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: Marquez races to pole position

20 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez races to pole position

Marc Marquez has raced his way to pole position at the Czech Grand Prix, taking the fight to Valentino Rossi on the last lap to smash his way through – and to smash the outright lap record at Brno as...

Moto3: Binder powers to Czech pole

20 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder powers to Czech pole

Brad Binder has powered to pole position for tomorrow’s Moto3 Czech Grand Prix, after using his head in the closing stages of the day’s session to put himself in the right place at the right...

MotoGP: Ex-Stoner crew chief Gabbarini to join Lorenzo

20 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Ex-Stoner crew chief Gabbarini to join Lorenzo

Casey Stoner’s former crew chief Christian Gabbarini has been confirmed as returning to Ducati for the 2017 season, as he finally joins forces with Jorge Lorenzo for his switch to the red...

Moto2: Zarco steals top spot by 0.002

19 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Zarco steals top spot by 0.002

Johann Zarco has topped the opening Moto2 action at this year’s Czech Grand Prix by only 0.002, stealing the spot from Thomas Luthi and Lorenzo Baldassarri only after the Italian led for most of the...

MotoGP: Video: Wonder save for Marquez at Brno

19 August 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Video: Wonder save for Marquez at Brno

Marc Marquez once again defied all odds to pull off an incredible save in today’s second free practice session at Brno. The twice-MotoGP champion tucked the front into the final turn at the Czech...

MotoGP: Marquez fastest after incredible save

19 August 2016 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez fastest after incredible save

Marc Marquez led the way in this afternoon’s second MotoGP free practice at the Brno circuit despite a huge save half way through the session. Marquez tucked the front going into the final turn at the...

Moto3: Binder starts weekend on top

19 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder starts weekend on top

Brad Binder has topped the opening ay of action for the Czech Grand Prix at Brno, taking the top spot from Andrea Migno to once again control the day’s activities in the Moto3 class. Team Sky KTM...

MotoGP: Casey Stoner talks Ducati's Austrian win

19 August 2016 by Casey Stoner

MotoGP: Casey Stoner talks Ducati's Austrian win

This was a massive day for Ducati and a long time coming so it was a fantastic feeling to be at our first win in six years, a great 1-2 by the Andreas, Iannone and Dovizioso. There was a big focus on...

Moto3: Team Sky confirm Fenati out, Dalla Porta in

19 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Team Sky confirm Fenati out, Dalla Porta in

Valentino Rossi’s Team Sky KTM squad have confirmed that Romano Fenati has parted ways with the team after three seasons, following his suspension on the eve of last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. The...

Valentino Rossi’s first win 20-years on

18 August 2016 by James Archibald

Valentino Rossi’s first win 20-years on

Valentino Rossi started his ascent to his legendary status on this day, August 18 1996. Where 20 years ago at the Czech GP in Brno, he took the first win of many in his colourful racing career aboard...

MotoGP: Rossi out to make amends

18 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi out to make amends

Valentino Rossi says he’s out to make amends this weekend in Brno, after missing out to teammate Jorge Lorenzo on the chance for a podium finish last weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix. Taking...

MotoGP: Miller to sit out Brno GP

18 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Miller to sit out Brno GP

Jack Miller ill sit out this weekends Czech Grand Prix at Brno, as he continues to recover from injuries suffered during a high-speed crash in warm-up for last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red...

MotoGP: Laverty loses perfect record after Petrucci collision

17 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Laverty loses perfect record after Petrucci collision

Eugene Laverty has lost his perfect points scoring record for the 2017 MotoGP season after a last corner collision between him and Danilo Petrucci saw the Irishman in the gravel and the Italian called...

MotoGP: Aspar Ducati confirm Bautista for 2017

17 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aspar Ducati confirm Bautista for 2017

The Aspar Ducati squad have confirmed that Alvaro Bautista will be returning to the team for the 2017 MotoGP season, as he returns to the outfit he claimed his world championship with in the 125GP...

MotoGP: Miller aiming for Brno return

16 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Miller aiming for Brno return

Jack Miller is hoping for a return to the MotoGP championship this weekend at Brno, only five days after sustaining hairline fractures to his wrist and T6 vertebra in a high-speed crash during morning...

MotoGP: Marquez not expecting shoulder issues in Brno

16 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez not expecting shoulder issues in Brno

Marc Marquez says he’s not expecting any significant issues with the shoulder that he dislocated on the Saturday morning of last weekend’s Austrian Grand prix when MotoGP returns to action this...

Danilo Petrucci: Grin it to win it

16 August 2016 by Mat Oxley

Danilo Petrucci: Grin it to win it

Danilo Petrucci isn’t your average MotoGP rider. In fact, he’s unique. Whereas every MotoGP rider comes from 250s or Moto2, like Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, or from winning in World Superbike,...

Moto3: McPhee looking to bounce back from Austria

16 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee looking to bounce back from Austria

Scottish Moto3 racer John McPhee is looking forward to bouncing back from a disappointing weekend at the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand prix with a stronger result this weekend in Brno. Always...

