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

Did the right man win the 2015 MotoGP championship?

09 November 2015 by MCN Sport

Did the right man win the 2015 MotoGP championship?

After one of the most talked about finales in years, Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo has been crowned the 2015 MotoGP champion, beating team-mate Valentino Rossi by just five points afte 18 races. Did the...

Jorge Lorenzo wins the 2015 MotoGP World Championship

08 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Jorge Lorenzo wins the 2015 MotoGP World Championship

Jorge Lorenzo has won the 2015 MotoGP World Championship, after securing victory in the best possible way – taking a thrilling race win at Valencia from Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. Making the most...

Rabat sees off season to forget with Valencia win

08 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rabat sees off season to forget with Valencia win

Tito Rabat has held off Alex Rins to take victory in the final Moto2 race of 2015 at Valencia, ending the season on a high after a year of bad luck and injury for the defending champion. Rabat was...

Oliveira takes final Moto3 victory of 2015

08 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Oliveira takes final Moto3 victory of 2015

Miguel Oliveira has taken the final Moto3 victory of 2015; a consolidation prize for the Portuguese rider after losing out on the title to Danny Kent. Needing nothing less than a win to take the...

Kent joins illustrious list of British world champions

08 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Kent joins illustrious list of British world champions

Britain may have had a long wait since the last time a home rider wore a Grand Prix World Championship crown – since Barry Sheene won the 500GP title in 1977, in fact – but the 21 year old nonetheless...

Danny Kent is the 2015 Moto3 World Champion!

08 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Danny Kent is the 2015 Moto3 World Champion!

Danny Kent has become the first British rider in an incredible 38 years to lift a Grand Prix world title, after the 21 year old finally clinched the crown with a sensible ride at the final round of...

Dealing with pressure key for Rossi and Lorenzo

07 November 2015 by Steve English

Dealing with pressure key for Rossi and Lorenzo

Being able to live in the moment is one of the biggest challenges in racing. Being able to separate your ultimate goal of winning a championship and getting the most from yourself during a race...

Marquez: Set-up all about making tyres last the distance

07 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Marquez: Set-up all about making tyres last the distance

Marc Marquez says that a machine set-up that takes the maximum life from the Bridgestone tyres in their last Grand Prix will be the deciding factor in tomorrow’s race. The Spaniard is one of many...

Maintatining tyre life key for Crutchlow

07 November 2015 by Steve English

Maintatining tyre life key for Crutchlow

Despite a second row start Cal Crutchlow felt that he had made mistakes on his fastest lap and that he had left time on the track in Valencia. The Englishman complained yesterday that the front tyre...

Smith: I need to get away at the start

07 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Smith: I need to get away at the start

Tech 3 Yamaha’s Bradley Smith says that the most crucial part of tomorrow’s Valencia MotoGP race for him will be the first five laps, as he tries to maintain his top six qualifying spot while his...

Lorenzo: Pole very important to be ahead of trouble in race

07 November 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo: Pole very important to be ahead of trouble in race

Jorge Lorenzo said that his 62nd pole position was the “best lap of my life.” The Spaniard was almost half a second clear of the field after a highly charged qualifying session. With a world...

Rossi: Situation for race is quite desperate

07 November 2015 by Steve English

Rossi: Situation for race is quite desperate

With nothing to lose in qualifying Valentino Rossi tried a new setting in the 15 minute session. The modification was to try and help the bike deal with the higher than expected temperatures that have...

Rabat marks Moto2 comeback with Valencia pole

07 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rabat marks Moto2 comeback with Valencia pole

Tito Rabat has marked his return to Moto2 after missing three rounds of the series recovering from a broken arm by taking pole position at the final race of the season at Valencia. The Spaniard...

Lorenzo smashes lap record for Valencia pole

07 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo smashes lap record for Valencia pole

Jorge Lorenzo has smashed the lap record at Valencia to take pole position for tomorrow’s final race of the 2015 MotoGP season, finishing half a second head of Marc Marquez and beating the Repsol...

McPhee claims pole position at Valencia

07 November 2015 by Steve English

McPhee claims pole position at Valencia

John McPhee claimed a sensational pole position after a stunning performance in Moto3 qualifying at Valencia. The Scotsman, who started from pole position in Australia following a penalty for Danny...

Gearbox change costs Kent dearly in qualifying

07 November 2015 by Steve English

Gearbox change costs Kent dearly in qualifying

Moto3 championship leader Danny Kent needs to finish 14th to wrap up the title but today in Valencia he had his worst qualifying effort of the season. A change of gearboxes prior to the session saw...

Iannone and Rossi top FP3

07 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Iannone and Rossi top FP3

Andrea Iannone and Valentino Rossi have made it an Italian one-two at Valencia in free practice three, with the pair the only two to dip into the 1:30 lap times. However, the duo were just ahead of...

Oliveira fastest, Kent 12th in final practice

07 November 2015 by Steve English

Oliveira fastest, Kent 12th in final practice

Miguel Oliveira set the pace ahead of qualifying with the Portuguese rider setting his fastest time at the end of the session. Jorge Navarro was second fastest with the young Spanish star two tenths...

