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

Dani Pedrosa walks out of Brno test

19 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa walks out of Brno test

Dejected Dani Pedrosa packed up and left a scheduled two-day test session in Brno after just 11 laps as his frustration with the performance of Michelin worsened. Get all the latest MotoGP...

Casey Stoner smashes Brno lap record

19 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner smashes Brno lap record

Casey Stoner obliterated his own Brno lap record with an impressive display during the opening day of testing in the Czech Republic. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Aussie, who is now 50 points...

Colin Edwards assesses 2009 Yamaha engine parts

19 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards assesses 2009 Yamaha engine parts

Colin Edwards got his first chance to assess some early 2009 Yamaha YZR-M1 engine parts at the Brno test yesterday. Get all the latest MotoGP news here The Texan initially ran through a range of new...

Valentino Rossi makes Bridgestone progress

19 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi makes Bridgestone progress

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi reckons he made small but clear improvements with some new Bridgestone tyres in testing at Brno yesterday. Get all the latest MotoGP news The...

Marco Melandri confirms Kawasaki switch

19 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri confirms Kawasaki switch

Marco Melandri has confirmed to MCN that he will join Kawasaki’s factory squad for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Speaking to MCN in Brno last night, the Italian revealed he informed Kawasaki...

Valentino Rossi sympathises with struggling Michelin riders

18 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi sympathises with struggling Michelin riders

Brno MotoGP winner Valentino Rossi has said he understands the frustration being felt by the likes of Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo in the wake of Michelin’s disastrous current run. Brno MotoGP race...

Suzuki reveal details of 2009 prototype

18 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki reveal details of 2009 prototype

Suzuki has revealed some of the details of the 2009 prototype factory GSV-R machine that Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen are testing in Brno today. The main changes come in a radical revamp of the...

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Podium delight for Toni Elias Spaniard

18 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Podium delight for Toni Elias Spaniard

Toni Elias pulled off a shock podium in Brno today to put a miserable campaign behind him. The Alice Ducati rider has had a torrid time in 2008 and before last month’s American GP in Laguna Seca he...

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Anthony West storms to career best fifth

18 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Anthony West storms to career best fifth

Aussie Anthony West stormed to his best ever MotoGP result to claim fifth place in Brno today. Although too late to save him from the axe at Kawasaki, West still revelled in his superb performance,...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi cruises to crucial win

18 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi cruises to crucial win

Valentino Rossi punished Casey Stoner’s rare mistake to the maximum to take a giant step towards claiming his first MotoGP world since 2005 today. With Stoner crashing out of the lead on lap seven,...

Brno MotoGP: Michelin pledge response after Brno nightmare

18 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Michelin pledge response after Brno nightmare

Michelin boss Jean-Philippe Weber has pledged to turn around the French factory’s shocking fortunes after a disastrous Czech Republic GP in Brno. Struggling with major grip issues in wet and dry...

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Loris Capirossi delighted with maiden Suzuki podium

17 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Loris Capirossi delighted with maiden Suzuki podium

Loris Capirossi celebrated equalling the record number of Grand Prix appearances in Brno today with his debut rostrum finish for Suzuki. The veteran Italian, making his 276th appearance to equal Alex...

Brno MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland demands Michelin improvement

17 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Reaction: James Toseland demands Michelin improvement

British rider James Toseland left Michelin in no doubt that he expects significant improvements in tyre performance over the remainder of the season after he slumped to a disappointing 13th in...

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Casey Stoner vows to carry on fighting

17 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Casey Stoner vows to carry on fighting

Casey Stoner has vowed to carry on fighting to retain his MotoGP crown, despite conceding that a rare mistake in today’s Czech Republic race seriously dented his title prospects. The Aussie, who was...

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Embarrassed Dani Pedrosa slams Michelin

17 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP Reaction: Embarrassed Dani Pedrosa slams Michelin

Dani Pedrosa launched a ferocious attack on Michelin after he suffered a disastrous Brno GP. Struggling severely with front tyre issues, the Spaniard slumped to 15th place as he lapped over five...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi victorious

17 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi victorious

Valentino Rossi has extended his championship lead to 50 points after winning the Brno GP, while rival Casey Stoner had to retire. Click here for the full results Casey Stoner led from the very...

Brno MotoGP: Bradl takes first 125GP win

17 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Bradl takes first 125GP win

18-year-old Stefan Bradl has taken his first ever 125GP win at Brno ahead of Mike Di Meglio in second. Click here to see the full race results German, Bradl led for the majority of the race as the...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy with second

16 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy with second

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi was delighted to have claimed a spot on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s Czech Republic clash. Rossi ended a rain-hit qualifying 1.189s slower...

