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 Picture Special: Lorenzo makes Ducati debut in Valencia

15 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP Picture Special: Lorenzo makes Ducati debut in Valencia

Two days after the end of the 2016 MotoGP season, Jorge Lorenzo has swapped his blue Movistar Yamaha leathers for a black-testing set as he joins Ducati for the first time. Remarkably, despite colder...

MotoGP: Watch the 2016 prizegiving

15 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Watch the 2016 prizegiving

On Sunday night only hours after concluding the 2016 MotoGP season, the sport’s best and brightest gathered for a black-tie awards ceremony to see this year’s titles and honours handed out. Hosted by...

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales reportedly loses £1.2 million at Silverstone

14 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales reportedly loses £1.2 million at Silverstone

The beleaguered Circuit of Wales has been hit by yet more bad news, after leaks from inside the project were reported to show that running the British Grand Prix at Silverstone instead of the...

MotoGP: Lorenzo bids farewell to Yamaha with Valencia masterclass

13 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo bids farewell to Yamaha with Valencia masterclass

Jorge Lorenzo enjoyed the perfect end to his Yamaha career with a stunning lights to flag victory in the final race at Valencia. Having obliterated the outright lap record to take pole on Saturday,...

Moto2: Champion Zarco signs off with victory

13 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Champion Zarco signs off with victory

Johann Zarco brought an end to his Moto2 career with a stunning victory in Valencia this afternoon. The double World Champion fought hard with Italian Franco Morbidelli in the early stages of the 27...

Moto3: Binder bounces back to end on a high

13 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Binder bounces back to end on a high

Brad Binder ended his dominant Moto3 season in style with a dramatic victory in the Moto3 race in Valencia. An issue in the early stages left the World Champion down in 22nd place but another...

MotoGP: Marquez: 'First laps are important'

12 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez: 'First laps are important'

Marc Marquez has said he will need to be particularly fast in the opening of tomorrow’s race if he’s any chance of beating the dominant Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo has decimated the opposition so far this...

Moto2: Zarco takes final Moto2 pole by 0.006 seconds

12 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Zarco takes final Moto2 pole by 0.006 seconds

Johann Zarco gave himself the best chance of bowing out of the Moto2 class in style tomorrow by topping this afternoon’s ultra-close qualifying session to take pole by 0.006 seconds. The World...

MotoGP: Crutchlow slams Bradl after qualifying incident

12 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow slams Bradl after qualifying incident

Cal Crutchlow has slammed Aprilia rider Stefan Bradl, after accusing the German of cruising on the racing line and interfering with his fast lap during today’s qualifying one at the Valencian Grand...

Moto3: Canet steals debut pole at the flag

12 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Canet steals debut pole at the flag

Moto3 rookie Aron Canet has stolen his first ever world championship pole position from reigning champion Brad Binder right at the last possible opportunity of his debut season, sneaking in a fast lap...

MotoGP: Lorenzo decimates outright lap record for pole

12 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo decimates outright lap record for pole

Jorge Lorenzo will start tomorrow’s Valencian Grand Prix from pole position after obliterating the circuit outright lap record in qualifying. The Mallorcan’s time of 1’29.401 was 0.6 seconds quicker...

MotoGP: Marquez moves to the top in FP3

12 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez moves to the top in FP3

Marc Marquez took control as the final timed practice session got underway in Valencia to move ahead of the combined timesheets ahead of qualifying. The 2016 World Champion edged closer to the...

Moto2: Onboard at Valencia with Johann Zarco

12 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Onboard at Valencia with Johann Zarco

There’s no better way to get a sensation of how bumpy race circuits can be, how stiff a prototype chassis is or fast world champions are than to go onboard with them, but Ajo Motorsport have given us...

MotoGP: Rossi laughs off free practice mechanical

11 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi laughs off free practice mechanical

Valentino Rossi has laughed off a free practice one mechanical problem this morning, joking that the problem that saw him make an unusual return to the paddock was all a mechanic’s fault! “My mechanic...

Moto3: Biaggi to head up Mahindra CIV team

11 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Biaggi to head up Mahindra CIV team

Four time 250cc Grand Prix champion Max Biaggi will head up a new Mahindra-supported Moto3 team in the Italian CIV Championship next year. Biaggi will run the team in the Italian series and enter...

Moto2: Morbidelli fastest as Kent finds form

11 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli fastest as Kent finds form

Franco Morbidelli has laid down the gauntlet to his Moto2 rivals as he edges closer to his goal of finishing out the 2016 season with a maiden win, topping the opening day of Moto2 action at Valencia...

Moto3: Battered Bastianini tops first day

11 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Battered Bastianini tops first day

A battered and bruised Enea Bastianini has topped the first day of Moto3 action at the final race of the 2016 season, bouncing back both form a vertebrae injury sustained in Australia two races ago...

MotoGP: Kallio: "The gap to the front was a big surprise for us"

11 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Kallio: "The gap to the front was a big surprise for us"

Mika Kallio and the KTM Factory Racing team were left surprised at their lack of pace as the RC16 made its MotoGP debut at Valencia today. The Finn ended the day with a fastest lap of 1’33.574, some...

