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

Gearbox woes cost Espargaro dearly in Aragon

29 September 2015 by Steve English

Gearbox woes cost Espargaro dearly in Aragon

Pol Espargaro may have finished ninth on Sunday but his Aragon Grand Prix was a positive step in the right direction. The Spaniard, who had a strong qualifying session and ran in at the front of the...

Lack of grip holding Crutchlow back

28 September 2015 by Steve English

Lack of grip holding Crutchlow back

A lack of grip left Cal Crutchlow seventh in Aragon and unable to challenge for a top five place after struggling to drive out of corners to be able to attack Andrea Dovizioso and Aleix...

Iannone digs deep for fourth

28 September 2015 by Steve English

Iannone digs deep for fourth

Andrea Iannone had another heroic ride on his Ducati to finish fourth at Aragon despite once again racing with a recently dislocated shoulder. The Italian had to dig deep throughout the race and...

Lorenzo wins ahead of epic duel for second

27 September 2015 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo wins ahead of epic duel for second

Jorge Lorenzo has closed the gap to Valentino Rossi back to only 14 points in the 2015 MotoGP championship after taking a dominant win in Motorland Aragon, while fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa helped...

Rabat wins and Lowes on podium after Aragon thriller

27 September 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rabat wins and Lowes on podium after Aragon thriller

Tito Rabat has held off the advances of Alex Rins to take an impressive race victory at Motorland Aragon, going right down to the line with his fellow Spaniard in the shortened Moto2 race. The race...

Oliveira wins as Kent crashes out

27 September 2015 by Simon Patterson

Oliveira wins as Kent crashes out

Miguel Oliveira has taken his third Moto3 win of the 2015 season, after the Portuguese rider was able to triumph while his championship rivals crashed out of the penultimate European race of the year...

Kent confirmed at Leopard for 2016 in Moto2

27 September 2015 by Steve English

Kent confirmed at Leopard for 2016 in Moto2

Leopard Racing this morning has confirmed that Danny Kent will remain with the team next year and move to the Moto2 class. The Englishman has had a dominant year in Moto3 with the German squad and...

Quarataro signs with Leopard, Locatelli confirmed

27 September 2015 by Steve English

Quarataro signs with Leopard, Locatelli confirmed

Leopard Racing look set to continue to be a front runner in Moto3 next year after confirming their rider lineup for the 2016 season. With Danny Kent sent to move to Moto2 and Efren Vazquez reaching...

Rory Skinner makes Red Bull Rookies podium debut

26 September 2015 by Simon Patterson

Rory Skinner makes Red Bull Rookies podium debut

Scottish teenager Rory Skinner has made his debut trip to the podium in MotoGP support class Red Bull Rookies, taking third place at Aragon after leading for most of the race. Only getting caught out...

Rossi: Race pace is a concern for tomorrow

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Rossi: Race pace is a concern for tomorrow

Yet again in 2015 Valentino Rossi has left himself plenty of work to do in Sunday’s race. The championship leader has done a fantastic job of fighting through the pack this year but with Marc Marquez...

Rabat on pole, Zarco on front row

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Rabat on pole, Zarco on front row

Tito Rabat took the 15th pole position of his career at Aragon with the world champion setting the pace ahead of Alex Rins and Johann Zarco. Sam Lowes will start from fourth on the grid after...

Marquez takes pole despite crash

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Marquez takes pole despite crash

A last minute crash wasn’t enough to derail Marc Marquez in qualifying at Aragon with the world champion taking pole position ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and a hugely impressive Andrea Iannone. The...

Pole position for Bastianini

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Pole position for Bastianini

Having claimed his first Grand Prix win last time out in Misano Enea Bastianini was in great form during qualifying to take pole position at Aragon. The Italian comfortably outpaced the field with...

Interview: Sam Lowes on his 2017 move to MotoGP

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Interview: Sam Lowes on his 2017 move to MotoGP

You must be glad to have your future confirmed and a three year contract with Aprilia in place. What was it that made you decide to spend next year in Moto2 rather than move directly to the MotoGP...

Rabat sets the pace at Aragon

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Rabat sets the pace at Aragon

Tito Rabat hasn’t won since Mugello but the Spaniard looks to be in strong form this weekend. Rabat was fastest ahead of final qualifying with Jonas Folger second fastest ahead of Alex Rins. Hafizh...

