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

Extra GP grid space withdrawn

02 May 2016 by Simon Patterson

Extra GP grid space withdrawn

The 24th MotoGP grid space set to be made available for the 2017 season has been withdrawn after objections from the manufacturers, despite organisers admitting that there were a number of strong...

Marquez wants to see MotoGP winglets banned

01 May 2016 by Simon Patterson

Marquez wants to see MotoGP winglets banned

Marc Marquez has gone on the record to admit that he would like to see the multitude of wings currently in use in MotoGP banned in the future – but won’t stop taking any advantage he can form them...

Successful private test for Lowes

01 May 2016 by Simon Patterson

Successful private test for Lowes

Sam Lowes has had a successful one-day test of the Federal Oil Gresini Kalex machine at Barcelona’s Montmelò, home of June’s Catalan round of the 2016 Moto2 championship that the Lincolnshire racer...

‘Marked increase in performance’ for KTM

30 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

‘Marked increase in performance’ for KTM

KTM have seen a ‘marked increase in performance’ for their new RC16 MotoGP machine at this week’s test at Brno, according to project head Mike Leitner. The rain-hit two-day test saw Mika Kallio and...

Circuit of Wales submits revised funding plan

30 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Circuit of Wales submits revised funding plan

The Circuit of Wales have submitted a revised funding plan to the Welsh government. The new plan reduces the amount of financial guarantee required from the regional assembly by half, covering 50% of...

Yamaha have encouraging day on development Michelins

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Yamaha have encouraging day on development Michelins

The Movistar Yamaha team of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi had an encouraging day on Michelin’s latest development tyres at Monday’s one-day test at Jerez, according to team boss Massimo...

Pedrosa has ‘strange day’ at Jerez test

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Pedrosa has ‘strange day’ at Jerez test

Dani Pedrosa says that the one-day test at Jerez following last weekend’s race at the Spanish circuit was a ‘strange day’ for him, with improved track conditions not brining the improvement in grip...

Video: Valentino Rossi - The Doctor series trailer

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Video: Valentino Rossi - The Doctor series trailer

Everybody knows Valentino Rossi as an icon of motorcycle racing but what is it like to wear his shoes? To deal with expectation, spotlight, judgement and the constant pressure of being an athlete...

Suzuki winglets ‘not a huge improvement’

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Suzuki winglets ‘not a huge improvement’

Suzuki rider Aleix Espargaró has admitted that the GSX-RR’s new front winglets do not make a huge improvement to the handling of his bike – but that with every advantage necessary at the minute in...

Moto3 front-runner Bastianini breaks wrist

29 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Moto3 front-runner Bastianini breaks wrist

Moto3 front-runner Enea Bastianini has broken his wrist in a training accident, falling on Wednesday while riding off-road. The training crash saw him suffer a fracture to his right wrist. Following...

Crutchlow disappointed with first points-scoring finish

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Crutchlow disappointed with first points-scoring finish

Cal Crutchlow was once again left disappointed with the fourth round of the MotoGP championship in Jerez last weekend, despite the Brit finally managing to get points on the board after finishing his...

Suzuki the key in GP contract talks

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Suzuki the key in GP contract talks

Suzuki and Maverick Viñales have become the focal point of 2016’s contract negotiations, as the young Spaniard considers offers not only to join Valentino Rossi at the Movistar Yamaha squad but also...

GP Commission changes rules on jump-starts

28 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

GP Commission changes rules on jump-starts

MotoGP rulemaking body the Grand Prix Commission has restructured the system for penalising riders for jump starts following the aftermath of the debacle at the opening Moto2 round at Qatar. There was...

Fresh Dovi disaster as Ducati struggle

25 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Fresh Dovi disaster as Ducati struggle

They may have been hogging the headlines following the confirmation that they have signed Jorge Lorenzo for 2017, but Ducati had nothing to write home about at Jerez. Unable to extract the most from...

Rossi takes stunning win in Jerez

24 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Rossi takes stunning win in Jerez

Valentino Rossi has taken a stunning victory over Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez in Jerez, controlling the entire race from start to finish to eventually take the win by five seconds, in one of his...

Lowes dominates for Jerez win

24 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Lowes dominates for Jerez win

Sam Lowes has converted his second Moto2 pole position of the year into his first victory, taking the win in Jerez from Jonas Folger in dominating form. Leading from the opening stages, when a mistake...

Binder takes incredible last-to-first victory

24 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Binder takes incredible last-to-first victory

Brad Binder has taken an incredible debut win in Jerez from back of the grid, after a penalty from qualifying for an illegal ECU map demoted him from pole position to the very last spot – but didn´t...

Lowes makes it two poles from four races

23 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Lowes makes it two poles from four races

Sam Lowes has made it two pole positions from four races – and maintained his record of a clean sweep of front row starts in 2016 – by making the most of the softer option Michelin tyres he used to...

