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

Bradley at Le Mans

26 May 2007 by Top Dog

I was lucky enough to be at Le Mans for the MotoGP and got to see young Bradley Smith’s front row start and podium finish – the first of what hopefully will be many more to come. Here are a few...

Hayden wants gravel traps made safer

26 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has called for a change to trackside gravel traps to help protect fallen riders more in big crashes. Hayden made his call after crashing out of fourth place in the...

Dorna pledge cash boost for MotoGP teams

26 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has pledged to help with the lease costs incurred by independent teams in 2008. Ezpeleta, boss of Spanish rights owners Dorna, will make a financial contribution to all...

Share a bath

25 May 2007 by Dave

Who said the facilities at Le Mans hadn’t been updated? Mobile baths now on campsite.

Suzuki confirm Melandri meeting

25 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri has held tentative discussions with Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad. MCN has learned that the Italian met Rizla Suzuki team manager Paul Denning after he clinched his first podium of 2007...

Moto GP Donington - Appetiser

25 May 2007 by Kerry Green

It’s only a few weeks now to the Moto GP at Donington Park and I thought that some of you may appreciate an appetiser before this year’s event. Attached are a few pictures that I managed to take at...

Yamaha: No regrets about missing Stoner

24 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Fiat Yamaha boss Davide Brivio has told MCN he has no regrets about twice missing out on the signing of Casey Stoner to join Valentino Rossi. Yamaha pursued the Australian in the summer of 2005 and...

Hopkins keeping '08 options open

24 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

John Hopkins has refused to rule out a move away from Suzuki’s factory MotoGP squad in 2008. Although expressing his desire to continue his long-running relationship with the Japanese factory, the...

Video: Vermeulen on his first MotoGP victory

23 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Chris Vermeulen took a fantastic first MotoGP victory at Le Mans in torrential rain at the weekend, MCN man Matt Birt caught up with him to find out what it felt like to take Suzuki’s first 800cc win.

Roberts eyes Brits for Donington GP

23 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jeremy McWilliams, Neil Hodgson and James Haydon could be offered a golden chance to contest next month’s British GP for American legend Kenny Roberts’ squad. Team Roberts manager Chuck Aksland...

Schwantz and Rossi hail 'rain wizard' Vermeulen

23 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki legend Kevin Schwantz hailed Chris Vermeulen’s stunning rain-lashed Le Mans victory as ‘amazing.’ American Schwantz, who won the world 500 title for Suzuki in 1993, was raving as Vermeulen gave...

Tech 3 close to new Yamaha deal

23 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha is close confirming the French-based Tech 3 squad will continue to operate its two-rider satellite team in 2008. MCN understands lengthy negotiations between Yamaha management and Tech 3 bosses...

Burgess praises Kawasaki 800

22 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kawasaki is a top rider away from mounting a consistent podium threat in the MotoGP world championship. That’s the view of Valentino Rossi’s crew chief Jerry Burgess, who has been impressed by the...

Elias and Stoner clear the air

22 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Toni Elias has held clear the air talks with Casey Stoner after the pair got involved in an on-track skirmish for the third race in a row. Having incurred the wrath of Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Alex...

Hayden admits title dreams slipping away

22 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has conceded his hopes of retaining the MotoGP crown are slipping away just five races into the 2007 season. Hayden’s tough title defence continued in Le Mans on...

Schwantz: Rossi still title favourite

22 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki legend Kevin Schwantz reckons Valentino Rossi is still hot favourite to reclaim the MotoGP world title despite Casey Stoner’s impressive start to the new campaign. Stoner’s third place in a...

No time to celebrate for schoolboy Bradley

21 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith had little time to celebrate his brilliant career first 125 GP podium as he jetted back to England today to begin his last week at school. The 16-year-old became the youngest British...

Vermeulen triumphs in wet Le Mans chaos

20 May 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Chris Vermeulen has won the French MotoGP round in a chaotic race due to wet weather conditions. Vermeulen finished the race ahead of Marco Melandri and Casey Stoner, followed by Dani Pedrosa,Alex...

