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: High-flying Folger out to build on Argentina

18 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: High-flying Folger out to build on Argentina

High-flying MotoGP rookie Jonas Folger says he’s out to build on his strong performance at the Argentinian Grand Prix as the 2017 MotoGP series moves to the third round of the championship at Texas’...

MotoGP: Marquez rueing not arriving in Texas ‘in a better position’

18 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez rueing not arriving in Texas ‘in a better position’

Reigning MotoGP world champion marc Marquez says he’s rueing not arriving at this weekend’s Texan Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in a better position, after a difficult start to the 2017...

MotoGP: Shareholders take billion Euro payday from promoter Dorna

17 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Shareholders take billion Euro payday from promoter Dorna

Shareholders in MotoGP and World Superbike’s organising body Dorna are set to take a payday worth nearly a billion Euros from the company, after using a dividend recapitalisation to take a profit...

Moto2: Binder to miss Austin after surgery on loose plate

17 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Binder to miss Austin after surgery on loose plate

Reigning Moto3 world champion Brad Binder will miss this weekend’s American Grand Prix in Texas after undergoing surgery to reattach a plate on his left forearm bone that came loose during last...

MotoGP: Crutchlow: ‘I could have fought with Mav

16 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow: ‘I could have fought with Mav

Cal Crutchlow has come away from Sunday’s Argentinian Grand Prix pleased to have finally returned to the podium after a series of disastrous results – but disappointed that he wasn’t able to challenge...

MotoGP: Baz disappointed with 11th in Argentina

16 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Baz disappointed with 11th in Argentina

Loris Baz has come away from the second race of the 2017 MotoGP season disappointed by 11th place, after evasive action on the opening lap of the Argentine Grand prix cost him what he believes was the...

MotoGP: Aspar Ducati pair earn their keep

15 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aspar Ducati pair earn their keep

The Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati pair of Karel Abraham and Alvaro Bautista have come away from their second race together as teammates having made an impressive mark on the series so far, after the Czech...

MotoGP: Marquez adamant Viñales pressure didn’t cause fall

15 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez adamant Viñales pressure didn’t cause fall

Marc Marquez has left the second round of the 2017 MotoGP world championship in a new place, finding himself on the back foot and no longer the boy wonder of the class for perhaps the first time in...

MotoGP: Lorenzo upbeat despite disaster weekend

14 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo upbeat despite disaster weekend

Jorge Lorenzo has come away surprisingly positive from what looks on paper to be a disastrous weekend for the new Ducati rider, after qualifying a distant 16th, crashing out of the race in the first...

MotoGP: Jarvis: I thought I had signed a champion

14 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Jarvis: I thought I had signed a champion

Yamaha MotoGP boss Lin Jarvis has told MCN that while he knew that Maverick Viñales had potential last year when he signed the young Spaniard to replace three-time champion Jorge Lorenzo – but...

MotoGP: Tyre controversy makes mountain out of a molehill

14 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Tyre controversy makes mountain out of a molehill

The Argentinian Grand Prix weekend saw controversy erupt in the paddock after a move by Michelin to bring a new type of front profile tyre was turned from a molehill into a mountain over allegations...

MotoGP: Dovi lays lion’s share of blame on Petrucci not Espargaró

13 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi lays lion’s share of blame on Petrucci not Espargaró

History has repeated itself for the luckless Andrea Dovizioso, after he was torpedoed off his bike during Sunday’s Argentine Grand Prix for the second year in a row. T-boned in 2016 by then-teammate...

Moto3: Canny McPhee learning from McWill

13 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canny McPhee learning from McWill

Moto3 ace John McPhee says he’s doing all he can to learn from British Talent Team mentor and former Grand Prix winner Jeremy McPhee – something reflected in Sunday’s Argentine Grand Prix result when...

MotoGP: Monster Yamaha duo make for fast learners

13 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Monster Yamaha duo make for fast learners

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie duo of Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger have once again proven why the pair deserve to be in the premiere class, after backing up strong performances at Qatar with a...

MotoGP: Jarvis sheds light on Rossi’s Sunday speed

13 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Jarvis sheds light on Rossi’s Sunday speed

Valentino Rossi has signed off on his incredible 350th Grand Prix start by once again delivering one of his traditional Sunday miracles to turn a poor weekend of practice and qualifying at the...

MotoGP: Crutchlow delighted with podium return

10 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow delighted with podium return

Cal Crutchlow has finally retuned to the podium for the first time since he won the Australian Grand Prix at the tail end of the 2016 season, taking a strong third place in yesterday’s Argentinian...

MotoGP: Rossi celebrates 350th race with podium visit

10 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi celebrates 350th race with podium visit

Valentino Rossi says that he felt even more pressure to succeed in yesterday’s Argentinian Grand Prix as he lined up for an incredible 350th Grand Prix start, a record that no one else even comes...

MotoGP: Vinales wins, Rossi and Crutchlow podium, Marquez falls

09 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Vinales wins, Rossi and Crutchlow podium, Marquez falls

Maverick Viñales has displayed his second masterclass of the 2017 MotoGP season to take a superb victory in the Argentinian Grand Prix, after main title rival Marc Marquez crashed out of contention...

