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

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden gets massive confidence boost

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden gets massive confidence boost

The beaming smile on Nicky Hayden’s face was the clearest sign that the American made a massive breakthrough in his quest to master Ducati’s factory GP9 machine in Spain today. Having struggled and...

Catalunya MotoGP: James Toseland savours fast start

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: James Toseland savours fast start

British rider James Toseland admitted his 10th place on the timesheets at the end of the opening MotoGP practice session in Catalunya was his best start to a Grand Prix in 2009. The Monster Yamaha...

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi strikes back in Spain

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi strikes back in Spain

Valentino Rossi was in bullish mood in Catalunya tonight after he set the fastest time during the opening practice session with the fastest time. Chasing only his second victory of the 2009 campaign...

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith 11th in opening 125GP practice

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Bradley Smith 11th in opening 125GP practice

World 125GP championship leader Bradley Smith had a tough start to the Catalunya race weekend this afternoon, the British teenager only 11th on the timesheets in opening free practice. Smith, who goes...

Catalunya MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi to make Honda MotoGP debut

12 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi to make Honda MotoGP debut

Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi will make a dramatic MotoGP debut this afternoon at the start of the Catalunya MotoGP weekend in Spain. As was first reported by MCN four weeks ago, the former world 125GP...

Rendezvous Mugello 2009

12 June 2009 by jallori

Rendezvous Mugello 2009

Max (Italian Car Driver), Simon (British Biker-CBR), and Noureddine (United Nations Biker-Fazer) make the rendezvous at Mugello 2009. Max proves Italians dont always do it with style !

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden to try radical new Ducati set-up

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Nicky Hayden to try radical new Ducati set-up

Struggling factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden will gamble on a radical new set-up on his GP9 machine in Catalunya tomorrow, the American desperate to try and find a big breakthrough in what has been a...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo laughs off home pressure

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo laughs off home pressure

Jorge Lorenzo has laughed of suggestions he will be under severe pressure from his home fans during this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP race near Barcelona. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who has won two races...

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi looking for confidence boost

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi looking for confidence boost

Valentino Rossi has admitted solving a confidence issue with the front-end feeling of his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 is crucial to his hopes of challenging for victory in this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP...

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to try new Honda chassis

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to try new Honda chassis

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa will evaluate a new Honda RC212V chassis during tomorrow’s opening practice session for the Catalunya MotoGP race. Honda engineers have decided not to wait to rollout the new...

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo unveils special Barcelona livery

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo unveils special Barcelona livery

Still jubilant at Barcelona’s recent Champions League football success over Manchester United, Jorge Lorenzo will sport a special one-off helmet paintscheme for this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP race.

Tech 3 gets Yamaha assurances for 2010

11 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 gets Yamaha assurances for 2010

James Toseland’s Tech 3 Yamaha squad has denied it will have to surrender one of its factory spec YZR-M1 machines to a rival team in 2010. Strong rumours emerged recently suggested that Herve...

Race to sign Marco Simoncelli intensifies

10 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Race to sign Marco Simoncelli intensifies

Marco Simoncelli looks certain to be able take his pick of lucrative offers from every manufacturer in MotoGP as the race to sign the reigning 250GP champion intensifies. The 22-year-old is arguably...

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to ride through pain barrier

10 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Catalunya MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa to ride through pain barrier

Home favourite Dani Pedrosa will ride with the aid of regular pain-killing injections in this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP clash in Spain. The 23-year-old has declared himself fit to start practice on...

Nicky Hayden anxious for testing time

10 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden anxious for testing time

Nicky Hayden is hoping a post race test after this weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP clash will help him rediscover some lost confidence in Ducati’s factory GP9 machine. The American has struggled during...

Bradley Smith eager for more success

10 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith eager for more success

Bradley Smith eager for more success World 125GP championship leader Bradley Smith is looking for more success in Spain this weekend at the Catalunya GP. Smith broke his long-running victory duck in...

Valentino Rossi hoping to reign in Spain again

09 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hoping to reign in Spain again

Fresh from his first taste of the world famous Isle of Man TT, Valentino Rossi has turned his attentions back to MotoGP as he aims to claim a second victory on Spanish soil in Catalunya this...

Donington Park gets go ahead for WSB and MotoGP

05 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Donington Park gets go ahead for WSB and MotoGP

The British MotoGP race and the forthcoming World Superbike clash at Donington Park will go ahead after the Leicestershire circuit passed an FIM safety inspection earlier today. Following an...

Bradley Smith refusing to get carried away

05 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith refusing to get carried away

Bradley Smith has insisted he won’t get carried away by his stunning 2009 form. The level-headed 18-year-old leads the world 125GP championship after two victories in the opening five races of the...

