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

Donington Park MotoGP: Valentino Rossi struggles with Donington grip

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Valentino Rossi sounded less than impressed with the grip levels at Donington Park after the first day of practice for this season’s British GP. The seven-time World Champion and current 2008...

Donington Park MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa: “I feel a bit sorer now!”

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Dani Pedrosa suffered his second crash in as many weeks today in a crash at Coppice Corner following a spill in Catalunya testing over a week ago. Pedrosa, who said ahead of the race weekend that he...

Donington Park MotoGP: Nicky Hayden thanks Honda after ending Friday 2nd fastest

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden has thanked Honda for allowing him to use the pneumatic-valved RCV Honda this weekend after setting the second fastest time in Free Practice 2 on the opening...

Donington Park MotoGP: Ben Spies aims for top ten

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Ben Spies has reflected on his first day of MotoGP action after the two-time AMA Superbike Champion completed two hour-long practice sessions today with the Rizla Suzuki team as a replacement for the...

Alex De Angelis and Marco Melandri at Goddards

20 June 2008 by louise81

Here is a photo of Alex De Angelis and Marco Melandri taken at Goddards at Donington Park during the MotoGP weekend.

Donington Park MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista fastest of the quarter-litres in Friday qualifying

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Mapfre Aprilia’s Alvaro Bautista snuck in a stunning fastest lap in the closing stages of the first qualifying session of the weekend at Donington Park today. The same top three of Bautista, Hector...

Donington Park MotoGP: Casey Stoner untouchable in second Friday practice

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Casey Stoner maintained his half a second advantage from this morning’s first free practice session over the rest of the field this afternoon, setting a best time of 1.28.253. Stoner, who qualified on...

Donington Park MotoGP: Provisional front row for Scott Redding

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Scott Redding set a good enough time in this afternoon’s first qualifying session to land him a provisional spot on the outside of the front row. The 15-year-old set a lap time of 1.37.766 with four...

Donington Park MotoGP: Hector Barbera storms 250cc free practice one

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Hector Barbera has set the provisionally fastest time of the day, beating rivals Marco Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista to the top spot in the first practice session for the 250 class. Barbera set a...

Donington Park MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in FP1: James Toseland seventh

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Despite admitting Donington Park was not one of his favourite circuits, Marlboro Ducati’s Casey Stoner dominated the opening hour-long practice session this morning. Stoner topped the timing sheets...

Donington Park MotoGP: Danny Webb leads Brit assault in 125cc free practice

20 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Danny Webb finished this morning’s first 125GP free practice session as the top British rider, completing the session in eighth spot. The Degraaf Aprilia rider consistently posted the fastest times of...

Donington bosses reject plane fuel influence

20 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Donington Park bosses have rejected claims that fuel dropped by aircraft using the nearby East Midlands Airport contributes to grip problems at the British GP. Reigning world champion Casey Stoner...

Nicky Hayden to race with pneumatic valve Honda

19 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden will debut Honda’s new pneumatic valve RC212V engine in this weekend’s British MotoGP. The American’s forceful pleas demanding he run the revised V4 motor at Donington Park saw him...

Valentino Rossi talks ahead of his 200th MotoGP

19 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Valentino Rossi has spoken of his thoughts ahead of his 200th MotoGP race, eight years after taking his first 500cc Grand Prix win at the Leicestershire circuit. Rossi spoke of his love for the race...

Dani Pedrosa to test the waters in Donington Park practice after test crash

19 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Dani Pedrosa has confirmed he’ll be riding this weekend at Donington Park after a huge off just over a week ago during the Barcelona test after the Catalan MotoGP. Pedrosa high-sided during the test,...

Casey Stoner confident with new electronics

19 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner is confident new electronic settings will help his bid for a second successive victory in the British MotoGP. The Aussie is chasing a first win since the opening...

James Toseland laughs off Foggy criticism

19 June 2008 by Rob Hull

James Toseland has laughed off recent comments made by four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty ahead of his home Grand Prix debut this weekend at Donington Park. In a recent interview Fogarty...

Ben Spies under no pressure, says Suzuki boss

19 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies is under no pressure to perform in his MotoGP debut at Donington Park this weekend, according to factory team boss Paul Denning. Spies’ shock appearance in Sunday’s British MotoGP as...

