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

German MotoGP: Hayden out of luck on Friday the 13th

13 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Hayden out of luck on Friday the 13th

Reigning MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden had a Friday the 13th to forget as he suffered a torrid opening day to the German GP. Hayden crashed in this morning’s opening free practice session unhurt...

German MotoGP: Stoner surprised at Sachsenring speed

13 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Stoner surprised at Sachsenring speed

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has admitted he was surprised at his fast and consistent pace on the opening day of practice for the German GP. Stoner left his rivals trailing in his...

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi predicts another epic Casey Stoner battle

13 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Valentino Rossi predicts another epic Casey Stoner battle

Valentino Rossi has backed MotoGP world championship rival Casey Stoner to provide the toughest opposition to his bid for glory in Sunday’s German MotoGP race. Stoner was untouchable on the opening...

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes provisional 250 pole

13 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo takes provisional 250 pole

The man who has dominated the 250 MotoGP championship so far this season continued his run of form at the Schsenring by taking provisional pole for Sunday’s race. Jorge Lorenzo fought off Gilera...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner's dominance continues at Sachsenring

13 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner's dominance continues at Sachsenring

Casey Stoner continued his Sachsenring domination this afternoon when he comfortably beat MotoGP world championship rivals Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa in the second free practice...

German MotoGP: Brave Brit Bradley Smith claims brilliant seventh at Sachsenring

13 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Brave Brit Bradley Smith claims brilliant seventh at Sachsenring

Shrugging off the pain of broken bones in his left knee, foot and hand, British teenager Bradley Smith produced a heroic performance at the Sachsenring this afternoon in the opening 125 MotoGP...

German MotoGP: Hector Barbera fastest in 250 free practice

13 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

German MotoGP: Hector Barbera fastest in 250 free practice

Hector Barbera was the quickest rider in the first 250 free practice session at Sachsenring this morning. The Spaniard recorded a best time of 1:25.103 on his Aprilia with Finland’s Mika Kallio...

German MotoGP: Sergio Gadea fastest in 125 free practice

13 July 2007 by Sarah Carnell

German MotoGP: Sergio Gadea fastest in 125 free practice

Aprilia’s Sergio Gadea was the quickest rider in the first practice session for the 125s at the Sachsenring. The Spaniard recorded a best time of 1:28.025 around the German circuit on a fairly cool...

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominates crash-strewn Sachsenring free practice

13 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominates crash-strewn Sachsenring free practice

German MotoGP: Stoner dominates crash-strewn opening Sachsenring MotoGP practice MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner stamped his authority down early at the Sachsenring MotoGP this morning...

German MotoGP: Rossi expecting another final round shootout for MotoGP world title

12 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Rossi expecting another final round shootout for MotoGP world title

Valentino Rossi expects his quest to reclaim the MotoGP world championship crown to be decided in a nail-biting final round showdown for the second season in succession. The Fiat Yamaha rider is...

German MotoGP: Stoner unconcerned by MotoGP world championship outcome

12 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Stoner unconcerned by MotoGP world championship outcome

Casey Stoner says he will be proud of his 2007 season regardless of whether he inflicts defeat on rival Valentino Rossi for the MotoGP world championship crown. The Australian goes into this weekend’s...

German MotoGP: Hofmann to race in Sachsenring MotoGP with broken right hand

12 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Hofmann to race in Sachsenring MotoGP with broken right hand

Home favourite Alex Hofmann will contest Sunday’s German MotoGP race with a broken right hand that he suffered in a freak accident just five days ago. The D’Antin Ducati rider revealed he has a metal...

German MotoGP: Marco Melandri closing in on Ducati ride

12 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Marco Melandri closing in on Ducati ride

Marco Melandri is understood to be close to clinching a deal to join Casey Stoner in Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad for the 2008 MotoGP world championship. Sources at Marco Melandri’s current Gresini...

Donington practice pics

11 July 2007 by Ian Macey

Donington practice pics

Donington MotoGP: Friday, June 22, morning practice…

German MotoGP: Suzuki consider Ben Spies for MotoGP test or wild card place

11 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

German MotoGP: Suzuki consider Ben Spies for MotoGP test or wild card place

Suzuki has confirmed to MCN that it will look at giving reigning American superbike champion Ben Spies a chance to test or race a factory GSV-R 800 in 2007. A ride for Spies, whether it be a test...

Valentino Rossi: Casey Stoner harder to beat in MotoGP than Nicky Hayden

11 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Valentino Rossi: Casey Stoner harder to beat in MotoGP than Nicky Hayden

Valentino Rossi has admitted that 2007 MotoGP world championship rival Casey Stoner is a much tougher opponent to defeat than American Nicky Hayden was last season. The 28-year-old Italian trails...

Honda refuse to extend MotoGP involvement in 2008

11 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Honda refuse to extend MotoGP involvement in 2008

Honda will not supply any more RC212V 800 machines for the 2008 MotoGP world championship, casting huge doubt over the future of Kenny Roberts’ British-based squad. Roberts recently told MCN that...

Donington GP qualifying pics

11 July 2007 by r1gixer1zx1

Donington GP qualifying pics

Qualifying pictures from the recent Donington MotoGP.

Suzuki MotoGP boss confirms John Hopkins departure

10 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki MotoGP boss confirms John Hopkins departure

Suzuki’s factory MotoGP team boss Paul Denning has confirmed to MCN that John Hopkins has penned a big money deal to switch to Kawasaki for the 2008 MotoGP world championship. The American’s...

