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

Nicky Hayden looking for more top speed

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden looking for more top speed

Ducati’s GP9 might be consistently the fastest bike in MotoGP, but American Nicky Hayden is still looking for more top speed ahead of the first race in Qatar next month. Pre-season testing so far has...

Yamaha happy with new anti-wheelie strategy

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha happy with new anti-wheelie strategy

Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Daniele Romagnoli is confident a new electronic anti-wheelie system will help the 2009 YZR-M1 defeat Ducati’s factory GP9 this season. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Mika Kallio learning fast about MotoGP

25 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio learning fast about MotoGP

Finnish rookie Mika Kallio believes adapting more to the stopping power of carbon brakes is his biggest margin for improvement ahead of his MotoGP debut next month. Kallio, who will ride for the...

Dani Pedrosa absent from Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa absent from Jerez test

New Honda test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi will replace Dani Pedrosa at this weekend’s final MotoGP winter test session in Jerez. The Spaniard is still recovering from left arm and leg injuries suffered...

Valentino Rossi confident for Jerez test

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi confident for Jerez test

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi is confident he will end his winter testing campaign on a high at the Jerez circuit in Spain this weekend. The Italian has yet to top the timesheets in a...

Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner delighted with Nicky Hayden partnership

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has said he is revelling in his partnership with new factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden. The pair have immediately formed a good rapport together and have...

Yamaha boss ‘scared’ by Casey Stoner threat

24 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss ‘scared’ by Casey Stoner threat

Yamaha’s MotoGP boss Masao Furusawa has admitted he is ‘scared’ by the threat Aussie Casey Stoner poses to Valentino Rossi’s hopes of winning a seventh premier class title in 2009. Despite a slow and...

Colin Edwards stunned by Bridgestone endurance

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards stunned by Bridgestone endurance

Texan Colin Edwards has admitted he has been stunned by the endurance of Bridgestone tyres as he prepares to wrap up 2009 winter testing in Jerez this weekend. Get all the latest MotoGP news The...

John Hopkins cagey on Kawasaki settlement

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins cagey on Kawasaki settlement

John Hopkins has refused to discuss whether he turned down the chance to ride the re-branded factory Kawasaki in this year’s MotoGP world championship. It has been rumoured that the Californian was...

Hayate team not looking for extra technical support

23 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Hayate team not looking for extra technical support

The new Hayate MotoGP team will not work in partnership with an external engineering company to help develop the re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in 2009. Kawasaki will cease development on the...

Julian and Toby back covering MotoGP

22 March 2009 by Pete Grant

Julian and Toby back covering MotoGP

Just like to add my appreciation of Julian and Toby’s return to Moto GP coverage with Eurosport! Their mixed and informed commentary makes the sport even more enjoyable! I look forward to Hearing...

My daughter with Valentino Rossi

21 March 2009 by troyhonda46

My daughter with Valentino Rossi

Took my daughter to the Day of Champions 2006. Paige with Valle – the man is a god. True gent.

Mika Kallio bemoans practice cuts

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio bemoans practice cuts

MotoGP rookie Mika Kallio fears the big reduction in practice time will seriously hinder his bid to be immediately competitive in 2009. As part of a range of cost-cutting measures to counter the...

Bradley Smith happy with engine performance tweaks

20 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith happy with engine performance tweaks

Bradley Smith reckons engine performance tweaks have significantly improved his Aspar Aprilia 125GP machine after a successful test in Estoril this week. His Spanish team ran different engine...

John Hopkins to announce 2009 plans

19 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins to announce 2009 plans

American John Hopkins is expected to announce his racing plans for the 2009 season tomorrow (Friday). Frozen out after Kawasaki’s shock decision to quit MotoGP in early January because of the global...

Fausto Gresini bullish on 2009 prospects

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Fausto Gresini bullish on 2009 prospects

Honda MotoGP team manager Fausto Gresini is confident Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis can play a prominent part in the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Gresini’s satellite Honda squad used to be one of...

Alex de Angelis looking for big improvement in 2009

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Alex de Angelis looking for big improvement in 2009

Alex de Angelis is determined to improve on his best result of fourth place when the new MotoGP campaign gets underway in Qatar next month. The San Marino rider is confident he can score better than...

John Surtees 125GP team confirms name change

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Surtees 125GP team confirms name change

The Chinese backed 125GP team headed by MotoGP and Formula One legend John Surtees has confirmed it will change its name for the 2009 world championship campaign. Having initially planned to race as...

