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

Shinya Nakano in talks with Aprilia’s WSB squad

24 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Japanese rider Shinya Nakano is poised to clinch a deal to partner Max Biaggi in Aprilia’s new World Superbike squad in 2009, MCN can reveal. Nakano has been frozen out of MotoGP after the San Carlo...

Valencia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden fastest in first practice

24 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden made the perfect start to his last race for Honda’s factory MotoGP team this morning after the American set the fastest time in a rain-lashed and cold opening practice session in...

Casey Stoner eager to test 2009 Ducati

23 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Casey Stoner says he can’t wait to begin serious testing on Ducati’s 2009 MotoGP contender in Valencia next week. The Aussie will make his second appearance on the GP9 on Monday...

Sete Gibernau returns to MotoGP with new Ducati team

23 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

As expected, Sete Gibernau has confirmed he will step out of retirement in 2009 to return to MotoGP action in the new Onde 2000 Ducati team in Valencia tonight. The 35-year-old, who quit the world...

Andrea Dovizioso relishing factory Honda move

23 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Italian Andrea Dovizioso reckons he can’t wait to begin his factory Honda career in Valencia next week. Get all the latest MotoGP news The former world 125 champion, who scored his debut premier...

Jorge Lorenzo rues injury-hit mid-season

23 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo reckons his injury-hit spell during the mid-season point of his rookie MotoGP campaign ruined his hopes of a top three world championship finish. The double world 250 champion suffered...

Valentino Rossi confirms Ford drive in Rally GB

23 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has confirmed he will drive a Ford Focus in the Rally GB in early December. The Italian had been weighing up Ford and Subaru options for the Rally GB, which he...

Making MotoGP better for everybody

23 October 2008 by simplefishman

Surely the answer to some of the problems surrounding tyre life and Rossi saying the laps should be reduced in number in MotoGP would be to have two races per meeting? This would give us spectators better value for money and if BSB and WSB run this system then why doesn’t MotoGP?

James Toseland confident in Bridgestone’s 2009 plan

22 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland is confident that Bridgestone’s decision to slash the tyre allocation by 50 per cent will work in next season’s MotoGP world championship. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider, who...

Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan hail crew chief

22 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan have paid tribute to Jerry Burgess after the Aussie crew chief reached another incredible milestone. Get all the latest MotoGP news Rossi’s success at the Malaysian...

Valentino Rossi looks to end Valencia jinx

22 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi will be hoping to bury his Valencia jinx and take his 2008 victory tally into double figures in the season’s final MotoGP clash in Spain this weekend. Rossi returns to the scene of his...

Casey Stoner proud despite heavy title loss

22 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner reckons he is still proud of his achievements in the 2008 MotoGP world title race, even though he goes into the final race trailing Valentino Rossi by over 100-points. Stoner has...

Tech 3 Yamaha boss denies 2010 deal for Ben Spies

20 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies’ Yamaha World Superbike deal does not include any assurances that the American is guaranteed a place in the Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP squad in 2010. Triple American superbike champion Spies will...

Sepang circuit scraps night race plan

20 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

The Sepang circuit in Malaysia will not switch its MotoGP race to a night clash under floodlights. The Malaysia circuit was hotly tipped to follow the lead of Qatar by staging a race at night, and...

Nicky Hayden hoping to end Honda career in style

20 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

American Nicky Hayden has admitted he would love to end his Honda career in style this weekend, with the 27-year-old poised for his last appearance for the Japanese factory in Valencia this...

Dani Pedrosa targets home win in Valencia

20 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa is hoping he can claim a second successive Valencia victory this weekend to end the 2008 MotoGP campaign on a high. The Spaniard, who has won half of his premier class...

BBC2 MotoGP coverage

19 October 2008 by Simonrs2

Not managing to get up at 1.50am to watch the Sepang race live on BBC2 this Sunday, I waited for the later repeat showing on BBC2….never happened. Went onto iPlayer, just informs you its ‘coming soon’. really dissapointed at the lack of consistency covering the MotoGP, If this had been F1 or even Gymnastics it would have been shown at least twice! And to top it all, searched the BBC website to...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Andrea Dovizioso ecstatic with maiden rostrum

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Italian rookie Andrea Dovizioso celebrated his maiden MotoGP podium today in Sepang as he survived intense heat and intense pressure from Nicky Hayden to claim a deserved third. Dovizioso, who will...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Crash blow for Jorge Lorenzo

