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: Honda boss unsure of title propsects

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Honda boss unsure of title propsects

New Repsol Honda boss Kazuhiko Yamano has admitted facing a tough battle to help Dani Pedrosa convert his brilliant early season form into the Spaniard’s first MotoGP world title in 2008. Pedrosa...

French MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen aiming to forget tough start

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen aiming to forget tough start

Factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen reckons he is more focused on getting his 2008 campaign back on track than he is of repeating his maiden MotoGP victory in Le Mans this weekend. The Aussie has had...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner not shocked by Jorge Lorenzo form

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Casey Stoner not shocked by Jorge Lorenzo form

Reigning MotoGP Casey Stoner has said he isn’t shocked by the impressive start Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo has made to his MotoGP career. With one win, three podiums and three pole positions in his...

French MotoGP: Hand injury on mend for Scott Redding

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Hand injury on mend for Scott Redding

British teenager Scott Redding believes the injured left hand he suffered when he crashed out of his first wet 125GP in Shanghai earlier this month won’t hinder him in Le Mans this weekend. The...

French MotoGP: 250GP replacement rules to be unveiled

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: 250GP replacement rules to be unveiled

New four-stroke rules to replace the current two-stroke 250GP class for the 2011 season will be unveiled on Saturday afternoon at the French GP in Le Mans, MCN can reveal. Widely expected to be 600cc,...

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo passed fit for Le Mans clash

15 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

French MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo passed fit for Le Mans clash

Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo has passed a late fitness test and will ride in this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans. Although the Estoril MotoGP winner is still in considerable pain from the ankle...

MotoGP: Michael Schumacher gets John Surtees support for bike switch

14 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Michael Schumacher gets John Surtees support for bike switch

Formula One ace Michael Schumacher’s shock switch to bike racing has won the support of motorsport legend John Surtees. Surtees, who recently unveiled a new 125GP team called Maxtra in China, has been...

MotoGP: Yamaha happy with split factory garage

14 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Yamaha happy with split factory garage

Yamaha bosses reckon the running of its split factory MotoGP team has gone smoothly, and both Bridgestone and Michelin management are also satisfied with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo operating...

MotoGP: Ben Spies gets official wild card confirmation

14 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Ben Spies gets official wild card confirmation

Suzuki has finally officially confirmed that Ben Spies will get his big MotoGP chance in the two American races later this season. The reigning AMA superbike champion will ride a third factory Suzuki...

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso's team boss flattered by factory link

13 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso's team boss flattered by factory link

The boss of Andrea Dovizioso’s satellite Honda team has said current rumours linking the Italian with a ride in Honda’s official factory team in 2009 vindicates his decision to sign the former world...

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo to call on mental toughness in France

12 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo to call on mental toughness in France

Jorge Lorenzo reckons he will need to call on his mental toughness to help him battle leg injuries that will leave him short of 100 per cent fitness for this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans. The...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi impressed by Jorge Lorenzo

12 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi impressed by Jorge Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi believes impressive new Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo is providing him with great motivation as the Italian goes in search of a sixth MotoGP crown in 2008. Lorenzo is Rossi’s...

MotoGP: John Surtees blasts electronic rider aids

09 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: John Surtees blasts electronic rider aids

British MotoGP legend John Surtees believes huge advances in electronic rider aids currently dominating the premier class spells grave danger for modern era world championship racing. Surtees, who was...

MotoGP: Colin Edwards happy at Yamaha revival

08 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Colin Edwards happy at Yamaha revival

Colin Edwards has spoken of his personal satisfaction at his critical role in helping spark a revival in fortunes for Yamaha in the 2008 MotoGP world championship. After a torrid 2007 campaign where...

MotoGP Exclusive: Chaz Davies in contention for Kawasaki wild card

08 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Exclusive: Chaz Davies in contention for Kawasaki wild card

Daytona 200 winner Chaz Davies is facing an anxious wait to find out whether he will land a dream wild card slot with Kawasaki’s factory MotoGP team in the two American races later this...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi refusing to rule out Casey Stoner

07 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi refusing to rule out Casey Stoner

Shanghai MotoGP winner Valentino Rossi reckons it would be foolish to rule out defending champion Casey Stoner from the 2008 premier class title race. The Aussie has struggled for form since making a...

MotoGP: Kawasaki boss pledges improvements

07 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Kawasaki boss pledges improvements

Kawasaki’s MotoGP boss Michael Bartholemy has promised the Japanese factory will make engine improvements to the 2008 ZX-RR after a nightmare Shanghai MotoGP last weekend. Kawasaki suffered a...

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo in Le Mans fitness fight

07 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo in Le Mans fitness fight

Rookie sensation Jorge Lorenzo is facing a desperate fight to be fit for the French MotoGP in Le Mans after further medical checks revealed the full extent of injuries he suffered in a massive...

MotoGP: Steve Jenkner to lead Maxtra development?

07 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Steve Jenkner to lead Maxtra development?

Retired German Steve Jenkner has been in talks about spearheading early development of the Maxtra 125GP project, which will join the 2009 125GP world championship. The new squad, led by British...

