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

Moto2: Lowes goes even faster at Aragon test

27 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes goes even faster at Aragon test

Aragon Moto2 race winner Sam Lowes has come away from the Spanish circuit surprised to find even more pace in Monday’s post-race test, going even faster than he did enroute to pole position and an...

MotoGP: Redding ‘lost respect’ for teammate Petrucci

26 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding ‘lost respect’ for teammate Petrucci

Scott Redding has slammed Pramac Ducati teammate Danilo Petrucci, after contact between the pair on the second lap of yesterday’s MotoGP race left Redding in the gravel and Petrucci with a...

MotoGP: Marquez smashes title opposition with Aragon win

25 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez smashes title opposition with Aragon win

Marc Marquez has smashed his championship rivals by taking a dominant win at his home race at Motorland Aragon, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. Marquez was...

Moto2: Lowes romps to incredible victory

25 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes romps to incredible victory

Sam Lowes has romped to victory at Motorland Aragon – and potentially reignited his championship hopes in the process – taking the win by three seconds from the Marc VDS duo of Alex Marquez and Franco...

Moto3: Binder takes the 2016 title after incredible battle

25 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder takes the 2016 title after incredible battle

Brad Binder has become the first world champion of the 2016 season after taking the Moto3 crown he with an incredible four races left of the season. But the South African didn’t have an easy victory,...

MotoGP: Marquez dominates for Aragon pole

24 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez dominates for Aragon pole

Marc Marquez has continued his domination of the weekend at Motorland Aragon to ensure a controlling pole position for tomorrows race. Never looking in danger of losing the top spot, he finished the...

Moto3: Bastianini on pole as Binder caught out

24 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bastianini on pole as Binder caught out

Enea Bastianini has taken advantage of a chaotic qualifying session at Motorland Aragon to secure pole position for tomorrow’s Moto3 race, while champion-elect Brad Binder struggled with traffic to...

MotoGP: Lorenzo takes on Rossi with shark-themed helmet?

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo takes on Rossi with shark-themed helmet?

Jorge Lorenzo has revealed the special shark-themed Shark helmet that he’ll use for this weekend’s Aragon round of the 2016 MotoGP championship. And while the reigning champion has yet to comment on...

Moto2: Nakagami tops the day from Lowes

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Nakagami tops the day from Lowes

Takaaki Nakagami has topped the opening day of Moto2 action at Motorland Aragon, finishing the day a mere 0.065 ahead of Sam Lowes as the Brit looks to get his season back on track after a difficult...

MotoGP: Hondas dominate opening day at Aragon

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Hondas dominate opening day at Aragon

Honda has dominated the opening day of action at Motorland Aragon, with Repsol duo Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marque taking first and second ahead of the LCR Honda of Cal Crutchlow in third. Only 0.081...

Moto3: Binder gets big weekend off to flying start

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder gets big weekend off to flying start

Red Bull Ajo KTM rider Brad Binder has got a very important weekend off to a flying start by finishing the opening day at Aragon 0.154 clear of Andrea Migno at the top of the timesheets. The weekend...

MotoGP: Iannone out, Pirro in again for Aragon

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone out, Pirro in again for Aragon

Andrea Iannone will once again sit out a round of the MotoGP session, with the factory Ducati rider set to be replaced by Michele Pirro this weekend at Aragon after continuing to struggle with pain in...

MotoGP: Hayden relishing Grand Prix return

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Hayden relishing Grand Prix return

World Superbike rider and former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden says he’s relishing the opportunity to return to the premiere class this weekend at Aragon, as he joins the Marc VDS squad as a...

Moto2: Baldassarri still in shock after Misano win

23 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Baldassarri still in shock after Misano win

Forward Racing rider Lorenzo Baldassarri has admitted that he’s almost still in shock after his stunning home win last time out in the San Marino Grand Prix, admitting to MCN that it took him a week...

MotoGP: Riders tip Dovi for ninth in a row potential

22 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Riders tip Dovi for ninth in a row potential

The frontrunners of the MotoGP have tipped Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso as the most likely contender to continue the incredible streak of different winners the championship is currently...

MotoGP: Marquez ‘doesn’t need to win’ to lift title

22 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez ‘doesn’t need to win’ to lift title

Marc Marquez has admitted that he doesn’t need to win more races in the 2016 season to win the championship battle. The Spaniard has taken only three victories so far this season, but leads the title...

MotoGP: Provisional 2017 calendar released

21 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Provisional 2017 calendar released

MotoGP organisers Dorna have released a provisional calendar for the 2017 MotoGP season, which will as tradition kick off in late March at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit. The calendar then sees...

MotoGP: Are Ducati testing regenerative braking?

21 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Are Ducati testing regenerative braking?

At the last round of the 2016 MotoGP championship, Ducati test rider and wildcard Michele Pirro drew stares during Saturday morning’s free practice session three when he rolled out onto track sorting...

