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

Tyre choice crucial admits Nicky Hayden

02 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Tyre choice crucial admits Nicky Hayden

American Nicky Hayden believes tyre choice will play an even more important factor in this weekend’s Australian GP at Phillip Island. Get the latest MotoGP news Hayden is hoping that Michelin...

Honda confirm factory bike for Toni Elias

02 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda confirm factory bike for Toni Elias

Honda management have confirmed that Toni Elias will receive a factory spec RC212V in 2009 after his deal to re-join the Gresini Honda squad in Australia today. Get all the latest MotoGP news HRC...

Toni Elias joins Gresini Honda

02 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias joins Gresini Honda

Spaniard Toni Elias will make a return to the Gresini Honda squad for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Having rejected the chance to stay with the Alice Ducati squad and also to ride a third...

Suzuki deny considering Michelin switch

01 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki deny considering Michelin switch

Suzuki has denied wanting to be part of a mass exodus from Bridgestone as Japanese factory bosses shunned any possibility of switching to Michelin to avoid a one-make tyre rule being introduced next...

Kawasaki refute tyre claims

01 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki refute tyre claims

Kawasaki management have expressed surprise at the Japanese factory being made a scapegoat in some quarters for the failure of last-minute talks to avert a one-make tyre rule being introduced in...

Andrea Dovizioso: ‘I seriously considered Suzuki and Kawasaki’

01 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso: ‘I seriously considered Suzuki and Kawasaki’

Italian Andrea Dovizioso has told MCN he did seriously consider moves to Kawasaki and Suzuki’s factory MotoGP teams for 2009 before signing a deal to partner Dani Pedrosa in Honda’s official...

Shinya Nakano to clinch shock Kawasaki deal?

01 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Shinya Nakano to clinch shock Kawasaki deal?

Kawasaki is desperately trying to formulate an 11th hour rescue package to save a third factory ZX-RR deal from collapse, with Shinya Nakano lined up for the ride. A deal which had looked certain to...

Sete Gibernau deal not under threat insist Ducati

01 October 2008 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau deal not under threat insist Ducati

Ducati has denied Sete Gibernau’s persistent demands to be reunited with former crew chief Juan Martinez threaten to scupper his plans to return to the MotoGP world championship. Gibernau wants...

Jerry Burgess bemoans single tyre rule approval

30 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess bemoans single tyre rule approval

Legendary crew chief of Valentino Rossi, Jerry Burgess, has criticised the decision to introduce a single tyre rule for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. The Aussie believes multi-brand competition...

Loris Capirossi positive about new Suzuki motor

30 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi positive about new Suzuki motor

Italian veteran Loris Capirossi reckons an early spec 2009 Suzuki engine he tested in Japan yesterday is another step in the right direction to help the Japanese factory get on par with rivals Yamaha...

Nicky Hayden impressed by Ducati technical boss

30 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden impressed by Ducati technical boss

Former world champion Nicky Hayden reckons he was ‘blown away’ at his first meeting with Ducati technical guru Filippo Preziosi. The American got the chance to discuss his future with Preziosi at...

Tech 3 Yamaha boss not worried by new tyre ruling

30 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha boss not worried by new tyre ruling

James Toseland’s Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal is not concerned that the independent teams might find it harder to compete in MotoGP after the implementation of a single tyre rule for 2009. It is...

Valentino Rossi dedicates title success to Norick Abe

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi dedicates title success to Norick Abe

Valentino Rossi dedicated his sixth MotoGP crown to late Yamaha star Norick Abe at the Twin Ring Motegi yesterday. Rossi was a huge fan of Abe and when he started his world championship career in 1996...

Rain halts Valentino Rossi’s 2009 Yamaha debut

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Rain halts Valentino Rossi’s 2009 Yamaha debut

Torrential rain forced Valentino Rossi to abandon plans to get his first impressions of Yamaha’s early 2009 prototype YZR-M1 at the Twin Ring Motegi today. Looking surprisingly perky despite huge...

Nobuatsu Aoki suffers massive test crash

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nobuatsu Aoki suffers massive test crash

Suzuki test rider Nobuatsu Aoki was lucky to suffer just a badly swollen and bruised left ankle after he crashed out during a brief test session this morning at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. Aoki was...

Team effort fundamental to Valentino Rossi’s title success

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Team effort fundamental to Valentino Rossi’s title success

Yamaha Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis praised the huge team effort involved in Valentino Rossi winning his first MotoGP title since 2005 at the Twin Ring Motegi yesterday. Rossi’s victory gave...

Yamaha proud to bounce back from 2007 humiliation

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha proud to bounce back from 2007 humiliation

Yamaha senior boss Masao Furusawa has spoken of his pride at seeing Yamaha and Valentino Rossi return to winning ways after a torrid two-year spell. Get all the latest MotoGP news Furusawa was a...

Yamaha boss hails ‘amazing’ Valentino Rossi

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss hails ‘amazing’ Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio was full of praise for the Italian star after he clinched an eighth world title in Japan yesterday. Rossi’s victory over Ducati rival Casey Stoner...

