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

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland boosted by top ten

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

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...

Motegi MotoGP: Tyre gamble backfires on Danny Webb

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb’s gamble on running full wet Dunlop front and rear tyres backfired as he had to settle for 11th in the Japanese 125GP – despite leading for over half the race. The Degraaf Aprilia rider...

Motegi MotoGP: Brake issue slows Casey Stoner

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

A front brake vibration ruined any hopes Casey Stoner had of continuing his stunning start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship in Japan. The runaway winner of the season’s opening race in Qatar...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden unhappy with Yuki Takahashi

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden blasted home rookie Yuki Takahashi as his factory Ducati nightmare continued in Japan. Scot Honda RC212V rider Takahashi torpedoed Hayden out of the 24-lap race at just the third...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins in Japan

27 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo won only his second MotoGP race in Japan yesterday with a brilliant ride to defeat Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in a captivating Twin Ring Motegi race. The Spaniard, who hadn’t...

You only have yourself to blame

26 April 2009 by baldy28

With all the arguments being made about the cost of GP racing and racing being a boring spectacle I put the blame firmly in the factory’s hands for this. There is no way factories should be charging race teams ie 250 teams £800,000 to lease a race bike. Their biggest mistakes is pricing out the private race teams. 250cc & 125cc racing is some of the best you would see at a GP but because of...

Motegi MotoGP: Matt Hoyle’s Haojue team withdraw from 125GP race

25 April 2009 by Matt Birt

Matt Hoyle’s Haojue 125GP team has withdrawn from tomorrow’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. Undisclosed technical issues with new engine parts hand carried to the Far East were cited as the...

Motegi MotoGP: Moto2 engine supplier decision delayed

25 April 2009 by Matt Birt

The decision on which manufacturer will supply engines for the new Moto2 four-stroke class has been delayed until next weekend’s Spanish GP in Jerez. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta spent two days in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Qualifying scrapped after Motegi monsoon

25 April 2009 by Matt Birt

Torrential rain that battered the Twin Ring Motegi circuit today forced the cancellation of all qualifying sessions for the Japanese Grand Prix. This morning’s free practice sessions all took place in...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi stops Casey Stoner’s charge

24 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi stopped Casey Stoner’s early season domination by clocking the fastest time in opening practice for Sunday’s Japanese GP. The Italian lapped the Twin...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland fights back in Japan

24 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland proved that his motivation and determination haven’t suffered after a torrid start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship. A bitterly disappointing 16th place finish in the...

Motegi MotoGP: Moriwaki unveil latest Moto2 contender

24 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Japanese engineering specialists Moriwaki unveiled the third version of its MD600 bike today ahead of a proposed 2010 assault on the new Moto2 class. The latest version of the bike, which has yet to...

Donington British MotoGP round in doubt

23 April 2009 by Andy Downes

Donington Park operator Simon Gillett’s company Donington Ventures Leisure Limited has been issued with legal proceedings over £2.47million in unpaid rent. The legal proceedings mean Gillett’s company...

Motegi MotoGP: No new parts for Dani Pedrosa in Japan

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa has confirmed his factory Honda RC212V will not receive an early parts upgrade for this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP clash at the Twin Ring Motegi. Honda’s V4 has struggled on the new...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi concerned about gloomy forecasts

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has expressed concern that gloomy weather forecasts could seriously hamper crucial bike set-up time during this weekend’s Japanese GP. Forecasts for...

Motegi MotoGP: Loris Capirossi determined to bounce back

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Twin Ring Motegi specialist Loris Capirossi is determined to forget a disastrous start to the 2009 campaign in this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP clash. The veteran Italian crashed out of the top six in...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden eyes more Ducati improvement

23 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is hopeful he can continue his Ducati improvement at the Twin Ring Motegi this weekend in the first Japanese MotoGP race he will contest not riding for Honda. Despite a nightmare debut in...