MotoGP: Baz aiming for Aragon return

20 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Baz aiming for Aragon return

Frenchman Loris Baz is looking to make a return to MotoGP this weekend at Aragon, as he recovers yet again from another injury in his incident-hit 2016 season. The Avintia Ducati rider was caught up...

MotoGP: Lowes looking for Aragon progress

20 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lowes looking for Aragon progress

Alex Lowes is looking to make further progress this weekend at Aragon, as he takes a break from his regular World Superbike schedule for a third outing on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 bike as a...

MotoGP: Michelin bringing asymmetric options to Aragon

19 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Michelin bringing asymmetric options to Aragon

French tyre manufacturers Michelin will bring a range of compounds and compositions to this weekend’s Aragon round of the MotoGP championship, with the firm continuing their policy of bringing a range...

MotoGP: Hayden to deputise for injured Miller

19 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Hayden to deputise for injured Miller

2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden will make a stunning return to the series this weekend at Aragon, as he steps in to replace the injured Jack Miller. The Australian sat out last weekend’s race...

Moto2: Lowes has successful Valencia test

16 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes has successful Valencia test

Sam Lowes has attempted to re-find his mojo on the Federal Oil Gresini Kalex, by completing a huge number of laps in a two-day outing with the team at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, home of the...

MotoGP: Aprilia delighted with home top ten

16 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aprilia delighted with home top ten

The Aprilia racing squad of Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl have been left delighted with their home pace, making the most of their experience testing at the Misano circuit to take an impressive...

Moto3: McPhee set for BT Sport Honda team?

16 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee set for BT Sport Honda team?

Rumours in the Moto3 paddock have continued to gather steam that Czech Grand Prix winner John McPhee will link up with British broadcaster BT Sport to ride a Honda under the channel’s colours in the...

MotoGP: Marquez sides with Rossi in Lorenzo row

15 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez sides with Rossi in Lorenzo row

Marc Marquez has sided with Valentino Rossi in the furious row that broke out between the Italian and his teammate Jorge Lorenzo after Sunday’s San Marine Grand Prix, with Marquez admitting afterwards...

Moto2: Who the hell is Lorenzo Baldassarri?

15 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Who the hell is Lorenzo Baldassarri?

Just before he took his stunning debut victory in the Moto2 class, MCN caught up with Valentino Rossi protégé and Forward Racing rider Lorenzo Baldassarri to find out just who the young Italian is and...

MotoGP: Espargaró builds GP-inspired GSX-R for training

15 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Espargaró builds GP-inspired GSX-R for training

Aleix Espargaró has built a MotoGP-inspired Suzuki GSX-R1000 machine to allow him to improve his riding style by training on a machine similar to the bike that he rides every weekend for the...

MotoGP: The genius of Michelin’s tyre war

14 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: The genius of Michelin’s tyre war

Since their return to the MotoGP championship at the start of this season, Michelin have come under a lot of flack. Starting with Loris Baz’s high-speed tyre explosion back at the Sepang tests (even...

Moto3: Binder replaced by Antonelli at Red Bull KTM

14 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder replaced by Antonelli at Red Bull KTM

Moto2 graduate and 2016 Moto3 champion-elect Brad Binder will be replaced by Italian Nicolo Antonelli at the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad for 2017, following yesterday’s announcement that the South African...

MotoGP: Honda roll out 2017 engine in Misano test

14 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Honda roll out 2017 engine in Misano test

Honda has rolled out the much-anticipated 2017-specification engine at a private test at Italy’s Misano circuit following last weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix. Coming after constant complaints from...

Moto2: Binder and Oliveira confirmed at Red Bull Ajo KTM for 2017

13 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Binder and Oliveira confirmed at Red Bull Ajo KTM for 2017

Austrian manufacturer KTM and the Ajo Motorsport squad have finally confirmed the details of their 2017 project, as the returning Miguel Oliveira will join 2016 Moto2 champion-elect Brad Binder on...

MotoGP: Grand Prix Commission clarify wording of winglet ban

13 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Grand Prix Commission clarify wording of winglet ban

MotoGP’s senior rule-making body the Grand Prix Commission have clarified the wording of next year’s ban on aerodynamic features like winglets in the premiere class, following meetings of both the GPC...

MotoGP: Crutchlow hits out at race control error

13 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow hits out at race control error

LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow has hit out at MotoGP race control following Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix, after becoming embroiled in a row following his eighth place not only with them but also with...

MotoGP: Viñales satisfied with fifth place in Misano

13 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales satisfied with fifth place in Misano

Suzuki MotoGP rider Maverick Viñales has left Misano and the San Marino Grand Prix satisfied with his fifth place in Sunday’s race, after making progress in the hot conditions that have dogged the...

MotoGP: Lowes to return to action at Aragon

12 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lowes to return to action at Aragon

MotoGP replacement rider Alex Lowes will return to the series for a third time at Aragon in two weeks’ time, as he takes time out of hectic schedule to continue to replace the injured Bradley Smith at...