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

Betfair: test your MotoGP knowledge with a free £25 bet

21 July 2009 by MCN

Betfair: test your MotoGP knowledge with a free £25 bet

Online gambling site Betfair is offering MCN readers the chance to test their MotoGP knowledge with a free £25 bet on the British MotoGP. Click here to claim your free bet Place a bet on the...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi jubilant with 101st win

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi jubilant with 101st win

Valentino Rossi was jubilant after he won the latest installment in his titanic fight with Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo at the Sachsenring yesterday. Rossi produced a brilliant last two laps...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner digs deep for fourth

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner digs deep for fourth

Casey Stoner said he was happy to have put up such a strong fight in yesterday’s German MotoGP race, despite his physical problems returning in an exciting 30-lap clash. With the cause of Stoner’s...

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo rues double mistake

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo rues double mistake

Jorge Lorenzo was left counting the cost of two mistakes that saw him lose out in another classic scrap with Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi at the Sachsenring. Lorenzo put up another heroic but...

German MotoGP: Early error costs Nicky Hayden

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Early error costs Nicky Hayden

A mistake at the first corner ruined Nicky Hayden’s hopes of scoring his best Ducati result in Germany. Boosted by his best qualifying performance that left him fourth on the grid, Hayden’s hopes of...

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa content with third

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa content with third

Dani Pedrosa was happy to continue his recent return to form with his fifth podium finish of the season in Germany yesterday. Second behind Valentino Rossi for the opening four laps after another...

German MotoGP: James Toseland happy to be back in top ten

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: James Toseland happy to be back in top ten

James Toseland scored his fifth top ten finish of 2009 to boost his hopes of an improved result at his home race at Donington Park this weekend. Boxed in at a chaotic first corner, Toseland dropped...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith vows to bounce back

20 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith vows to bounce back

Bradley Smith has vowed to bounce back to form in his home race at Donington Park this weekend after two crashes in the Sachsenring 125GP dented his world title hopes. The 18-year-old managed crashed...

German MotoGP results: Rossi wins after clash with Lorenzo

19 July 2009 by MCN

German MotoGP results: Rossi wins after clash with Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi defended his world title successfully at the Sachsenring beating his team mate Jorge Lorenzo by just over a tenth of a second. Rossi and Lorenzo left the pack behind by the 13th...

German MotoGP 125 & 250 results

19 July 2009 by MCN

German MotoGP 125 & 250 results

Julian Simon followed on from his strong practice and qualifying to take victory in the 125 class of the German Moto GP. Bradley Smith was unable to finish after two crashes, leaving Danny Webb to be...

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden says thanks and sorry to Niccolo Canepa

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden says thanks and sorry to Niccolo Canepa

Nicky Hayden apologised to rookie Niccolo Canepa after a bizarre incident during a rain-lashed Sachsenring MotoGP qualifying this afternoon. Pushing to try and claim his first Ducati front row start,...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner saves strength for race

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner saves strength for race

Casey Stoner admitted he sacrificed the chance to claim a 17th MotoGP pole position to conserve energy ahead of tomorrow’s German GP at the Sachsenring. The factory Ducati rider settled for third...

German MotoGP: James Toseland ‘gutted’ with 14th

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: James Toseland ‘gutted’ with 14th

James Toseland admitted he was ‘gutted’ to have qualified down in a lowly 14th place at a rain-lashed Sachsenring today. The British rider finishd just 0.4s off the top six a qualifying session for...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes pole at soaked Sachsenring

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes pole at soaked Sachsenring

Valentino Rossi produced a stunning last lap to snatch pole position in atrocious conditions for tomorrow’s German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring. The 30-year-old Italian, looking to extend his...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith splashes to front row

18 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith splashes to front row

Bradley Smith will start the German 125GP from second on the grid after a rain-lashed qualifying session at the Sachsenring this afternoon. The Oxfordshire rider clocked a best lap of 1.39.686 to...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fast but fatigued again

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fast but fatigued again

Casey Stoner might have set the fastest time in opening practice for this weekend’s German MotoGP race, but the Aussie is still struggling with the chronic fatigue that has drastically slowed him...

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden gains more confidence

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden gains more confidence

Nicky Hayden’s sudden upsurge in confidence continued in Germany today, the American enjoying another positive outing on Ducati’s factory GP9. Having scored a season best fifth place in Laguna Seca...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi confident of front row

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi confident of front row

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi is confident he can claim a crucial place on the front row of the grid from the German MotoGP after he ended opening practice in third place. Rossi is desperate to...

German MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen high-side pics

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen high-side pics

These pictures show just how lucky Aussie Chris Vermeulen was to walk away from a spectacular high-side at the end of today’s rain-hit opening practice session at the German MotoGP. The Aussie lost...

German MotoGP: Error adds to Chris Vermeulen’s injury woes

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Error adds to Chris Vermeulen’s injury woes

Chris Vermeuelen suffered another big injury blow in Germany today when he crashed heavily at the end of opening free practice at the Sachsenring. The Aussie, who is still struggling to shake off...

German MotoGP: James Toseland upbeat despite lowly finish

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: James Toseland upbeat despite lowly finish

British rider James Toseland was in upbeat mood at the Sachsenring this afternoon despite finishing a weather-hit opening practice session down in 14th place. Toseland’s best lap of 1.24.317 was only...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in mixed conditions

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in mixed conditions

Casey Stoner cast aside lingering doubts about his fitness to top the timesheets in the opening practice session for Sunday’s German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring today. The Aussie’s best lap of...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith third in storm-lashed practice

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith third in storm-lashed practice

British teenager Bradley Smith set the third best time in an opening 125GP practice session disrupted by stormy weather at the Sachsenring today. The session started under grey and gloomy skies but...

German MotoGP: James Toseland gets electronics boost

17 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: James Toseland gets electronics boost

James Toseland’s hopes of a strong weekend in the German MotoGP have been boosted by the arrival of new electronics for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 rider. Toseland and American team-mate Colin...

German MotoGP: Mystery surrounds Casey Stoner health issues

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Mystery surrounds Casey Stoner health issues

Mystery continues to surround the cause of Casey Stoner’s current health problems after the Aussie denied suffering from mild anaemia on the eve of this weekend’s German MotoGP clash at the...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi sad to see Sete Gibernau depart

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi sad to see Sete Gibernau depart

Valentino Rossi has spoken of his sadness at seeing former great foe Sete Gibernau forced out of MotoGP by the sudden departure of the Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati team. Gibernau’s squad withdrew...

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden satisfied with Ducati progress

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden satisfied with Ducati progress

American Nicky Hayden has talked of his satisfaction at finally making some big progress on Ducati’s fickle factory GP9 machine. The Kentucky rider has finished eighth and fifth in the last two...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects renewed Dani Pedrosa threat

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects renewed Dani Pedrosa threat

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi is anticipating a renewed challenge from Dani Pedrosa after the Spaniard ended Honda’s worst losing streak for nearly three decades in America earlier...

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa gets new Honda engine

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa gets new Honda engine

American MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa will assess a new Honda RC212V motor in practice for the German GP at the Sachsenring this weekend. The Spaniard, who ended a 13-month victory drought in Laguna...

German MotoGP: Danny Webb fully fit and focused

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Danny Webb fully fit and focused

British teenager Danny Webb has told MCN he is back to full fitness and raring to go for this weekend’s German 125GP after he suffered a recent injury scare. The 18-year-old feared doctors would...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith targets podium

16 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith targets podium

Bradley Smith is hoping a podium finish in this weekend’s German 125GP will give him a double boost. The 18-year-old is looking for a top three finish at the Sachsenring to keep his world title hopes...

Sete pulling out of MotoGP

15 July 2009 by Gary lewis

In the light of Sete’s team pulling out of motogp I would like to offer my services to help fill the grid. I only have a ZR750 but seem to be faster than most (in the beginners group) on trackdays. Could you let the appropriate people know, Thanks.

Rossi buys $1.15m boat

14 July 2009 by Laura Kennerley

Rossi buys $1.15m boat

Valentino Rossi has splashed out on a new $1.15m (£7,130,000) yacht. The Pershing 56 luxury yacht, named Titilla II, is 56 feet long, has six beds, can take up to 14 people and is powered by two...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner treated for anaemia

14 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner treated for anaemia

Rigorous medical checks conducted on Casey Stoner after the recent American MotoGP race have revealed the 2007 world champion is suffering from gastritis and mild anaemia. Stoner has been dogged by...

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa eyes more success

13 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa eyes more success

Rejuvenated Dani Pedrosa believes he can challenge for another victory in Germany this weekend following his shock return to form in America earlier this month. The Spaniard shocked title hopefuls...

Sete Gibernau stunned by team withdrawal

13 July 2009 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau stunned by team withdrawal

Veteran Spaniard Sete Gibernau has spoken of his shock at the sudden withdrawal of his Grupo Francisco Hernando MotoGP squad. The Spanish team has quit with immediate effect, citing the impact of the...