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

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Andrea Dovizioso unhappy with eighth

31 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Andrea Dovizioso unhappy with eighth

Italian rookie Andrea Dovizioso was unhappier finishing nearly seconds behind Jerez winner Dani Pedrosa than he was at losing three places in a dramatic final corner. The JIR Scot rider had produced a...

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Disaster for Casey Stoner

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Disaster for Casey Stoner

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner suffered his worst result in 20 appearances for Ducati as he twice ran off track on his way to 11th in an eventful Spanish GP. The Aussie made a great start from...

Jerez MotoGP reaction: Dani Pedrosa on top of the world after home win

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP reaction: Dani Pedrosa on top of the world after home win

Dani Pedrosa jumped to the top of the MotoGP world championship standings this afternoon after he produced a crushing start-to-finish victory in front of 131,000 home fans in Jerez. And making his...

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Jorge Lorenzo left frustrated

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Jorge Lorenzo left frustrated

Jorge Lorenzo was cut down to size by fellow Spaniard Dan Pedrosa in today’s Spanish GP, as the Yamaha rider and red-hot pre-race favourite could only finish third. Lorenzo had looked a good bet to...

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi scores 100th podium

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi scores 100th podium

Valentino Rossi created another slice of history for himself in Jerez today after the Italian’s first top three finish for Bridgestone gave him his 100th premier class podium. His second place though...

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Heroic James Toseland claims sixth

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Heroic James Toseland claims sixth

James Toseland came within metres of a brilliant top five finish in only his second MotoGP race in Jerez this afternoon. The British rider claimed a second successive sixth place in front of 131,000...

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa dominates in home GP

30 March 2008 by Rob Hull

Jerez MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa dominates in home GP

Dani Pedrosa led today’s Jerez MotoGP race from turn one right to the flag with a mistake-free performance. Pedrosa took the lead going into the first turn to get ahead of pole-sitter Jorge Lorenzo...

Jerez MotoGP reaction: Danny Webb suffers hand injury

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP reaction: Danny Webb suffers hand injury

British teenager Danny Webb has had four stitches inserted in a nasty cut on the wedding ring finger of his left hand after he crashed out of today’s Spanish 125GP in Jerez. Webb was dicing with Joan...

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Bradley Smith toasts first Aprilia podium

30 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP Reaction: Bradley Smith toasts first Aprilia podium

British rider Bradley Smith put his bitter Qatar disappointment behind him today to claim a brilliant third place in the Spanish GP. The Polaris World Aprilia rider, who had qualified on pole in Qatar...

Jerez MotoGP: Mika Kallio wins 250 Jerez GP in last lap drama

30 March 2008 by Rob Hull

Jerez MotoGP: Mika Kallio wins 250 Jerez GP in last lap drama

Mika Kalllio has had the luckiest GP win of his career, being handed 25 points after Marco Simoncelli took leader Alvaro Bautista out on the final lap. Simoncelli and Bautista battled at the front for...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith scores Jerez podium

30 March 2008 by Rob Hull

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith scores Jerez podium

Bradley Smith has scored the second podium of his GP career with a determined performance at the Jerez Grand Prix. Smith secured a podium finish last season at Le Mans, but this is the first time he’s...

Jerez MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista takes pole for 250GP

29 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Jerez MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista takes pole for 250GP

Alvaro Bautista has taken pole position for his home 250GP in Jerez after vying with Finland’s Mika Kallio at the top of the timesheets. The Aprilia man took control of the second qualifying session...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo pole

29 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo pole

Factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo has claimed pole position for his home MotoGP in Jerez tomorrow. It was double joy for the 80,000 Spanish fans who were at the circuit today as Repsol Honda’s Dani...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith claims 125GP pole

29 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith claims 125GP pole

British rider Bradley Smith has claimed his second successive 125GP pole position after a brilliant performance in today’s final qualifying session in Jerez. A best lap of 1:47.587 in hot and sunny...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tops free practice

29 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo tops free practice

Home favourite Jorge Lorenzo has ended free practice for the Spanish MotoGP with the fastest time, despite compatriot Dani Pedrosa topping the timesheets in this morning’s third and final...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in second 125 practice

29 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith fastest in second 125 practice

British teenager Bradley Smith has posted the fastest time in the second 125GP practice session ahead of tomorrow’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. The Polaris World Aprilia rider jumped to the top of the...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden happy with new Honda chassis

28 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden happy with new Honda chassis

Nicky Hayden said he enjoyed riding again today as he cast aside the bitter disappointment of his Qatar performance with the fourth fastest time in Jerez today. The American was back on the 2008...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo makes perfect start on home soil

28 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo makes perfect start on home soil

Jorge Lorenzo’s brilliant early MotoGP form continued today when he topped the timesheets at the end of the first day of free practice for his home race in Jerez. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who claimed a...