Yamaha president celebrates Valentino Rossi success

29 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha president celebrates Valentino Rossi success

Yamaha president Takashi Kajikawa has spoken of his delight at Valentino Rossi winning a third MotoGP world title for the Japanese factory at the Twin Ring Motegi yesterday. Kajikawa was jubilant as...

Motegi MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi regains world crown

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi regains world crown

Valentino Rossi won his first MotoGP world title since 2005 today to give Yamaha the premier class crown on home soil at the Twin Ring Motegi. Once Rossi passed out-going world champion Casey Stoner...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi looks ahead to 2009 Yamaha test

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi looks ahead to 2009 Yamaha test

Just hours after clinching his eighth world title in today’s Japanese GP, Valentino Rossi will kick off early preparations for his 2009 MotoGP assault at the Twin Ring Motegi on Monday. The Italian is...

Motegi MotoGP: Suzuki to test new engine in Japan

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Suzuki to test new engine in Japan

Suzuki will roll out an early prototype version of its 2009 factory GSV-R motor at the Twin Ring Motegi tomorrow (Monday). Test and development duo Kousuke Akiyoshi and Nobuatsu Aoki will complete...

Motegi MotoGP Reaction: Casey Stoner bemoans physical condition

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP Reaction: Casey Stoner bemoans physical condition

Casey Stoner blamed a lack of fitness for his failure to stop Valentino Rossi celebrating his sixth premier class world title with a victory at the Twin Ring Motegi today. Rossi ended Stoner’s reign...

Motegi MotoGP Reation: Dani Pedrosa claims first Bridgestone podium

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP Reation: Dani Pedrosa claims first Bridgestone podium

Dani Pedrosa secured his first podium since his controversial switch to Bridgestone tyres today at the Twin Ring Motegi. The Spaniard was a leading figure in the early exchanges as he passed Casey...

Motegi MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland battles to hard fought 11th

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland battles to hard fought 11th

British rider James Toseland claimed a hard fought 11th place in Japan today after a titanic battle with John Hopkins. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider had held off the American for 15 laps in a nail-biting...

Indy GP: Things you don't see every day

28 September 2008 by Mick Thurman

Indy GP: Things you don't see every day

My wife and I have just returned from a holiday in the US, which included a trip to watch the MotoGP at Indianapolis. Although we were disappointed that the racing was curtailed by the aftermath of...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes win and 2008 championship

28 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi takes win and 2008 championship

Valentino Rossi has become the 2008 MotoGP champion after taking Yamaha’s first ever win at Motegi, Japan. Valentino Rossi didn’t get a great start and was fifth at the end of the first lap, with 2007...

Motegi MotoGP: Simoncelli takes 250GP win

28 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Motegi MotoGP: Simoncelli takes 250GP win

Marco Simoncelli took his fourth 250GP win of the season at the Twin Ring Motegi ahead of championship rival Alvaro Bautista. Simoncelli started to break away from the following pack but was chased...

Motegi MotoGP: MotoGP to adopt one-make tyre rule for 2009

28 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: MotoGP to adopt one-make tyre rule for 2009

The 2009 MotoGP world championship will adopt a one-make tyre rule with Bridgestone winning the exclusive contract, as was exclusively revealed by MCN earlier this week. Despite yesterday’s dramatic...

Motegi MotoGP: Stefan Bradl takes 125GP victory

28 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Motegi MotoGP: Stefan Bradl takes 125GP victory

German Stefan Bradl has taken only the second ever win of his career at Motegi ahead of pole man and championship leader Mike Di Meglio. Nicolas Terol got the holeshot in to the first corner where, in...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi frustrated by fourth

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi frustrated by fourth

Valentino Rossi had to settle for a frustrating fourth place on the grid for tomorrow’s Japanese GP, but the Italian believes he can still fight for the victory to seal the 2008 world title. With a...

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden continues revival despite late drama

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Nicky Hayden continues revival despite late drama

Nicky Hayden continued his welcome return to form at the Twin Ring Motegi today when he claimed his third front row start of the season. The Ducati-bound American posted a best time of 1.45.971 to...

Motegi MotoGP: Bug ruins Casey Stoner’s pole bid

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Bug ruins Casey Stoner’s pole bid

Casey Stoner’s hopes of claiming an eighth pole position of the season were ruined by a bug that smashed into his visor on his last flying lap of today’s Japanese GP qualifying session. The Aussie had...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo hails ‘amazing’ lap

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo hails ‘amazing’ lap

Jorge Lorenzo described his stunning pole position lap in Japan today as ‘amazing’. The Fiat Yamaha rider claimed his first pole since the Estoril GP in Portugal way back at the third race of the...

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied with top ten

27 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Motegi MotoGP: James Toseland satisfied with top ten

James Toseland reckons he could not have done much more to improve on his top ten qualifying result in Japan today. The British rider will start tomorrow’s 24-lap Japanese GP from 10th place on the...

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes surprise pole

27 September 2008 by Liam Marsden

Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes surprise pole

Michelin rider Jorge Lorenzo has surprised everybody by taking pole position at Motegi with a record time of 1.45.543. Lorenzo, who tomorrow will run a Lupin III tribute paint scheme will be looking...