Moto2: Austrian test hit by thunderstorms

15 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Austrian test hit by thunderstorms

A one-day test for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes has been largely washed out at Austria’s Red Bull Ring, with thunderous downpours leaving much of the afternoon soaking wet for the junior classes. A...

MotoGP: Iannone pays tribute to crew after stunning victory

15 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone pays tribute to crew after stunning victory

Andrea Iannone has paid tribute to his Ducati Corse crew for the work they put in to take the Italian to his first MotoGP victory – and Ducati’s first win in the premiere class since 2010. Taking a...

MotoGP: Aprilia bosses slams riders and team

15 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aprilia bosses slams riders and team

Aprilia racing boss Romano Albesiano and parent company Piaggio MD Roberto Colaninno slammed the team’s MotoGP riders and crew, after jump starts and miscommunication cost them the chance for some of...

Moto2: Zarco extends title lead with dominant victory

14 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Zarco extends title lead with dominant victory

Johann Zarco has extended his lead in the Moto2 title chase with a dominant victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, hunting down Franco Morbidelli in the closing stages of today’s race to end the day...

MotoGP: Iannone takes first Ducati win for six years

14 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone takes first Ducati win for six years

Andrea Iannone has taken a stunning Ducati victory in MotoGP’s return to Austria, taking a dominant victory over teammate Andrea Dovizioso at the Red Bull Ring. Always favoured as a Ducati track, the...

Moto3: Mir triumphs as Binder extends lead

14 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir triumphs as Binder extends lead

Joan Mir has broken a the Moto3 pole position duck by converting the P1 spot into a race victory for the first time since Misano last year, taking his first Grand Prix win in a fast and frantic...

Moto3: Fenati suspended for tomorrow's race by Team Sky VR46

13 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Fenati suspended for tomorrow's race by Team Sky VR46

Romano Fenati has been suspended by the Team Sky VR46 KTM squad on the eve of tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix, with the squad citing ‘repeated behaviour not in line with the disciplinary rules of the...

Moto2: Zarco escapes Morbidelli for Austrian pole position

13 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Zarco escapes Morbidelli for Austrian pole position

Johann Zarco has taken pole position in Moto2 qualifying in Austria, after controlling qualifying to finish ahead of Franco Morbidelli, taking his best-ever qualifying position, and with Tom Luthi...

MotoGP: Iannone triumphs in frantic qualifying

13 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Iannone triumphs in frantic qualifying

Andrea Iannone has triumphed in a frantic MotoGP qualifying session in Austria that saw the lead change a handful of times in the closing stages of the session on MotoGP’s first trip in nineteen years...

Moto3: Binder loses pole to Mir thanks to last lap backmarker

13 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder loses pole to Mir thanks to last lap backmarker

Red Bull Ajo KTM rider Brad Binder, who has dominated this weekend so far at the manufacturer’s home Austrian Grand Prix, has been denied pole position after traffic on his fastest lap of qualifying...

MotoGP: KTM unveil 2017 livery at Red Bull Ring

13 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: KTM unveil 2017 livery at Red Bull Ring

KTM have unveiled the livery that Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaró will race when the Austrian firm make their full time debut in the championship at the start of the 2017 season. They chose their home...

MotoGP: Laverty slams Iannone for ‘lack of respect’

12 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Laverty slams Iannone for ‘lack of respect’

Aspar Ducati rider Eugene Laverty has slammed factory Ducati racer Andrea Iannone for a ‘lack of respect,’ after the pair clashed on track during the final moments of today’s free practice at the...

Moto2: Luthi tops free practice at Spielberg

12 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Luthi tops free practice at Spielberg

Garage Plus Interwetten rider Tom Luthi topped the timesheets on Friday in Austria, as the veteran former 125GP world champion duelled it out with title contender Alex Rins and championship leader...

Moto3: Binder dominates opening day in Austria

12 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Binder dominates opening day in Austria

Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder has dominated the opening day of Moto3 action at the Red Bull Ring, as the South African took control of the second practice session to end day one at Spielberg in...

MotoGP: Ducati top opening day at Red Bull Ring

12 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Ducati top opening day at Red Bull Ring

The factory Ducati pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone have dominated the opening day of action at the Red Bull Ring, clearing off as predicted to leave next best man Maverick Viñales nearly a...

MotoGP: Crutchlow running special helmet to celebrate birth of his daughter

11 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow running special helmet to celebrate birth of his daughter

Cal Crutchlow will run a special edition helmet this weekend at the Red Bull Ring to celebrate the birth of his first child over the MotoGP summer break. Wife Lucy gave birth last week to baby Willow,...

MotoGP: Red Bull Ring modified before racing get underway

11 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Red Bull Ring modified before racing get underway

This weekend’s new addition to the MotoGP calendar the Red Bull Ring has been modified before racing has even got underway, with the last corner being made much tighter in an attempt to reduce the...

MotoGP: Rossi and Lorenzo well rested over summer break

11 August 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi and Lorenzo well rested over summer break

Both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo say they’re coming back into the second half of the MotoGP season rested and refreshed, after making the most of the MotoGP summer break to switch off from the...