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

Blog: Sepang Sauna

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Sepang Sauna

Phew what a scorcher today was. To be honest part of me is pining for some cold weather at home right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of sun as much as the next person, but today here in Sepang...

Blog: Back on the road

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Back on the road

Greetings comrades from a rather baking hot and sunny Malaysia. Happy New Year and all that but yes, after you’ve all had the pleasure of seven weeks without my ramblings, I’m back in blog mode and...

Honda promise power

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Honda promise power

Honda has told its top MotoGP riders that more horsepower is on the way. Several Honda riders including world champion Nicky Hayden voiced their concerns about a lack of power on the new 800cc RC212V...

Smith on form fast

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Smith on form fast

Teen star Bradley Smith has started 2007 with a bang, going second fastest in the 125 GP class’ first major test of the year at Jerez in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider turned 16 before Christmas after...

Hopper remains on top

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper remains on top

Suzuki’s John Hopkins stayed at the top of the timesheets at the major Sepang MotoGP test today, day two of the three day test there. Hopkins and Suzuki team-mate Chris Vermeulen went quickest...

Pedrosa crashes

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Pedrosa crashes

Dani Pedrosa walked away from a crash on Honda’s new RC212V 800cc bike at the second day of testing here in Sepang today. The Spaniard crashed just before 2pm to bring out the red flags though damage...

Video: Sepang: day 1

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Video: Sepang: day 1

MCN’s MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt has sent back footage of day one of testing in Sepang. Take a look below as you see the likes of former champion Valentino Rossi and current champion Nicky Hayden...

Video: Ducati GP7

23 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Video: Ducati GP7

The bike is now making its mark on the track in Sepang, but here’s your chance to get up close to the all-new Ducati GP7 Desmosedici. This video walk-round of the bike launched last week for all to...

Yamaha to unveil colours

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha to unveil colours

Yamaha will only officially unveil its 2007 factory MotoGP livery at the final winter test in Jerez next month. It still remains a mystery though whether Valentino Rossi will have a sponsor as he aims...

Vermeulen's new chassis

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen's new chassis

Aussie Chris Vermeulen will test a brand new tailor-made chassis built just for him tomorrow at the Sepang MotoGP test. Vermeulen, who was second quickest on the opening day of 2007 winter testing in...

Hayden fifth

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden completed just 38 laps of the opening day of testing in Malaysia today as he made his first track appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in November. The...

New chasis for KRJR

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

New chasis for KRJR

Kenny Roberts will try a new chassis on only his second day of testing the all-new KR212V 800cc machine tomorrow at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The new chassis was only finished last Wednesday at...

Rossi third after break

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi third after break

Valentino Rossi finished third fastest on the opening day of the Sepang test as he revealed his seven-week break saw his wretched run of bad luck continue. After a season of misfortune in 2006 that...

Suzuki fastest in Sepang

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki fastest in Sepang

Suzuki started where they left off last year, with Rizla men John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen first and second fastest on day one today of the major Sepang MotoGP test which ends the winter testing...

Checa and Guintoli crash

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Checa and Guintoli crash

Carlos Checa and Sylvain Guintoli both escaped injury after crashing out at the opening day of testing in Sepang as the MotoGP grid returned to the track after a seven-week lay-off. Checa crashed...

Capirossi talks '07

18 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Capirossi talks '07

Loris Capirossi has admitted 2007 will be the biggest of his long and successful racing career as time runs out for him to realise of his ambition of becoming MotoGP world champion. Speaking at...

Vermeulen Q&A

18 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Aussie Chris Vermeulen embarks on his second year in the MotoGP world championship next week when testing resumes at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The former World Superbike runner-up had a...

Interview: Casey Stoner

18 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Interview: Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner reckons he needs more critical testing time before he’ll be able to show the potential threat he could pose as a factory Ducati rider in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. The...

Nakano looking for wins

17 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Nakano looking for wins

Honda new boy Shinya Nakano has targeted breaking his premier class victory duck and becoming a consistent podium challenger in the 2007 MotoGP world championship. The Japanese rider is preparing for...

