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

Assen MotoGP: Colin Edwards thrilled with third after late drama

28 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards starred in late drama at Assen for the second time in three years today as he claimed an unlikely podium finish. The Texan looked like he’d have to settle for fourth place when he was on...

Assen MotoGP: James Toseland disappointed with ninth

28 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland admitted he was disappointed with his ninth place finish in Assen today as he continues to struggle to find a set-up with his Tech 3 Yamaha. The double World Superbike...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner's Assen masterclass continues with victory

28 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Casey Stoner has continued his MotoGP Assen masterclass as he took his third victory of the year. The Australian was in control from the off having started the race from pole, and with championship...

Assen MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista wins 250 race

28 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista has won his second 250GP of the season, and his first from pole in Assen this morning after catching early leader Thomas Luthi. The threat of rain did fall and slowed the riders down,...

Assen MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi wins five-lap dash

28 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

World Champion Gabor Talmacsi has taken only his second victory of the season in a five-lap dash 125GP in Assen. The race was shortened after the first attempt was red flagged due to safety concerns...

Assen MotoGP: 125GP stopped due to rain, Bradley Smith crashes out of lead

28 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

The 125 Assen GP has been stopped and will restart after rain has begun to fall heavily on the track. Britain’s Bradley Smith was leading the race, more than three seconds ahead of the pack before...

Kindness in the biking community

28 June 2008 by jessica

I went to Donington GP last weekend alone after being let down at last min by a friend. On the way back home i stopped off at the services to reassure myself of my route to Dorchester. As i was about to leave I had a brief chat with a Gentleman Stuart who was also about to set off. I explained to him about my situation when his girlfriend Elaine turned up. We all said our goodbyes, but concerned...

Charlie meets Jorge Lorenzo (Donnington 2008)

27 June 2008 by RobertMVF4SR

This is my son, Charlie Holder, who met his MotoGP hero at Donnington Park last Sunday moments after the race. Jorge was great – and took time posing for this picture and signing Charlie’s inflatable...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner confident after third straight pole

27 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner will start as red-hot favourite for tomorrow’s Dutch MotoGP after he claimed his third successive pole position in Assen. Continuing his devastating return to form...

Assen MotoGP: John Hopkins facing injury lay-off

27 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins’ factory Kawasaki nightmare continued in Assen today, with the American ruled out of tomorrow’s Dutch MotoGP after a high-speed qualifying crash. The American, just recovering from a...

Assen MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa happy with second place

27 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa declared himself satisfied with second on the grid for tomorrow’s Dutch MotoGP in Assen. The Spaniard logged a best time of 1.35.552 to finish just 0.032secs behind...

Assen MotoGP: Valentino Rossi plays down victory hopes

27 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Valentino Rossi has conceded he might not have the pace to defeat domimant Aussie Casey Stoner in tomorrow’s Dutch MotoGP. The Fiat Yamaha rider will start tomorrow’s...

Assen MotoGP: Front tyre issue costs Colin Edwards front row

27 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards blamed front tyre issues for leaving him only sixth on the grid for tomorrow’s Dutch MotoGP. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider had to settle for sixth place having clocked a best time of...

Assen MotoGP: Late mistake costs James Toseland third row

27 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland believes a crucial late mistake on his last flying lap that cost him a third row starting position for tomorrow’s Dutch MotoGP at Assen. The British rider seemed certain to bump himself...

Assen MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista seals pole for 250GP

27 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista has clinched pole position for tomorrow’s 250GP in Assen after other rider was today able to match his impressive time set in yesterday’s first qualifying session. The Spaniard will...

Save our Commentators!

27 June 2008 by Garry challinor

!Save our Commentators! MCN Help us bike racing fans and set up a campaign to petition Dorna to stop this very stupid decision. Eurosport (Toby, Julian and Randy) have made MotoGP in the UK. They are not just commentators, they are genuine bike racing fans like us. We all know what the BBC will give us some watered down, half hearted, ill informed crap, even with Stavros trying his best. Come on...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner's domination continues with third consecutive pole

27 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Ducati’s Casey Stoner has taken his third consecutive pole position ahead of tomorrow’s Assen MotoGP. The 22-year-old Australian took control of the session with just over a quarter of the session...

Assen MotoGP: Bradley Smith to start from second in 125GP

27 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Bradley Smith will start tomorrow’s Assen 125GP from second on the grid after cold conditions at the Netherland’s circuit failed to change the majority of the grid from yesterday’s first...

