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: Iannone set for Sepang return

25 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone set for Sepang return

Andrea Iannone will return to MotoGP action this weekend in Malaysia after missing Aragon, Motegi and Phillip Island thanks to an injury sustained in free practice for his home race at Misano six...

MotoGP: Crutchlow targeted Phillip Island from start of the season

25 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow targeted Phillip Island from start of the season

Cal Crutchlow has admitted that he targeted victory at last weekend’s Phillip Island round of the 2016 MotoGP season, knowing from the start of the year that it would be possible to take victory there...

MotoGP: ‘Testing data irrelevant’ for Michelin at Sepang

25 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Testing data irrelevant’ for Michelin at Sepang

MotoGP one-make tyre manufacturer Michelin have admitted that much of the data they collected earlier this year in a three-day test at Sepang will be largely irrelevant for this weekend’s Malaysian...

MotoGP: Crutchlow demolishes field for second Grand Prix victory

23 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow demolishes field for second Grand Prix victory

Cal Crutchlow has demolished the field at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix to become a double MotoGP race winner, converting strong pace into an easy win after keeping his cool throughout the race. Pole...

Moto2: Win leaves Luthi title contender as front-runners falter

23 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Win leaves Luthi title contender as front-runners falter

Tom Luthi has established himself as a 2016 Moto2 title contender after taking a back-to-back victory at the Australian Grand Prix while many of his title rivals faltered and fell. Pole man Luthi was...

Moto3: Binder takes win in red-flagged Australian scrap

23 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder takes win in red-flagged Australian scrap

Brad Binder has taken victory in a frantic and chaotic red-flagged Moto3 race at Phillip Island, leading from start to finish in the second half of the race to win by six seconds from Andrea Locatelli...

MotoGP: Hayden ‘feeling good’ in the wet

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Hayden ‘feeling good’ in the wet

Nicky Hayden has admitted that he’s feeling good in wet conditions on the Repsol Honda, and that rain would make life a lot easier for him tomorrow in the Australian Grand Prix as he deputises for the...

MotoGP: Day to forget for Rossi and Lorenzo

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Day to forget for Rossi and Lorenzo

Today has been a day to forget for the factory Movistar Yamaha duo of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at Phillip Island, after disappointing qualifying positions for both of them left the pair...

MotoGP: Honda debut flag-to-flag helmets

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Honda debut flag-to-flag helmets

Repsol Honda have become the first MotoGP team to debut the new safety equipment that their pit crew will have to wear during flag-to-flag pit stops in 2017, trying out the helmets during free...

Moto2: Lowes rallies for front row start

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes rallies for front row start

Sam Lowes has finally displayed the form that he’s been keeping warm all weekend at one of his favourite circuits on the Moto2 calendar, after pulling out the pin despite two crashes in qualifying to...

MotoGP: Crutchlow ’could have been first’

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow ’could have been first’

Cal Crutchlow says he could have qualified on pole position for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix, but instead of ‘trusting his gut’ he opted not to make the move to slick tyres when hindsight showed...

MotoGP: Unassailable Marquez dominates Phillip Island qualifying

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Unassailable Marquez dominates Phillip Island qualifying

An almost-unassailable Marc Marquez has dominated Saturday at Phillip Island to leave himself on pole position and clear favourite for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix come wet or dry conditions. With...

Moto2: Luthi on pole after crash-filled qualifying

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Luthi on pole after crash-filled qualifying

Japanese Grand Prix winner Thomas Luthi will start tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix on pole position after coming out on top of a crash-filled Moto2 qualifying session that saw 19 crashing in 40...

Moto3: Binder takes advantage for frantic pole position

22 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder takes advantage for frantic pole position

Brad Binder has taken advantage of crazy conditions in Phillip Island to take pole position for tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix, taking the top spot from Fabio Quartararo and Nicolo Bulega. Bulega...

Red Bull Rookies: British champ Nesbitt chosen for 2017 series

21 October 2016 by Oli Rushby

Red Bull Rookies: British champ Nesbitt chosen for 2017 series

British Motostar Champion Charlie Nesbitt will join the Red Bull Rookies field in 2017 after impressing at this week’s selection event at Guadix. Competing against 116 other riders from 32 different...

MotoGP: Crutchlow admits right call to end day early

21 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow admits right call to end day early

Cal Crutchlow has supported race control’s decision to call an early end to today’s action at Phillip Island, after torrential rain hit the first day of practice for the Australian Grand Prix. Ending...

Moto2: Lowes confident despite reduced lap time

21 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes confident despite reduced lap time

Sam Lowes says he’s still confident that he can perform well at a track that he loves this weekend at Phillip Island, despite only managing to complete four laps on the opening day of Moto2 action at...

MotoGP: Rossi upbeat despite tyre penalty

21 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi upbeat despite tyre penalty

Valentino Rossi is upbeat after the first day of action at Phillip Island despite losing most of his fast laps and possibly facing a qualifying journey through tomorrow’s Q1 session after falling foul...

