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

Laverty: Ducati feels like a family

26 November 2015 by Steve English

Laverty: Ducati feels like a family

Eugene Laverty used the opening day of the three day MotoGP test to shakedown the Ducati GP14.2 that he’ll use in 2016. It had been planned that the Aspar rider would only test Thursday and Friday but...

Pedrosa focused on evaluating new engine

25 November 2015 by Steve English

Pedrosa focused on evaluating new engine

A small crash at the final corner blotted Dani Pedrosa’s copy book on the opening day of the Jerez test but overall the Honda rider was pleased with his work. Having missed this year’s race at Jerez...

Marquez sets the pace on busy opening day at Jerez

25 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez sets the pace on busy opening day at Jerez

The final test of the 2015 season sees Honda, Ducati and Aprilia in action at Jerez. Today saw limited running with only eight bikes on track with the focus on understanding the new Michelin tyres and...

Marquez: Every day is now an interesting day

25 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez: Every day is now an interesting day

After the opening day of testing at Jerez Marc Marquez said that “every day is an interesting day for us now because there is so much to learn.” With new electronics, new tyres and a new engine to...

250s five years on: RIP the perfect race bike

23 November 2015 by MCN Sport

250s five years on: RIP the perfect race bike

The dawn of Moto2 marked the demise of some of the most clinically functional bikes ever to race. here was something about a 250 in full flow; high lean angles, amazing corner speed, bar-to-bar...

Ducati confirm Stoner as MotoGP test rider

23 November 2015 by Steve English

Ducati confirm Stoner as MotoGP test rider

Ducati today confirmed that Casey Stoner will return to the iconic Italian manufacturer as a test rider and brand ambassador. The news has been expected for the last week and comes one hour after...

Honda confirm Stoner departure

23 November 2015 by Steve English

Honda confirm Stoner departure

Honda today confirmed that Casey Stoner’s contract as test rider will not be resumed for 2016. The path is thus paved for the double MotoGP champion to move to Ducati for next year as their test rider...

Tyres and electronics on MotoGP testing agendas

23 November 2015 by Steve English

Tyres and electronics on MotoGP testing agendas

The final tests of 2015 will take place this week with Suzuki testing in Malaysia and Honda, Ducati and Aprilia travelling to Jerez. This week’s tests are a crucial opportunity for the manufacturers...

Honda's greatest failure, the NR500

21 November 2015 by Michael Scott

Honda's greatest failure, the NR500

While Barry Sheene fought off Kenny Roberts and Randy Mamola around the Le Mans Bugatti circuit, a group of Honda R&D staff hunched around the world’s two most technically advanced motorcycles in the...

Marquez: Finding the balance between aggressive and conservative is key

20 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez: Finding the balance between aggressive and conservative is key

Marc Marquez hosted a Motocross camp today in Rufea in his latest venture to aid children’s health care. The double MotoGP champion has taken a key interest in the specialised care to children with...

Back injury sees Espargaro forced to sit out final test

20 November 2015 by Steve English

Back injury sees Espargaro forced to sit out final test

Aleix Espargaro will be forced to sit out the final test of the 2015 season after the Spaniard suffered a flexion fracture of the T9 vertebrae during a training crash. The Suzuki rider injured himself...

Schwantz - I only figured how to go fast after I quit racing!

19 November 2015 by MCN Sport

Schwantz - I only figured how to go fast after I quit racing!

He was the guy who inspired Rossi, Simoncelli and a whole generation of sportsbike-loving kids to scrape their knees, pop wheelies and wait until they saw God before even thinking about applying the...

Lorenzo withdraws from Race of Champions

19 November 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo withdraws from Race of Champions

London fans will not get the chance to see Jorge Lorenzo in action at this weekend’s Race of Champions following the Spaniard’s decision to withdraw from the event. Lorenzo suffered second degree...

Circuit of Wales passes final planning permission obstacle

19 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Circuit of Wales passes final planning permission obstacle

The Circuit of Wales, the new proposed home of the British Grand Prix, has passed it’s final planning permission obstacle, after a public inquiry agreed to transfer common land to the project to give...

Confident Lowes focusing on learning new bike

17 November 2015 by Steve English

Confident Lowes focusing on learning new bike

Sam Lowes was fifth fastest in the final Moto2 test of 2015 but afterwards the Englishman was in enthusiastic form. Despite finishing over half a second slower than Johann Zarco Lowes was confident...

Iannone decides against shoulder surgery

14 November 2015 by Steve English

Iannone decides against shoulder surgery

After a year beset with shoulder concerns Andrea Iannone has elected not to undergo surgery on the injury. Iannone initially injured his shoulder in a test at Mugello in May and aggravated the injury...

Excited Lowes thrilled with Kalex switch

13 November 2015 by Steve English

Excited Lowes thrilled with Kalex switch

Sam Lowes struggled to contain his excitement as he assessed his first test with the Gresini squad and the Kalex that he’ll ride next year in Moto2. “Today was so positive,” beamed Lowes. “The bike...