New Roberts 800

17 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

New Roberts 800

This is the world’s first look at the gorgeous new Kenny Roberts-built 800cc MotoGP bike. This was designed and built in less than 90 days in readiness for the 2007 world championship. The bike is the...

Hayden needs to refocus

16 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden needs to refocus

MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden should abandon plans to shed weight to help him make the transition to Honda’s new RC212V 800cc contender. The American recently said he would need to lose weight to...

FIM wants MotoGP growth

16 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

FIM wants MotoGP growth

New FIM president Vito Ippolito has vowed to have a more global MotoGP world championship in the future, with more riders emerging from countries not known for being hotbeds of motorcycling...

Jacque's happiness

15 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jacque's happiness

France’s Olivier Jacque has spoken of his joy at being given the chance to make a full-time return to the MotoGP world championship next season. The former world 250 champion has been plucked out of...

Davies MotoGP future

15 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Davies MotoGP future

British teenager Chaz Davies has vowed to fulfil his MotoGP dream in the future despite missing out on the chance to ride the new Ilmor in the 2007 world championship. Davies has been forced to...

Changes to GP tyres

15 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Changes to GP tyres

A change to the rules for 2007 means every MotoGP rider will have to pre-select their weekend’s tyre choice before turning a wheel in anger. Cost-cutting measures mean riders will only be able to...

Roberts V4 imminent

05 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Roberts V4 imminent

Kenny Roberts’ new 800cc MotoGP contender will be flown to Honda’s Japan headquarters next Wednesday before making its track debut in Sepang later this month. Team Roberts are in the final stages of...

GP tests diary dates

02 January 2007 by MCN

GP tests diary dates

A massive seven pre-season tests are planned for the six British riders preparing to campaign the GP world championships in 2007. Here are some of the key winter test dates for your diary. January...

Jezza steps up training

01 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jezza steps up training

Jeremy McWilliams is hoping to resume full training again by the middle of January. The British veteran, who is back in MotoGP in 2007 with the new Ilmor squad, reckons he should have recovered from...

Edwards: No US boost

26 December 2006 by Matthew Birt

Edwards: No US boost

Colin Edwards reckons Nicky Hayden’s stunning 2006 world championship success will have no impact on elevating MotoGP’s status in America. The Texas Tornado said motorcycle racing’s popularity across...

Checa beats GP rivals

14 December 2006

Checa beats GP rivals

Carlos Checa beat off a host of rivals in a star-studded Supermoto race, as he put one over former GP rival Max Biaggi. The 34-year-old turned out on a Honda CRF450 for the traditional Bologna...

Neeves looks back at riding Rossi's bike

13 December 2006 by Michael Neeves

Neeves looks back at riding Rossi's bike

Road Test Supremo Michael Neeves landed one of the plummest jobs of the year a few weeks ago, he got to get out on the cream of the MotoGP machinery at Valencia. Sitting round a beer down the pub...

Hayden: “800s suit Dani”

12 December 2006 by Matthew Birt

Hayden: “800s suit Dani”

Nicky Hayden has joined Valentino Rossi in backing factory Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa to pose a massive threat in 2007. The American’s will be bidding to make a successful defence on his MotoGP...

Video: Sepang monsoon

07 December 2006 by Angus Farquhar

Video: Sepang monsoon

Torrential rain has flooded parts of the track at Sepang, putting a halt to the MotoGP test – see our exclusive video report. MCN MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt is in Malaysia to follow the test and...

Rossi helps fundraiser

07 December 2006 by Sarah Carnell

Rossi helps fundraiser

Valentino Rossi fans could get their hands on a piece of history and help a charity at the same time. The former World Champion has offered the gloves, boots, and racing suit he wore on that fatal day...

Ilmor announce MotoGP manager for 2007

05 December 2006 by Matthew Birt

Ilmor announce MotoGP manager for 2007

Ilmor has ended speculation that former Kawasaki boss Harald Eckl will be their team manager in the 2007 MotoGP championship. The British-based team, which is preparing for its first full season in...

Video: Spy footage of new Ilmor MotoGP bike

05 December 2006

This spy footage of the new Ilmor 800cc British MotoGP bike was shot on a trackday at Silverstone and sent to MCN by reader Deborah Harriman