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

Yamaha not concerned by Moto2 defeat

05 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha not concerned by Moto2 defeat

Yamaha race boss Lin Jarvis has shrugged off defeat to Honda in the race to win the exclusive engine supply deal for the new Moto2 world championship in 2010. The contract to supply the new 250cc...

MotoGP Blog: Britain’s Articulate Grand Prix Boy Racers

04 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

MotoGP Blog: Britain’s Articulate Grand Prix Boy Racers

There is an argument that exposing children to sport too early in their lives converts them into robotic racing clones, with brittle-thin personalities and narrow interests. But you only had to see...

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi: ‘Dani is hard to catch from behind’

03 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi: ‘Dani is hard to catch from behind’

“That was fun but difficult,” Valentino Rossi said of his sixth victory on the Jerez circuit in the Spanish MotoGP race. “I was quite behind after the first laps. But after I came back I had a great...

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi roughs up the young ones

03 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi roughs up the young ones

Valentino Rossi claimed his first race win of the year at Jerez on Sunday, and leapt to the top of the points standings on his Fiat Yamaha when the 30-year-old Italian clubbed down three younger...

Jerez MotoGP: Smith now second in the world

03 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Smith now second in the world

“Maybe you try to picture your first win, but this is nothing like it,” Britain’s latest grand prix winner Bradley Smith said in a podium press conference only minutes after climbing from his Bancaja...

Jerez MotoGP: Smith takes first 125GP win

03 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Smith takes first 125GP win

The 18-year-old Oxford rider Bradley Smith scored his first ever grand prix win in his 50th race in the 125cc event at Jerez. Smith, who had qualified second fastest, streaked into the lead from the...

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi finds the missing tweak

03 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi finds the missing tweak

Valentino Rossi appeared to have found the missing link in the set-up on his Fiat Yamaha when he bounded to the top of the timesheets in the morning warm-up for the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez. The...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo keen on new Yamaha deal

02 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo keen on new Yamaha deal

Jorge Lorenzo has said he would be happy to extend his contract with Yamaha’s factory MotoGP team after revealing he held talks with senior management about his future in Jerez yesterday (Friday). The...

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi: ‘I Can’t Win Like This’

02 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi: ‘I Can’t Win Like This’

Valentino Rossi admitted after finishing fourth fastest in qualifying for the Spanish round of the MotoGP championship that there is no way he can win tomorrow’s race unless his team can improve the...

Jerez MotoGP: Honda wins Moto2 engine deal

02 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Honda wins Moto2 engine deal

Honda will be the exclusive engine supplier to the new Moto2 600cc four-stroke class. The decision to award Honda the contract came as little surprise following a Grand Prix Commission meeting held...

Jerez MotoGP: Practice to revert to one-hour format

02 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Practice to revert to one-hour format

Track time for MotoGP practice will revert back to a one-hour format from the next race in Le Mans, France. Opening practice sessions for the 125 and 250 classes on Friday afternoon will also be run...

Jerez MotoGP: Lorenzo scores first pole this year

02 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Lorenzo scores first pole this year

Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo scorched his Fiat Yamaha to his first pole position of the year at Jerez today, and held off desperate attempts by his rivals to dethrone him in the closing minutes...

Jerez MotoGP: Smith leads Brit trio in top 8

02 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Smith leads Brit trio in top 8

Aspar Aprilia rider Bradley Smith scored a slot on the front of the 125cc Spanish GP in qualifying today, and led a trio of Brits into the top eight positions for tomorrow’s 23-lap race. Smith punted...

Jerez MotoGP: Pedrosa Bursts Ahead for Repsol Honda

02 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Pedrosa Bursts Ahead for Repsol Honda

The 23-year-old Spaniard Dani Pedrosa continued his remarkable comeback to form by leading the second practice for the Spanish MotoGP on the sun-blessed Jerez circuit. Pedrosa speared his Repsol Honda...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith Finds the Groove Again

02 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith Finds the Groove Again

Oxfordshire rider Bradley Smith continued his weekend-long duel with Aspar Aprilia team-mate Julian Simon in the second practice session for the 125cc Spanish GP, finishing just 0.321s slower than his...

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi lands in paradise

01 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Rossi lands in paradise

“Compared to the past two races, this is paradise!” This was an ebullient Valentino Rossi speaking after the reigning MotoGP world champion had set fastest lap in the opening practice session at Jerez...

Jerez MotoGP: James Toseland promises plenty more

01 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: James Toseland promises plenty more

British rider James Toseland reckons he’s not shown anywhere near his full potential on the opening day of practice for Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP clash in Jerez. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was 11th...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi unstoppable in practice

01 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi unstoppable in practice

Still seeking his first MotoGP win of the year, reigning champion Valentino Rossi dominated the opening free practice session here at the Spanish round at Jerez with a lap in 1m 39.647s on the Fiat...

