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

Moto3: McPhee hampered by qualifying performance

12 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee hampered by qualifying performance

John McPhee has been left unable to do anything better than 20th at Misano on the Saxoprint Peugeot, in a race that saw not only his Peugeot-branded Mahindra but all the Indian manufacturer’s machines...

MotoGP: Pedrosa surprises himself with Misano win

12 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa surprises himself with Misano win

San Marino Grand Prix winner Dani Pedrosa has admitted that he surprised even himself with the stunning pace he displayed in yesterday’s race. Setting lap record after record as he cut through the...

MotoGP: Pedrosa makes it eight winners in a row

11 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa makes it eight winners in a row

Dani Pedrosa has made it eight MotoGP winners in a row by taking a storming victory at the San Marino Grand Prix over Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. The Repsol Honda rider gambled with softer...

Moto2: Baldassarri takes debut win as Rins reignites title hopes

11 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Baldassarri takes debut win as Rins reignites title hopes

Lorenzo Baldassarri has romped to his first ever Grand Prix victory in front of his home fans in Misano, after picking his way through the field and hunting down Alex Rins, the man who led for most of...

Moto3: Binder extends title lead yet further

11 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder extends title lead yet further

Brad Binder has edged even closer to taking the 2016 Moto3 crown with a controlling race victory at Misano now giving him an incredible 106-point lead over Enea Bastianini in the title fight. As...

MotoGP: Lorenzo demolishes lap record for Misano pole

10 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo demolishes lap record for Misano pole

Jorge Lorenzo has demolished his own Misano lap record to secure pole position for tomorrow’s San Marino Grand Prix, setting not one but two laps under the old record to end the day 0.3 ahead of...

Moto3: Binder snatches pole position from home favourites

10 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder snatches pole position from home favourites

Moto3 championship leader Brad Binder has snatched pole position from the local favourites at Misano, to start tomorrow’s San Marino Grand Prix from the top spot on the grid. TOP STORIES Kawasaki...

MotoGP: Rossi unveils ‘Blues Brothers’ Misano helmet

10 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi unveils ‘Blues Brothers’ Misano helmet

Valentino Rossi has unveiled his special helmet for this weekend’s home race at the San Marino Grand Prix, paying tribute to both his favourite films The Blues Brothers and to close friend Uccio...

MotoGP: Iannone to undergo further checks before deciding to continue

10 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone to undergo further checks before deciding to continue

Andrea Iannone may yet compete in his home Grand Prix this weekend at Misano despite breaking his back in yesterday’s free practice sessions, with the Italian set to undergo further medical checks...

MotoGP: Espargaró rockets to the top of the time sheets

09 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Espargaró rockets to the top of the time sheets

Pol Espargaró has surprised the MotoGP paddock by ending the first day of action at the Misano circuit in top spot, after setting a time in the closing stages of the day that few were able to come...

Moto3: 2015 winner Bastianini tops first day at Misano

09 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: 2015 winner Bastianini tops first day at Misano

2015 Moto3 Italian Grand Prix winner Enea Bastianini has topped the opening day of action at his home race, finishing Friday’s two sessions 0.1 ahead of championship leader Brad Binder. Binder’s first...

MotoGP: Uncini induced as MotoGP legend

09 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Uncini induced as MotoGP legend

1982 500 Grand Prix world champion and MotoGP safety officer Franco Uncini has been formally inducted as a MotoGP legend at a ceremony this afternoon at his home race in Misano. The Italian took the...

MotoGP: Iannone out of home race after FP1 crash

09 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone out of home race after FP1 crash

Andrea Iannone is set to miss his home race this weekend in Misano after crashing out of the first session of the weekend at the Rimini circuit and damaging his back in the process. Iannone fell at...

MotoGP: 58 retired to honour Marco Simoncelli

08 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: 58 retired to honour Marco Simoncelli

MotoGP have officially retired Marco Simoncelli’s race number in a ceremony at the Misano circuit named in his honour, with his father Paolo and MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta taking to the stage...

MotoGP: Viñales out to carry momentum to Misano

08 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales out to carry momentum to Misano

British Grand Prix winner Maverick Viñales says he’s out this weekend at Misano to carry forward the momentum of his Silverstone victory to the Italian circuit, making the most of MotoGP’s...

Moto3: Who the hell is Lorenzo Dalla Porta?

07 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Who the hell is Lorenzo Dalla Porta?

A wildcard appearance at Assen, a factory Mahindra for next season, spending the rest of the year as Romano Fenati’s replacement at his idol Valentino Rossi’s Team Sky – AND he’s leading the Junior...

MotoGP: Pedrosa looking to gain from Silverstone confidence

07 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa looking to gain from Silverstone confidence

Dani Pedrosa is out to maintain a better run of form this weekend at Misano, after being buoyed by a strong performance last weekend in Silverstone’s British Grand Prix after a difficult season so...

MotoGP: Nakasuga set for Motegi wildcard

07 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Nakasuga set for Motegi wildcard

Suzuka 8 Hour winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga will once again make a wildcard appearance at this year’s Japanese Grand Prix, with the factory Yamaha superbike racer riding for the Yamalube Yamaha Factory...