Motegi MotoGP: Bradley Smith confident in podium challenge

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith is confident he can mount a podium challenge in this weekend’s Japanese 125GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Aspar Aprilia rider had to settle for fifth place in the...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland looking for luck change

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British MotoGP rider James Toseland is hoping his rotten bad luck will change in Yamaha’s home race in Japan this weekend. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider has had a torrid start to 2009 with massive...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner plays down Valentino Rossi contest

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner has refused to place too much emphasis on his MotoGP title scrap with chief rival Valentino Rossi. Stoner’s crushing win over the Fiat Yamaha rider in the season’s opening race in Qatar...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner ready to ram home early advantage

21 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner is confident he can ram home his early advantage at this weekend’s Japanese GP. The 23-year-old made the perfect start to 2009, dominating the opening race in Qatar...

Motegi MotoGP: Practice to revert back to one-hour format

20 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP bosses will sanction a return to the one-hour practice and qualifying format at this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi, MCN can reveal. The Grand Prix Commission is expected to pass...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi anticipates strong Casey Stoner challenge

20 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has predicted another strong challenge from Ducati rival Casey Stoner in this weekend’s Japanese GP. Sunday’s race sees a quick return to the Twin Ring Motegi circuit for the...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa nearing 100 per cent fitness

20 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa is confident he will be much closer to 100 per cent fitness for this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Spaniard missed most of winter testing when he suffered left leg...

Colin Edwards hails impressive Casey Stoner

17 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards has hailed the current form of Ducati star Casey Stoner after the Australian’s dominant victory in the season’s opening race in Qatar. Stoner humbled reigning world champion...

Consistency the key for Jorge Lorenzo

17 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Consistency will be the key for Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo to mount a more serious challenge to dominant MotoGP duo Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in 2009. The Spaniard finished the season’s...

Casey Stoner: GP9 is best Ducati yet

17 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Casey Stoner has told MCN the new carbon fibre chassis and swingarm on his stunning GP9 machine has made this year’s factory Ducati the best he’s ever ridden. The 23-year-old...

Qatar needs to consider date change, says Yamaha boss

17 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis believes Qatar might have to surrender its coveted slot as the opening race of the MotoGP world championship to avoid a repeat of the opening race weather disaster. In return...

Casey Stoner is title favourite, says Randy Mamola

17 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Randy Mamola reckons factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner is a red-hot favourite to win his 2009 MotoGP battle against reigning world champion Valentino Rossi. Stoner started his quest to win...

Qatar MotoGP: Alex de Angelis warned after Dani Pedrosa clash

14 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda rider Alex de Angelis was ticked off and warned about his future conduct after a clash with injured Spaniard Dani Pedrosa in last night’s Qatar MotoGP race. The Gresini Honda was summonsed...

Qatar MotoGP: James Toseland deflated after lowly 16th

14 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland cut a dejected figure as his second MotoGP season kicked off in bitterly disappointing fashion in Qatar last night. Toseland was fighting for a place in the top ten behind...

Rossi pays tribute to victims of Italy's earthquake

14 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi showed his support for the victims of Italy’s recent devastating earthquake at the opening MotoGP race in Qatar. The 30-year-old carried a special sticker on his factory Yamaha YZR-M1...

Qatar MotoGP: Stoner wins rescheduled Qatar clash

13 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Ducati rider Casey Stoner won the MotoGP race in Qatar after it was postponed due to torrential rain. The Aussie finished over 7 seconds ahead of Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi. Rossi’s Spanish...

Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner questions Qatar re-run

13 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner has said the decision to stage the Qatar MotoGP race nearly 24 hours late was strange given a drive to slash costs. The Aussie, who had qualified on pole position for...

Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy to race on Monday

13 April 2009 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi has said he is happy that the delayed Qatar MotoGP race will go ahead after last night’s rain cancellation. The opening round of the 2009 season was postponed...

Reduced to watching German tv for MotoGP coverage

13 April 2009 by Gordon

For coverage of the MotoGP events I am reduced to the German DSF channel on my Astra satellite (analogue) set up! OK if you understand German, just watch the pictures and learn. I got the gist of most of what was shown. Tried BBC 3, that was pretty awful, will never forgive Eurosport International for dumping MotoGP and the knowledgeable commentators, sadly missed.