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: Incredible Zarco takes debut pole position

24 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Incredible Zarco takes debut pole position

MotoGP rookie Johann Zarco has taken an incredible debut pole position in tricky conditions at the Dutch TT, holding off a late charge from reigning world champion Marc Marquez to take the top spot...

Moto3: Martin takes fifth successive pole position

24 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin takes fifth successive pole position

Jorge Martin has taken his fifth successive pole position in the Moto3 class at the Dutch TT, dashing the hopes of local favourite Bo Bendsneyder in the rain-struck qualifying session at Assen with an...

MotoGP: Viñales romps to top spot in Assen

23 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales romps to top spot in Assen

Maverick Viñales has dominated the opening day of MotoGP action at the Dutch TT< taking the top spot at Assen by 0.4 seconds as he dipped over half a second under the lap record despite cool track...

Moto2: Morbidelli draws first blood in the Netherlands

23 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli draws first blood in the Netherlands

Marc VDS rider Franco Morbidelli struck first at the TT Circuit Assen, in the top five in free practice one before moving up the timesheets in the afternoon to end the day as Friday’s fastest. 2016...

Moto3: Martin makes the most of the rain to finish ahead

23 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin makes the most of the rain to finish ahead

Jorge Martin has made the most of the rain at Assen to finish top of today’s free practice sessions, coming out ahead of Aron Canet and Joan Mir by making the most of some late rain in free practice...

Video: Rins back in Assen action

23 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Rins back in Assen action

Suzuki MotoGP rider Alex Rins will return to the series this weekend at the Dutch TT at Assen, finally fully fit after suffering a broken wrist in only his third race of his rookie career at Texas...

MotoGP: Crutchlow delighted with new HRC deal

23 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow delighted with new HRC deal

Double MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow says he’s delighted with the terms and conditions of his new HRC contract direct with the factory in Japan that will see him remain with them for another two...

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales decision due on Tuesday

23 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales decision due on Tuesday

A decision that should decide the fate of the Circuit of Wales project will be made on Tuesday, according to Welsh economy and infrastructure secretary Ken Skates in a statement that he made to the...

MotoGP: Crutchlow signs new two-year HRC deal

21 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow signs new two-year HRC deal

Cal Crutchlow will remain in MotoGP for the 2018 and 2019 seasons after signing a two-year extension to his contract ahead of this weekend’s eighth round of the 2017 season at the Dutch TT in...

MotoGP: Zarco ready even if ‘weather complicates matters’ at Assen

20 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Zarco ready even if ‘weather complicates matters’ at Assen

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo of Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger say they’re set for this weekend’s MotoGP action at the TT Circuit Assen, as the championship heads to the Netherlands and a round...

MotoGP: How will the F1 calendar affect us?

20 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: How will the F1 calendar affect us?

With the 2018 Formula One calendar announced surprisingly early this year – a whole three months before the 2017 version was unveiled last September – as always, it may well have repercussions for the...

MotoGP: Dovizioso doubles up in Barcelona

11 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovizioso doubles up in Barcelona

Andrea Dovizioso has delivered a spectacular performance in the Catalan Grand Prix to take his second win in a week, adding to his victory last time out in Mugello by taking the victory from Marc...

Moto2: Marquez takes dominating home victory

11 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Marquez takes dominating home victory

Alex Marquez has taken a dominant home victory in the Moto2 class at the Catalan Grand Prix, leading from start to finish and taking victory by four seconds, never looking in any doubt of converting...

Moto3: Mir sets up textbook last corner win at Montmelò

11 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir sets up textbook last corner win at Montmelò

Joan Mir has taken a textbook victory over Romano Fenati and Jorge Martin at the Catalan Grand Prix, after setting up a textbook overtake through the Montmelò circuit’s final chicane to snatch the...

Moto2: Marquez takes the honours in home qualifying

10 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Marquez takes the honours in home qualifying

Alex Marquez has taken the Moto2 qualifying honours in his home race, securing pole position for tomorrow’s Catalan Grand Prix by upping the ante on Italian Grand Prix winner Mattia Pasini to beat him...

MotoGP: Pedrosa takes Catalan pole position from Lorenzo

10 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa takes Catalan pole position from Lorenzo

Dani Pedrosa has taken pole position for tomorrow’s Catalan Grand Prix at Barcelona’s Montmelò circuit, setting a blistering pace in extremely hot conditions to take the first starting position for...

Moto3: Martin claims fourth consecutive pole position

10 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin claims fourth consecutive pole position

Jorge Martin has claimed his fourth consecutive pole position of the 2017 Moto3 season, taking the top spot by a huge 0.6 seconds at the Montmelò circuit, ahead of fellow Spaniards Aron Canet and...

MotoGP: Embarrassed Miller laughs off practice black flag

10 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Embarrassed Miller laughs off practice black flag

An embarrassed Jack Miller has laughed off getting black flagged out of yesterday’s free practice one session for the Catalan Grand Prix, after the Marc VDS rider forgot about changes to the circuit...

