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

US MotoGP: Hofmann targets Brno MotoGP return

21 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Alex Hofmann has targeted a return to action in the Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno next month after undergoing surgery on a badly broken left hand in San Francisco yesterday (Friday). The German’s...

US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi crashes as Casey Stoner goes fastest

21 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner topped the timesheets in the third and final American MotoGP free practice as main world title rival Valentino Rossi escaped injury in a crash. Stoner’s domination at Laguna Seca...

2008 provisional MotoGP calendar announced

21 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

The provisional calendar for the 2008 MotoGP world championship has been released today in Laguna Seca. As was widely anticipated, the series remains an 18-round championship, with Indianapolis...

US MotoGP: Chaz Davies talks dream Ducati debut

21 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

British rider Chaz Davies starred in one of the most unlikely MotoGP stories on the opening day of the American GP in Laguna Seca. Drafted in at the 11th hour to ride the D’Antin Ducati GP7, it was...

US MotoGP: Stoner stays in charge at Laguna Seca

21 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner ended the first day of action at a sun-drenched Laguna Seca circuit with the fastest time in both free practice sessions. The MotoGP world championship leader clocked a 1.22.997 lap this...

US MotoGP: Rossi worried by red flag delay for injured Hofmann

20 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi has confirmed he will speak to MotoGP bosses at the regular Safety Commission meeting tonight to discuss a delay in transferring injured Alex Hofmann to the Laguna Seca medical...

US MotoGP: Chaz Davies to replace Alex Hofmann

20 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

British rider Chaz Davies will replace injured German Alex Hofmann in this weekend’s American GP in Laguna Seca. Hofmann was injured in this morning’s free practice session when he broke his left hand...

US MotoGP: Hodgson eighth on Laguna Seca return

20 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Neil Hodgson’s return to competitive race action for the first time since last October saw the British rider finish eighth quickest in the opening AMA superbike practice in Laguna Seca. The former...

US MotoGP: Stoner sets early Laguna Seca pace

20 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner made the perfect start to the American GP in Laguna Seca this morning by clocking the fastest time in opening free practice. The Australian beat Marco...

US MotoGP: Alex Hofmann out of Laguna Seca MotoGP after practice crash

20 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Alex Hofmann has been ruled out of Sunday’s American MotoGP race in Laguna Seca after suffering a serious left hand injury in this morning’s free practice session. Just ten minutes of the opening...

US MotoGP: Hayden plays down Laguna Seca hat-trick hopes

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has played down his hopes of maintaining his 100 per cent winning record in Sunday’s American MotoGP clash in Laguna Seca. Hayden has been triumphant on...

Stoner ready for Laguna Seca challenge

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner believes he will be capable of mounting a victory challenge in this weekend’s Laguna Seca clash. Looking to bounce back from his disappointing fifth place...

Repsol to stay with Honda MotoGP squad

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Repsol has agreed a new two-year extension to stay as title sponsor of Honda’s official factory team. MCN understands the new deal was clinched after Spaniard Dani Pedrosa’s first win in 12 months at...

Colin Edwards sees life after Fiat Yamaha

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Colin Edwards is believed to have been told his stint as Valentino Rossi’s team-mate is over at the end of this season, but still has the chance of a works Yamaha ride with the Tech 3 team for 2008.

Team Roberts’ MV link

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts’ British-based squad has held tentative discussions with MV Agusta about a future racing collaboration in either World Superbikes or MotoGP. Further talks about a possible tie-up will be...

World Superbikes: Toseland weighs Yamaha and Honda offers for 2008

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

James Toseland goes into this weekend’s Brno World Superbike round in the Czech Republic with two clear choices open to him for 2008. The Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP team has made it clear they want the WSB...

Bradley Smith gets works Aprilia offer

19 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith has been offered a factory Aprilia ride in the 2008 125cc world championship. The 16-year-old, one of the brightest British prospects for a generation, has been approached about signing...

MotoGP: Loris Capirossi in shock Rizla Suzuki move

18 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

MCN understands Marlboro Ducati’s Loris Capirossi has agreed to join Suzuki’s MotoGP team next year. This will see Italian joining Chris Vermeulen in the Rizla Suzuki squad after the Aussie agreed to...

Laguna Seca MotoGP: Roger Lee Hayden told to impress by Kawasaki

18 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki bosses have told Roger Lee Hayden his Laguna Seca wild card is a chance to put himself in the shop window for a full-time MotoGP world championship ride. The youngest of the Hayden racing...

