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

French MotoGP: Engine failure dents Casey Stoner’s title defence

18 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Engine failure dents Casey Stoner’s title defence

Casey Stoner’s hopes of defending his MotoGP world crown suffered another crushing blow today in France as he failed to score points for the first time in his factory Ducati career. An engine failure...

French MotoGP: Heroic Jorge Lorenzo in dreamland after second

18 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Heroic Jorge Lorenzo in dreamland after second

Jorge Lorenzo reckoned he was in dreamland after he claimed a stunning second place finish in Le Mans today. Still severely hampered by the two fractured ankles he suffered in Shanghai just 16 days...

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards disappointed despite third

18 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards disappointed despite third

Colin Edwards admitted he was disappointed with his French GP result today, even though the American helped Yamaha claim its first podium clean sweep since 2001. The Texan was third to claim his ninth...

French MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso unhappy with James Toseland

18 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso unhappy with James Toseland

Italian rookie Andrea Dovizioso reckons British rider James Toseland cost him the chance to fight for a podium finish in today’s French GP. Toseland crashed in an incident with the JIR Scot Honda...

French MotoGP: James Toseland suffers first race crash

18 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: James Toseland suffers first race crash

James Toseland’s hopes of protecting his 100 per cent point-scoring record in his rookie MotooGP record disappeared in Le Mans today when he crashed out of ninth place on lap three. The Tech 3 Yamaha...

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi equals Angel Nieto's record on way to victory

18 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi equals Angel Nieto's record on way to victory

Valentino Rossi has equalled Angel Nieto’s 90 wins in a stunning performance at Le Mans today to take his second successive victory of the season. The Fiat Yamaha rider finished 4.997secs ahead of...

French MotoGP: Alex Debon storms to maiden 250 win

18 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Alex Debon storms to maiden 250 win

Alex Debon has taken his first ever victory in the battle of the tyres in the 250GP race in Le Mans. The Aprilia rider was well in control from almost the beginning of the race after opting for slick...

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith takes fantastic second in five-lap dash 125GP

18 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith takes fantastic second in five-lap dash 125GP

Bradley Smith has finished a fantastic and emotional second in a five-lap dash 125GP race in Le Mans today to take the best finish of his career. And there was more emotion from French rider Mike Di...

French MotoGP: 125GP red flagged

18 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: 125GP red flagged

The French 125GP has been red flagged and will now run over five laps after rain began to pour down on the Le Mans circuit. Sergio Gadea took the lead into the first corner, whilst Bradley Smith...

French MotoGP: Casey Stoner happy at Ducati resurgence

17 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Casey Stoner happy at Ducati resurgence

Casey Stoner reckons Ducati is back on course after he claimed his second successive front row start in the 2008 campaign in Le Mans today. Without a win since his dominant success in the season’s...

French MotoGP: Tough and painful day for Jorge Lorenzo

17 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Tough and painful day for Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo did little to ease the pain of his battered body after another crash in Le Mans today, yet the gritty Spaniard still qualified fifth on the grid for tomorrow’s 28-lap French MotoGP. The...

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi confident despite missing front row

17 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi confident despite missing front row

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi is confident he can fight for victory in tomorrow’s French MotoGP after he narrowly missed qualifying on the front row of the grid this afternoon. The Fiat...

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards angry at missing out on pole

17 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards angry at missing out on pole

Colin Edwards was upset with Italian Marco Melandri after the factory Ducati rider wrecked his hopes of claiming a home pole position for the Tech 3 Yamaha team in Le Mans this afternoon. The American...

French MotoGP: New tactic helps James Toseland to seventh

17 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: New tactic helps James Toseland to seventh

James Toseland opted to run four Michelin qualifying tyres for the first time today as he claimed seventh on the grid for tomorrow’s 28-lap French MotoGP in Le Mans. Normally the British rider would...

French MotoGP Exclusive: 250GP class to be replaced by 625/650cc four-strokes

17 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP Exclusive: 250GP class to be replaced by 625/650cc four-strokes

Four-stroke bikes between 625 and 650cc will replace the current world 250GP championship in 2011, MCN can exclusively reveal. Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta submitted a proposal for the new format at a...

French MotoGP: Alex Debon snatches pole for 250GP

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Alex Debon snatches pole for 250GP

Alex Debon has snatched pole position from Alvaro Bautista in Le Mans this afternoon. It has looked as if Bautista’s time from yesterday would be enough, but in the final few seconds of the session,...

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa secures first pole of the season

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa secures first pole of the season

Dani Pedrosa continued his amazing French form to claim his first pole position of the season in Le Mans this afternoon. The Spaniard snatched the pole position and also a new lap record from Texan...

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith to start 125 race from second

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith to start 125 race from second

Britain’s Bradley Smith will begin tomorrow’s French 125GP from second on the grid. The rider from Oxfordshire did manage to improve on his Friday time by 0.07secs but it wasn’t enough to know Sergio...

