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

Moto2: Oliveira quickest from Marquez and Binder in FP1

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Oliveira quickest from Marquez and Binder in FP1

Winner of the last two Grand Prix, Miguel Oliveira continued to lead the way in Moto2 as free practice got underway for the final race of the season. The Red Bull KTM rider clocked a time of 1’35.847...

MotoGP: Iannone tops FP1 from Miller and Espargaro

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Iannone tops FP1 from Miller and Espargaro

Andrea Iannone topped the timesheets as the final round of the MotoGP World Championship got underway with FP1 at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. The Ecstar Suzuki rider, who has struggled for most of the...

Moto3: Ramirez leads way as Mir crashes in FP1

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Ramirez leads way as Mir crashes in FP1

Marcos Ramirez led the way as the final weekend of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship got underway at Valencia. The sun might have been shining over the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, located just outside the...

MotoGP: Dovizoso: 'We have one strategy - we have to win'

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Dovizoso: 'We have one strategy - we have to win'

Andrea Dovizioso has said he will be happy with his 2017 season regardless of whether he beats Marc Marquez to the title on Sunday, after the Ducati team made such a gigantic step forward this...

MotoGP: Marquez: 'I will try to keep the same mentality'

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez: 'I will try to keep the same mentality'

Marc Marquez has said he will treat this weekend’s final Grand Prix of the season like any other weekend until he decides his strategy ahead of Sunday’s race. The Repsol Honda rider is 21 points ahead...

MotoGP: 2017 ‘not an exciting season’ for Rossi

09 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: 2017 ‘not an exciting season’ for Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted that he’s glad to see the final round of the 2017 MotoGP season this weekend at the Valencian Grand Prix, after a difficult season for the Italian and teammate Maverick...

MotoGP: Aprilia renew partnership with charity (RED)

09 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aprilia renew partnership with charity (RED)

The Aprilia MotoGP team will renew their partnership with HIV/AIDS charity (RED) this weekend at the Valencian Grand Prix and the final round of the 2017 season, running both Aleix Espargaró and Sam...

MotoGP: Lorenzo: 'I will help Dovi if I can'

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo: 'I will help Dovi if I can'

Jorge Lorenzo has said he will help team-mate Andrea Dovizioso to win the 2017 MotoGP world championship if he is in the position to do so in Sunday’s final race of the year. Dovizioso sits a massive...

MotoGP: Folger illness diagnosed

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Folger illness diagnosed

The mystery illness that led to Jonas Folger missing the final three Grand Prix of the 2017 season has finally been diagnosed after the German underwent extensive tests at home in Germany. The rookie...

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli hunting records in final race

07 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli hunting records in final race

New Moto2 world champion Franco Morbidelli is going into this weekend’s final round of the 2017 season with a clear goal in mind even though the championship is in the bag – to take Marc Marquez’s...

MotoGP: ‘Natural’ for Marquez to have final round pressure

07 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Natural’ for Marquez to have final round pressure

2017 MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez says it’s only natural that he goes into this weekend’s final round of the season under more pressure than usual, as he sets out to secure his sixth title...

MotoGP: Van der Mark gets second Tech 3 opportunity

07 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Van der Mark gets second Tech 3 opportunity

World Superbike racer Michael van der Mark will get his second ride on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine this weekend at the final round of the 2017 MotoGP season, as he continues to deputise for the...

MotoGP: Dovi keeps championship hopes alive with Ducati one-two

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi keeps championship hopes alive with Ducati one-two

Andrea Dovizioso has kept the fight for the 2017 MotoGP championship alive to the last round of the season, after taking a stunning victory from teammate Jorge Lorenzo at the Malaysian Grand Prix...

Moto2: Oliveira and Binder double up for KTM

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Oliveira and Binder double up for KTM

Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder have made it two one-twos for the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad in two races, after the pair took another incredible result at the Malaysian Grand Prix to back up last...

Moto3: Dominant Mir stamps authority with easy race win

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Dominant Mir stamps authority with easy race win

Dominant 2017 Moto3 world champion Joan Mir has stamped his authority on the lightweight class for the penultimate time at the Malaysian Grand Prix, taking victory over Jorge Martin and Enea...

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli crowned early as Luthi ruled unfit

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli crowned early as Luthi ruled unfit

Marc VDS rider Franco Morbidelli has been crowned the 2017 Moto2 champion without turning a wheel in anger at today’s Malaysian Grand Prix, after only remaining championship rival Thomas Luthi was...

MotoGP: What Marquez needs to do to win the title

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: What Marquez needs to do to win the title

Despite an incredible 2017 MotoGP world championship battle that saw four riders in the fight until well after the half way point, Marc Marquez has now just about eked out a small lead in the race to...

Moto2: Champion-elect Morbidelli eases closer with Sepang pole

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Champion-elect Morbidelli eases closer with Sepang pole

Moto2 champion-elect Franco Morbidelli has eased closer to the 2017 crown after taking pole position for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix in a drama-filled qualifying session at the Sepang circuit –...

