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

Pedrosa's manager slams Hayden

09 October 2008 by matto3227

Dani Pedrosa’s manager Alberto Puig has launched a scathing attack on the Spaniard’s Repsol Honda teammate Nicky Hayden. The relationship between the pair has been strained since Pedrosa collided...

Colin Edwards concerned about single tyre development

09 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards has raised concerns about how Bridgestone will develop tyres for the new single tyre rule, with the American worried that tyres might be built for the specific needs of only a handful of...

Kawasaki boss backs single tyre rule

09 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki’s MotoGP Technical Director Ichiro Yoda believes the switch to a single tyre rule in 2009 will allow factories to place more focus on machine development. Yoda reckons competition between...

Ducati confident Nicky Hayden can master GP9

08 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati believe new recruit Nicky Hayden is the man to prove that its factory V4 is not a bike only Casey Stoner can consistently fight for MotoGP wins on. Only Stoner has managed to win consistently...

Danny Webb confident in fitness for Sepang

08 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Danny Webb is confident he will be fit for the Sepang 125GP next weekend after he suffered more injury misery in Phillip Island. A massive warm-up high-side forced him to miss last Sunday’s Australian...

Bradley Smith talks Aspar Aprilia deal

08 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has set his sights on mounting a challenge for the 125GP world championship in 2009 after he clinched a deal to join the Aspar Aprilia squad. Unable to continue with his Polaris World...

Matt Hoyle tests new Maxtra 125GP bike

08 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider Matt Hoyle impressed during test appearances on the new Maxtra 125GP machine at Snetterton and Donington Park recently. Hoyle, who currently leads the British 125 series and is lying...

Valentino Rossi leads support for single tyre rule

08 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

New world champion Valentino Rossi has led widespread support for a single tyre rule in 2009 after it was finally confirmed that Bridgestone was the only factory to bid for the exclusive...

Valentino Rossi getting ready to race

07 October 2008 by photopete

2008 Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi pictured getting ready for the Moto GP Race at Phillip Island. Team: Fiat Yamaha. Photo: Peter Downing.

Phillip Island MotoGP: Toseland rode like a devil, says Rossi

06 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi heaped praise on James Toseland after their epic battle during the Australian MotoGP. Get all the latest MotoGP news The world champ and British rookie scrapped for several laps...

Toseland leads Rossi

06 October 2008 by Peter Downing

James Toseland leads Valentino Rossi at the Moto GP Australia. Pic attached from Peter Downing

Casey Stoner triumphs in Ducati’s 100th race

05 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner could not have picked a better time to make a return to winning ways as he stormed to a dominant victory in front of his home fans at Phillip Island today. Stoner ended his recent barren...

Jorge Lorenzo disappointed with fourth

05 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo said his hopes of a top three finish in the MotoGP world championship were all but over after he slumped to a disappointing fourth in Phillip Island today. The Fiat Yamaha rider never...

Valentino Rossi surges from 12th to second

05 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi produced a heroic display in Phillip Island today to surge from the fourth row of the grid to claim second. Riding with a muscle strain in his neck and a big headache after his huge...

Birthday boy James Toseland claims stunning sixth

05 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland celebrated his 28th birthday in style today with a stunning ride to sixth place in an enthralling Australian MotoGP race. The British rider produced easily the best performance of his...

Bradley Smith signs for Aspar Aprilia

05 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith will ride for the Aspar Aprilia squad in the 2009 125GP world championship. As was first reported by MCN, the 17-year-old has clinched a deal with Spaniard Jorge Martinez after he was told his Polaris World Aprilia squad didn’t have the funding to continue in 2009. Smith, who had a disastrous Australian GP today when he crashed on the first and last lap, told MCN:...

Phillip Island MotoGP: Casey stoner runs away with victory

05 October 2008 by Liam Marsden

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has taken victory at his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island ahead of a valiant Valentino Rossi. Casey Stoner ran away at the front of the pack from the...

Phillip Island MotoGP: Simoncelli wins 250GP race

05 October 2008 by Liam Marsden

Metis Gilera rider Marco Simoncelli has continued his dominance of the 250GP series with a win at Phillip Island. Simoncelli – currently leading the championship – had opened up a slight gap from Alvaro Bautista during the race but Bautista managed to put in some fast laps and catch up with the Italian. The two then enjoyed a scrap which saw Bautista eventually lose out when he nearly touched...