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

Jorge Lorenzo looking for Bridgestone confidence

10 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo is confident that he will quickly adapt to Bridgestone tyres after last weekend’s opening 2009 test in Sepang. The Fiat Yamaha rider finished the three-day session only eighth...

Colin Edwards to undergo neck injury checks

10 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards will undergo medical checks on his injured neck in Texas later on today (Tuesday). The American was plagued by the old injury during last week’s Sepang test session in Malaysia when he...

No special Honda support for Toni Elias

10 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias won’t get any extra support from Honda unless his satellite Gresini squad stumps up the cash for new parts. Despite having ‘factory’ rider status for 2009, Elias still won’t get the level...

Honda boss explains satellite team rev limit

10 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Honda has confirmed cutting revs on the RC212V engines distributed to its satellite teams for the 2009 MotoGP campaign. Having finally taken delivery of the pneumatic valve engines used by Honda’s...

Suzuki against MotoGP testing restrictions

10 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has opposed a planned ban on all MotoGP testing during the season in 2009. As part of a range of radical cost-cutting measures to counter the global economic crisis, scheduled tests after five...

Monster close to Tech 3 Yamaha deal

09 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland and Colin Edwards are expected to line-up on the 2009 MotoGP grid with backing from energy drink Monster, MCN can reveal. The American energy drink giant is close to signing a deal to...

Colin Edwards thrilled with single tyre rule

09 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards reckons the controversial switch to a single tyre rule for 2009 has taken a lot of risk and stress out of riding in MotoGP. Under the new rules in winter testing, riders only have two...

Casey Stoner not expecting new parts before first race

09 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner reckons he is unlikely to get any major new parts for Ducati’s new GP9 before the seasons gets underway in Qatar on April 12. The 2007 MotoGP world champion though hardly needs any...

Hungary MotoGP race ‘likely to be cancelled’

09 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

The Hungarian MotoGP race, scheduled to take place on September 20 at the new Balatongring, looks certain to be postponed. Although there has been no official confirmation that the race will not go...

Sepang test: Casey Stoner thrilled at new Ducati performance

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner declared himself thrilled after he kicked off 2009 by narrowly beating arch MotoGP rival Valentino Rossi to the fastest time in the three-day Sepang test. Worried that a long winter...

Sepang test: Valentino Rossi confident after 2009 debut

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi kicked off the defence of his MotoGP crown in 2009 in impressive fashion to finish the first test of the year in Sepang with the second best time. A best lap of 2.01.137 set in the...

Sepang test: James Toseland to undergo medical checks

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland flew home to the UK tonight with his first priority to get his battered and bruised body checked over in hospital. The double World Superbike champion’s brave attempt to...

Sepang test: Nicky Hayden facing ‘long flight home’

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden admitted facing a long flight home to Kentucky after he finished the Sepang test down in 10th place and only third best Ducati GP9. Easily outpaced by a stunning performance from factory...

Sepang test: Loris Capirossi buoyed by top three

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Italian veteran Loris Capirossi is confident Suzuki has transformed its fortunes after he produced a major surprise during the first MotoGP test in 2009. Fastest on the first day and second yesterday,...

Sepang test: Andrea Dovizioso rejects new Honda chassis

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

New factory Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso has ditched a new RC212V chassis and will start the season on an older version having completed back-to-back tests in Sepang this week. The Italian, who...

Sepang test: Colin Edwards delighted with 2009 debut

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards shrugged off a niggling neck injury to make a brilliant start to 2009, the Tech 3 Yamaha rider clocking the fourth best time in Sepang. Making his debut on the 2009 Yamaha...

Sepang test: Casey Stoner ends Malaysia test fastest

07 February 2009 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner made light work of the pain of his injured left wrist to set the fastest time at the end of the Sepang test in Malaysia. The 2007 MotoGP world champion might have had to limit his...