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: Crutchlow admits he should have pitted earlier

18 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Crutchlow admits he should have pitted earlier

Cal Crutchlow has admitted in the aftermath of yesterday’s MotoGP race at Sachsenring that it was a mistake to remain on track on wet tyres for so long, and that pitting earlier for slicks may have...

Moto3: Strong weekend in wet and dry for McPhee

18 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Strong weekend in wet and dry for McPhee

John McPhee has left his Saxoprint Peugeot team’s home race in Sachsenring delighted with his progress over the weekend, with a new gearbox for the French-branded Mahindra making all the difference...

MotoGP: Another wet disaster for Suzuki

18 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Another wet disaster for Suzuki

The Suzuki MotoGP squad of Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales had another disaster day yesterday at the German round of MotoGP, after wet conditions left the duo fighting similar problems as last...

MotoGP: Marquez win establishes title favourite

17 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez win establishes title favourite

Marc Marquez has established himself as the favourite for the 2016 MotoGP title, extending his lead to nearly 50 points over Jorge Lorenzo after a disastrous weekend for both him and teammate...

Moto2: Zarco keeps his cool to take win and title lead

17 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Zarco keeps his cool to take win and title lead

Reigning Moto2 world champion showed his cool in the German round of the series to snatch both the win and the title lead from main rival Alex Rins, jumping from third to first as both the Spaniard...

Moto3: Pawi’s rain dance pays off at Sachsenring

17 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Pawi’s rain dance pays off at Sachsenring

Khairul Idham Pawi has cruised to his second wet weather victory of the 2016 Moto3 season, leading from almost start to finish to take a dominant win from Andrea Locatelli and Enea...

MotoGP: Finland to return to the calendar in 2018

17 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Finland to return to the calendar in 2018

Finland will return to the MotoGP calendar for the first time since 1982 in 2018, as MotoGP confirm a new deal that will take the series back to Scandinavia. The KymiRing track, designed by...

Red Bull Rookies: Skinner ninth in opening German battle

16 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Red Bull Rookies: Skinner ninth in opening German battle

Scottish teenager Rory Skinner has finished the opening Red Bull Rookies Cup race of two at Germany’s Sachsenring circuit in ninth, after being unable to make the most of a ten-rider battle for the...

Moto2: Nakagami takes first pole in three years

16 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Nakagami takes first pole in three years

Takaaki Nakagami has taken his first pole position in nearly three years to ensure that he will be in prime position for the start tomorrow’s German round of the 2016 Moto2 championship. The Japanese...

MotoGP: Marquez on pole as horror weekend continues for Lorenzo

16 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez on pole as horror weekend continues for Lorenzo

Marc Marquez has stormed to pole position for tomorrow’s German MotoGP round at Sachsenring, topping the time sheets with ease from surprise front row man Hector Barbera and Valentino Rossi in...

Moto3: Bastianini on pole as rivals fall

16 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bastianini on pole as rivals fall

Enea Bastianini has taken pole position for tomorrow’s German Moto3 race at Sachsenring, making the most of a session that saw trouble befall many of his title rivals. The Italian finished the day 0.3...

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi launches GoPro partnership

16 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi launches GoPro partnership

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has signed a new partnership with action camera brand GoPro that will see him link up with the industry leaders to produce a host of insider access...

Moto2: Nakagami tops the day in tricky conditions

15 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Nakagami tops the day in tricky conditions

Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami topped the opening day of moto2 action today at Sachsenring , despite low temperatures and the threat of rain seeing a somewhat slow start to the day’s action. World...

MotoGP: Viñales bounces back for top spot

15 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Viñales bounces back for top spot

Maverick Viñales has bounced back from a fast turn eleven crash at Sachsenring to take the top spot on the opening day of action at the German round of the MotoGP championship. The Spaniard was lucky...

MotoGP: Aspar Ducati roll out special Pull&Bear livery for Sachsenring

15 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aspar Ducati roll out special Pull&Bear livery for Sachsenring

The Aspar Ducati squad of Eugene Laverty and Yonny Hernandez will sport a striking new livery for this weekend’s Sachsenring round of MotoGP, as clothing brand Pull&Bear comes onboard as title sponsor...

Moto3: Bastianini tops opening day in Germany

15 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Bastianini tops opening day in Germany

Enea Bastianini has topped the opening day of Moto3 action at Germany’s Sachsenring circuit, by sticking in a lap late in the session to end the day 0.093 ahead of the Team Sky VR46 KTM duo of Romano...

MotoGP: Independent teams secured for five years

15 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Independent teams secured for five years

MotoGP’s current crop of independent teams has been secured for the immediate future, after the seven team bosses signed a new deal that will secure their place on the grid for the next five years, as...

MotoGP: Redding winning a psychological advantage before wheels even turn

14 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding winning a psychological advantage before wheels even turn

Pramac Ducati rider Scott Redding says he’s won an important psychological advantage over his fellow Ducati riders before a wheel has even been turned in anger at this weekend’s German round of the...

