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

Motegi MotoGP reaction: Randy de Puniet celebrates debut podium

23 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Randy de Puniet claimed his first MotoGP podium today when he finished a distant second to Ducati’s Loris Capirossi in an exciting flag-to-flag Japanese MotoGP. The French rider struggled early on in...

Motegi MotoGP reaction: Toni Elias ends injury nightmare with third

23 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias ended a torturous second half of the season when he claimed third place in this afternoon’s Japanese MotoGP. The Spaniard has been struggling for full fitness ever since he suffered a...

Motegi MotoGP reaction: Loris Capirossi completes Motegi hat-trick

23 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi completed a stunning hat-trick of victories at the Japanese GP at the end of a dramatic race in the Twin Ring Motegi. On a great day for Ducati, not only did Capirossi win his third...

Motegi MotoGP reaction: Valentino Rossi reflects on Motegi misery

23 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi lost his second successive world championship campaign for the first time in his career today after he failed to beat Casey Stoner in a dramatic flag-to-flag Japanese MotoGP. Rossi...

Motegi MotoGP reaction: Casey Stoner in dreamland after clinching first MotoGP world title

23 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner described winning his first MotoGP world championship crown as an ‘absolute dream’ on a memorable day for the Australian and his factory Ducati team in Japan. Not only did Casey Stoner’s...

Motegi MotoGP: Latest Championship standings

23 September 2007 by Angus Farquhar

Casey Stoner has secured the MotoGP championship. Click here for the full report and see below for the championship standings after the Japanese round at the Twin Ring Motegi. Riders...

Motegi MotoGP: Stoner wins the world title for Ducati

23 September 2007 by Angus Farquhar

Casey Stoner has taken the first MotoGP world championship for Ducati after finishing 7 places ahead of Valentino Rossi while the second Ducati of Loris Capirossi took the race win. After an...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner upbeat despite Motegi qualifying nightmare

22 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner refused to get too downhearted as his hopes of winning the MotoGP world championship in tomorrow’s Japanese GP were dented by his worst qualifying result of the season. If Stoner finishes...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden says Casey Stoner not cracking under pressure

22 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning champion Nicky Hayden believes that Casey Stoner is not cracking under the pressure after the Australian’s bid to win his first premier class crown in tomorrow’s Japanese GP suffered a major...

Motegi MotoGP: MotoGP boss submits formal request for one-make tyre rule

22 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta has confirmed today in the Twin Ring Motegi that he has proposed the introduction of a one-make tyre rule for the MotoGP world championship in 2008. He submitted the...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner slumps as Dani Pedrosa claims Japan pole

22 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

If Casey Stoner wants to wrap up his first MotoGP world title in Japan tomorrow, the Aussie will have to do it the hard way after he slumped to his worst grid position of 2007 in today’s qualifying...

Chaz Davies displays his injuries - warning - not for the squeamish!

21 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

These pictures show just why British rider Chaz Davies reluctantly rejected the chance to ride a Ducati GP7 machine in this weekend’s Japanese GP at the Twin Ring Motegi. Having initially agreed a...

Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner and Carlos Checa clash in Japan

21 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner launched a scathing attack on Spanish veteran Carlos Checa after the pair tangled early in this afternoon’s second free practice session in the Twin Ring...

Motegi MotoGP: Bridgestone baffled by Honda tyre claim

21 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bridgestone bosses have said they are shocked and surprised at a statement by HRC president Masumi Hamane today at the Japanese GP that negotiations are still on-going about a tyre deal for...

Motegi MotoGP: Valentino Rossi suffers disastrous start to Motegi

21 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP Valentino Rossi has cast serious doubt on whether he will be able to prevent Ducati’s Casey Stoner from wrapping up his first MotoGP world title on Sunday after the Italian’s disastrous start...

Motegi MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa sets Motegi pace to mark new Honda deal

21 September 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa celebrated signing a new factory Honda contract today in the Twin Ring Motegi by clocking the fastest time at the end of the first day of free practice for the Japanese MotoGP. Having...

Ducati up North endorsed by Loris?

20 September 2007 by peter mclean