MotoGP: Barcelona reverts to 2016 layout at final corner

10 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Barcelona reverts to 2016 layout at final corner

This weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix will revert to the 2016 layout instead of the new chicane installed for 2017, after an embarrassing u-turn for the race organisers following the first day of action...

Moto2: Morbidelli back in control at Montmelò

09 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli back in control at Montmelò

Franco Morbidelli has resumed his usual position at the top of the Moto2 time sheets at the Montmelò circuit, ending the day ahead of his Marc VDS teammate Alex Marquez on the opening day of practice...

MotoGP: Marquez wins battle of the Spaniards from Lorenzo

09 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez wins battle of the Spaniards from Lorenzo

Marc Marquez has won the battle of the Spaniards on the first day of action at the Catalan Grand Prix by denying the top spot to Ducati rival Jorge Lorenzo by nearly half a second, with a surprise...

Moto3: Canet on top at home

09 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canet on top at home

Aron Canet has taken the top spot on the opening day of Moto3 action at the Catalan Grand Prix, finishing well clear of the morning’s fastest man Romano Fenati. Fenati led the early session in damp...

Storm the track at this year’s British MotoGP

09 June 2017 by Ped Baker

Storm the track at this year’s British MotoGP

This year’s MotoGP championship is already turning into one of the most hard-fought seasons of recent years, with Rossi, Viñales, Marquez and Pedrosa all battling at the sharp end, while newcomer...

MotoGP: Fantastic end to tough day for winner Dovi

05 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Fantastic end to tough day for winner Dovi

Andrea Dovizioso has admitted that his race win in yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix was the perfect end to a difficult day for the Italian, worrying in the morning that he might not even make the race...

MotoGP: Rossi relieved after tough home race

05 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi relieved after tough home race

Valentino Rossi has come away form his home race at the Italian Grand Prix pleased to have made important damage limitation to his 2017 title hopes only a week after leaving himself seriously enough...

MotoGP: Dovizioso takes stunning home win in Mugello

04 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovizioso takes stunning home win in Mugello

Andrea Dovizioso has taken an absolutely stunning – and well-deserved – home victory in front of Ducati’s adoring fans in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, after holding off the attentions of both...

Moto3: Migno takes first win in front of home crowd

04 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Migno takes first win in front of home crowd

Andrea Migno has taken his first Moto3 win in front of a jam packed home crowd at the Italian Grand Prix, coming out on top of an incredible race-long battle to take the top spot for the Team Sky VR46...

Moto2: Morbidelli beats Marquez in Marc VDS battle

03 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli beats Marquez in Marc VDS battle

Franco Morbidelli has won the latest instalment of the Marc VDS Moto2 battle over teammate Alex Marquez by taking pole position for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, as the pair look set to...

Moto3: McPhee takes pole after Martin penalised

03 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee takes pole after Martin penalised

John McPhee will start tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello from pole position after taking over the top spot when fastest man Jorge Martin was penalised for slow riding during the day’s earlier...

MotoGP: Viñales and Rossi take Yamaha one-two

03 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales and Rossi take Yamaha one-two

Movistar Yamaha duo Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi have taken a one-two for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, with the Spaniard setting an incredible lap seemingly from nowhere to take...

Moto3: Martin pips McPhee in final seconds of qualifying

03 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin pips McPhee in final seconds of qualifying

Jorge Martin has just piped British Talent Cup Honda rider John McPhee in the final seconds of today’s Moto3 qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, by taking the top spot on his final lap of the...

MotoGP: Rossi unveils Mugello special helmet design

03 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi unveils Mugello special helmet design

Valentino Rossi has unveiled his now-traditional special edition helmet for his home race at Mugello this weekend, going with a football theme for the one-off helmet for the Italian Grand Prix to pay...

Moto2: Marquez hit back at teammate Morbidelli

02 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Marquez hit back at teammate Morbidelli

Alex Marquez has hit back at Marc VDS Moto2 teammate Franco Morbidelli on the Italian’s home soil to end the opening day of Moto2 action at the Italian Grand Prix on top, after Morbidelli finished...

MotoGP: Crutchlow ruins the Ducati party at Mugello

02 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow ruins the Ducati party at Mugello

Cal Crutchlow has ruined the Ducati party at their home Italian Grand Prix by ending the first day of action at Mugello fastest overall ahead on the LCR Honda ahead of the factory Ducati of Andrea...

Moto3: Italians dominate on opening day at Mugello

02 June 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Italians dominate on opening day at Mugello

The Italians have dominated on the opening day of their home Grand Prix at Mugello, as Fabio Di Giannantonio took the top spot in the first Moto3 practice sessions from Nicolo Bulega and Lorenzo Dalla...

MotoGP: Rossi still ‘in severe pain’ after motocross crash

31 May 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi still ‘in severe pain’ after motocross crash

Movistar Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi has admitted that he’s still ‘in severe pain’ as he goes into his home race this weekend at Mugello still suffering the effects of a motocross crash that saw him...