Jerez Motogp: Bradley Smith Flying at Hot and Sunny Jerez

01 May 2009 by Mike Nicks

Jerez Motogp: Bradley Smith Flying at Hot and Sunny Jerez

Britain’s Bradley Smith got off to a blazing start in practice for the 125cc Spanish GP here at Jerez this weekend by snatching provisional pole on his Aspar Aprilia in the opening session. The...

Jerez MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso urges Honda action

01 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso urges Honda action

Andrea Dovizioso has urged Honda to find a quick solution to some of its early season problems. The 2009 factory RC212V has struggled to match the pace of Yamaha and Ducati, though Dani Pedrosa did...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Ross admits single tyre struggle

01 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Ross admits single tyre struggle

Valentino Rossi has admitted that he is struggling to get his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 adapted to the new Bridgestone tyres. Get all the latest MotoGP news Under the single tyre rule introduced for...

Jerez MotoGP: Suzuki must improve, says factory boss

01 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Suzuki must improve, says factory boss

Suzuki MotoGP boss Paul Denning has admitted that the poor early performance of the 2009 factory GSV-R has been the biggest disappointment of his time at the helm of the Japanese factory team. Suzuki...

Jerez MotoGP: Suzuki exempt from rookie signing ban

01 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Suzuki exempt from rookie signing ban

Suzuki will be given special exemption from the new rule that prevents a factory team signing a rookie rider from the start of the 2010 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese factory will be allowed...

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa silent on Motegi tyre issue

01 May 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa silent on Motegi tyre issue

Dani Pedrosa ducked and weaved from questions about the serious Bridgestone front tyre wear that hit the Spaniard during last weekend’s Japanese MotoGP race. Bridgestone promised a full investigation...

Jerez MotoGP: Danny Webb eyes podium challenge

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Danny Webb eyes podium challenge

Danny Webb has targeted a career first podium finish in this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez. The British rider’s confidence has soared after he led for more than half of last weekend’s Japanese GP at...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith expects fierce Spanish challenge

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith expects fierce Spanish challenge

Bradley Smith expects Spanish team-mates Julian Simon and Sergio Gadea to pose the biggest threat to his hopes of a maiden 125GP victory in Jerez this weekend. The Oxfordshire rider has had an...

Jerez MotoGP: Scott Redding looking for confidence boost

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Scott Redding looking for confidence boost

British teenager Scott Redding is hoping this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez will help fire his season into life after a disappointing start. Redding finished outside the top ten in the shortened Qatar...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo aiming to build on Motegi success

30 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo aiming to build on Motegi success

Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can build on his brilliant start to the 2009 MotoGP campaign in front of a massive home crowd in Jerez this weekend. His second premier class victory in...

Jerez MotoGP: Honda still not competitive, says Dani Pedrosa

29 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Honda still not competitive, says Dani Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa has played down his hopes of victory in this weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez, the Repsol Honda rider insisting his factory RC212V is still not competitive enough. The triple world champion...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects Casey Stoner backlash

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects Casey Stoner backlash

Valentino Rossi is expecting a backlash from Ducati rival Casey Stoner in this weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez. The Italian is still chasing his first win of the 2009 campaign having been beaten by...

Jerez MotoGP: Bridgestone investigate Dani Pedrosa tyre issue

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bridgestone investigate Dani Pedrosa tyre issue

Dani Pedrosa will find out the result of a Bridgestone investigation in Jerez this weekend after the Spaniard managed to claim a podium finish in the Japanese GP, despite serious front tyre wear. An...

Jerez MotoGP: Honda and Yamaha await Moto2 engine decision

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Honda and Yamaha await Moto2 engine decision

Honda and Yamaha have submitted bids to be the exclusive engine supplier to the new Moto2 600cc four-stroke class in 2010, MCN can reveal. Kawasaki had been installed as early frontrunners but didn’t...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hoping for change in fortune

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hoping for change in fortune

American Nicky Hayden is hoping some good fortune will finally go his way in this weekend’s Spanish GP at Jerez after a nightmare start to his factory Ducati career. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner expects strong Jorge Lorenzo challenge

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner expects strong Jorge Lorenzo challenge

Aussie Casey Stoner is expecting another strong challenge from Japanese GP winner Jorge Lorenzo when the European leg of the MotoGP campaign gets underway in Jerez this weekend. Fiat Yamaha rider...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner disagree on tyre rule

28 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner disagree on tyre rule

Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner have clashed over the controversial single tyre rule introduced for the 2010 MotoGP world championship. Fiat Yamaha rider Rossi has been a vocal opponent of the limit...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland boosted by top ten

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland boosted by top ten

British rider James Toseland believes his first top ten finish of 2009 has given him the perfect platform to become a consistent top six contender in MotoGP. The 28-year-old shrugged off a disastrous...