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

Moto2: Oliveira breaks Italian hearts as Pasini tumbles

03 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Oliveira breaks Italian hearts as Pasini tumbles

Miguel Oliveira has given KTM their first Moto2 win of the 2018 season at Mugello, taking a victory over Lorenzo Baldassarri in the Italian Grand Prix despite severe pressure from his local opposition...

Moto3: Martin masterclass at Mugello

03 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin masterclass at Mugello

Jorge Martin has turned yesterday’s pole position into the perfect weekend at Mugello, by taking a textbook victory in the Italian Grand Prix to close the gap to Moto3 championship leader Marco...

Moto2: Home favourite Pasini takes pole position

02 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Home favourite Pasini takes pole position

Home favourite Mattia Pasini has taken pole position for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix, setting himself up in the best possible way to repeat last year’s emotional race victory at the Mugello...

MotoGP: Rossi breaks dry spell with pole position in Mugello

02 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi breaks dry spell with pole position in Mugello

Valentino Rossi has broken a pole position dry spell stretching back nearly two seasons by taking pole position for his home race at Mugello. The result is his first time starting from the top spot...

Moto3: Martin matches pole record in Mugello

02 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin matches pole record in Mugello

Jorge Martin has matched Alex Rins’ record for Moto3 pole positions by taking the 13th of his career at Mugello today, to line up on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix. The...

MotoGP: Details begin to emerge of Lorenzo Yamaha return

02 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Details begin to emerge of Lorenzo Yamaha return

Details are beginning to emerge in the MotoGP paddock about Jorge Lorenzo’s rumoured return to Yamaha, with talks reportedly going on this weekend to secure a deal between the five-time world...

MotoGP: Pirro survives 200mph crash relatively unscathed

02 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pirro survives 200mph crash relatively unscathed

Ducati MotoGP wildcard Michele Pirro has survived a horror 200mph crash at the Italian Grand Prix relatively unscathed, suffering only a dislocated shoulder, a concussion and severe bruising after...

Moto2: Mir shows his potential with Mugello top spot

01 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Mir shows his potential with Mugello top spot

Joan Mir has shown why he’s been feted by factory teams in recent weeks with his Moto2 pace, topping the opening day of action at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The Marc VDS Kalex rider ended the...

MotoGP: Iannone makes a statement with fastest time

01 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone makes a statement with fastest time

Andrea Iannone has made a statement only 24 hours after confirming that he wouldn’t be retained by Suzuki for 2019, by topping the opening day of action at his home race in Mugello. He ended the day...

Moto3: Martin tops opening day in Mugello

01 June 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin tops opening day in Mugello

Jorge Martin has topped the opening day of Moto3 action at the Italian Grand Prix, ending the day well clear of the chasing pack at Mugello. Leading a trio of Hondas at the front, he ended the day...

MotoGP: Rossi sees light at the end of the tunnel

31 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi sees light at the end of the tunnel

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi sys he finally sees light at the end of the tunnel for the Yamaha M1 project after last weekend’s French Grand Prix, with the more capable bike that he and...

MotoGP: Iannone’s Suzuki departure opens door for Mir

31 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone’s Suzuki departure opens door for Mir

Andrea Iannone has confirmed that he’s leaving the Suzuki MotoGP team at the end of the 2018 season, opening the door for Joan Mir to join the Japanese manufacturer in his place. The Italian confirmed...

MotoGP: Yamaha lifeline for Lorenzo?

31 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Yamaha lifeline for Lorenzo?

Jorge Lorenzo may be set to make a spectacular return to Yamaha machinery for the 2019 MotoGP world championship if the latest paddock rumours are to be believed, after losing out on a chance to join...

MotoGP: Crutchlow passed fit to ride despite monster highside

20 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow passed fit to ride despite monster highside

Cal Crutchlow has been passed fir to ride in today’s French Grand Prix after surviving a monster highside during qualifying yesterday. The LCR Honda rider was discharged from Le Mans hospital this...

MotoGP: Dovi celebrates new contract with top spot

18 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi celebrates new contract with top spot

Andrea Dovizioso has celebrated his new two-year Ducati contract extension by taking top spot on the opening day of action at the French Grand Prix, dipping under the outright lap record at the Le...

Moto3: Antonelli tops day one in France

18 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Antonelli tops day one in France

Niccolo Antonelli has topped the opening day of Moto3 action at the French Grand Prix, ending the combined free practice sessions a mere 0.048 ahead of an impressive ride from Kaito Toba, Enea...

MotoGP: Two more years of Dovi and Ducati

18 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Two more years of Dovi and Ducati

Ducati have confirmed that Andrea Dovizioso will remain with the squad for two more years, ending speculation that the Italian wasn’t happy with initial contract offers from the Bologna firm and...

Moto3: McPhee penalised for Jerez crash

18 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee penalised for Jerez crash

British racer John McPhee has been handed a six-place grid penalty for this weekend’s French Grand Prix, after he was deemed by race control to have caused the crash that took him, Dennis Foggia and...