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo saw his hopes of snatching third place in his rookie MotoGP world championship campaign ended by a crash in today’s sweltering Sepang GP. Lorenzo was still fighting for third overall...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Casey Stoner slowed by troublesome left wrist

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Casey Stoner reckons the on-going pain caused by his damaged left wrist was the prime reason for his surprise slump to sixth place in a stiflingly hot Sepang MotoGP race. The former world...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi claims 150th podium with Sepang win

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi survived gruelling 40 degree heat to secure his ninth win of 2008 and his 150th career rostrum in a scorching hot Malaysian GP. The Italian quickly disposed of hard charging compatriot...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Nicky Hayden fourth again in Sepang

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden was left to ponder a frustrating fourth place for the fourth time in the Sepang GP this afternoon. The American failed to mount a successful attack on Andrea Dovizioso for third, even...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Dani Pedrosa satisfied with second in Sepang sauna

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa secured third place in the 2008 MotoGP world championship with a hard fought ride to second in a sweltering Sepang clash. Pedrosa’s distant second to Yamaha rival Valentino Rossi...

Mika Kallio and Niccolo Canepa confirmed at Ducati

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Mika Kallio and Niccolo Canepa have finally been officially confirmed in Ducati’s satellite MotoGP squad for 2009. Finn Kallio will step up from the KTM 250GP squad having won 12 races in the smaller...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland bemoans early Sepang exit

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland had a disappointing Sepang GP in Malaysia this afternoon as he crashed out on lap three while trying to fight his way back into the points. The 28-year-old had lost four...

Sepang MotoGP: Rossi storms to victory in Malaysia

19 October 2008 by James Keen

2008 MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi stormed to victory once again in Malaysia, leaving challenger Dani Pedrosa to settle for second on the podium. Rossi took his 9th victory of the season at the...

Sepang MotoGP: Bautista wins race but Simoncelli clinches title

19 October 2008 by James Keen

Alvaro Bautista won the 250 GP in Malaysia, but it was Simoncelli who claimed the big victory as a podium finish was enough to grant him the championship. Marco Simoncelli places third in the 250...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Bradley Smith talks punishing podium

19 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith produced a stunning surge from the fourth row of the grid to claim second in a punishing Sepang 125GP today. With air temperatures reaching close to 40 degrees, the British teenager kept...

Sepang MotoGP: Bradley claims his 4th podium of the season

19 October 2008 by James Keen

British rider Bradley Smith finished second in he Malaysian 125 GP, putting him on the podium behind Gabor Talmacsi. World Champion Talmacsi claimed victory at the Malaysian circuit for the second...

Bridgestone confirmed as single tyre supplier

18 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

As was first reported by MCN nearly a month ago, Bridgestone has been confirmed as the supplier for the MotoGP single tyre rule until at least the end of the 2011 campaign. The Japanese factory was...

Sepang MotoGP: Aoyama claims his first pole of the season

18 October 2008 by James Keen

Hiroshi Aoyama finished third in the second 250 qualifying session today, but his time from Friday remained untouched, earning him pole position for Sunday’s 250 GP. Aoyama is strong at the Sepang...

Casey Stoner vows to mount victory assault

18 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Casey Stoner is confident he will be able to mount a victory charge in Malaysia tomorrow, despite missing the front row of the grid in Sepang today for the first time since the...

Hiroshi Aoyama stunned by KTM withdrawal

18 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama has admitted his world championship future is hanging by a thread after he was rocked by the sudden and shock decision by KTM to quit the 250GP class at the end of the...

Jorge Lorenzo hopes for titanic battle

18 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo believes tomorrow’s Malaysian GP at Sepang could be one of the best races of the season. Lap times in the dry have been super competitive, with 14 riders split by just one...

Valentino Rossi hails ‘brave’ Dani Pedrosa

18 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi hailed Dani Pedrosa’s performance in today’s rain-hit Sepang qualifying session as the Honda rider denied the Italian pole position. The Italian though a lap of...

Jorge Martinez confirms MotoGP move delay

18 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

As was exclusively revealed by MCN yesterday, Jorge Martinez has confirmed he has failed to successfully conclude lengthy negotiations with Kawasaki for a 2009 MotoGP deal. Kawasaki boss Michael...