Kent thrilled with pace in opening Moto2 test

13 November 2015 by Steve English

Kent thrilled with pace in opening Moto2 test

Danny Kent’s adaptation to Moto2 didn’t take long with the newly crowned Moto3 champion ending his first test on the bike just three tenths off the pace. The test Jerez drew to a close with Kent able...

Five of the best from Casey Stoner

13 November 2015 by Steve English

Five of the best from Casey Stoner

With Ducati looking to renew their links with Casey Stoner and hire the Australian as a test rider with the provision of wild card outings, the MotoGP paddock has been filled with exceitment at the...

Champion Kent returns to Moto2

12 November 2015 by Steve English

Champion Kent returns to Moto2

Moto3 world champion Danny Kent was able to enjoy a couple of days after winning the world champion to take stock of his achievements but with his Moto2 testing campaign starting in Jerez today he had...

Lowes 'in love' with Moto2 Kalex after Jerez test

12 November 2015 by Steve English

Lowes 'in love' with Moto2 Kalex after Jerez test

Sam Lowes had a productive first day of testing at Jerez with the Moto2 race winner setting the third fastest time and completing over almost 80 laps of the Spanish circuit. Having ridden for Speed Up...

Rossi making steps forward with Michelin setup

12 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rossi making steps forward with Michelin setup

Valentino Rossi says he’s left the first test of the 2016 season pleased with his progress despite two big shake-ups in the form of both a control electronic and rider aid package and the switch from...

Michelin pleased with progress after first official test

12 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Michelin pleased with progress after first official test

Michelin are pleased with their progress after the first two days of official return to MotoGP, as the first test of 2016 finishes at Valencia, according to Technical Director Nicolas Goubert. Despite...

Marquez tops final day at Valencia test

11 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez tops final day at Valencia test

Marc Marquez was fastest on the final day of the Valencia test with the Spaniard one tenth of a second faster than Maverick Vinales, Dani Pedrosa and Aleix Espargaro. With world champion Jorge Lorenzo...

Momentum grows for Stoner returning to Ducati

11 November 2015 by Steve English

Momentum grows for Stoner returning to Ducati

With the 2015 MotoGP season having drawn to a close on Sunday night the start of the new season has come with a bombshell from Ducati that Casey Stoner could return to MotoGP as a test rider. While...

GoPro unveil 2015 MotoGP highlights

11 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

GoPro unveil 2015 MotoGP highlights

New MotoGP sponsor GoPro have unveiled their 2015 season highlights, combining the best on and off bike footage fo the 2015 season into an incredible look at the season’s action up close and...

Miller: You have to ride the new tyres like a 250GP bike!

10 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Miller: You have to ride the new tyres like a 250GP bike!

Jack Miller has compared the riding style needed to get the best of the new Michelin MotoGP tyres to that of a two-stroke 250GP machine of old. Saying that the tyres change how a rider brakes on...

Dovi: Michelin tyres have a lot of potential

10 November 2015 by Steve English

Dovi: Michelin tyres have a lot of potential

The potential of the Michelin tyres is very high according to Andrea Dovizioso but the knife edge nature of the tyres at the moment is making things very difficult for MotoGP riders. “The bikes have...

Rossi: Electronics are back to 2008 levels!

10 November 2015 by Steve English

Rossi: Electronics are back to 2008 levels!

Valentino Rossi said that the change of electronics for 2016 have been a massive step backwards for MotoGP machines. The factories have now had to revert back to the software that had been previously...

Michelins just need adapting to, says Smith

10 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Michelins just need adapting to, says Smith

Bradley Smith says that despite the high number of crashes on the opening day of full testing with MotoGP’s new Michelin tyres, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the rubber. Instead, the top...

Marquez tops opening day of Valencia test

10 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez tops opening day of Valencia test

Marc Marquez started the 2016 season by leading the way on the opening day of the post Valencia Grand Prix test. The double MotoGP world champion was keen to move past the events of the last two weeks...

2016 MotoGP season gets underway

10 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

2016 MotoGP season gets underway

The 2015 MotoGP season may have only finished on Sunday with the final race of the year at Valencia, but the 2016 campaign is already underway, with bikes back on track this morning at the Spanish...

The Perfect Crime?

09 November 2015 by Michael Scott

The Perfect Crime?

What a mess. What a shambles. What a shame. The problem is this: one man has – through charm, astuteness and brilliant talent – become bigger than the sport. And that man has stopped playing Mr Nice...

Twitter reacts to Danny Kent’s title success

09 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Twitter reacts to Danny Kent’s title success

Some of the top names in British motorcycling have taken to Twitter to congratulate the first British Grand Prix champion in nearly four decades after Danny Kent lifted the Moto3 crown yesterday at...

Honda’s Nakamoto responds to Rossi allegations

09 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Honda’s Nakamoto responds to Rossi allegations

Honda Racing Corporation’s Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto has responded to Valentino Rossi’s accusations that Marc Marquez was riding to protect Jorge Lorenzo during yesterday’s Valencia...

Rossi: Marquez decided to protect Lorenzo

09 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rossi: Marquez decided to protect Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi has slammed Marc Marquez for his role in Jorge Lorenzo’s 2015 MotoGP title victory, claiming in a post-race press conference that the two-time world champion was riding ‘as a...