against current...

Brno MotoGP: ‘Stupid’ to rule out Jorge Lorenzo says Valentino Rossi

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: ‘Stupid’ to rule out Jorge Lorenzo says Valentino Rossi

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi said it would be stupid to rule out Jorge Lorenzo from the 2009 MotoGP world championship race. A 102nd victory for the Italian in Brno yesterday after...

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo concedes title race is over

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo concedes title race is over

Dejected Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo conceded his 2009 MotoGP title aspirations were all but over after he made another costly mistake in yesterday’s Czech Republic GP in Brno. Desperate to try and keep...