MotoGP: Espargaro to remain with Aprilia

17 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Espargaro to remain with Aprilia

Aleix Espargaro will remain with the factory Aprilia MotoGP team for at least two more years, after signing an extension to his deal with the squad. Coming after a difficult start to the 2018 season...

MotoGP: Two more years at Suzuki for Rins

17 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Two more years at Suzuki for Rins

Alex Rins will remain with the Suzuki MotoGP squad for two more years, announcing the news to no surprise at the French Grand Prix today. The Spaniard has been in open talks with the manufacturer for...

MotoGP: Smith aiming for Tech 3 seat

16 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Smith aiming for Tech 3 seat

Bradley Smith says that he’s hoping for a future in MotoGP after the 2018 season, as he starts to look for a ride for the future after it was confirmed as being replaced at the Red Bull KTM squad by...

MotoGP: Rossi hoping to be fast in France

16 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi hoping to be fast in France

Valentino Rossi says that on paper he and his Movistar Yamaha team should be fast this weekend as they head to Le Mans for the French Grand Prix. The scene of teammate Maverick Viñales’ last win...

MotoGP: Marquez expecting to work hard at Le Mans

16 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez expecting to work hard at Le Mans

Reigning MotoGP champion marc Marquez says he knows that he’s going to have to work hard this weekend at the French Grand Prix if he wants to make it three wins in a row. Heading to a track where he...

MotoGP: Crutchlow gives new Silverstone surface the seal of approval

16 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow gives new Silverstone surface the seal of approval

LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow has given the new surface at Silverstone the seal of approval after getting the chance to take to the track on Monday for a media event. Lapping the home of the British...

MotoGP: Marc VDS team manager denies allegations

15 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marc VDS team manager denies allegations

Marc VDS team boss Michael Bartholemy has issued a strongly worded statement to deny allegations that circulated the paddock in Jerez two weeks ago about financial irregularities within the MotoGP and...

MotoGP: Michelin out to break records at home

15 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Michelin out to break records at home

MotoGP sole tyre manufacturer Michelin say they’re out to break records this weekend at their home race, as the 2018 season gets back underway at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans. The French firm will...

MotoGP: Marc Marquez interviews... Marc Marquez

11 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marc Marquez interviews... Marc Marquez

With reigning MotoGP world champion rider Marc Márquez getting his 2018 season off to a flying start with back-to-back wins in America and Spain, the Repsol Honda rider took on a new challenge in the...

MotoGP: Dovi upbeat despite crash chaos in Jerez

11 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi upbeat despite crash chaos in Jerez

The 2018 MotoGP championship was thrown into disarray at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix thanks to a racing incident between Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa that saw all three...

MotoGP: Iannone building on Austin success

10 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone building on Austin success

Andrea Iannone has achieved a second successive weekend of strong results for Suzuki by taking their third podium in a row, backing up teammate Alex Rins’ accomplishment in Argentina to give the...

Nicky Hayden hometown to unveil statue of champion

10 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

Nicky Hayden hometown to unveil statue of champion

2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden’s hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky will unveil a statue of him later this year as part of what is set to become the annual Nicky Hayden Day to commemorate him...

MotoGP: Michelin celebrate 400th win

10 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Michelin celebrate 400th win

This weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix saw French tyre manufacturer Michelin celebrate their 400th Grand Prix win with Marc Marquez taking victory in Grand Prix racing. The sole supplier to the premier...

MotoGP: Marc VDS lose satellite Suzukis?

09 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marc VDS lose satellite Suzukis?

Marc VDS’s deal to make the switch from satellite Honda to satellite Suzuki for the 2019 MotoGP season looks to have fallen through, thanks in part to a series of rumours that have spread through the...

Moto2: Lowes starting fresh in Europe

09 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes starting fresh in Europe

Sam Lowes says that this weekend’s Moto2 race at Jerez was a success for him, despite the former championship contender coming home in a lowly eighth place. Struggling to find his form in the opening...

MotoGP: Rossi rebukes Yamaha over development

09 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi rebukes Yamaha over development

Valentino Rossi has launched a stinging attack on Yamaha after another disappointing weekend for him and teammate Maverick Viñales at the Spanish Grand Prix, telling his Japanese engineers that they...

MotoGP: Frustrated Crutchlow ‘just not good enough’

08 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Frustrated Crutchlow ‘just not good enough’

A frustrated Cal Crutchlow has admitted that his set-up on the LCR Honda just wasn’t good enough to keep the pace of Repsol Honda rival Marc Marquez in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. The Brit crashed...

MotoGP: Important win at difficult track for Marquez

08 May 2018 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Important win at difficult track for Marquez

Marc Marquez says that Sunday’s victory in the Spanish Grand Prix was an important one for him, a she ticked the box of finally winning a MotoGP race at the Jerez track and extending his championship...