Toni Elias worried about first race prospects

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias worried about first race prospects

Spaniard Toni Elias has already cast doubts on his prospects of making a fast start to the 2009 MotoGP world championship campaign. The Gresini Honda rider, who had a torrid time with the Alice Ducati...

Valentino Rossi critical of MotoGP testing restrictions

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi critical of MotoGP testing restrictions

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi has told MCN that he believes the new testing restrictions introduced to help cut costs in MotoGP are too severe. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who won nine races to...

Nicky Hayden looking for rear brake solution

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden looking for rear brake solution

Nicky Hayden is waiting for new footrest brackets to stop him inadvertently dragging the rear brake on Ducati’s stunning new carbon fibre GP9 machine. The Kentucky rider should have the new footrest...

Scott Redding getting comfortable on new Aprilia

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Scott Redding getting comfortable on new Aprilia

Highly-rated Scott Redding believes he is getting more accustomed to the new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine. But the Gloucestershire rider has conceded that he needs more time to focus on chassis set-up...

Danny Webb finishes frustrated in Estoril

18 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb finishes frustrated in Estoril

Danny Webb had a frustrating final day of 125GP testing in Estoril after mechanical problems and high winds disrupted his first test of 2009. The British teenager was unable to improve on his lap...

Chris Vermeulen expecting early engine upgrades

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen expecting early engine upgrades

Aussie Chris Vermeulen has told MCN he expects Suzuki to roll out new engine upgrades in the early part of the season to help bridge the horsepower deficit to rivals Ducati, Honda and Yamaha. Suzuki...

Valentino Rossi hopeful on Dani Pedrosa’s fitness fight

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi hopeful on Dani Pedrosa’s fitness fight

Reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has said he hopes Dani Pedrosa will be fit to start the new world championship in Qatar next month. The Spaniard is facing a desperate race to be fit for...

Kawasaki to cease MotoGP development soon

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki to cease MotoGP development soon

Kawasaki’s involvement in the new Hayate MotoGP project will be severely reduced by the end of March, MCN has learned. The Japanese factory will only develop new parts for the Hayate, which is a...

Bradley Smith remains top Brit in Estoril test

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith remains top Brit in Estoril test

Bradley Smith has remained top British rider after the second day of testing at the Estoril circuit in Portugal. The Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a best time of 1.46.328 to lap 0.3s faster than he...

John Surtees 125GP team drops Maxtra name

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

John Surtees 125GP team drops Maxtra name

The new Chinese-backed 125GP team spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees will not race under the Maxtra name. Provisional entry lists released by the FIM yesterday (Monday) have British...

Danny Webb crashes unhurt in Estoril

17 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb crashes unhurt in Estoril

Danny Webb survived a pre-season scare when he crashed his new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine on the second day of testing in Estoril yesterday (Monday). The British rider, who claimed a career best...

Suzuki confirms new Rizla MotoGP deal

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki confirms new Rizla MotoGP deal

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will continue to run in Rizla colours for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese factory has confirmed today (Monday) that the British-based team will...

Marco Melandri satisfied with Hayate potential

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri satisfied with Hayate potential

Italian Marco Melandri is confident he will be competitive on the new Hayate MotoGP bike in 2009. Having recently confirmed he will race the re-branded factory Kawasaki ZX-RR in a deal exclusively...

Danny Webb passes driving test

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb passes driving test

British 125GP racer Danny Webb might be one of the fastest teenagers on the planet on two wheels, and now he’s all set to take to the road on four too. The DeGraaf Aprilia rider recently passed his...

MCN helps James Toseland show off BKS quality

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

MCN helps James Toseland show off BKS quality

James Toseland has used MCN’s exclusive pictures of his amazing 125mph Sepang high-side in winter testing to showcase the protection offered by BKS leathers. The double World Superbike champion...

Bradley Smith third quickest in Estoril

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith third quickest in Estoril

British teenager Bradley Smith has continued his promising start to 2009 by clocking the third quickest time on the opening day of 125GP testing in Estoril, Portugal. The Aspar Aprilia rider clocked a...

Andrea Dovizioso wants 2009 title tilt

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso wants 2009 title tilt

Italian Andrea Dovizioso is confident he can threaten Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi’s recent domination of the MotoGP world championship when the new MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar next...

Dani Pedrosa targeting Qatar return

16 March 2009 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa targeting Qatar return

Injured Spaniard Dani Pedrosa has refused to rule himself out of the opening MotoGP race of 2009 in Qatar next month. The Spaniard is facing a desperate battle to be fit for the opening race under...