Smith: More data from Yamaha helped us in Malaysia

06 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Smith: More data from Yamaha helped us in Malaysia

Bradley Smith has admitted that his complaints before Sepang about a lack of data-sharing from the factory Movistar Yamaha team to his Tech 3 team were in hindsight a good idea – and helped him...

Crutchlow: I won't be moving over

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Crutchlow: I won't be moving over

A straight talking Cal Crutchlow said that “I won’t be moving for anybody on Sunday” when he was asked for his thoughts on what would happen as Valentino Rossi made his way through the pack. “I won’t...

Rossi "satisfied" with fifth but pleased with used tyre performance

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Rossi "satisfied" with fifth but pleased with used tyre performance

Valentino Rossi moved to put his back of the grid penalty to the back of his mind and focus on the task at hand in Valencia. With his penalty upheld Rossi now needs to put all his attention into...

Lorenzo fastest and confident after day 1

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo fastest and confident after day 1

Jorge Lorenzo was pleased to get back on his bike and focus on racing. The Spaniard was fastest on the opening day of the Valencia weekend. Lorenzo, who trails Valentino Rossi by seven points in the...

Positive day for Marquez but "Lorenzo is stronger"

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Positive day for Marquez but "Lorenzo is stronger"

Marc Marquez was second fastest in Valencia and ready to put “the hardest week of my life” behind him. The Spaniard was one tenth of a second slower than Jorge Lorenzo but felt that his pace on used...

Lorenzo finishes Friday well clear of chasing pack

06 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo finishes Friday well clear of chasing pack

Jorge Lorenzo has finished the opening day at Valencia well clear of the chasing pack, topping the time sheets by 0.266 from Dani Pedrosa. Andrea Iannone and Valentino Rossi were a surprise third and...

Kent title rivals find form in FP2

06 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Kent title rivals find form in FP2

Danny Kent’s Moto3 title rivals have found their form in the second session of the weekend at Valencia to squeeze the Brit back to fifth overall, as his teammate Efren Vazquez topped the times. The...

Lowes sets early pace in Valencia

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Lowes sets early pace in Valencia

Sam Lowes was confident that his Speed Up would work well in Valencia and the early returns are positive for the British rider. Lowes, who will join Gresini after this race, set the pace in opening...

Marquez and Lorenzo under lap record in opening practice

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez and Lorenzo under lap record in opening practice

The most highly anticipated MotoGP race weekend in memory is finally underway and opening practice saw Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo both underneath the lap record in Valencia. The Spanish duo were...

Kent fastest in FP1 at Valencia

06 November 2015 by Steve English

Kent fastest in FP1 at Valencia

Danny Kent said yesterday that “I’m feeling relaxed and know what I have to do this weekend to win the championship.” If opening practice is anything to go by the Englishman is ready to fight from the...

Marquez puts his focus back on racing

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Marquez puts his focus back on racing

Marc Marquez said that the aftermath of his Sepang clash with Valentino Rossi has been the most difficult time of his life. Enduring the strain of the aftermath of Malaysia has been a challenge for...

Lorenzo rejects speculation of Yamaha rift

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo rejects speculation of Yamaha rift

Jorge Lorenzo moved to dismiss any speculation that will link him with a move away from Yamaha at the end of his contract in 12 months time. The double MotoGP champion has ridden for Yamaha since...

Lorenzo respects CAS decision, focused on race

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo respects CAS decision, focused on race

Jorge Lorenzo refused to discuss the Sepang crash between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez. The title contender said that he would respect the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but...

Rossi: I appealed to CAS to understand if possible to have normal fight

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Rossi: I appealed to CAS to understand if possible to have normal fight

Valentino Rossi faces an uphill task on Sunday with the Italian now set to start at the back of the grid. With the rejection of his appeal for a stay of execution for his back of the grid penalty for...

Stars caution fans to focus on racing this weekend

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Stars caution fans to focus on racing this weekend

This weekend’s race in Valencia is one of the most eagerly anticipated in years. It’s hard to remember a race that has captured the imaginations of fans to the same degree. The partisan natures of...

Honda: Releasing crash data would add fuel to fire

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Honda: Releasing crash data would add fuel to fire

Honda today decided not to reveal the data from the Sepang crash that saw Marc Marquez fall following contact with Valentino Rossi. Earlier this week the Japanese manufacturer had claimed that Marquez...

Relaxed Kent looking forward to weekend

05 November 2015 by Steve English

Relaxed Kent looking forward to weekend

On Sunday night we’ll finally have the answer as to whether Danny Kent’s quest to end Britain’s 38 year wait for a Grand Prix world champion will end with the 21 year old claiming the Moto3 title. The...

Rossi appeal rejected – will start from back of the grid at Valencia

05 November 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rossi appeal rejected – will start from back of the grid at Valencia

Valentino Rossi’s three penalty points issued for his Sepang collision with Marc Marquez has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – meaning his hopes of lifting a tenth world championship...