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

Valencia MotoGP: Gabor Talamcsi on pole position for 125cc GP

03 November 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Valencia MotoGP: Gabor Talamcsi on pole position for 125cc GP

Gabor Talmacsi has taken pole position for the final and championship deciding Valencia round of the 125cc GP season, to line up on the grid ahead of Bancaja Aspar Aprilia team-mates Hector Faubel and...

Valencia MotoGP: Qualifying tyre helps Sylvain Guintoli top Valencia practice

03 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Qualifying tyre helps Sylvain Guintoli top Valencia practice

A Dunlop qualifying tyre helped French rider Sylvain Guintoli end free practice for tomorrow’s Valencia MotoGP clash with the fastest time. With Dunlop not restricted by the 31-tyre limit regulation...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner shrugs off back injury to dominate in Valencia

02 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner shrugs off back injury to dominate in Valencia

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner shrugged off the lingering pain of a back injury he first suffered in Phillip Island last month to dominate the opening day of free practice in Valencia. Stoner...

Valencia MotoGP: Yamaha engine as bad as Michelin tyres admits Valentino Rossi

02 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Yamaha engine as bad as Michelin tyres admits Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted the slow performance of Yamaha’s YZR-M1 800cc motor has contributed to his 2007 problems as much as Michelin’s failure to compete with Bridgestone. Rossi ended a tough...

Valencia MotoGP: Chaz Davies to brave pain in Valencia

02 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Chaz Davies to brave pain in Valencia

British rider Chaz Davies will try and ride through the pain barrier tomorrow in a bid to take his place in the season’s final race in Valencia on Sunday. The D’Antin Ducati team has confirmed tonight...

Valencia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes provisional 250 pole

02 November 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Valencia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes provisional 250 pole

Jorge Lorenzo has taken provisional pole position for the final 250 MotoGP in Valencia after topping the timesheets for the second time today. The Aprilia rider was greeted back to his garage by...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner untouchable in Valencia free practice

02 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner untouchable in Valencia free practice

Casey Stoner continued his domination in Valencia this afternoon as he posted the best time in the second free practice session. Stoner occupied top spot for 55 minutes of the session, as he needed...

Valencia MotoGP: Hector Faubel takes provisional pole for final 125 race of the season

02 November 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Valencia MotoGP: Hector Faubel takes provisional pole for final 125 race of the season

Hector Faubel jumped to the top of the timesheets in the dying second of the first qualifying practice in Valencia this afternoon to take provisional pole for the last 125 race of the season. The...

Valencia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo leads 250 free practice one in Valencia

02 November 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Valencia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo leads 250 free practice one in Valencia

Aprilia’s Jorge Lorenzo celebrated his new 250 world championship title by setting the fastest time in the first 250 practice in his home MotoGP in Valencia. The Spanish rider who will compete in...

Valencia MotoGP: Chaz Davies undergoing hospital treatment in Valencia

02 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Chaz Davies undergoing hospital treatment in Valencia

Chaz Davies has been taken to a Valencia hospital for precautionary checks after he suffered a massive high-side crash in this morning’s opening free practice session. The British rider crashed with...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominant in first free practice

02 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominant in first free practice

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner made the perfect start in his bid to end a brilliant season on a high note by dominating this morning’s opening free practice session in Valencia. Once the Ducati...

Valencia MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi fastest in 125 free practice one

02 November 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Valencia MotoGP: Gabor Talmacsi fastest in 125 free practice one

Aprilia’s Gabor Talmacsi was the fastest rider in this morning’s first free practice in Valencia ahead of the final 125 MotoGP. The world championship leader recorded a best lap of 1:41.280 at the...

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner begins plotting 2008 title defence

01 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Casey Stoner begins plotting 2008 title defence

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner’s attention has already turned to the defence of his crown in 2008 as he brings the curtain down on a stunning debut season with Ducati in Valencia this weekend. The...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi anxiously waiting for Bridgestone clearance

01 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi anxiously waiting for Bridgestone clearance

Valentino Rossi has admitted he has no idea whether he will be allowed to begin testing Bridgestone tyres immediately after this weekend’s final race in Valencia. Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team is...

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi confirmed for Qatar night test

01 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi confirmed for Qatar night test

Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi have confirmed they will attend a special night test session at the Losail International circuit in Qatar later this month. Plans for a historic night race in Qatar...

Valencia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden urges Honda caution on 2008 machine

01 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Nicky Hayden urges Honda caution on 2008 machine

Former world champion Nicky Hayden is hoping Honda engineers have not made radical changes to his factory Honda RC212V machine for 2008, even though he believes the current bike is only at 80 per cent...

Valencia MotoGP: Suzuki happy with new 2008 GSV-R

01 November 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valencia MotoGP: Suzuki happy with new 2008 GSV-R

Suzuki will give Chris Vermeulen and new recruit Loris Capirossi a debut on the new 2008 factory GSV-R next week in Valencia confident the new 800 can continue the Japanese factory’s...

MotoGP competition: Win the chance to report for MCN in Valencia

26 October 2007 by Andy Downes

MotoGP competition: Win the chance to report for MCN in Valencia

One lucky reader could be taking a guest on a VIP trip to the Valencia MotoGP to act as an MCN reporter next weekend. All the winners will have to do is get their own flights – the rest of the trip...