Rossi had it coming

17 July 2007 by Geepier

Well something had to give. After reading John Hopkins’ statement of how Vale is overiding the Yamaha, watching a frustrated Valentino try to pass Randy De Puniet at a part of the track labelled as audacious and then bin it was no surprise. The downhill waterfall, a favoured passing place, only demonstrated the Yam’s lack of grunt against a Kawasaki, never mind a Ducati. Even shortshifting two...

German MotoGP reaction: Valentino Rossi: 'I made a mistake, I'm sorry'

16 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Valentino Rossi had admitted he “made a mistake” following his uncharacteristic crash out of the German MotoGP on Sunday. The seven-time world champion was battling to get past Randy de Puniet in the...

German MotoGP reaction: Sachsenring podium boosts Nicky Hayden ahead of Laguna Seca

15 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden’s bid for a third successive victory on home soil next weekend at Laguna Seca got a major boost today when he claimed third place in the German MotoGP...

German MotoGP reaction: Loris Capirossi roars back to form in Germany

15 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris Capirossi put a dismal 2007 MotoGP campaign behind him with second place in today’s Sachsenring clash. The veteran Italian avoided the problems suffered by a host of Bridgestone riders as he...

German MotoGP reaction: Dani Pedrosa ends barren run with dominant German victory

15 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa won his first MotoGP race for 12 months in dominant fashion at the Sachsenring in Germany today to revitalise his MotoGP world title aspirations. In searing heat, Dani Pedrosa was ice...

German MotoGP: Repsol Honda fight back with Dani Pedrosa win and Nicky Hayden third

15 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Repsol Honda announced they are back to the MotoGP paddock in style today as Dani Pedrosa took his first win of the season and Nicky Hayden claimed a second third place. Dani Pedrosa won the battle...

German MotoGP reaction: Brave Brit Bradley Smith claims Sachsenring top 10

15 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith came through a severe mental and physical examination today to claim a brilliant eighth place finish in the German 125 MotoGP. Riding with broken bones in his left foot,...

German MotoGP: Hiroshi Aoyama leaves it late in 250 Sachsenring race

15 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

KTM rider Hiroshi Aoyama snatched victory on the final corner in a gripping 250 race at the Sachsenring in Germany. This was the Japanese rider’s fourth victory in the 250 class and the first of the...

German MotoGP: Pole man Gabor Talmacsi wins 125 race at Sachsenring

15 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Pole man Gabor Talmacsi rode the perfect race at the Sachsenring this morning to take victory in the 125s. The Hungarian led from the start and kept pushing throughout the leave a gap and the fighting...

German MotoGP: Nicky Hayden and Carlos Checa have lucky escapes

14 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden reckons he came close to slamming into Carlos Checa as the Spaniard ran across the track following a crash in today’s Sachsenring final qualifying session. ...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi reckons German challenge tougher than Assen

14 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi reckons starting from sixth place for tomorrow’s German MotoGP will be a much tougher proposition than when he surged from 11th to win last month’s Dutch MotoGP in Assen. The...

German MotoGP: Mika Kallio takes pole from Jorge Lorenzo for 250 race

14 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Finland’s Mika Kallio has taken pole position for tomorrow’s 250 MotoGP race in Germany from championship leader Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo had taken provisional pole yesterday with a time of 1:24.857...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner storms to Sachsenring pole

14 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner claimed his second pole position of the season at the Sachsenring today to continue his domination of the German MotoGP. And the Australian will be hoping to end the premier class pole...

German MotoGP: Brit Bradley Smith claims heroic front row

14 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Gutsy British teenager Bradley Smith produced a heroic performance this afternoon to claim a spot on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s German 125 MotoGP. Riding with broken bones in his left...

German MotoGP: Mika Kallio tops timesheets in 250 free practice three

14 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Mika Kallio was the surprise rider at the top of the timesheets for the second 250 free practice at the Sachsenring. The KTM rider recorded a best of 1:24.672 to knock half a second off his time...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner hammers rivals again at the Sachsenring

14 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Casey Stoner’s unstoppable form at the Sachsenring continued this morning as he dominated the third and final free practice session ahead of tomorrow’s 30-lap German MotoGP race. Stoner was the only...

German MotoGP: Bradley Smith continues on road to recovery

14 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

Britain’s Bradley Smith continued on his remarkable comeback from injury in Germany this morning by finishing eighth. The Oxfordshire teenager improved on his time from qualifying one yesterday...