World Exclusive: John Hopkins signs for Kawasaki MotoGP team for 2008

10 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

World Exclusive: John Hopkins signs for Kawasaki MotoGP team for 2008

John Hopkins has signed a contract with Kawasaki’s factory MotoGP squad for the 2008 MotoGP world championship, MCN can reveal. An official announcement is expected at this weekend’s German GP in the...

Stoner hoping for better luck in German MotoGP clash

09 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Stoner hoping for better luck in German MotoGP clash

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner is hoping for better fortunes in Sunday’s (July 15) Sachsenring MotoGP clash when he kicks off the second half of the season 21-points clear of Valentino...

Provisional MotoGP winter testing schedule released

09 July 2007

Provisional MotoGP winter testing schedule released

The 2007 MotoGP world championship may have only just reached the halfway stage, but plans are already well underway for next year’s series. Eight winter tests are scheduled for MotoGP teams on a...

Hopkins to shun Bridgestone's 16-inch rear tyre

09 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopkins to shun Bridgestone's 16-inch rear tyre

American John Hopkins has ruled out running one of Bridgestone’s new generation 16-inch rear tyres during the second half of the MotoGP world championship. The factory Suzuki rider tested a 16-inch...

Ducati: No plans to radically update Casey Stoner's 800

08 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Ducati: No plans to radically update Casey Stoner's 800

Ducati won’t make be making any significant changes to Casey Stoner’s impressive GP7 800 machine as the Australian heads into the second half of the MotoGP world championship campaign in Germany on...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking forward to Indianapolis challenge

07 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden looking forward to Indianapolis challenge

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden is relishing the prospect of a second MotoGP clash in America in 2008. Indianapolis will be confirmed on the 2008 MotoGP calendar on Monday, July 16, 2007 with the...

Vermeulen: MotoGP young guns have no fear of Valentino Rossi

07 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen: MotoGP young guns have no fear of Valentino Rossi

Factory Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen believes top young talent like fellow Aussie Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa have no fear of tackling seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi. Casey Stoner...

Bradley Smith to ride through pain barrier in German 125 MotoGP

06 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith to ride through pain barrier in German 125 MotoGP

Bradley Smith will grit his teeth and brave the pain after declaring he will try and race in the German 125 MotoGP at the Sachsenring circuit on July 15, 2007. The 16-year-old is currently...

Fabrizio and DuHamel to replace Elias in German and American MotoGP races

06 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Fabrizio and DuHamel to replace Elias in German and American MotoGP races

Veteran Canadian Miguel DuHamel will replace injured Gresini Honda rider Toni Elias in the American MotoGP in Laguna Seca, with Michel Fabrizio deputising for the Spaniard in the German MotoGP...

Jerry Burgess keen on young talent to bolster Yamaha's MotoGP effort

06 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jerry Burgess keen on young talent to bolster Yamaha's MotoGP effort

Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess has told MCN he hopes to see one of the current younger generation 250 MotoGP riders join Yamaha for the 2008 MotoGP world championship. The Australian is a...

Michelin admit MotoGP test team vital to fight Bridgestone threat

05 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Michelin admit MotoGP test team vital to fight Bridgestone threat

Michelin’s MotoGP chief Jean-Philippe Weber has admitted the recent introduction of a testing team with Yamaha was essential to help Valentino Rossi’s world title challenge against Casey Stoner. ...

Kawasaki pins hopes on John Hopkins, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri for 2008 MotoGP ride

05 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki pins hopes on John Hopkins, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri for 2008 MotoGP ride

Kawasaki’s hopes of becoming a major force in the MotoGP world championship in 2008 rest on luring John Hopkins, Loris Capirossi or Marco Melandri to ride a factory ZX-RR next season. All three have...

Team Roberts hoping new chassis will improve 2007 MotoGP fortunes

05 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Team Roberts hoping new chassis will improve 2007 MotoGP fortunes

Kenny Roberts’ struggling MotoGP squad is to unveil a new chassis for the first time in the American GP at Laguna Seca (July 20-22, 2007). The Banbury-based squad is hoping the new chassis will help...

John Hopkins closing in on 2008 MotoGP decision

05 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins closing in on 2008 MotoGP decision

John Hopkins has confirmed to MCN he has three firm offers for the 2008 MotoGP world championship, with every premier class manufacturer expressing an interest in capturing the American’s...

Indianapolis MotoGP race to be announced next week

04 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Indianapolis MotoGP race to be announced next week

A second MotoGP race in America to be staged at the famous Indianapolis circuit will be officially announced next week. The Indy clash will join the Laguna Seca round in California on the 2008 MotoGP...

Kenny Roberts still keen to see Jonathan Rea on KR212V MotoGP motorcycle

04 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kenny Roberts still keen to see Jonathan Rea on KR212V MotoGP motorcycle

HM Plant’s Jonathan Rea could still get to ride for Kenny Roberts with the squad confirming they are interested in offering the Honda British superbike star a full-time ride in the 2008 MotoGP world...

MotoGP teams given time to confirm 2008 plans

03 July 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP teams given time to confirm 2008 plans

MotoGP teams who fail to meet a September 15, 2007 deadline to confirm their plans to contest the 2008 MotoGP world championship will not be jeopardising their place on next year’s grid. Independent...