Last time at Donnington!

27 June 2008 by Spike

For the third year in a row, against better judgement and past experience – spurred on by support for JT, another horror experience at Donnington. Tickets for the Start/Finish grandstand – thats a stretch of imagination, block C was 400 yards away, at nigh on £50 plus the admission of another near £40, plus programmes + rip off drinks – diabolical quality food a “crack of Sparrow fart” start from...

Assen MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli tops 250 second free practice

27 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Marco Simoncelli was the fastest man on track in Assen for the second 250 free practice this morning. Simoncelli traded places at the top of the timesheets with eventual third placed Hector Barbera on...

Assen MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa tops timesheets in free practice three

27 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Dani Pedrosa put on a late surge in the final free practice session ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying session in Assen. The Repsol Honda rider left it until his last lap and the dying seconds of...

Assen MotoGP: Sergio Gadea tops second 125 free practice

27 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Sergio Gadea has topped the timesheets in the second 125 free practice session in Assen this morning on the Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia. The Spaniard recorded shot to the head of the times on his 14th...

Petition for to improve BBCs MotoGP coverage

27 June 2008 by Guido

We all know that MotoGP will not be shown on Eurosport in 2009, thanks to Dorna. After being on Eurosport for so many years it will be on the BBC. But there’s hope. If you sign this...

Assen MotoGP: Valentino Rossi waiting for electronics step

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi confirmed today that he is waiting for an electronics update from Yamaha as the MotoGP world championship leader claimed second on the opening day in Assen. With Casey Stoner’s factory...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner surprised at stunning Assen pace

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner admitted being surprised at his own stunning pace today as the Aussie dominated free practice in Assen. The Aussie smashed Nicky Hayden’s 2006 lap record by 1.1s...

Assen MotoGP: Nicky Hayden fears Casey Stoner walkover

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Former world champion Nicky Hayden believes Casey Stoner might be untouchable this weekend after the Australian’s dominant start to the Dutch GP in Assen today. Hayden was fourth quickest at the end...

Eurosport MotoGP coverage axed for 2009

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

British fans will no longer be able to watch the MotoGP world championship on Eurosport after the end of the 2008 campaign. After many years of successful collaboration, MotoGP rights-holders Dorna...

Assen MotoGP: Ben Spies won’t replace injured Loris Capirossi

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki has confirmed that reigning American superbike champion Ben Spies will not replace injured Loris Capirossi in Saturday’s Dutch MotoGP. Italian veteran Capirossi is definitely out of Saturday’s...

Assen MotoGP: Colin Edwards content with third

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards reckons he was happy with the third fastest time in Assen today before admitting it will be tough to beat dominant Aussie Casey Stoner. Fourth in this morning’s opening free practice,...

Assen MotoGP: James Toseland frustrated in 13th

26 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland’s hopes of making an immediate return to form in Assen today hit problems as he ended the opening day of free practice down in 13th place. The British rider, who had a disastrous home...

Assen MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista on provisional 250 pole

26 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Alvaro Bautista has put himself on provisional pole for Saturday’s 250GP in Assen after setting the best time of the first qualifying session this afternoon. The Aprilia rider knocked almost a second...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner on the pace again in free practice two

26 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Ducati’s Casey Stoner has continued his impressive run of form in this afternoon’s second free practice at Assen as he topped the timesheets once again. The defending champion knocked half a second...

Assen MotoGP: Bradley Smith second in opening qualifying session

26 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Bradley Smith has put himself in provisional second place on the grid for Saturday’s MotoGP in Assen. The Polaris World Aprilia rider knocked almost 0.3secs off his best time from this...

Assen MotoGP: Marco Simoncelli fastest in first free practice

26 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Marco Simoncelli was the fastest man on track for the opening 250 free practice of the weekend for the Dutch TT in Assen on Saturday. The Gilera rider recorded a best lap of 1:40.144, just over...

Assen MotoGP: Bradley Smith third fastest in first free practice

26 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Bradley Smith has finished the first 125 practice session in Assen in third place as he returns to form after breaking his foot in Catalunya. The Polaris World Aprilia rider recorded a best...

Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner tops first practice

26 June 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Defending champion Casey Stoner’s dominant form from Donington Park continued in the opening practice session ahead of Saturday’s Assen MotoGP as he topped the timesheets once again. Casey Stoner was...