French MotoGP: Julian Simon fastest in second 250 free practice

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Julian Simon fastest in second 250 free practice

Julian Simon has recorded the fastest lap in the second 250 practice session in Le Mans this morning. The Repsol KTM rider knocked half a second off his best qualifying lap from yesterday and was just...

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards set fastest time of the weekend in third free practice

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards set fastest time of the weekend in third free practice

Shanghai pole man Colin Edwards has set the fastest time of the weekend so far in Le Mans this morning in the final MotoGP practice session ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying for tomorrow’s French...

French MotoGP: Mike di Meglio on the pace in second 125 free practice

17 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Mike di Meglio on the pace in second 125 free practice

Mike di Meglio has put himself on the top of the timesheets from this morning’s second 125 free practice session in France. The Derbi rider was not one of the early contenders in the session for the...

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi upbeat despite set-up problems

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Valentino Rossi upbeat despite set-up problems

Valentino Rossi remained in upbeat mood in Le Mans today despite being the only rider not to post a faster time in the second French MotoGP free practice session. A lap of 1:34.886 secured the Italian...

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo lucky but confident after crash

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo lucky but confident after crash

Jorge Lorenzo remains confident that he will be fighting for a podium in Sunday’s French MotoGP as he was fortunate to escape further injury in a crash in Le Mans today. Still way short of full...

French MotoGP: Casey Stoner happier after claiming second

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Casey Stoner happier after claiming second

Casey Stoner declared himself much happier with the performance of his factory Ducati machine after he posted the second fastest time in today’s opening free practice sessions. The reigning world...

French MotoGP: Danny Webb to undergo further medical checks

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Danny Webb to undergo further medical checks

British teenager Danny Webb will undergo a fitness check tomorrow morning before doctors decide whether he can continue to ride in this weekend’s French 125GP. Webb will have a check on his condition...

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards hopes to mount victory challenge

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Colin Edwards hopes to mount victory challenge

Colin Edwards is hopeful he can mount a genuine challenge for his first MotoGP victory in France on Sunday as he made a positive start by clocking the third fastest time in today’s opening free...

French MotoGP: James Toseland admits set-up mistake

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: James Toseland admits set-up mistake

James Toseland admitted a lack of rear grip cost him dearly as he finished 15th on the opening day of the French MotoGP in Le Mans today. A lack of weight on the rear of his Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 saw...

French MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista puts himself on provisional pole for 250 race

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista puts himself on provisional pole for 250 race

Alvaro Bautista has put himself on provisional pole position for Sunday’s 250GP in France after the first qualifying session this afternoon. Second going into tomorrow’s second qualifying session was...

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa on top again in practice in Le Mans

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa on top again in practice in Le Mans

Current MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa was the fastest man on track in the second free practice session in Le Mans this afternoon. The Repsol Honda rider, who is still to have the benefits...

French MotoGP: Mixed fortunes for Brits as Bradley Smith finishes second but Danny Webb crashes out

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Mixed fortunes for Brits as Bradley Smith finishes second but Danny Webb crashes out

There was mixed fortunes for the British riders in the first 125 qualifying session in France this afternoon as Bradley Smith finished second but Danny Webb crashed out. Smith had looked set to put...

french MotoGP: Hector Barbera tops the timesheets in 250 free practice

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

french MotoGP: Hector Barbera tops the timesheets in 250 free practice

Hector Barbera has got his season back on track by going fastest in this morning’s first 250 practice ahead of Sunday’s French GP. The Aprilia rider, who was on pole position in Qatar, finished down...

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa on top in Le Mans

16 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa on top in Le Mans

World championship leader Dani Pedrosa edged out title rivals Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner to top the timesheets in the opening free practice session in Le Mans this morning. The...

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith second in first free practice

16 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

French MotoGP: Bradley Smith second in first free practice

Britain’s Bradley Smith has finished second in the first 125GP practice in Le Mans this morning as he tries to get his early season success back on track. The Polaris World Aprilia rider recorded his...

French MotoGP: No pneumatic valve Honda engine to test

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: No pneumatic valve Honda engine to test

Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden have confirmed that plans to test Honda’s pneumatic valve engine after this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans have been scrapped. The new V4 motor, which was axed during...

French MotoGP: Yamaha delay engine upgrade

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Yamaha delay engine upgrade

Valentino Rossi’s first Bridgestone win in Shanghai earlier this month has seen Yamaha delay the introduction of an updated factory YZR-M1 motor. Already delighted with significant engine improvements...

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo four weeks away from full fitness

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo four weeks away from full fitness

Jorge Lorenzo has said it will be another month at least before he has fully recovered from the serious leg injuries he suffered in a massive high-side crash in Shanghai. Arriving for his pre-event...