MotoGP: Zarco finally confirmed at Monster Tech 3 Yamaha

14 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Zarco finally confirmed at Monster Tech 3 Yamaha

Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco has finally been confirmed as joining the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team for the 2017 MotoGP season, ending weeks of speculation. It’s been widely acknowledged that the...

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales hit by another significant setback

13 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales hit by another significant setback

The Circuit of Wales is facing yet another significant setback, after the Welsh Government refused a second bid from the company behind the project, the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, to...

MotoGP: Smith relishing ‘awesome’ Sachsenring

13 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Smith relishing ‘awesome’ Sachsenring

Bradley Smith is relishing the opportunity to ride this weekend’s German round of the MotoGP championship at the Sachsenring, admitting that the track is one of his favourite circuits of the year...

MotoGP: Tough weekend ahead for Ducati

13 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Tough weekend ahead for Ducati

The Ducati MotoGP duo of Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso have admitted that they believe they’re in for a tough weekend at this weekend’s German round of the series at Sachsenring. Always a...

MotoGP: New upgrades for Aprilia at ‘favourable’ Sachsenring

13 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: New upgrades for Aprilia at ‘favourable’ Sachsenring

Aprilia will once again bring new parts for their RS-GP MotoGP machine this weekend to the German round of MotoGP at Sachsenring, with new chassis and engine components and further refinements to...

Moto3: Mahindra finally roll out new gearbox

12 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mahindra finally roll out new gearbox

Mahindra are finally ready to roll out a newly updated gearbox set to end the troubles that have been plaguing factory and privateer bikes all season long this weekend at Sachsenring. The move comes...

Moto2: Lowes title fight back starts this weekend

12 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Lowes title fight back starts this weekend

Sam Lowes is determined to see his Moto2 world championship campaign get back underway this weekend in Sachsenring, after a slow few rounds for him has saw him take only one podium from the last four...

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales submit latest funding proposal to government

12 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales submit latest funding proposal to government

The company behind the Circuit of Wales, the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, have submitted a new proposal to the Welsh Government to help underwrite the potential cost of the...

MotoGP: Marquez ‘Sachsenring is a bit like a dirt track!’

11 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez ‘Sachsenring is a bit like a dirt track!’

MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez is hoping to harness his dirt track background this weekend at Sachsenring, joking that the left hand nature of the German track means he may have an...

MotoGP: Baz set to make return after long absence

11 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Baz set to make return after long absence

Loris Baz will return to MotoGP this weekend after a long absence, having finally recovered from injuries sustained when he was taken out on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello by...

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales billed for gardening work at director’s house

09 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Circuit of Wales billed for gardening work at director’s house

The Circuit of Wales project is back in the news, after Conservative MP David Davies released invoices that show £35,578 worth of gardening work at director Michael Carrick’s English house was billed...

MotoGP: Part four of Rossi series released

08 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Part four of Rossi series released

Monster Energy have released the fourth part of their five-part video series focusing on nine-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi. The fourth part looks closer at the man and his impact and influence...

MotoGP: Silverstone confirm Day of Champions to go ahead

08 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Silverstone confirm Day of Champions to go ahead

Silverstone, the host of the British Grand Prix in September, have confirmed that this year’s Day of Champions event will go ahead, despite the delay in getting tickets for the charity event on...

MotoGP: Marquez and Pedrosa preview the Red Bull Ring

08 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez and Pedrosa preview the Red Bull Ring

With a new addition to the MotoGP calendar this year in Austria, the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa took Honda’s RCV213 road bike to the Red Bull Ring for a chance to familiarise...

MotoGP: Lack of Bridgestone experience a help for Lowes

07 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lack of Bridgestone experience a help for Lowes

Sam Lowes has admitted to MCN that he believes that his lack of experience on last year’s Bridgestone tyres will be a major asset to him as he continues his transition to MotoGP for the 2017...

MotoGP: Rossi takes to the track with Asian talent

07 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi takes to the track with Asian talent

Valentino Rossi has taken to the track with the five up and coming Asian riders currently being hosted at his VR46 Ranch, as part of Yamaha’s new program to develop talent from closer to home. The...

MotoGP: Jorge Martínez talks 25 years of Team Aspar

06 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Jorge Martínez talks 25 years of Team Aspar

2016 sees the Aspar squad celebrate 25 years of racing, after team boss Jorge Martínez Aspar made his debut as a dual rider-team boss in the European championship in 1992. Four world titles, two CRT...

MotoGP: Redding gets smart in Assen

06 July 2016 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding gets smart in Assen

Scott Redding was able to capitalise with his second ever MotoGP podium on the progress he’s made towards a more professional racer at this weekend’s Dutch TT at Assen. Keeping his head while many...