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

Gallery: Yamaha pull the covers off 2017 MotoGP machine

27 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Gallery: Yamaha pull the covers off 2017 MotoGP machine

With Movistar Yamaha pulling to covers off their 2017 MotoGP machine last week in Madrid, we went up close and personal for a look at the machines that Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales will...

MotoGP: Lorenzo not thinking of Rossi’s Ducati record

26 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo not thinking of Rossi’s Ducati record

Jorge Lorenzo says that he’s not concentrating on any of Valentino Rossi’s successes or failures at Ducati as he prepares to embark on his own adventure with the Italian manufacturer after a hugely...

MotoGP: Dorna happy with Circuit of Wales situation

26 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dorna happy with Circuit of Wales situation

MotoGP organisers Dorna say they’re happy with the current situation they enjoy with the Circuit of Wales project despite construction at the venue still not getting underway. The project are the...

MotoGP: Yamaha praise Viñales for technical skills

26 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Yamaha praise Viñales for technical skills

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team have been full of praise for new signing Maverick Viñales after their first experiences of working with the 21-year-old, with the youngster’s feedback skills to his new...

MotoGP: Government give Circuit of Wales two-week deadline

26 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Government give Circuit of Wales two-week deadline

Welsh Government Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates has given the Heads of the Valley Development Company, the organisation behind the Circuit of Wales project, a two-week...

MotoGP: Baz ready for season with ‘brand new foot’

25 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Avintia Ducati rider Loris Baz says he’s ready to get the 2017 MotoGP season underway, following an injury-hit 2016 that saw him miss many races and forced him into multiple surgeries to repair damage...

MotoGP: Rossi impressed with new bike potential

25 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi impressed with new bike potential

Valentino Rossi says he’s now much more upbeat about the potential of the 2017 Yamaha M1 for the coming season, finally coming to terms with the bike’s abilities in a private test in Sepang after the...

MotoGP: British Talent Cup a go for 2018

25 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: British Talent Cup a go for 2018

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has confirmed that their new British Talent Cup, a one-make series designed at bringing young Talent from the UK up through the ranks to the premiere class, will be a go...

MotoGP: Crutchlow wins prestigious Torrens Trophy

24 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow wins prestigious Torrens Trophy

Double MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow has been awarded the prestigious Torrens Trophy, the Royal Automobile Club’s award for the promotion of motorcycling in the United Kingdom. Awarded only nine...

Gallery: Up close and personal with the Ducati GP17

24 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Gallery: Up close and personal with the Ducati GP17

With Ducati pulling to covers off their 2017 MotoGP machine last week at their Bolgona factory, we went up close and personal for a look at the machines that new signing Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea...

MotoGP: Rossi and Viñales get rave reception in Indonesia

24 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi and Viñales get rave reception in Indonesia

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP racer Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales have received a rave reception in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, when the two visited this week to help unveil Yamaha’s new...

MotoGP: 2017 calendar finally fully confirmed

24 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: 2017 calendar finally fully confirmed

The 2017 MotoGP calendar has finally been fully confirmed, after the last races still marked as provisional have finally been now confirmed. The calendar was first issued as far back as September, but...

MotoGP: Red Bull Ring voted best round of 2016 season

23 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Red Bull Ring voted best round of 2016 season

MotoGP newcomers the Red Bull Ring, home of the first Austrian Grand Prix in twenty years in 2016, has been voted the best round of the season in it’s inaugural year on the calendar. Awarded for...

Video: Rossi 'officially' meets new teammate Viñales

20 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Rossi 'officially' meets new teammate Viñales

They might be old acquaintances on and off the track, but the Movistar Yamaha team have ‘officially’ introduced new teammates Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales, in a season teaser clip shown...

MotoGP: Lorenzo appears in red as Ducati reveal 2017 machines

20 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo appears in red as Ducati reveal 2017 machines

Jorge Lorenzo has made his first official appearance in Ducati red, as he and 2017 MotoGP teammate Andrea Dovizioso pulled the covers off the colours that they will campaign in the upcoming...

Video: Yamaha unveil 2017 MotoGP machine

20 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Yamaha unveil 2017 MotoGP machine

Yesterday in Madrid, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales pulled the covers off their 2017 Yamaha M1 MotoGP machine – and now the Japanese firm has given us an up-close look at the machine in all its...

MotoGP: Lorenzo unveiled in Ducati colours live

20 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo unveiled in Ducati colours live

Today sees Jorge Lorenzo’s first appearance in Ducati red, as he and teammate Andrea Dovizioso pull the covers off their new bikes at their Bologna headquarters – and you can watch the whole thing...

MotoGP: Yamaha unveil 2017 Movistar colours in Madrid

19 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Yamaha unveil 2017 Movistar colours in Madrid

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team of Valentino Rossi and new signing Maverick Viñales have pulled the covers off their 2017 M1 colours in a ceremony at the Spanish television company’s Madrid...

Dorna aiming to launch British Talent Cup

19 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Dorna aiming to launch British Talent Cup

MotoGP organisers Dorna have confirmed that they’re considering setting up a British Talent Cup series, aimed at developing young talent from the British Isles and headed by hugely experienced rider,...