Lorenzo extends title lead with 250cc win

20 May 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Jorge Lorenzo nows leads the 250cc GP championship by 32 points as he defended his title with a win in France. Lorenzo had to overcome a strong challenge from Alex de Angelis and Andrea Dovizioso to...

Smith takes third as Gadea wins 125GP

20 May 2007 by MCN Sports Desk

Britain’s Bradley Smith claimed his first podium, by taking third in the 125cc French GP. Smith finished behind winner Sergio Gadea, who took his first ever GP win for the Bacaja Asapr team, whilst...

First two-stroke premier class winner passes away

20 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

A minute’s silence was held this morning at the Le Mans circuit in memory of Australian Jack Findlay, who passed away last night. Findlay set several world championship landmarks in a distinguished career that spanned 21 years from 1958 to 1978. He was the first rider to take a premier class victory on a two-stroke machine in the 1971 Ulster GP. And he was the first rider to claim victory on...

Edwards: 'Win or crash' in Le Mans

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Le Mans pole setter Colin Edwards reckons tomorrow’s French GP is win or bust as he bids to put forgettable races in Turkey and China behind him. The Texan was taken out on the first lap in Istanbul...

Suppo: Stoner is making the difference

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Livio Suppo has praised Casey Stoner saying it is the Australian’s talent and not Ducati’s top speed advantage that has carried the 21-year-old to the top of the MotoGP world championship. The...

Edwards pips Stoner to claim first pole

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American Colin Edwards claimed his first ever MotoGP pole position on an afternoon full of surprises at the Le Mans circuit in France. The double World Superbike champion finally got his hands on a...

Smith storms to French front row

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith produced a stunning last lap to claim his best ever world 125 championship qualifying position for tomorrow’s French GP in Le Mans. The 16-year-old claimed a brilliant...

Hopkins ups pace in Le Mans

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

In-form John Hopkins topped the timesheets in this morning’s third practice session at the French GP in Le Mans. A best time of 1.35.128 was good enough to claim top spot from Gresini Honda rider Toni...

Brit Smith continues to shine in Le Mans

19 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith continued his brilliant display in the French GP at Le Mans this morning by claiming the third fastest time in second free practice. The British teenager clocked a best of 1.44.224 to...

Hopkins happy with new Suzuki engine

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

American John Hopkins declared himself happy with the performance of a new factory Suzuki GSV-R engine at the end of the first day in Le Mans. Hopkins finished fifth quickest today running an upgraded...

New Bridgestone front tyre helps Melandri

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Marco Melandri reckons a new construction Bridgestone front tyre was the major reason why he clocked the fastest time on the opening day of the French GP at Le Mans. The Italian shrugged aside his...

Melandri finds form for Le Mans

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Italian Marco Melandri enjoyed his best day of a nightmare 2007 campaign when he set the fastest time in this afternoon’s second free practice session in Le Mans. The former world 250 champion has...

Smith claims provisional front row

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Bradley Smith’s hopes of a career best world 125 championship finish in Le Mans were given a massive lift this afternoon when the Repsol Honda claimed a place on the provisional front row. Smith ended...

Pedrosa heads first practice

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Dani Pedrosa got his 100th GP off to a perfect start by claiming the fastest time in this morning’s opening free practice session at the Le Mans circuit in France. The Spaniard topped the timesheets...

Smith off to flying start in Le Mans

18 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

British teenager Bradley Smith topped the timesheets in this morning’s opening free 125 practice session at a grey and gloomy Le Mans. With light drizzle falling throughout the 45-minute session after...

Foot injury no concern for Vermeulen

17 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen says the right foot injury he suffered in a Shanghai qualifying collision with Loris Capirossi earlier this month won’t be a problem in this weekend’s French GP at Le...

Hayden denies Melandri new parts claim

17 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden has denied his struggling factory Honda RC212V 800 will be equipped with a range of new parts for this weekend’s French GP in Le Mans. In the pre-event press...

Stoner not fazed by Le Mans challenge

17 May 2007 by Matthew Birt

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner has shrugged off suggestions his factory Ducati will struggle to continue its stunning pace in Le Mans this weekend. Two of Stoner’s three victories in...