MotoGP: China axe saddens Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner

06 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: China axe saddens Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner

Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner have said they are disappointed at the decision to scrap the Chinese MotoGP race after just four years. Italian Valentino Rossi, whose victory in last weekend’s...

MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa impressed with Yamaha improvements

06 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa impressed with Yamaha improvements

World championship leader Dani Pedrosa has been impressed by the major improvements Yamaha has made with its factory YZR-M1 engine in 2008. The factory Honda rider finished second after a titanic...

MotoGP: Suzuki to persevere with hybrid machine

06 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Suzuki to persevere with hybrid machine

Suzuki will continue to run a 2007/08 hybrid machine for the foreseeable future despite a relatively disappointing start to the season. After a promising debut 800cc campaign last season when the...

China MotoGP reaction: Brave Jorge Lorenzo claims heroic fourth

04 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP reaction: Brave Jorge Lorenzo claims heroic fourth

Jorge Lorenzo celebrated his 21st birthday in painful but delighted fashion as he shrugged off the pain of multiple leg injuries to claim a stunning fourth place in today’s Shanghai MotoGP. Lorenzo’s...

China MotoGP reaction: Casey Stoner frustrated despite third

04 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP reaction: Casey Stoner frustrated despite third

Reigning MotoGP world champion could not hide his frustration despite putting his recent poor run of results behind him with third place in today’s Shanghai MotoGP. The Aussie was far from happy as he...

China MotoGP reaction: Dani Pedrosa claims championship lead

04 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP reaction: Dani Pedrosa claims championship lead

Dani Pedrosa maintained his 100 per cent podium record in 2008 with a second place in Shanghai that saw him seize the outright lead in the MotoGP world championship. Level on points with bitter...

China MotoGP reaction: Valentino Rossi ends winless streak

04 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP reaction: Valentino Rossi ends winless streak

Valentino Rossi ended his long-running barren spell with his first victory on Bridgestone tyres in China today. Rossi ended his seven race losing streak in dominant fashion as he fended off a strong...

China MotoGP reaction: James Toseland upbeat after lowly 12th

04 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP reaction: James Toseland upbeat after lowly 12th

James Toseland vowed to bounce back from his worst MotoGP result to date in Le Mans later this month after he had a tough ride to 12th on Shanghai today. The British rider was powerless to stop...

China MotoGP: Valentino Rossi returns to form with storming win in Shanghai

04 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

China MotoGP: Valentino Rossi returns to form with storming win in Shanghai

Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi showed he’s back to his best as he became the fourth different winner in the four races so far of the MotoGP season in Shanghai this morning. After an early...

China MotoGP: One-two for KTM as Mika Kallio wins 250 race

04 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

China MotoGP: One-two for KTM as Mika Kallio wins 250 race

Mika Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama have made it a KTM one-two in the 250GP in China. The rain, which hampered the 125 race still had its victims as several riders, including early race leader and pole man...

China MotoGP: Andrea Iannone takes victory in crash strewn 125GP

04 May 2008 by Sarah Carnell

China MotoGP: Andrea Iannone takes victory in crash strewn 125GP

Andrea Iannone has taken his first ever 125GP victory in a crash strewn race at a wet Shanghai. The Italian has never even had a podium finish before, but that didn’t stop the 18-year-old taking...

China MotoGP: Valentino Rossi upbeat about victory hopes

03 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP: Valentino Rossi upbeat about victory hopes

Valentino Rossi is confident he can end his long-running victory drought in Shanghai tomorrow after he claimed his second successive front row start in today’s qualifying session. The Fiat Yamaha...

China MotoGP: Battered and bruised Jorge Lorenzo claims heroic fourth

03 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP: Battered and bruised Jorge Lorenzo claims heroic fourth

Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo produced a stunning and heroic performance in today’s Shanghai qualifying session to post the fourth best time. The double world 250 champion braved the pain of a...

China MotoGP: Casey Stoner back on track with front row

03 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP: Casey Stoner back on track with front row

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner got his 2008 title defence back on track today after he claimed his first front row start of the season in Shanghai. Ducati’s Stoner put his recent frustrations...

China MotoGP: Bradley Smith talks third pole position

03 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP: Bradley Smith talks third pole position

British teenager Bradley Smith is confident he will be in the fight for victory in tomorrow’s Chinese 125GP after he claimed a third pole position in four races today. The Polaris World Aprilia rider...

China MotoGP: James Tosleand starts from third row

03 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP: James Tosleand starts from third row

James Toseland will start from the third row of the grid for tomorrow’s China MotoGP race as he continued to make big strides in learning the challenging Shanghai circuit. The Tech 3 Yamaha rider...

China MotoGP: Colin Edwards talks Shanghai pole

03 May 2008 by Matthew Birt

China MotoGP: Colin Edwards talks Shanghai pole

American Colin Edwards continued Yamaha and Michelin’s domination of MotoGP qualifying in 2008 when he stormed to a surprise Shanghai pole position today. Edwards produced a brilliant late attack to...