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

MotoGP: Anthony West seeking confidence boost

25 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Anthony West has admitted he is struggling for confidence after a tough start to the 2008 MotoGP world championship. The factory Kawasaki rider had a torrid time adapting to the new ZX-RR...

MotoGP: John Hopkins still short of full fitness

25 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Factory Kawasaki rider John Hopkins says he still hasn’t fully recovered from the torn abductor muscle he suffered in a massive 100mph testing crash as he prepares for this weekend’s Jerez...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi ready for Jerez

25 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi says he is looking forward to getting his 2008 MotoGP title bid firing on all cylinders at this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP in Jerez. Rossi is looking to bounce back from a somewhat low...

MotoGP: Tech 3 Yamaha switch helping Colin Edwards

25 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha chief Herve Poncharal believes Colin Edwards will be a stronger proposition in 2008, even though the American is no longer in Yamaha’s factory team. The double World Superbike champion...

MotoGP: Riders request night race date change

21 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi have made a formal request to get the date of next year’s Qatar night race pushed further back in the world championship calendar. Although Qatar...

MotoGP: Bridgestone boss hails Casey Stoner

20 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Senior Bridgestone boss Hirohide Hamashima has spoken of his delight after Casey Stoner made the perfect start to the defence of his MotoGP crown in Qatar recently. Having won 10 races to easily...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner keen for European season to start

20 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner says he is looking forward to the world championship starting its European phase in Jerez later this month. And the Aussie reckons it will be five or six races into...

MotoGP: James Toseland eager to get engine upgrade

19 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

British rider James Toseland says he can’t wait to get his hands on the latest spec Yamaha MotoGP motor after he made a stunning start to his MotoGP career in Qatar. Toseland qualified on the front...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden hopeful on new chassis for Jerez

19 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Nicky Hayden is hoping he will get his hands on a new spec chassis for the Spanish MotoGP in Jerez later this month after his nightmare start to 2008. The American was woefully off the pace in the...

Go Casey

18 March 2008 by bodd

Can’t sleep unless I have an MCN, Casey Stoner’s biggest fan!

MotoGP: Casey Stoner not fussed about front qualifying tyre

18 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner says it is not vital that Bridgestone rolls out a new front qualifying tyre in 2008. One area where Michelin has a clear advantage over Bridgestone at present is...

MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso plays down 2008 hopes

18 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda rookie Andrea Dovizioso has played down his hopes of mounting a serious MotoGP title threat despite the impressive start to his premier class career in Qatar. The former world 125 champion...

MotoGP: Night race talks held for Sepang

17 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

The company behind the multi-million pound lighting project in Qatar have confirmed preliminary discussions have taken place with Sepang circuit officials about hosting a night race. The Malaysian...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi pushing for Bridgestone front qualifier

17 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi is continuing to push for Bridgestone to roll out a new front qualifying tyre to help bridge the soft rubber advantage held by rivals Michelin. Michelin has dominated winter testing on...

MotoGP: Safety Commission numbers swell

17 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

World champion Casey Stoner has helped swell the numbers on the MotoGP Safety Commission to six riders. Until the middle of last season, only Italian duo Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and American...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner tough to beat says John Hopkins

14 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Factory Kawasaki rider John Hopkins believes reigning world champion Casey Stoner is going to be tough to beat after the Aussie’s blistering start to the 2008 MotoGP series. Casey Stoner’s title...

MotoGP: Danny Webb reflects on career best finish in Qatar

13 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Just four days after celebrating his best ever world 125GP championship finish, British teenager Danny Webb has been looking back on his brilliant start to 2008. Webb finished sixth in the floodlit...

Alex Hofmann undergoes successful surgery

13 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

German Alex Hofmann has undergone successful surgery to remove a plate and 15 screws from the left hand he seriously injured eight months ago at the Laguna Seca MotoGP in America. Hofmann suffered...

MotoGP: Michelin - Racing technology key for road bike development

12 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Michelin boss Jean-Philippe Weber believes the rapid development in MotoGP technology must not be stifled, with advances in electronics vital to improve production bikes on the road. Weber believes...

Video: James Toseland talks after his Qatar MotoGP debut

12 March 2008 by Angus Farquhar

James Toseland finished an incredible sixth in his first ever MotoGP race last weekend and now you can see how he felt after the race as he talks for the camera. Check out the video below to see the...

MotoGP: Night delight after Qatar’s historic race

12 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

One of the key figures behind the mammoth Qatar night race project has spoken of his relief and satisfaction after the historic first night race passed off without any problems or major complaints...

MotoGP: Estoril test return for 2008 Honda motor

12 March 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda hopes the issues with its problematic pneumatic valve engine have been solved after confirming Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa will test the V4 again after the Estoril MotoGP in Portugal next...

MotoGP: Exclusive James Toseland video diaries coming to MCN and Bennetts

10 March 2008 by Sarah Carnell

Motorcyclenews.com and Bennetts have joined together to bring James Toseland fans and MotoGP enthusiasts the chance to see the British star behind the scenes at a race weekend. Toseland starting...

MCN Daily 10/03/08: Your daily video motorcycle news

10 March 2008 by Angus Farquhar

In episode 60 of the MCN Daily motorcycle news show we cover all of the action from the Qatar 125, 250 and MotoGP races yesterday, Chaz Davies was a shock winner at the Daytona 200 after a technical violation thwarted Josh Hayes and Neil Hodgson tries his hand at fire fighting. Subscribe to this podcast with RSS Subscribe with iTunes Check out the video below to catch up with all the news in...