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 Sepang test: Casey Stoner upbeat after tough first day

22 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner remained in upbeat mood despite a tough first day of 2008 pre-season testing at the Sepang circuit. The Aussie completed just 36 laps as his new Ducati GP8...

MotoGP Sepang test: Valentino Rossi explains first Bridgestone crash

22 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi suffered his first crash with Bridgestone tyres today after a slow but spectacular crash as winter testing resumed in baking hot conditions in Sepang. The seven-times world champion,...

MotoGP Sepang Test: Colin Edwards bemoans "stupid crash"

22 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards walked away unhurt from an opening day spill that he branded “stupid” to set the seventh best time in Sepang. Testing a revised engine spec, but not the pneumatic valve YZR-M1...

MotoGP Sepang test: Dani Pedrosa suffers injury blow

22 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Honda’s pre-season preparations for the 2008 MotoGP world championship have been dealt a big blow after it was confirmed that Spaniard Dani Pedrosa suffered a broken right hand in the second of two...

Gallery: Rossi's spectacular Sepang highside

22 January 2008 by Angus Farquhar

Valentino Rossi made an eventful start to the first day of MotoGP testing at Sepang, highsiding his Yamaha M1 in spectacular style. The Italian was caught out by the 2008 motorcycle, launched...

Video: Yamaha launch 2008 MotoGP team

21 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Yamaha officially launched it’s 2008 MotoGP team on Friday, with new team-mates Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo taking to the stage. Check out the video below to see the highlights of the glitzy event then click here to see the Ducati team launch the week previous.

Valentino Rossi looks forward to 2008 Yamaha debut

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Valentino Rossi has highlighted the early 2008 winter tests as vital to get his factory Fiat Yamaha adapted to Bridgestone tyres with the new premier class season just seven weeks away. With a right...

Valentino Rossi gives update on tax investigation

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

As Yamaha completed the official launch of the 2008 Fiat-backed team in Italy today, Valentino Rossi could not escape questions about the tax investigation that rocked the 28-year-old sporting icon...

Jorge Lorenzo talks about MotoGP leap

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Double world 250 world champion Jorge Lorenzo has spoken about his expectations for 2008 and how he is coping with the switch to MotoGP in Italy today. The Spaniard said: “The M1 is a bike I like very...

Valentino Rossi unsure on Qatar night race

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi has spoken about his reservations about the historic night race in Qatar that will start the 2008 MotoGP world championship. Rossi’s first chance to gauge...

Yamaha bosses play down risk of F1-style spy row

18 January 2008 by Rob Hull

Valentino Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio has played down any possibility of spying amongst the factory Yamaha team next season, similar to that which tarnished last year’s Formula One...

Casey Stoner expects Marco Melandri to star in 2008

16 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has backed new Ducati recruit Marco Melandri to make the Bologna factory an even bigger threat in 2008. Aussie Stoner was the outstanding Ducati rider last...

Marco Melandri looking to tame Ducati

16 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri is hoping engine modifications he will try for the first time in Malaysia next week will help him improve his confidence and speed on Ducati’s new 2008 MotoGP contender. The former...

MotoGP: Seven up for Chris Vermeulen

15 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen will finally get to pay further homage to British legend Barry Sheene in 2008 after securing the number seven plate for this year’s MotoGP world championship. The Rizla Suzuki rider...

Video: James Toseland talks about his BKS leathers deal

11 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Two-time WSB Champion James Toseland has signed to wear British-made BKS leathers in MotoGP this year. The firm is now owned by Frank Thomas and was relaunched today, with Toseland carrying the torch on the world stage. Watch the video to hear an excluisve interview with Toseland on the matter.

Toseland to wear BKS in MotoGP

10 January 2008 by MCN Sports Desk

Two-time WSB Champion James Toseland has signed to wear British-made BKS leathers in MotoGP this year. BKS has been bought by Frank Thomas and was relaunched today, with Toseland carrying the torch...

Video: Ducati launch 2008 MotoGP bike

10 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champions Ducati kicked off the defence of the premier class crown with an official team launch in Italy on Tuesday 8th Janurary. Watch the video as MotoGP champion Casey Stoner and new Ducati team-mate Marco Melandri unviel the bike against the spectacular mountain backdrop at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort.

Ducati launch 2008 MotoGP effort

08 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champions Ducati kicked off the defence of the premier class crown with an official team launch in Italy today. Against the spectacular mountain backdrop at the Madonna di...

Ducati unveil 200mph MotoGP ice racer!