MotoGP: Pedrosa on pole after frantic qualifying at Sepang

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa on pole after frantic qualifying at Sepang

Dani Pedrosa will start tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix from pole position, after coming out on top of a frantic qualifying session that saw the lead change a number of times in the final seconds of...

Moto3: Champion Mir breaks his pole duck with record lap

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Champion Mir breaks his pole duck with record lap

New Moto3 world champion Joan Mir has finally broken his pole position duck with a record-setting lap of the Sepang circuit, taking the first pole position of his championship-winning season and only...

Moto3: British Talent Team to move, McPhee to CIP Moto for 2018

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: British Talent Team to move, McPhee to CIP Moto for 2018

As reported earlier this month by MCN, MotoGP bosses Dorna have confirmed that the British Talent Team Honda squad they built around Scottish rider John McPhee for the 2017 season will leave the Moto3...

Moto2: Oliveira continues KTM hot streak with top time

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Oliveira continues KTM hot streak with top time

Miguel Oliveira has continued at the Malaysian Grand Prix where he left off last time out at the Australian Grand Prix by ending today’s Moto2 sessions at the Sepang circuit 0.073 clear of title...

MotoGP: Dovi fastest in wet and dry at Sepang

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi fastest in wet and dry at Sepang

Andrea Dovizioso has topped the day in both wet and dry conditions at the Malaysian Grand Prix, heating up the 2017 title race as he and Marc Marquez go down to the wire with only two races...

Moto3: Champion Mir tops only dry session in Malaysia

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Champion Mir tops only dry session in Malaysia

New Moto3 world champion Joan Mir has topped the opening day of action at the Malaysian Grand Prix, taking the provisional pole position ahead of home favourite Adam Norrodin on yet another...

MotoGP world shocked by sudden death of team boss

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP world shocked by sudden death of team boss

Moto2 team boss Stefan Kiefer has tragically died on the eve of this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, passing away overnight while in Sepang for the penultimate round of the season. The German was an...

Moto3: McPhee left without a ride as British Talent Team shuts

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee left without a ride as British Talent Team shuts

John McPhee has been left without a ride for the 2018 Moto3 season at the eleventh hour, with MCN’s sources in the MotoGP paddock believing that series bosses Dorna have taken the decision to shut...

MotoGP: Redding admits ‘I ignored team orders’

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding admits ‘I ignored team orders’

Scott Redding has admitted after Sunday’s race that he ignored team orders from his Pramac Ducati squad when he became locked in battle with fellow Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso during the race.

MotoGP: Marquez says harder to fight no-pressure Dovi

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez says harder to fight no-pressure Dovi

Marc Marquez has admitted going into this weekend’s penultimate round of the 2017 MotoGP championship at the Malaysian Grand prix that this season has been made more difficult thanks to the challenge...

MotoGP: No time for Laverty to get up to speed as Espargaró replacement

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: No time for Laverty to get up to speed as Espargaró replacement

Aprilia MotoGP boss Romano Albesiano has told MCN that there wouldn’t have been enough time for Eugene Laverty to get up to speed had the Irishman jumped onto Aleix Espargaró’s machine this weekend at...

MotoGP: Rossi looking to ‘stay modest’ after Phillip Island

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi looking to ‘stay modest’ after Phillip Island

Valentino Rossi says it’s important for him to stay modest this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix despite a stunning result last weekend at Phillip Island, where Rossi came out on top of a three-way...

Moto2: Morbidelli gearing up for championship chance

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli gearing up for championship chance

Marc VDS rider Franco Morbidelli is gearing himself up for the first chance he has of raising the 2017 Moto2 crown this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix, with the Italian going into the weekend at...

Video: Ten minutes with Mick Doohan

25 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Ten minutes with Mick Doohan

With five-time Grand Prix world champion Mick Doohan dropping by the pre-event for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, we caught up with the Australian to hear his thoughts on the 2017...

Video: Marquez talks Sepang title chances

25 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Marquez talks Sepang title chances

With his first chance of lifting the 2017 MotoGP world championship coming up this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, MCN caught up with championship leader Marc...

MotoGP: Championship battle not over for Dovizioso

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Championship battle not over for Dovizioso

Andrea Dovizioso says that the battle for the 2017 MotoGP championship is far from over, despite a disastrous weekend for him last time out in Phillip Island – and is confident that he can bounce back...

MotoGP: ‘Important result’ for Marquez at Phillip Island

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Important result’ for Marquez at Phillip Island

Marc Marquez has hailed last weekend’s stunning victory at the Australian Grand Prix as an ‘important result’ for him as he starts to eke out a lead in the 2017 MotoGP championship over Italian Andrea...

MotoGP: Aleix Espargaró to sit out Sepang with hand injury

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aleix Espargaró to sit out Sepang with hand injury

Aprilia racer Aleix Espargaró will sit out this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang after suffering worse than originally suspected injuries to his left hand after crashing out of last weekend’s...