Donington Bliss

18 June 2008 by Scott Muxworthy

I was at Donington this past weekend for the Download Festival and set off early on Saturday thinking it Donington it will take ever and a day to get in. What a surprise no queuing at all except at the gate. I drove straight in, not us to that usually 1-2 hours queuing, got parked no fuss I do admit I did paid but hey it was worth it for no fuss but there was still thousands of cars. The next...

Start 'em young!

18 June 2008 by Anonymous

Our daughter Leoni at the MotoGP in Barcelona, at six months old she was possibly the youngest James Toseland fan there. Mark and Sarah.

Ducati to race carbon fibre chassis in 2009

18 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ducati will race a radical carbon fibre chassis in next year’s MotoGP world championship. Reigning world champion Casey Stoner gave Ducati engineers the all-clear to continue development of the GP9...

Honda silent on Nicky Hayden future

18 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda bosses have refused to confirm that Nicky Hayden’s place in its factory team is under serious threat for the 2009 MotoGP world championship. Hayden told today’s MCN that he fears he could be...

Sete Gibernau makes MotoGP comeback

17 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau has completed the first day of his shock MotoGP comeback today at the start of a three-day test for Ducati in Mugello. Riding for the first time since the end of 2006, the Spaniard...

Dani Pedrosa biggest threat to Valentino Rossi title hopes

17 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa is the man most likely to end Valentino Rossi’s bid for an eighth world title in 2008. That’s the view of Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha crew chief Jerry Burgess, who reckons...

Top five target for Andrea Dovizioso

17 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Andrea Dovizioso’s JIR Scot Honda squad has targeted a top five MotoGP championship finish as rumours persist about the Italian’s future. Two fourth places in his opening seven races have seen...

Kawasaki eyeing three-bike plan for 2009

17 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki will run three bikes in the 2009 MotoGP world championship, but only with the help of a multi-million pound cash injection. The Japanese factory is ready to expand its current two-rider...

James Toseland collects prestigious award

16 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland has collected a prestigious award on the eve of his British MotoGP debut this weekend. The 27-year-old picked up the Torrens Trophy from The Royal Automobile Club in London today...

Spend Donington Park MotoGP weekend with Gilera 250cc team

16 June 2008 by Rob Hull

Here is you chance of winning a pair of exclusive paddock passes for the British MotoGP at Donington Park on June 20-22, courtesy of the official Gilera 250cc team. You and a friend will get the...

Jorge Lorenzo fit for British MotoGP

16 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jorge Lorenzo has vowed to adopt a more cautious approach after being given clearance to ride in this weekend’s British MotoGP. The Spaniard missed his home race in Catalunya earlier this month after...

Fiat Yamaha on the road

14 June 2008 by SamRelf

Just saw these guys on my way home from work today, wonder where their heading?

Video: James Toseland Catalunya video diary

13 June 2008 by Angus Farquhar

James Toseland took a hard-fought sixth place at the Catalunya GP last weekend and here he talks about his race with ‘Crash’ band-mate Paul. Check out the video to see Toseland chatting in his motorhome after the race.

Ben Spies talks British MotoGP ride

12 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Ben Spies has spoken about his forthcoming Suzuki MotoGP debut at the British MotoGP on June 22, 2008. The reigning American superbike champion has been called up to replace injured Italian Loris...

Valentino Rossi warns young riders over safety

12 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has warned young riders to be more safety conscious after recent incidents in Mugello and Barcelona. The seven-times world champion, who sits on the MotoGP Safety Commission, has...

Sete Gibernau to make Ducati comeback

12 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Sete Gibernau will step out of retirement to test Ducati’s 2009 prototype machine in Mugello next week. The Spaniard quit at the end of 2006 after winning nine MotoGP races and twice finishing...

Suzuki confirm Ben Spies for British MotoGP

12 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

As revealed by MCN yesterday, Suzuki has confirmed that reigning American superbike champion Ben Spies will replace injured Loris Capirossi at the British MotoGP and Spies has said he’s really...

Ben Spies to replace Loris Capirossi in Donington MotoGP

11 June 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning American superbike champion Ben Spies will make his long-anticipated MotoGP debut in the British GP at Donington Park on June 22. Suzuki is expected to officially announce the deal later this...