Jerez MotoGP: Frustrated Casey Stoner escapes injury in crash

28 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Frustrated Casey Stoner escapes injury in crash

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner admitted his bid to claim a career first Jerez podium had started in ‘frustrating’ fashion as a big crash left him only sixth fastest on day one. The...

Jerez MotoGP: James Toseland battles illness in Spain

28 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: James Toseland battles illness in Spain

James Toseland posted the eighth best time in Jerez today despite a torrid opening to the Spanish MotoGP for the British rider. Fresh from his stunning debut in Qatar earlier this month when he...

Jerez MotoGP: Mika Kallio takes provisional pole for 250GP

28 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Jerez MotoGP: Mika Kallio takes provisional pole for 250GP

Mika Kallio has taken provisional pole position for Sunday’s 250GP in Jerez. The Finnish rider knocked more than a second of his best time in this morning’s free practice to claim a best time of...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo proves Qatar was no fluke

28 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell / Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo proves Qatar was no fluke

Jorge Lorenzo once again showed his impressive move from the 250s to MotoGP was no fluke in Qatar as the Spaniard went fastest in the second free practice for his home MotoGP. The factory Yamaha rider...

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith on provisional 125GP front row

28 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Bradley Smith on provisional 125GP front row

Bradley Smith has qualified on the provisional front row for Sunday’s Spanish 125GP clash in Jerez. In sunny but windy conditions this afternoon, the British teenager posted a best time of 1:48.370s...

Jerez MotoGP: Alex Debon fastest in first 250GP practice

28 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Jerez MotoGP: Alex Debon fastest in first 250GP practice

Alex Debon was the man on the pace in the opening 250GP practice at Jerez this morning. The Spaniard followed up fellow countryman Nicolas Terol’s performance in the 125 session at his home MotoGP to...

Jerez MotoGP: Colin Edwards springs early Jerez surprise

28 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Colin Edwards springs early Jerez surprise

Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards got his Spanish MotoGP bid off to a flying start this morning when the American posted the fastest time in opening free practice at a sun-drenched but cool Jerez. The...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicolas Terol fastest in 125 free practice one

28 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Jerez MotoGP: Nicolas Terol fastest in 125 free practice one

Nicolas Terol has taken the top spot at the opening free practice for the 125GP in Jerez this morning. The Spaniard recorded a best time of 1:49.002 onboard his Aprilia at his home GP. Gabor Talmacsi...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden accepts 2007 Honda choice was mistake

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden accepts 2007 Honda choice was mistake

American Nicky Hayden has conceded that his gamble to race Honda’s 2007 factory RC212V in the season’s opening race backfired. The 2006 premier class world champion slumped to 10th place under...

Jerez MotoGP: James Toseland is biggest surprise for Valentino Rossi

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: James Toseland is biggest surprise for Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted the performance of British rider James Toseland has surprised him more than the likes of impressive 250 graduates Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. Toseland grabbed the...

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden back on 2008 Honda

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden back on 2008 Honda

Former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has scrapped Honda’s 2007 factory RC212V and will contest this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP on the latest V4 machine. Hayden made a dismal start to 2008 when he...

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects strong performance

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Valentino Rossi expects strong performance

Valentino Rossi has said he expects to be a serious contender for victory in Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. The factory Yamaha rider is looking to stop a barren run of five races without a victory...

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo targets more success on home soil

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo targets more success on home soil

Fresh from his stunning MotoGP debut in Qatar earlier this month, Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can thrill a partisan home crowd in Jerez this weekend. The 20-year-old made a brilliant class debut...

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes first Jerez rostrum

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Casey Stoner eyes first Jerez rostrum

Casey Stoner is confident he can end his Jerez podium jinx this weekend as he goes in search of his first top three finish in the Spanish MotoGP. The Aussie kicked off the defence of his world crown...

Jerez MotoGP: Suzuki rolling out old parts again

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: Suzuki rolling out old parts again

Suzuki duo Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen are expected to run one hybrid factory GSV-R machine each in this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP. The duo, who had a tough start to the new season in Qatar...

Jerez MotoGP: No engine surprise for James Toseland

27 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Jerez MotoGP: No engine surprise for James Toseland

James Toseland’s hopes that he might get Yamaha’s latest spec YZR-M1 engine ahead of schedule has been dashed on the eve of this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP. James Toseland eager to get engine...

MotoGP: Scott Redding coy on Jerez chances

26 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Scott Redding coy on Jerez chances

British 125GP sensation Scott Redding has played down his hopes of playing another starring role in this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. Redding is still lapping up the plaudits after his...

MotoGP: Danny Webb looks for more success in Jerez

26 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Danny Webb looks for more success in Jerez

Danny Webb is confident he can continue the impressive start to his 2008 world championship campaign in this weekend’s Spanish 125GP in Jerez. Webb is brimming with confidence after he claimed a...