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

Brno MotoGP: Mika Kallio slams Marco Melandri

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Mika Kallio slams Marco Melandri

Mika Kallio’s factory Ducati debut ended in disaster when he ended up in the gravel trap after a late tangle with Marco Melandri in a battle for sixth place. Kallio and Melandri were both hoping to...

Brno MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa urges Honda improvement

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa urges Honda improvement

Dani Pedrosa admitted Honda still has to make major improvements to its factory RC212V machine after the Spaniard claimed a lonely second place in the Brno MotoGP clash yesterday. Leading for a few...

Brno MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen out of Suzuki?

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen out of Suzuki?

Confirmation that Alvaro Bautista will join Suzuki’s factory MotoGP team in 2010 appears to have placed the future of Aussie rider Chris Vermeulen in serious doubt. Bautista has signed a two-year deal...

Brno MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista left wheelie embarrassed

17 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista left wheelie embarrassed

This is new Suzuki MotoGP recruit Alvaro Bautista’s most embarrassing moment after he spectacularly looped a celebration wheelie in Brno. The Spaniard had just clinched third place behind Marco...

Brno MotoGP: Rossi wins, Lorenzo crashes out

16 August 2009 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Rossi wins, Lorenzo crashes out

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi has won the Brno MotoGP race after team-mate Jorge Lorenzo crashed out of the lead. Rossi led unchallenged from the start, until Lorenzo caught up midway through the...

Brno MotoGP: Suzuki to confirm Alvaro Bautista signing

16 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Suzuki to confirm Alvaro Bautista signing

Suzuki will confirm they have signed Spaniard Alvaro Bautista later on today. The 250GP world championship contender shunned the chance to join Jorge Martinez’s Aspar Ducati MotoGP squad to accept a...

Brno MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli wins 250GP race

16 August 2009 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli wins 250GP race

Reigning 250GP World Champion Marco Simoncelli took the win at the Brno MotoGP round after a race-long battle between several riders. Simoncelli eventually pulled away from the following pack but he...

Brno MotoGP: Terol takes 125GP win

16 August 2009 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Terol takes 125GP win

Spaniard Nicolas Terol has taken the win at the Brno circuit in the 125GP class ahead of current championship leader and fellow Spaniard Julian Simon. The two Spaniards managed to pull away from the...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi blames front tyre for crash

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi blames front tyre for crash

Valentino Rossi blamed the poor performance of one of Bridgestone’s two front tyre options in Brno for his late qualifying crash today. The 30-year-old lost the front-end of his factory Yamaha YZR-M1...

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ready for tough battle

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ready for tough battle

Jorge Lorenzo believes he could face another epic clash with Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in tomorrow’s Czech Republic MotoGP race. Lorenzo preserved his 100 per cent front row qualifying...

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland slumps to 14th

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland slumps to 14th

James Toseland gave himself a mountain to climb in tomorrow’s 22-lap Czech Republic MotoGP after he could only qualify in 14th position. The 28-year-old blamed set-up issues once he switched to the...

Brno MotoGP: Medicine mistake fails to slow Colin Edwards

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Medicine mistake fails to slow Colin Edwards

British GP runner-up Colin Edwards failed to let illness cost him the chance of equalling his best qualifying result of the season in Brno today. The Texan was left struggling well below 100 per cent...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi claims pole despite late crash

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi claims pole despite late crash

A late crash failed to prevent Valentino Rossi from ending Jorge Lorenzo’s early domination of the Czech Republic GP weekend when he stormed to his third straight pole position at the Brno circuit...

Rossi at Donington Park

15 August 2009 by Anonymous

Rossi at Donington Park

Is Vale looking at me or eyeing up my wife? Donington 2009

Brno MotoGP: Bradley Smith misses front row

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Bradley Smith misses front row

Bradley Smith will start tomorrow’s Czech Republic 125GP from fifth on the grid after today’s qualifying session at a hot and sunny Brno circuit. The British teenager, who was quickest yesterday in...

Brno MotoGP: Gresini Honda confirm Marco Melandri deal

15 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Gresini Honda confirm Marco Melandri deal

Marco Melandri’s return to the Gresini Honda squad has been confirmed in Brno this morning. In a move widely expected when it became apparent Kawasaki would cease supporting the Hayate team at the end...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with ‘tired’ Yamaha engine

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi content with ‘tired’ Yamaha engine

Valentino Rossi declared himself happy with his performance on the opening day of practice in Brno, the Italian finishing second fastest using Yamaha’s longer life YZR-M1 motor for the first time.

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland gains front-end confidence

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland gains front-end confidence

James Toseland solved some front-end-handling issues to move to the fringes of the top ten in Brno today, the British rider ending opening practice in Brno today with the 11th best time. The British...