MotoGP: Xavi Forés to replace injured Loris Baz

06 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Xavi Forés to replace injured Loris Baz

Avintia Ducati rider Loris Baz will miss another round of the 2016 MotoGP championship thanks to injury, with the Frenchman set to sit out this weekend’s Misano Grand Prix after breaking his ankle...

Moto2: Zarco mystified by Lowes crash penalty

06 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Zarco mystified by Lowes crash penalty

Reigning Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco says he’s mystified as to why he was penalised for the crash that saw Sam Lowes fall from Sunday’s Moto2 race at the British Grand Prix – and potentially out...

MotoGP: Baz and Espargaro escape serious injury

06 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Baz and Espargaro escape serious injury

Both Loris Baz and Pol Espargaró have been lucky to escape serious injury after a huge fight-lap collision at the British Grand Prix that brought out the red flags. And while Baz looked initially to...

Moto2: Lowes criticises 'novice' Zarco move

05 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Lowes criticises 'novice' Zarco move

Britain’s Sam Lowes was left gutted to miss out on a home victory at this weekend’s British Grand Prix after being taken out of the race by title rival Johann Zarco. An over-ambitious lunge from the...

MotoGP: British Grand Prix at Silverstone for foreseeable future

05 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: British Grand Prix at Silverstone for foreseeable future

The British Grand Prix will remain at Silverstone for the foreseeable future after an agreement was reached between the Northamptonshire circuit’s bosses and represenatives from the Circuit of Wales...

MotoGP: Marquez battle 'hard but fair' says Rossi

04 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez battle 'hard but fair' says Rossi

Valentino Rossi has described his titanic battle with Marc Marquez at today’s British Grand Prix as ‘hard but fair’ after the duo fought tooth and nail for the podium in the final stages of this...

MotoGP: Home podium a 'dream come true' for Crutchlow

04 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Home podium a 'dream come true' for Crutchlow

Cal Crutchlow has said it is a ‘dream come true’ to stand on the podium in front of a home crowd at Silverstone after fighting off hard challenges from Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi to take a...

MotoGP Vinales: 'When I can push 100% I can do things like that!'

04 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP Vinales: 'When I can push 100% I can do things like that!'

Maverick Viñales took his maiden MotoGP victory in front of a packed Silverstone crowd this afternoon in a dominant display to take Suzuki’s first MotoGP victory since 2007. The Spaniard had been...

MotoGP: Vinales top gun as Crutchlow takes second at home

04 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Vinales top gun as Crutchlow takes second at home

Maverick Vinales romped to a dominant victory for Suzuki this weekend, leading from lights to flag in a dramatic British Grand Prix with home hero Cal Crutchlow crossing the line to take the runner-up...

Moto2: Luthi wins as Lowes taken out by title rival Zarco

04 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Luthi wins as Lowes taken out by title rival Zarco

Thomas Luthi took victory in this afternoon’s Moto2 British Grand Prix after home hero Sam Lowes was taken out of the race by a controversial lunge from title rival Johann Zarco with three laps to...

Moto3: Binder extends championship lead with Silverstone win as Navarro crashes out

04 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Binder extends championship lead with Silverstone win as Navarro crashes out

Victory in today’s British Grand Prix saw Brad Binder place hand on the 2016 Moto3 title as rival Jorge Navarro dramatically crashed out of contention in the final stages. Polesitter Pecco Bagnaia...

MotoGP: Lowes delighted with rookie progress

03 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lowes delighted with rookie progress

Alex Lowes has been left delighted with his progress during his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP wildcard at the British Grand Prix, after briefly topping Q1 before finishing only one place behind...

MotoGP: Vinales ready to 'fight until the end'

03 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Vinales ready to 'fight until the end'

Maverick Vinales heads in to tomorrow’s British Grand Prix confident of fighting at the front whatever the conditions after bagging a front row start in this afternoon’s wet qualifying session. The...

MotoGP: Rossi hoping for dry race despite wet weather pace

03 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Rossi hoping for dry race despite wet weather pace

Valentino Rossi is hoping for dry conditions for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix despite admitting he’s much stronger in the wet. The nine-time World Champion qualified second for the race in this...

MotoGP: Redding ready to race in any conditions

03 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding ready to race in any conditions

Scott Redding has admitted that after making the most of a wet qualifying session today to finish seventh overall on the Pramac Ducati that he believes that he’s ready to race tomorrow at the British...

Moto2: Lowes looking to reignite title challenge with Silverstone win

03 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Lowes looking to reignite title challenge with Silverstone win

Sam Lowes is confident of reigniting his Moto2 title challenge with victory in tomorrow’s British Grand Prix after a dominant weekend so far for the Brit. Despite inclement weather interrupting all...

Moto3: Crash halts McPhee’s chances at front row

03 September 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Crash halts McPhee’s chances at front row

Czech Grand Prix winner John McPhee has had his chances of taking a front row start for his home race at Silverstone halted after he crashed out of today’s Moto3 qualifying session, leaving himself...

MotoGP: Crutchlow expecting Ducati charge at Silverstone

03 September 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Crutchlow expecting Ducati charge at Silverstone

Cal Crutchlow might be starting his home Grand Prix from pole position at Silverstone tomorrow but he’s expecting a tough race if it’s dry. Despite continuing to re-write the history books by becoming...