Roberto Rolfo targets Moto2 ride

05 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Roberto Rolfo targets Moto2 ride

Former MotoGP and World Superbike rider Roberto Rolfo has confirmed he plans a return to world championship racing in the new Moto2 600cc class in 2010. Rolfo, who was axed by the Stiggy Honda WSB...

Wayne Rainey excited at Yamaha legends kart race

05 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Wayne Rainey excited at Yamaha legends kart race

Triple world champion Wayne Rainey is already eagerly looking forward to a special exhibition karting race that will pit him against Yamaha legends Eddie Lawson, Kenny Roberts and Valentino Rossi in...

Honda poised for Dani Pedrosa talks

04 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda poised for Dani Pedrosa talks

Honda will kick off negotiations with Dani Pedrosa over a new MotoGP contract later this month. HRC management plan to open talks with the Spaniard over a 2010 deal after the Dutch GP in Assen at the...

Key inspection looming for Donington Park

04 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Key inspection looming for Donington Park

A safety inspection vital for the forthcoming World Superbike and MotoGP races at Donington Park will take place at the Leicestershire circuit tomorrow (Friday). FIM Safety Officer Claude Danis will...

Kenny Roberts makes Moto2 bid

03 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts makes Moto2 bid

American legend Kenny Roberts has launched a shock bid to return to world championship racing in 2010, MCN can reveal. Triple world champion Roberts, who has been out of racing since he quit MotoGP at...

Valentino Rossi dismisses MotoGP and Moto2 assault

03 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi dismisses MotoGP and Moto2 assault

Valentino Rossi and Yamaha laughed off rumours the Italian legend is seriously considering trying to win the MotoGP and new 600cc Moto2 world championships in 2010. Freddie Spencer is still revered...

Practice day at Mugello

03 June 2009 by Anonymous

Practice day at Mugello

Trev and dave at Mugello for practice day.

Tech 3 boss: James Toseland can fight for top six

02 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 boss: James Toseland can fight for top six

James Toseland’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal believes the British rider can become a consistent top six challenger in MotoGP following his best finish of 2009 last weekend in...

Bradley Smith thriving on pressure

02 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith thriving on pressure

British rider Bradley Smith says he’s thriving on the pressure to perform for the high profile Aspar Aprilia in 2009. The 18-year-old continued his sensational season with a brilliant ride under...

Casey Stoner not shocked by Jorge Lorenzo form

02 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner not shocked by Jorge Lorenzo form

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner says he’s not shocked by the brilliant early season form of Fiat Yamaha rival Jorge Lorenzo. The Spaniard has only failed to finish off the podium once...

Suzuki waiting on Alvaro Bautista decision

02 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki waiting on Alvaro Bautista decision

Alvaro Bautista could become a factory Suzuki rider in the next two weeks. The Spaniard, who is currently leading the 250GP world championship, has until his home race in Catalunya on June 14 to...

Dani Pedrosa gets injury boost

01 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa gets injury boost

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa was given a major boost today when medical checks in Barcelona revealed he’d not suffered any further injuries when crashing out of Sunday’s Italian MotoGP race in...

Haojue 125GP team axe engine designer

01 June 2009 by Matthew Birt

Haojue 125GP team axe engine designer

The troubled Haojue 125GP team has terminated its contract with Dutch engine designer Jan Witteveen. A lack of performance and major reliability issues has dogged the Haojue project since its...

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner ends Valentino Rossi’s home domination

31 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Casey Stoner ends Valentino Rossi’s home domination

Casey Stoner handed Ducati its first Italian MotoGP success in Mugello today with a victory that ended Valentino Rossi’s incredible winning streak on home soil. Undefeated in Mugello since the 2002...

Mugello MotoGP: Fortune favours Jorge Lorenzo

31 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Fortune favours Jorge Lorenzo

A huge slice of luck and some brilliant wet and dry riding from Jorge Lorenzo helped keep the in-form Spaniard in the early MotoGP world championship title hunt in Mugello. The double world 250...

Mugello MotoGP: Seventh for James Toseland after pit stop gamble

31 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Seventh for James Toseland after pit stop gamble

British rider James Toseland scored his best result of a tough 2009 MotoGP world championship in another rain-hit clash at the Mugello circuit in Italy. Just two weeks after experiencing his first...

Mugello MotoGP: Bradley Smith talks successful Italian job

31 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mugello MotoGP: Bradley Smith talks successful Italian job

British rider Bradley Smith seized the lead in the 125GP world championship with a dominant performance in an enthralling Italian GP in Mugello. The 18-year-old’s second victory in the last three...