MotoGP: Rain brings opening day to a halt with Crutchlow fastest

21 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rain brings opening day to a halt with Crutchlow fastest

The opening day of action at Philip Island had been brought to an early halt after torrential rain swept into the Australian track, leaving Brit Cal Crutchlow top of the time sheets after only a...

Moto3: Bulega tops opening day as McPhee fast in the wet

21 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bulega tops opening day as McPhee fast in the wet

Team Sky VR46 KTM rookie Nicolo Bulega has topped the opening day of Moto3 action at Phillip Island in wet conditions, setting the fastest time of the morning in free practice one to end the day...

MotoGP: Miller not feeling pressure from ‘drunken Aussies’

20 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Miller not feeling pressure from ‘drunken Aussies’

Jack Miller has admitted that despite a sell-out crowd for his home race this weekend at Phillip Island, he’s not feeling the pressure thanks to the unique spirit of the Australian fans! Largely...

MotoGP: Hayden ‘just can’t say no’ to Repsol Honda chance

20 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Hayden ‘just can’t say no’ to Repsol Honda chance

Nicky Hayden says he ‘just couldn’t say no’ to the chance to return to the Repsol Honda squad he won the 2006 MotoGP world championship with this weekend, with the American lining up at Phillip Island...

MotoGP: Crutchlow insists Miller should have got Repsol ride

20 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow insists Miller should have got Repsol ride

Cal Crutchlow has insisted that close friend Jack Miller should have got the chance to step up from the Marc VDS team to the Repsol Honda squad this weekend to replace the injured Dani Pedrosa for the...

MotoGP: Rossi out to fight for the last three races

20 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi out to fight for the last three races

Valentino Rossi says he’s out to make a strong end to the 2016 MotoGP season, as he looks to bounce back from his crash out of last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix and subsequently losing the title...

MotoGP: Redding ‘not holding anything against’ Petrucci after apology

20 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding ‘not holding anything against’ Petrucci after apology

Scott Redding says he’s not holding anything against his teammate Danilo Petrucci any more for the incident that saw the Brit fall and the Italian penalised in Aragon two rounds ago. Locked in an...

MotoGP: Crutchlow ‘I could have been second’

19 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow ‘I could have been second’

Cal Crutchlow came away from a strong fifth place in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix disappointed with himself, after throwing away the chances of battling with Andrea Dovizioso for a podium place when...

MotoGP: ‘Old Marquez’ might make a comeback in Oz

19 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Old Marquez’ might make a comeback in Oz

New MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has admitted that ‘old Marquez’ might make a reappearance this weekend in Australia, now that the pressure of securing his third premiere class crown has been...

MotoGP: Yamaha duo gear up for battle for second

19 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Yamaha duo gear up for battle for second

The Movistar Yamaha duo of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo are gearing up to take each other on in the remaining three races of 2016 a the battle for the runner-up spot in this year’s championship...

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden back on Repsol Honda as Pedrosa replacement

18 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Nicky Hayden back on Repsol Honda as Pedrosa replacement

Nicky Hayden will return to the MotoGP championship for the second time in 2016 this weekend at Phillip Island – and make his first venture onto a factory Repsol Honda for the first time since 2008 –...

MotoGP: Airbags mandatory for 2018

18 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Airbags mandatory for 2018

MotoGP organisers have announced that the fitting of airbag systems to riders’ leathers will become mandatory for the 2018 season. The move comes after consulting with the equipment manufacturer’s...

MotoGP: Gardner arrested at Japanese Grand Prix

18 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Gardner arrested at Japanese Grand Prix

1987 500GP world champion Wayne Gardner has been arrested after a scuffle just before Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. The Australian was involved in an argument with the occupant of a car...

MotoGP: Abraham replaces Hernandez at Aspar for 2017

18 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Abraham replaces Hernandez at Aspar for 2017

Czech rider Karel Abraham will replace Columbian Yonny Hernandez on the Aspar Ducati for 2017 in MotoGP, with the last free seat on the grid finally confirmed after MCN first reported that Abraham...

MotoGP: Michelin prepare special rubber for Oz

17 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Michelin prepare special rubber for Oz

French tyre manufacturer Michelin have prepared special tyres for this weekend’s Phillip Island round of the 2016 MotoGP series, admitting that something special was needed to cope with the demands of...

Moto2: 'Surprise' crash brings Lowes’ title hopes to an end

17 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: 'Surprise' crash brings Lowes’ title hopes to an end

Sam Lowes has saw his 206 Moto2 title homes come to an end after crashing out of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix while looking to be in contention for a class victory that would have spurred on his...

MotoGP: Barbera to return to factory Ducati for Phillip Island

17 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Barbera to return to factory Ducati for Phillip Island

Hector Barbera will once again return to the factory Ducati squad this weekend in Phillip Island as the Avintia Ducati rider continues to replace the injured Andrea Iannone on the GP16 machine. Thrown...

MotoGP: Marquez ‘thought winning was impossible’

17 October 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez ‘thought winning was impossible’

Newly crowned MotoGP world champion marc Marquez has admitted that he believed going into yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix that any chances of winning the crown would be impossible, especially with a...