Moto2: Morbidelli takes the win as Marquez crashes out

09 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli takes the win as Marquez crashes out

Franco Morbidelli has taken his second win in two rounds of the 2017 Moto2 championship in Argentina, after defending his position from teammate Alex Marquez until the Spaniard made a mistake with...

Moto3: Mir takes second win as McPhee secures another podium

09 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir takes second win as McPhee secures another podium

Joan Mir has taken his second win of the 2017 MotoGP season from two starts, after holding off the attentions of John McPhee and Jorge Martin for a repeat performance of the podium from last weekend’s...

Moto2: Oliveira smiling after Argentinian pole position

08 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Oliveira smiling after Argentinian pole position

Red Bull KTM rider Miguel Oliveira will start only his second Grand Prix on brand new KTM machinery from pole position, after making the most of challenging conditions to take the top spot for...

MotoGP: Marquez takes wet pole from Abraham and Crutchlow

08 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez takes wet pole from Abraham and Crutchlow

Marc Marquez will start tomorrow’s Argentinian Grand Prix from pole position after coming out top of a wet qualifying session – but the real shock of the session was Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati rider...

Video: Marquez lucky to escape practice start close call

08 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Marquez lucky to escape practice start close call

Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez has been lucky to escape a huge moment during free practice four for the Argentinian Grand Prix, after losing control of his RC213V during a practice start at the end...

Moto3: Perfect timing from McPhee delivers pole position

08 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Perfect timing from McPhee delivers pole position

British Talent Team Honda rider John McPhee will start tomorrow’s Argentinian Grand Prix from pole position, after timing his fast lap to perfection as rain began to fall in the final stages of the...

Moto2: Morbidelli on top in Argentina

07 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli on top in Argentina

Qatar Grand Prix winner Franco Morbidelli has topped the opening day of Moto2 action in Argentina by finishing the day 0.15 ahead of Marcel Schrotter at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, with Takaaki...

Moto3: Qatar winner Mir maintains his streak

07 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Qatar winner Mir maintains his streak

Qatar Moto3 Grand prix winner Joan Mir has maintained his streak on the first day of the Argentinian Grand Prix, topping the combined times at Termas de Rio Hondo to finish over half a second ahead of...

MotoGP: Viñales stamps authority on day one in Argentina

07 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales stamps authority on day one in Argentina

Maverick Viñales has continued to stamp his authority on the 2017 MotoGP world championship at the Argentinian Grand Prix, finishing the first day of action well clear at the top of the time sheets...

MotoGP: Mandatory practice laps on hard rear tyre

07 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Mandatory practice laps on hard rear tyre

MotoGP organisers Dorna have confirmed that this year’s field will be forced to complete five timed laps on Michelin’s hard rear tyre during today’s practice sessions at the Termas de Rio Hondo...

MotoGP: Mileage important for Lorenzo in Argentina

06 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Mileage important for Lorenzo in Argentina

Ducati MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo says that the key thing this weekend is to get more mileage under his belt as he continues to adapt to the Desmosedici machine after making the switch from Yamaha...

MotoGP: More progress planned for Miller in Argentina

05 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: More progress planned for Miller in Argentina

Marc VDS Honda rider Jack Miller says the name of the game at this weekend’s Argentinean Grand Prix is more improvement, after turning a strong showing in preseason testing into his best ever dry...

MotoGP: Viñales on a high but work to do for Rossi

05 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales on a high but work to do for Rossi

Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales goes into this weekend’s second round of the 2017 MotoGP world championship in the best possible position after a dominant win on his first outing on the bike...

MotoGP: KTM out to challenge for title by 2020

04 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: KTM out to challenge for title by 2020

Red Bull KTM racer Pol Espargaró says that his new Austrian team have made it quite clear to him that their goal in the premiere class is to be challenging for the MotoGP title in only three years’...

MotoGP: Zarco out to make amends in Argentina

04 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Zarco out to make amends in Argentina

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Johann Zarco is out to make amends at this weekend’s Argentinian Grand Prix, after the double Moto2 world champion crashed out of his first trace in the premiere class last...

MotoGP: Michelin ‘very focused’ on Argentinian GP

04 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Michelin ‘very focused’ on Argentinian GP

MotoGP sole tyre manufacturer Michelin have admitted that they’re going into this weekend’s Argentinian Grand Prix ‘very focused’ on the job at hand, after the issues that they suffered last year at...

MotoGP: Tyre life key for Marquez in Argentina

03 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Tyre life key for Marquez in Argentina

Marc Marquez says that the key to this weekend’s second round of the 2017 MotoGP world championship will be tyre life, as he prepares to take the fight to Maverick Viñales after finishing the opening...

MotoGP: ‘Difficult to know what to expect’ in Argentina for Smith and KTM

03 April 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Difficult to know what to expect’ in Argentina for Smith and KTM

Red Bull KTM rider Bradley Smith says it’s hard to know what to expect this weekend when he and teammate Pol Espargaró make their debut on the RC16 machine at Argentina’s Termas de Rio Hondo...