MotoGP: Lorenzo dominates opening day in Valencia

11 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo dominates opening day in Valencia

Jorge Lorenzo continued his dominance of the opening day at Valencia to top the afternoon’s second practice session from Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales. Lorenzo’s time of 1’30.463, almost a second...

MotoGP: Lorenzo on top and under lap record

11 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo on top and under lap record

Jorge Lorenzo opened proceedings for the final round of the 2016 MotoGP season with dominant pace in first practice at Valencia. Preparing for his last race as a Yamaha rider, Lorenzo was 0.4 seconds...

Moto2: Rossi confirms Silverstone sensation Manzi alongside Bagnaia

10 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Rossi confirms Silverstone sensation Manzi alongside Bagnaia

Valentino Rossi’s Team Sky VR46 team have confirmed paddock speculation that Silverstone wildcard sensation Stefano Manzi as joining double Moto3 race winner Francesco Bagnaia at the squad on Kalex...

MotoGP: Lorenzo: 'Rossi and I can profit from what we've learned from each other'

10 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo: 'Rossi and I can profit from what we've learned from each other'

Jorge Lorenzo has said he believes he and soon-to-be-former team-mate Valentino Rossi will be able to profit from the things they have learned from and about each-other more as they head their...

MotoGP: Pedrosa further quashes retirement rumours

10 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Pedrosa further quashes retirement rumours

Dani Pedrosa has further quashed rumours that he will retire from MotoGP at the end of 2016 as the final round of the season got underway in Valencia. The Spaniard has been absent from the grid since...

MotoGP: Petrucci could risk GP17 chance for wet weather win

10 November 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Petrucci could risk GP17 chance for wet weather win

Danilo Petrucci has said he could be willing to risk losing the option of a factory Ducati GP17 for next year if he’s presented with an opportunity to become MotoGP’s tenth winner this season in...

MotoGP: Lorenzo's goodbye letter to Yamaha

10 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo's goodbye letter to Yamaha

With this weekend marking five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo’s last weekend with the Movistar Yamaha squad, after winning three titles with the team over nine years with them. To mark the...

MotoGP: Crutchlow set to battle through the pain

10 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow set to battle through the pain

Double MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow is set to battle through the pain barrier this weekend at the final round of the 2016 season in Valencia, after a series of nasty crashes last time out in...

MotoGP: Aprilia to run special charity colourscheme

08 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aprilia to run special charity colourscheme

The Gresini Aprilia MotoGP machines of Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl will run a special livery this weekend for the duo’s final race with the factory, as they team up with charity (Red) to support...

MotoGP: Smith and Espargaró say ‘au revoir’ to Monster Yamaha

08 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Smith and Espargaró say ‘au revoir’ to Monster Yamaha

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo of Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaró will face an emotional last round of the 2016 MotoGP championship this weekend in Valencia when the pair say ‘au revoir’ to their team...

Moto2: Lowes looking to finish 2016 with a win

08 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes looking to finish 2016 with a win

Sam Lowes says he’s out to finish his time in the Moto2 championship this weekend at Valencia with nothing less than a win, as he prepares to make the move full-time to MotoGP come Tuesday’s test. Set...

MotoGP: Marquez pleased to make European return

07 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez pleased to make European return

Marc Marquez has admitted that he’s been relieved to make it back to Europe for some much-needed R&R after MotoGP’s three-week trip to Asia and Australia left him, as well as many others in the...

MotoGP: Rossi confirmed as returning to Monza Rally

07 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi confirmed as returning to Monza Rally

Valentino Rossi will return to the Monza Rally next month as he sets out to defend the title he lifted last year in the car race set in the forest park surrounding one of Italy’s held on the circuit,...

MotoGP: Pedrosa back from injury for season finale

07 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa back from injury for season finale

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa will return to action this weekend for the final round of the 2016 MotoGP championship in Valencia, after missing the last three races thanks to injury. The diminutive...

MotoGP: Valencia ‘the start of 2017’ for Michelin

07 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Valencia ‘the start of 2017’ for Michelin

This weekend marks not only the last round of the 2016 MotoGP season for single-make tyre manufacturer Michelin but also the start of the 2017 one, according to boss Piero Taramasso. The comments come...

MotoGP: Another strong weekend for Aprilia and Bautista

04 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Another strong weekend for Aprilia and Bautista

The Gresini Aprilia Racing squad have had another strong weekend in Sepang, matching their best-ever finish since their return to the championship when Alvaro Bautista took seventh in Sunday’s...

MotoGP: Marquez relieved to have title in the bag

04 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez relieved to have title in the bag

Marc Marquez’s recent misfortune, started last time out at Phillip Island when the new world champion crashed out of the race, continued again this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix, with yet...

MotoGP: Crutchlow lucky to escape Sepang relatively unscathed

03 November 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow lucky to escape Sepang relatively unscathed

Cal Crutchlow has been lucky to walk away from the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend relatively unscathed despite a series on high-speed crashes in practice, qualifying and Sunday’s race that left the LCR...