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner claims sixth successive pole

16 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner claims sixth successive pole

Casey Stoner stormed to his sixth straight pole position as he shrugged off the affects of illness at a rain-lashed Brno today. The Aussie’s best time of 2.11.657 comfortably beat Valentino Rossi by...

Brno MotoGP: New parts help John Hopkins comeback

16 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: New parts help John Hopkins comeback

A revised engine and chassis have helped injury-hit John Hopkins make a dramatic return to action in Brno. After a three-race lay-off with the multiple leg injuries the American suffered in Assen at...

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo reflects on bad day

16 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo reflects on bad day

Factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo admitted his confidence was taking a battering as he ended a weather-hit Brno qualifying session in last place. A 2.23.701 left the Spaniard outside the qualifying...

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland last and livid

16 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland last and livid

British rider James Toseland suffered more Michelin misery in Brno today as he finished second to last in a rain-soaked qualifying session. Toseland has needed special dispensation to race in...

Brno MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli on pole for 250GP

16 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli on pole for 250GP

250GP championship leader Marco Simoncelli has taken his second pole position in a row at Brno with a fastest lap of 2.17.306 Click here to see the full results Hector Barbera looked as if he was to...

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner on pole

16 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner on pole

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner has taken pole position at the Brno MotoGP in a rain-soaked qualifying session. To see the full results click here Stoner set the fastest lap early on with a...

Brno MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi takes 125GP pole

16 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi takes 125GP pole

Hungarian rider Gabor Talmacsi will start tomorrows 125GP race at Brno in pole position after his qualifying time from Fridays session was unchallenged during a damp final qualifying session. Click...

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner quickest in wet conditions

16 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner quickest in wet conditions

Casey Stoner climbed off his sickbed to post the fastest time in a rain affected final free practice session in Brno this morning. Torrential overnight rain stopped before the third and final session,...

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy with new engine

15 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Valentino Rossi happy with new engine

Valentino Rossi reckons a revised factory Yamaha engine has helped him with throttle opening after he ended the opening day of the Czech Republic GP with the second fastest time. Get the latest...

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo worried by Michelin slump

15 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo worried by Michelin slump

Jorge Lorenzo has admitted he is worried by the continuing poor performance of Michelin’s tyres as he encountered severe grip issues on the first day in Brno. Get all the latest MotoGP news The...

Brno MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa in pain and in tyre trouble

15 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa in pain and in tyre trouble

Dani Pedrosa’s return to action in Brno today ended in bitterly disappointing fashion as the Spaniard tried to overcome hand injuries and tyre problems. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Repsol...

Brno MotoGP: Colin Edwards hails new Yamaha engine

15 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Colin Edwards hails new Yamaha engine

Texan Colin Edwards has spoken of his delight at the performance of a new Yamaha YZR-M1 engine that he tried for the first time in free practice at Brno today. Get all the latest MotoGP news On a...

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland 13th after crash

15 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: James Toseland 13th after crash

British rider James Toseland had a tough start to the Brno GP today as a crash and severe grip problems with Michelin’s front tyre left the Tech 3 Yamaha rider down in 13th place. Get the latest...

Brno MotoGP: Illness fails to slow Casey Stoner

15 August 2008 by Matthew Birt

Brno MotoGP: Illness fails to slow Casey Stoner

Illness failed to prevent reigning world champion Casey Stoner from topping the timesheets at the end of the first day of free practice in Brno. Get all the latest MotoGP news The Aussie, who...

Brno MotoGP: Hector Barbera takes 250cc provisional pole

15 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Hector Barbera takes 250cc provisional pole

Team Toth Aprilia rider Hector Barbera has taken provisional pole in a rain-hit qualifying session at Brno. The session started on a slightly damp track, with the majority of the riders choosing to...

HRC to Bridgestone?

15 August 2008 by schilla46

Shinya Nakano has recently been given a factory spec Honda to develop with in the end of the season. Is it sheer coincidence that his team are running Bridgestone shod bikes and that there are rumors of Dani Pedrosa not being happy with the performance of the Michelin’s? I think Honda is trying to gather information about the tyres on the outer of the season to be prepared for next season. If not...

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in free practice

15 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in free practice

Casey Stoner has set the fastest time in the second free practice of the day at the MotoGP in Brno. Stoner put in a quick lap early on in the session with little competition out on the circuit, but...

Brno 125 free practice: Gabor Talmacsi takes provisional pole

15 August 2008 by Liam Marsden

Brno 125 free practice: Gabor Talmacsi takes provisional pole

Current 125cc champion Gabor Talmacsi has been fastest during the first qualifying session at the Brno GP. The reigning world champion put in fast laps from the beginning of the session, and was top...