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

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales bosses insist project lives on

05 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales bosses insist project lives on

Last Tuesday’s announcement that the Welsh Government were set to withdraw from the Circuit of Wales project looked set to spell the end for the project, after economics minister Ken Skates laid out...

MotoGP: Rossi pleased after ‘difficult weekend’

04 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi pleased after ‘difficult weekend’

Valentino Rossi has admitted that he’s left the ninth round of the 2017 MotoGP season at the German Grand Prix pleased to have come away with a fifth place and valuable championship points, after a...

Moto2: Morbidelli ‘living the dream’ after another win

04 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli ‘living the dream’ after another win

Moto2 championship leader Franco Morbidelli says he’s ‘living the dream’ after taking yet another win in the middleweight class to go into the summer break with a comfortable 34-point championship...

MotoGP: Tyre issues slow Pedrosa’s charge

04 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Tyre issues slow Pedrosa’s charge

Dani Pedrosa’s hopes of finishing higher than third in this year’s German Grand Prix were brought to a sudden halt during Sunday’s race at the Sachsenring, when unexpected tyre wear came into play and...

MotoGP: Small mistakes costs Lowes

03 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Small mistakes costs Lowes

A small mistake cost Aprilia rider Sam Lowes the chance to battle for the points during Sunday’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, according to the Lincolnshire native after the race. Crashing out...

MotoGP: Folger lost for words after home podium

03 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Folger lost for words after home podium

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Jonas Folger has admitted after an incredible home podium finish in Sunday’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring that he was left lost for words with the response he...

MotoGP: Sachsenring an ‘important moment’ for Marquez

03 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Sachsenring an ‘important moment’ for Marquez

German Grand Prix winner Marc Marquez says he’s very aware just how important this weekend’s victory at the Sachsenring was in the defence of his MotoGP world championship, after taking control of the...

MotoGP: Marquez wins eight in a row as Folger takes home podium

02 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez wins eight in a row as Folger takes home podium

Marc Marquez has put his 2017 MotoGP title defence back onto track after a stunning victory at the Sachsenring for the eighth year in a row – but almost had his limelight stolen by a stunning second...

Moto3: Mir extends championship lead as rivals stumble

02 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir extends championship lead as rivals stumble

Joan Mir has extended his Moto3 championship further to a huge 37 points as the series enters the summer break, after taking a controlled last lap victory over Romano Fenati as many of their...

MotoGP: Magnificent Marquez takes eighth consecutive German pole

01 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Magnificent Marquez takes eighth consecutive German pole

Marc Marquez has taken his eighth consecutive pole position at the Sachsenring for tomorrow’s German Grand Prix, extending an unbeaten record that extends back to his 125GP days by powering to an...

Moto3: Canny Canet takes late pole position

01 July 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canny Canet takes late pole position

A canny Aron Canet has taken a late pole position for tomorrow’s Moto3 race at the German Grand Prix, stealing the top spot from championship leader Joan Mir after he was convinced that a late rain...

Moto2: Luthi top in mixed conditions

30 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Luthi top in mixed conditions

Thomas Luthi has emerged top of the time sheets after the first day of action at the German Grand Prix, coming home ahead of Marcel Schrotter and Miguel Olivera at the closest thing the Swiss rider...

MotoGP: Dovi and Barbera share honours in wet and dry

30 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi and Barbera share honours in wet and dry

Ducati riders Andrea Dovizioso and Hector Barbera topped the time sheets on the opening day of action for the German Grand Prix in dry and then wet conditions at the Sachsenring, after a mixed day of...

Moto3: Mir on top as Martin breaks a leg

30 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir on top as Martin breaks a leg

Joan Mir ended the first day of Moto3 action at the German Grand Prix top of the time sheets – but the day ended in disaster for Mr Pole Position Jorge Martin, after a crash in free practice two left...

MotoGP: Rossi confirms he’ll continue beyond 2018 ‘if I’m still competitive’

29 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi confirms he’ll continue beyond 2018 ‘if I’m still competitive’

Valentino Rossi has confirmed that he’ll continue in the premiere class past the end of his current contract for the 2018 season, admitting that if he maintains his current level of consistency in the...

MotoGP: Rossi unsure of what to expect in Germany

29 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi unsure of what to expect in Germany

Dutch TT winner Valentino Rossi has admitted that he doesn’t know what to expect this weekend when the 2017 MotoGP championship heads to Sachsenring for the German Grand Prix only one week after he...

MotoGP: Sachsenring ‘a track that creates problems’ for Ducati

29 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Sachsenring ‘a track that creates problems’ for Ducati

MotoGP championship leader Andrea Dovizioso has admitted that the championship heads to a track that in the past has ‘created problems’ for the Desmosedici in the past, as the series heads to the...

MotoGP: Dashboard messages permitted for 2018

29 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dashboard messages permitted for 2018

MotoGP’s rulemaking body the Grand Prix Commission have announced plans to allow the sending of messages from pit to rider during races, extending technology first introduced to notify riders of...