MotoGP: Watch Rossi and Viñales unveil their 2017 Yamahas live

19 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Watch Rossi and Viñales unveil their 2017 Yamahas live

Today sees the first MotoGP team launch of the 2017 season, as Mavericnk Viñales and Valentino Rossi pull the covers off their Movistar Yamahas at the firm’s Madrid headquarters. The launch will be...

MotoGP: Barracuda sponsorship adds more red at Monster Yamaha Tech 3

17 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Barracuda sponsorship adds more red at Monster Yamaha Tech 3

The addition of aftermarket parts company Barracuda to the stable of sponsors at the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad has added a splash of colour to the team’s livery, with the new red logo appearing...

MotoGP: Rookie Rins out to beat Viñales’ record

17 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rookie Rins out to beat Viñales’ record

Suzuki’s MotoGP rookie Alex Rins has given himself a lofty target for his first season with the factory come the start of the championship in March – to beat the rookie record of the rider he...

MotoGP: Marquez takes to the slopes… On an RC213V

14 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez takes to the slopes… On an RC213V

While many in the MotoGP paddock re quick to take to the ski slopes for some winter R&R during the off-season, Marc Marquez tried out something slightly different this week for a Red Bull PR...

MotoGP: Repsol Honda switch to SC-Project exhausts for 2017

11 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Repsol Honda switch to SC-Project exhausts for 2017

The Repsol Honda squad of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa will switch from Termignoni to SC-Project exhausts for the 2017 season, after signing a new technical partnership with the Italian...

MotoGP: Viñales makes first appearance in Yamaha colours

10 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales makes first appearance in Yamaha colours

Officially a Yamaha rider since the start of his new contract with the Japanese manufacturer took effect on Janaury 1st, Maverick Viñales has taken time out of a day’s motocross riding to make his...

Moto2: Triumph to replace Honda as engine supplier from 2019

09 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Triumph to replace Honda as engine supplier from 2019

British manufacturer Triumph are strongly rumoured to be set to take over from Honda as the official engine supplier of MotoGP’s intermediate Moto2 class from the 2019 season onwards, in a stunning...

MotoGP: Hungaroring hoping to return to Grand Prix calendar

06 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Hungaroring hoping to return to Grand Prix calendar

Hungary’s Hungaroring has set itself out to become one of a number of circuits to host MotoGP in the near future, with Chief Executive Officer Zsolt Gyulay telling local TV that he hopes to see the...

MotoGP: Espargaró fired up for KTM challenge

05 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Espargaró fired up for KTM challenge

KTM new signing Pol Espargaró says he’s fired up to get the new MotoGP season underway after coming away from his first outing on the Austrian bike at the end-of-season Valencia test positive about...

MotoGP: Lorenzo impressed with Ducati potential

04 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo impressed with Ducati potential

New Ducati MotoGP signing Jorge Lorenzo has admitted to MCN that he was immediately impressed by the potential of the GP17 machine that he will ride for the 2017 MotoGP season after good first...

MotoGP: Lorenzo and Rossi hoping to bury the hatchet

03 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo and Rossi hoping to bury the hatchet

Ex-teammates Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino have both told MCN that they’re hoping for an easier relationship between them going forwards, now that the five-time world champion has left Yamaha for Ducati...

MotoGP: Rossi confidante Uccio ‘the atmosphere in the team is fantastic’

02 January 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi confidante Uccio ‘the atmosphere in the team is fantastic’

With long-time teammate and nemesis in the Movistar Yamaha garage Jorge Lorenzo departed from Valentino Rossi’s side for the 2017 MotoGP season, the nine-time world champion may well have jumped out...

MotoGP: Yamaha pay tribute to Lorenzo on eve of Ducati departure

31 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Yamaha pay tribute to Lorenzo on eve of Ducati departure

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team have paid tribute to departing racer Jorge Lorenzo on the eve of his move to Ducati, publishing an infographic that shows just how impressive the Spaniard’s nine-year...

MCN's MotoGP rider of the year: 1st Marc Marquez

30 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MCN's MotoGP rider of the year: 1st Marc Marquez

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most in the MotoGP World Championship during the 2017 season. 1st – Marc Marquez Best result: 1st Wins: 5 Podiums: 12 Championship...

Rossi: "Pedrosa would have been an easier team-mate!"

30 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

Rossi: "Pedrosa would have been an easier team-mate!"

Valentino Rossi is getting ready to risk everything in 2017 in a bid to win a tenth world title – and he’s glad to be losing Jorge Lorenzo as a team-mate in the process. But the hugely successful and...

Is Cal Crutchlow your MCN Man of the Year?

29 December 2016 by Oli Rushby

Is Cal Crutchlow your MCN Man of the Year?

Each year, we award the motorcycle racer you think has most impressed with their results from across the year with the MCN Man of the Year trophy. With voting for the 2016 Man of the Year now open, we...

MCN's MotoGP rider of the year: 2nd Valentino Rossi

27 December 2016 by Simon Patterson

MCN's MotoGP rider of the year: 2nd Valentino Rossi

MCN’s Sports Desk rank the five riders who have impressed them most in the MotoGP World Championship during the 2017 season. 2nd – Valentino Rossi Best result: 1st Wins: 2 Podiums: 10 Championship...