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

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi cautious on safety

12 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Valentino Rossi cautious on safety

Valentino Rossi has voiced his concerns about some aspects of the new Indianapolis circuit, even though he hasn’t had chance to assess the new track. Rossi was poised to get his first close up look of...

Indy MotoGP: Casey Stoner rues early season form

12 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Casey Stoner rues early season form

Casey Stoner reckons his early season form is what ruined his hopes of defending his MotoGP world title in 2008. Despite successive crashes out of the lead in Brno and Misano that effectively ruled...

Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden confirms Honda departure

12 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Nicky Hayden confirms Honda departure

Nicky Hayden has finally confirmed he definitely won’t be a Honda rider in 2009, with an announcement expected soon on his switch to join Casey Stoner in Ducati’s factory team. Hayden has become...

Indy MotoGP: Grip concern for James Toseland

12 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Indy MotoGP: Grip concern for James Toseland

British rider James Toseland has expressed his concern about how different layers of tarmac at the new Indianapolis circuit will perform in heavy rain predicted for the weekend. There are at least...

Dani Pedrosa confident for Bridgestone debut

10 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa confident for Bridgestone debut

Dani Pedrosa believes he will be a much more competitive force in MotoGP now he will race on Bridgestone tyres. Get all the latest MotoGP news But he has played down his hopes of making an instant...

Ben Spies more confident for Indy assault

10 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies more confident for Indy assault

Triple American superbike champion Ben Spies believes he is finally getting to grips with the skills needed to become a major force in MotoGP. Get the latest MotoGP news Spies, who will be back on...

Alex de Angelis signs new Honda deal

10 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Alex de Angelis signs new Honda deal

Alex de Angelis has agreed to stay with Fausto Gresini’s satellite Honda squad in 2009. The San Marino rider, who had been linked with a switch to the Alice Ducati squad, clinched his new deal ahead...

Sete Gibernau close to signing Ducati deal

10 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau close to signing Ducati deal

Sete Gibernau has confirmed he is on the brink of clinching a deal to ride a fifth Ducati in next season’s MotoGP world championship. The deal, which will see the Spaniard step out of retirement to...

MotoGP proves right up Indy’s street

10 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP proves right up Indy’s street

Indianapolis is doing its best to whip up some interest in this weekend’s inaugural Indy MotoGP clash with special street signs erected at selected parts of the city. Get the latest MotoGP news The...

Yamaha boss surprised at Michelin slump

09 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss surprised at Michelin slump

Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio has expressed surprise at Michelin’s recent performance slump. Although Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo claimed a deserved second...

Casey Stoner aiming to stop Valentino Rossi surge

09 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner aiming to stop Valentino Rossi surge

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner is confident he can halt Valentino Rossi’s current domination in this weekend’s Indianapolis GP. Get all the latest MotoGP news The factory Ducati rider has...

Jorge Lorenzo hails Valentino Rossi revival

08 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo hails Valentino Rossi revival

Jorge Lorenzo reckons his respect for factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi has rocketed having seen the Italian return to his best form in 2008. Rossi’s 11 podiums in 13 races, which include six...

James Toseland eyes Indy top six

08 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland eyes Indy top six

Tech 3 Yamaha rider James Toseland has set his sights on another top six finish in this weekend’s inaugural Indianapolis MotoGP clash. The British rider claimed his first top six finish since early...

Valentino Rossi wary of Indy challenge

08 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi wary of Indy challenge

Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi has played down his hopes of becoming the most successful rider in MotoGP history at this weekend’s first ever Indianapolis showdown. Rossi can break Giacomo Agostini’s record...

Suzuki confirm Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen for 2009

05 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki confirm Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen for 2009

Suzuki has confirmed it will field the same factory MotoGP line-up in 2009, with Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen agreeing new deals. Get all the latest MotoGP news As was reported in Wednesday’s...

MotoGP by tandem bicycle

05 September 2008 by joe buckworth

MotoGP by tandem bicycle

We visited the Misano GP by tandem bicycle. We saw qualifing in tavullia with the Rossi faithfull and had granstand tickets for the race… all by bicycle, what a week!

Marco Melandri backs safety drive

05 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri backs safety drive

Ducati rider Marco Melandri believes smaller rim wheels and a reduction in electronics would help decrease the high corner speeds generated by the new 800cc bikes. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Misano World Circuit 2008

04 September 2008 by Mervyn Purchase

Misano World Circuit 2008

Stoner makes a flying start at Misano but Rossi applies the pressure with the fastest laps. Stoner tries to respond and this is the result!

Scott Redding secures factory Aprilia for 2009

04 September 2008 by Matthew BIirt

Scott Redding secures factory Aprilia for 2009

British GP winner Scott Redding has been rewarded for a series of brilliant performances in his rookie campaign with Aprilia guaranteeing him a factory Aprilia 125 machine for 2009. Get the latest...