MotoGP: Confirmed 2008 signings

26 October 2007 by Sarah Carnell

MotoGP: Confirmed 2008 signings

With news of where riders are planning to go to next year in MotoGP we will be keeping an eye on who signs for whom over the close season. The excitement has begun even before the end of the 2007...

MotoGP: Toni Elias clinches D’Antin Ducati deal

26 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Toni Elias clinches D’Antin Ducati deal

In a move widely anticipated for weeks, Spaniard Toni Elias will partner Sylvain Guintoli in the 2008 MotoGP world championship. This morning’s announcement (Friday) follows yesterday’s confirmation...

MotoGP: Max Biaggi’s Honda hopes crushed as Gresini squad confirms Shinya Nakano

25 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Max Biaggi’s Honda hopes crushed as Gresini squad confirms Shinya Nakano

Honda’s reluctance to work with controversial Italian Max Biaggi again has resulted in the satellite Gresini squad today announcing that Shinya Nakano will ride for the Italian team in the 2008 MotoGP...

MotoGP: Single tyre rule was wrong for MotoGP says teams chief

24 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Single tyre rule was wrong for MotoGP says teams chief

A single tyre rule would have been wrong for the MotoGP world championship had it been implemented for 2008. That’s the view of International Race Teams Association boss Mike Trimby, despite the fact...

MotoGP: Bradley Smith confirms factory Aprilia 125GP deal

24 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Bradley Smith confirms factory Aprilia 125GP deal

Bradley Smith has confirmed he will ride for the Polaris World Aprilia squad in the 2008 MotoGP world 125 championship. As was revealed by MCN earlier this month, the 16-year-old officially signed a...

MotoGP: New 600cc class delayed for one year

24 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: New 600cc class delayed for one year

Plans to axe the world 250 championship for a new prototype 600cc class have been delayed until 2011. Although a capacity for the new class has still to be officially finalised, a 600cc class remains...

MotoGP: Suzuki plot Ben Spies future to fend off rival interest

24 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Suzuki plot Ben Spies future to fend off rival interest

Suzuki will run Ben Spies in at least two MotoGP races in 2008 in a bid to prevent the reigning American superbike champion from being lured to the premier class by a rival manufacturer. Ben Spies...

MotoGP: Scott Redding signs MotoGP 125 deal

23 October 2007 by Gary Pinchin

MotoGP: Scott Redding signs MotoGP 125 deal

Fourteen-year-old Gloucestershire schoolboy Scott Redding has clinched a three-year deal with the Spanish-based BQR Blusens Aprilia world championship team. He will become the team’s number one rider...

West's jump start

21 October 2007 by Antnee_

West's jump start

Kawasaki’s Anthony West incurred a Jump Start Ride Through Penalty at this Sunday’s Polini Malaysian Grand Prix, but why? To the eye he doesn’t appear to have moved forward too early, but is that...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi rues qualifying mistake after fifth place finish

21 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Valentino Rossi rues qualifying mistake after fifth place finish

Valentino Rossi was left to contemplate what might have been as he finished today’s Malaysian GP in Sepang in fifth place to miss out on claiming his 100th premier class podium. The 28-year-old was...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Dani Pedrosa surprised at Sepang speed

21 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Dani Pedrosa surprised at Sepang speed

Triple world champion Dani Pedrosa said he was surprised he could pose such a serious threat to Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri after he claimed only his second podium finish in the last seven races...

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Marco Melandri returns to podium in Sepang

21 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP Reaction: Marco Melandri returns to podium in Sepang

Italian Marco Melandri claimed his first podium finish since the end of July with a gutsy ride to second place in Malaysia. Melandri notched only his third podium of a disastrous 2007 season as he...

Sepang MotoGP reaction: Casey Stoner on his 10th win in Sepang sauna

21 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP reaction: Casey Stoner on his 10th win in Sepang sauna

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner continued his domination of the 2007 season with his 10th victory in baking hot conditions in Sepang today. The 22-year-old claimed another start-to-finish victory...

Sepang MotoGP: Win for Gabor Talmacsi takes 125cc GP title to final race in Spain

21 October 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Sepang MotoGP: Win for Gabor Talmacsi takes 125cc GP title to final race in Spain

Gabor Talmacsi extended his championship lead with victory in the 125cc GP at Sepang, increasing his advantage from one point to ten over Hector Faubel. Faubel started the race from pole position but...

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo is 2007 250cc GP champion, Hiroshi Aoyama wins race

21 October 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo is 2007 250cc GP champion, Hiroshi Aoyama wins race

Jorge Lorenzo will take the 250cc world championship with him to the MotoGP class with Yamaha in 2008, as he sealed an almost certain title with a third place. He had looked likely to take the race...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner takes 10th win of 2007 as Valentino Rossi salvages fifth

21 October 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner takes 10th win of 2007 as Valentino Rossi salvages fifth

Casey Stoner has made history with his tenth victory of the 2007 MotoGP season, becoming the first rider to win the in the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP classes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Pole...

Sepang MotoGP: Marco Melandri hoping to end Honda career in style

20 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Marco Melandri hoping to end Honda career in style

Marco Melandri has vowed to repay Honda team boss Fausto Gresini with a storming finish to a disastrous 2007 season before he quits to join Casey Stoner in Ducati’s factory team. The Italian admitted...

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner ready to challenge for 10th victory

20 October 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang MotoGP: Casey Stoner ready to challenge for 10th victory

Newly-crowned MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner is confident he can take his 2007 victory tally into double figures after he claimed a front row start for tomorrow’s Malaysian GP in Sepang. The...