08 January 2008 by Matthew Birt, Angus Farquhar

Ducati marked the launch of its 2008 MotoGP world championship campaign in amazing fashion by rolling out a 200mph MotoGP ice racer! Test and development rider Vittoriano Guareschi stunned fans last...

Foggy: Toseland can win

04 January 2008 by Michael Guy, Howard Boylan, Angus Farquhar

WSB legend Carl Fogarty has told MCN he thinks James Toseland can definately succeed in MotoGP, but only if he gives it all he’s got. Check out the video below to listen to our exclusive interview with the former World Superbike Champion.

MotoGP: James Toseland's mum set to marry

03 January 2008 by Michael Guy

James Toseland’s mum, Jane is set to re-marry at the end of the year to long term partner Steven Oates. The pair spent New Year in Rome and Steven proposed in style when he popped the big question...

MotoGP: Michelin confident Honda will help 2008 revival

02 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Michelin believe that Honda’s 2008 RC212V will be competitive enough for the French factory to show the potential of its new tyres next season. The dire early 2007 performance of Honda’s first 800cc...

MotoGP: Colin Edwards supports growing influence of electronics

01 January 2008 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards believes the growing influence of electronic rider aids in MotoGP is not seriously harming the sport. Former factory Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi has been one of the most vocal...

MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen desperate to solve qualifying weakness

31 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen has vowed to drastically improve his qualifying performance in 2008 as problems on soft tyres seriously undermine his bid to challenge for more victories. Vermeulen gave himself a...

MotoGP: James Toseland keen to get back on track

31 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Tech 3 Yamaha rider James Toseland is looking forward to his first taste of Yamaha’s new 2008 YZR-M1 in Sepang on January 22, 2007. James Toseland’s first two testing appearances in MotoGP in Sepang...

MotoGP: Electronics key for James Toseland says Jerry Burgess

30 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Adapting to the advanced electronic systems on the 800cc MotoGP bikes will be critical for British star James Toseland in his rookie premier class campaign in 2008. Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry...

MotoGP: Sylvain Guintoli eyes style change to suit Ducati

30 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

French rider Sylvain Guintoli believes he will have to make changes to his riding style to suit Ducati’s GP8 machine when he returns to action in Sepang on January 22, 2007. Sylvain Guintoli has made...

MotoGP: Midnight finish for Qatar night race test

29 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

The final dress rehearsal for Qatar’s historic night race will be run between 5pm and midnight. A two-day International Race Teams Association test session on February 28 and 29, 2008 will take place...

Supporting Electronics Ban

28 December 2007 by Jordan Lilley

Everyone who supports and races Moto GP knows the growing Probelm in Electronics making the sport very boring to watch. Moto GP has’nt always been like this but the new addition of Traction Control...

Video: Review of the MotoGP year

28 December 2007

IN the fifth and final of our reviews of the year we take a look back at the 2007 MotoGP season. Check out the video below to see what MCN GP reporter Matthew Birt picks as his highlights of the year.

MotoGP: Horsepower top priority for Yamaha in 2008

26 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha boss Masao Furusawa reckons top priority for engineers is to find more horsepower to bolster Valentino Rossi’s hopes of mounting a serious MotoGP title challenge in 2008. Italian Valentino...

MotoGP: Chris Vermeulen relishing partnership with Loris Capirossi

25 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen has told MCN he is relishing the prospect of partnering Italian veteran Loris Capirossi in Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad in 2008. Chris Vermeulen will start his third year in...

MotoGP: Suzuki look to close gap on Ducati

24 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki’s 2008 factory GSV-R needs to improve significantly on corner exit acceleration to have a chance of challenging Ducati and reigning world champion Casey Stoner next season. Rizla Suzuki boss...

MotoGP: Rizla Suzuki unconcerned by new engine delay

23 December 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki boss Paul Denning has played down fears Suzuki is concerned about the performance of its 2008 factory GSV-R engine. While Chris Vermeulen tested a new 2008 prototype factory GSV-R in Valencia,...

Video: James Toseland gets a nice Christmas present

21 December 2007 by Angus Farquhar

James Toseland’s personal sponsor Bennetts Insurance recently rewarded the riders successful year witha very expensive Christmas present. We caught up with Toseland as he signed autographs for fans to see how he was looking forward to next year.

Moto GP - Merry Xmas to MCN, Contributors & Readers

21 December 2007 by Kerry Green

Merry Xmas to everyone at Motorcycle News, fellow contributors and readers. The attached picture gives an idea of what we are hoping Santa delivers to us for next year, but we are not holding out too...