Brno MotoGP: Mika Kallio thrilled with seventh

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Mika Kallio thrilled with seventh

Mika Kallio’s first day as a factory Ducati rider ended in morale-boosting fashion as the Finn beat Nicky Hayden on his way to setting the seventh quickest time in Brno. Replacing Aussie Casey Stoner...

Brno MotoGP: Fiat Yamaha dominate first practice

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Fiat Yamaha dominate first practice

Fiat Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi dominated the opening Czech Republic MotoGP practice session in Brno this afternoon. Lorenzo, who will definitely stay at Yamaha in 2010, was in...

Brno MotoGP: Bradley Smith quickest in 125GP practice

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Bradley Smith quickest in 125GP practice

Bradley Smith underlined his determination to forget a disastrous recent spell by clocking the fastest time in today’s 125GP practice session in Brno. The Oxfordshire rider’s world championship...

Brno MotoGP: No Honda deal for Jorge Lorenzo

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: No Honda deal for Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo will not make a dramatic move to Honda in 2010, with HRC today confirming that Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso had agreed new two-year contracts. Lorenzo possibly quitting Yamaha has...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi’s mechanic recovering from swine flu

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi’s mechanic recovering from swine flu

One of Valentino Rossi’s longest serving mechanics has been forced to miss this weekend’s Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno having been struck by swine flu. Australian Alex ‘Axel’ Briggs is expected...

Brno MotoGP: Mattia Pasini to test for Ducati

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Mattia Pasini to test for Ducati

Italian 250GP rider Mattia Pasini is expected to test a Ducati GP9 MotoGP bike at Monday’s one-day session at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic. Pasini, who has won 10 125 and 250GP victories,...

Brno MotoGP: Suzuki cagey on Alvaro Bautista deal

14 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Suzuki cagey on Alvaro Bautista deal

Suzuki is remaining tight-lipped on the strong rumour that it has clinched a deal to sign highly rated 250GP title contender Alvaro Bautista for 2010. The 24-year-old will definitely move to MotoGP...

Brno MotoGP: Ducati boss rubbishes Casey Stoner rumours

13 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Ducati boss rubbishes Casey Stoner rumours

Ducati boss Livio Suppo has rubbished a flood of rumours circulating the Brno paddock over the absence of number one rider and former world champion Casey Stoner. Ever since it was confirmed that the...

Brno MotoGP: Tech 3 Yamaha keen for Cal Crutchlow talks

13 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Tech 3 Yamaha keen for Cal Crutchlow talks

Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal has told MCN he is keen to meet rising British star Cal Crutchlow about a possible Moto2 ride in 2010. The current World Supersport championship leader is expected...

Brno MotoGP Mika Kallio ready for ‘great chance’

13 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Mika Kallio ready for ‘great chance’

Finn Mika Kallio admitted his promotion to Ducati’s factory team as replacement for Casey Stoner presented him with a great chance to show his MotoGP credentials. Kallio will deputise for Stoner on...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi wishes Casey Stoner a quick recovery

13 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi wishes Casey Stoner a quick recovery

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has said he hopes to renew his epic battles with Aussie rival Casey Stoner soon, the Ducati rider sidelined for at least three races by a mystery...

Brno MotoGP: Repsol Honda to test Ohlins suspension

13 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Repsol Honda to test Ohlins suspension

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

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland still unsure on future

13 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland still unsure on future

James Toseland has admitted he is still unsure about where his future lies as the MotoGP paddock reconvenes in Brno this weekend. The British rider is desperate to stay with the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha...

suzi perry at donington

11 August 2009 by denalex48

suzi perry at donington

met this bird on the saturday ,she wanted to run off with me but i said no…….(i wish.)lol. she was great even after my mate knocked her blackberry on the floor .

Sheridan Morais' ZX-10

10 August 2009 by richard jones

Sheridan Morais' ZX-10

Sheridan Morais’ ZX-10, post a visit to the wall at Stirlings on Friday evening.

Casey Stoner: 'I pushed my body too hard'

10 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner: 'I pushed my body too hard'

Casey Stoner believes he pushed his body too hard in trying to overcome a mystery virus that has forced him to withdraw from the next three MotoGP races. The 23-year-old will not ride his factory GP9...

Ducati boss: Casey Stoner sorry at shock absence

10 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati boss: Casey Stoner sorry at shock absence

Ducati boss Livio Suppo has confirmed that Casey Stoner has withdrawn from the MotoGP world championship for at least the next three races. And Suppo said Stoner was sorry the on-going mystery...

Casey Stoner to miss next three races

10 August 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner to miss next three races

Former world champion Casey Stoner will miss at least the next three MotoGP races with the on-going health issues that have dogged the factory Ducati rider in recent weeks. An official announcement...