Surprise late lap hands Rossi pole

23 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Surprise late lap hands Rossi pole

Valentino Rossi has taken a surprise pole position at Jerez, setting a lap in the dying seconds of the Q2 session at the Spanish track to demote teammate Jorge Lorenzo to second place. The lap demoted...

Bulega takes maiden pole in Jerez

23 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Bulega takes maiden pole in Jerez

Nicolo Bulega has taken his debut Moto3 pole position in Jerez, winning at the track where he took victory in 2015 en route to the junior world title. He controlled the entire session at the southern...

Nakagami tops day one in slippery conditions

22 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Nakagami tops day one in slippery conditions

Takaaki Nakagami has topped the opening day of Moto2 action at Jerez, as high track temperatures brought about a slippery track at the notoriously low-grip Spanish circuit. The Japanese rider...

Laverty supports NI Air Ambulance at Jerez

22 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Laverty supports NI Air Ambulance at Jerez

Northern Irish MotoGP racer Eugene Laverty will lend support to the province’s fledgling air ambulance charity this weekend in Jerez, running their logo on his leathers as part of the campaign to get...

Lorenzo takes control as MotoGP goes European

22 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo takes control as MotoGP goes European

Jorge Lorenzo has taken control of the opening day of the European core of the 2016 MotoGP season, finishing Friday 0.3 clear of Marc Marquez as well as topping both of the day’s two sessions. The duo...

Michelin explain Redding tyre issue

22 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Michelin explain Redding tyre issue

Michelin have explained the causes of Scott Redding’s tyre issue in Argentina, with the unusual combination of factors at the Termas track leading to the delamination that almost caused the Pramac...

Binder tops opening day in Jerez

22 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Binder tops opening day in Jerez

Brad Binder has taken the Red Bull Ajo KTM to the top spot in the Moto3 class on the opening day of action at Jerez, ending the day 0.1 ahead of the Honda of Jorge Navarro. They headed a Team Sky VR46...

Dovi stakes claim for remaining Ducati seat

20 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Dovi stakes claim for remaining Ducati seat

Andrea Dovizioso has staked his claim for the remaining seat at Ducati next season alongside new signing Jorge Lorenzo, hitting out at teammate (and rival for the spot) Andrea Iannone. Iannone is...

Upgrades for Aprilia as MotoGP returns to Europe

20 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Upgrades for Aprilia as MotoGP returns to Europe

Aprilia will have further upgrades to the new RS-GP machines of Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista this weekend as MotoGP returns to Europe, with the pair hoping to continue a strong start to 2016 at...

Lorenzo: My focus remains with Yamaha

19 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo: My focus remains with Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo has spoken publically for the first time since his new Ducati deal for the 2017 and 2018 season was announced yesterday, posting a short video message to social media to thank his fans...

Smith hoping for better form on European return

19 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Smith hoping for better form on European return

Bradley Smith is hoping for a return to better for this weekend when MotoGP returns to Europe, after a difficult start to the season for the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha racer. Struggling since before the...

Marquez: Rivals will be strong at Jerez

19 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Marquez: Rivals will be strong at Jerez

Marc Marquez says it’s more important than ever that him and the Repsol Honda squad make a strong start this weekend at Jerez, a track he expects title rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo to be...

Confirmed: Lorenzo makes Ducati switch for 2017

18 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Confirmed: Lorenzo makes Ducati switch for 2017

As reported by MCN weeks ago, reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will make the switch from Yamaha to Ducati for the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP seasons. The news was confirmed this afternoon only...

What next for Yamaha?

18 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

What next for Yamaha?

With the news that reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will move to Ducati for the 2017 season, one big question mark that remains to be answered in the aftermath of the move is who exactly...

Yamaha and Lorenzo part ways for 2017

18 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Yamaha and Lorenzo part ways for 2017

Movistar Yamaha have announced that they will part ways with Jorge Lorenzo for the 2017 season, partly confirming that, as reported by MCN weeks ago, that the reigning world champion will switch to...

Crutchlow left struggling with gout in Austin

15 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Crutchlow left struggling with gout in Austin

Cal Crutchlow’s difficult start to the 2016 MotoGP season – failing to score points in the opening three races of the year – was left even worse last weekend in Austin when travel chaos from Argentina...

Viñales left kicking himself after testing pace

15 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Viñales left kicking himself after testing pace

Suzuki rider Maverick Viñales has been left kicking himself after discovering his pace on the 2016 GSX-RR chassis at the Circuit of the Americas – in a test a day after using the 2015 version for the...

Dorna pledge support to British Grand Prix

15 April 2016 by Simon Patterson

Dorna pledge support to British Grand Prix

Dorna events director Javier Alonso has pledged support to the British Grand prix, regardless of what happens in the future with the beleaguered Circuit of Wales project. Currently the rights holders...