Moto3: Kent returns to Red Bull KTM to replace injured Antonelli

28 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Kent returns to Red Bull KTM to replace injured Antonelli

Former Moto3 world champion Danny Kent will return to the class this weekend for the second time this season, as he returns to his old Red Bull KTM Ajo squad to replace the injured Niccolo Antonelli...

MotoGP: Extra track time as Michelin bring four options to Sachsenring

28 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Extra track time as Michelin bring four options to Sachsenring

This weekend’s MotoGP free practice one and two sessions at the German Grand Prix will be extended by an extra ten minutes to allow riders more time to assess four instead of the usual three front and...

Moto2: Marquez joins Mir for another year at Marc VDS

28 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Marquez joins Mir for another year at Marc VDS

Moto2 title contender Alex Marquez will remain with the Marc VDS squad in the middleweight class for 2018, after signing an extension to his deal that will see him partner fellow Spaniard Joan Mir as...

Moto3: McPhee back on form

28 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee back on form

British Talent Honda rider John McPhee has leaped back into form at the Dutch TT after a series of disappointing races for the Scottish racer, bouncing back at Assen on Sunday to take a strong third...

MotoGP: Crutchlow helped out by Assen rain

28 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow helped out by Assen rain

Cal Crutchlow has admitted that his incredible performance at the Dutch TT to charge through the field in the closing stages of the race was aided by the arrival of the rain, after the LCR Honda rider...

MotoGP: Miller moves to secure future

28 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Miller moves to secure future

Marc VDS Honda rider Jack Miller has taken an important step towards securing his future with both team and manufacturer for 2018 and beyond at the Dutch TT after delivering a result second only to...

Bike Fest Live rolls into Silverstone for the British GP

28 June 2017 by MCN News

Bike Fest Live rolls into Silverstone for the British GP

Advertisement promotion For one long weekend every year Silverstone becomes the most magical place in England as the MotoGP circus sets up camp for the Octo British Grand Prix. And this year you can really immerse yourself...

Circuit of Wales bosses ‘deciding on next course of action’

27 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Circuit of Wales bosses ‘deciding on next course of action’

Circuit of Wales chief executive Martin Whittaker says he and his team are considering their next course of action after the Welsh Government today rejected their latest funding proposal and admitted...

MotoGP: Marquez ‘opted for the safe option’

27 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez ‘opted for the safe option’

Marc Marquez has admitted that he opted for the safe option during Sunday’s Dutch TT to come home safe on the podium, by refusing to take the same risks as Valentino Rossi and Danilo Petrucci as they...

Welsh Government end involvement in Circuit of Wales

27 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Welsh Government end involvement in Circuit of Wales

Welsh Government minister for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates has announced that his department has rejected the Circuit of Wales’ latest submission for government funding, in a move that marks...

MotoGP: Iannone struggles with ‘dramatically changing’ GSX-RR

27 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone struggles with ‘dramatically changing’ GSX-RR

Andrea Iannone has come away from the Dutch TT disappointed with his performances on the factory Suzuki machine after only just making it home inside the top ten thanks to rapidly changing conditions...

MotoGP: Rossi racing for the feeling of victory

26 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi racing for the feeling of victory

Valentino Rossi has admitted that the feeling of success is what keeps him motivated to race, after taking an incredible victory in yesterday’s Dutch TT at Assen, breaking a year-long drought of wins...

MotoGP: Learning experience for Lowes despite crash

26 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Learning experience for Lowes despite crash

Sam Lowes says that Sunday’s Dutch TT was an important race for him despite crashing out of the battle for points at the Assen circuit, with the opportunity to dice with opponents helpful for the...

RBR: Ups and downs for Skinner and Jones in Assen

26 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

RBR: Ups and downs for Skinner and Jones in Assen

Red Bull Rookies Cup Brits Rory Skinner and Dan Jones had a weekend of ups and downs at the Dutch round of the one-make series to come away with mixed emotions from the second round of the...

MotoGP: ‘Complicated’ race for championship leader Dovizioso

26 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Complicated’ race for championship leader Dovizioso

Andrea Dovizioso has admitted that yesterday’s Dutch TT at Assen was a ‘complicated’ race for the factory Ducati rider, after being forced to pick his way through the field and to battle with slippery...

Moto2: Morbidelli rocks to dramatic Assen win

25 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli rocks to dramatic Assen win

2018 MotoGP graduate Franco Morbidelli has shown exactly why he’s the first of the middleweight class to be confirmed as moving up to MotoGP next year after a careful performance in tricky conditions...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi breaks year-long drought with stunning Assen win

25 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi breaks year-long drought with stunning Assen win

Valentino Rossi has launched himself right back into 2017 MotoGP title contention with a stunning victory at the Dutch TT in Assen, holding off a sustained challenge from fellow Italian Danilo...

Moto3: Canet wins, McPhee third in frantic Assen battle

25 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canet wins, McPhee third in frantic Assen battle

Aron Canet has taken victory in the Moto3 class at the Dutch TT after a frantic last lap that saw the running order shook up, with Romano Fenati coming home in second and British Talent Team rider...