Valentino Rossi warns Dani Pedrosa over Bridgestone switch

04 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi warns Dani Pedrosa over Bridgestone switch

Valentino Rossi has warned Dani Pedrosa not to expect Bridgestone tyres to instantly transform his fortunes as the Yamaha star expressed his surprise at the Spaniard’s shock switch. Get all the...

Suzuki boss upset at Honda tyre switch

04 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki boss upset at Honda tyre switch

Factory Suzuki boss Paul Denning has condemned Dani Pedrosa and Honda for their controversial switch to Bridgestone tyres. Get all the latest MotoGP news Suzuki has been with Bridgestone since 2003...

Ben Spies close to Honda MotoGP switch

03 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies close to Honda MotoGP switch

Ben Spies is mulling over a Honda contract for 2009, with Andrea Dovizioso’s JIR squad leading contenders to sign the reigning American superbike champion. Get all the latest MotoGP news Dovizioso...

Colin Edwards cautious about Bridgestone switch

03 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards cautious about Bridgestone switch

Colin Edwards doesn’t believe a switch to Bridgestone tyres as part of a controversial move to a one-make tyre rule will alleviate some of the safety concerns being raised in MotoGP. Get all the...

Sete Gibernau in frame for fifth Ducati

03 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau in frame for fifth Ducati

Sete Gibernau’s fading hopes of a shock MotoGP return could be saved at the last-minute by Ducati and Spanish legend Angel Nieto. Get all the latest MotoGP news Gibernau is desperate to return to...

Casey Stoner shrugs off tobacco controversy

03 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner shrugs off tobacco controversy

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has shrugged off a political storm after anti-smoking campaigners in Australia branded him ‘high-speed drug pusher’ for his association with Ducati sponsor...

Maxtra 125 team begins rider search

03 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Maxtra 125 team begins rider search

The new Maxtra 125 GP team, spearheaded by British racing legend John Surtees, kicked off its recruitment drive in Misano last weekend. Get the latest MotoGP news Team boss and former factory Suzuki...

Irish on tour in Rossi's home town

02 September 2008 by Aidan Carolan

Irish on tour in Rossi's home town

The Monti lads on tour at Misano and outside Rossi`s fan club, in his home village of Tavillia.

Stoner throws it away again!

02 September 2008 by mervyn purchase

Stoner throws it away again!

I thought you may be interested in this picture that I took while at the Misano World Circuit on sunday.

Dani Pedrosa makes impressive Bridgestone debut

02 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa makes impressive Bridgestone debut

Dani Pedrosa made an impressive debut on Bridgestone tyres in Misano yesterday, slashing nearly a second off his best race lap as rode Honda’s pneumatic valve motor too. Get all the latest MotoGP...

John Hopkins gets much-needed boost

02 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins gets much-needed boost

After a difficult race weekend in Misano, John Hopkins got a much-needed boost in testing yesterday as he made progress with the Bridgestone front tyre used by Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi to win...

Small rossi fan

01 September 2008 by wheaver

Small rossi fan

This is my son Troy Wheaver, not yet two years old and already a fully pledged Rossi fan!

Bridgestone warning for Dani Pedrosa

01 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone warning for Dani Pedrosa

Bridgestone boss Hiroshi Yamada has cast doubt on Dani Pedrosa’s chances of making an immediate impact on the Japanese factory’s tyres following his shock switch from Michelin yesterday. Get all the...

Misano MotoGP Reaction: Repsol deny damaging MotoGP image with tyre switch

01 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Misano MotoGP Reaction: Repsol deny damaging MotoGP image with tyre switch

Repsol management has denied tarnishing the image of MotoGP by forcing Honda to push through a shock tyre switch for factory rider Dani Pedrosa. The Spanish fuel giant claims to have been the prime...

Misano MotoGP Reaction: Honda hopeful on Nicky Hayden fitness

01 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Misano MotoGP Reaction: Honda hopeful on Nicky Hayden fitness

Honda bosses have said they are confident Nicky Hayden will be fit to ride in his home race in Indianapolis after he was forced to miss yesterday’s Misano GP through injury. The worsening pain of the...

Dani Pedrosa testing with Bridgestone

01 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa testing with Bridgestone

These are the first pictures of Dani Pedrosa testing Bridgestone tyres at the Misano circuit today. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Spaniard is evaluating the tyres ahead of his Bridgestone race...

Misano MotoGP Reaction: Colin Edwards upset with Michelin again

01 September 2008 by Matthew Birt

Misano MotoGP Reaction: Colin Edwards upset with Michelin again

American Colin Edwards blamed Michelin again for his disappointing performance in yesterday’s Misano GP. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider could only finish tenth as his challenge for fourth place in the world...