Marquez shows his potential in FP3

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Marquez shows his potential in FP3

Honda kept their powder dry on the opening day of the Aragon Grand Prix by not using fresh medium tyres in the closing stages of the day but in FP3 the RC213v machines showed their pace with Marc...

Vazquez quickest ahead of qualifying

26 September 2015 by Steve English

Vazquez quickest ahead of qualifying

In the cool temperatures of the early morning Efren Vazquez set the pace ahead of qualifying with the Leopard Racing rider over quarter of a second faster than Niccolo Antonelli, Miguel Oliviera and...

ROSSI: ‘I’m focused on this beautiful and intense season’

26 September 2015 by MCN

ROSSI: ‘I’m focused on this beautiful and intense season’

Valentino Rossi shares his innermost thoughts about what it takes to run at the front in MotoGP today and what he’ll do next. he hand scrapes through a sweaty tangle of hair. A smile spreads, and his...

Superbike options diminishing for Hayden

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Superbike options diminishing for Hayden

Nicky Hayden all but confirmed today that he won’t be racing in MotoGP next year. The American, who won the 2006 premier class title, has been linked with a move to World Superbikes and it looks...

Smith: It's a positive start to the weekend

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Smith: It's a positive start to the weekend

Bradley Smith was third fastest after a “positive start to the Aragon weekend” by the Tech3 rider. Smith trailed only the factory Yamaha riders and looked comfortable and fast throughout the day. “It...

Lorenzo fastest with Smith impressing again

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo fastest with Smith impressing again

Jorge Lorenzo continued to dominate the MotoGP class at Aragon and led the way from fellow Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi and Bradley Smith by almost seven tenths of a second. The Spaniard, who has...

Bastianini fastest despite crah

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Bastianini fastest despite crah

A late crash couldn’t half Enea Bastianini’s momentum at Aragon with the Italian leading the way at Aragon. The Gresini rider crashed after contact with Hiroki Ono on his final lap of the day.

Lack of front end confidence holding Kent back

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Lack of front end confidence holding Kent back

Danny Kent admitted to MCN that Friday at Aragon was “a tough day” but is confident that he can improve his fortunes ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying session. Kent struggled with a lack of front end...

Lowes leads the way after FP1

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Lowes leads the way after FP1

Sam Lowes dominated FP1 at Aragon with the Speed UP rider setting the pace throughout the 45 minute session. Lowes, who this week confirmed his plans for next year, was able to lead the way by over...

Lorenzo comfortably fastest in FP1

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo comfortably fastest in FP1

Jorge Lorenzo dominated opening practice at Aragon and was nearly six tenths faster than his Yamaha teammate, and title rival, Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo led the way throughout the 45 minute sessionwith...

Bastianini fastest, Kent third at Aragon

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Bastianini fastest, Kent third at Aragon

A last minute flurry of activity saw Enea Bastianini, Miguel Oliviera and Danny Kent set the pace in opening Moto3 practice ahead of this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix. Bastianini held sway by over two...

Rossi and Lorenzo ready for "very important" weekend

25 September 2015 by Steve English

Rossi and Lorenzo ready for "very important" weekend

The MotoGP title race is heating up with five races to go and with Jorge Lorenzo trailing Valentino Rossi by 23 points this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix could potentially be a pivotal race in the...

Great British GP Disasters

24 September 2015 by Mat Oxley

Great British GP Disasters

Sad but true: British failures at the British GP must surely equal half a century of English football horrors. The last Brit to win the big race on home tarmac was the late, great Tom Herron, who won...

Smith: I can't wait to get back on the Yamaha!

23 September 2015 by Steve English

Smith: I can't wait to get back on the Yamaha!

Bradley Smith is keen to get back on track following his brave podium finish at Misano. The Tech3 rider was the only rider to elect not to switch bikes at the San Marino Grand Prix and was rewarded...

Bridgestone outline challenges of Aragon

22 September 2015 by Steve English

Bridgestone outline challenges of Aragon

This weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix provides the MotoGP field with a very challenging circuit. The 5km long circuit has a huge variety of corners that range from the fast sweeping corners to stop start...

Aprilia confirm Lowes for Moto2 in 2016, MotoGP in 2017

22 September 2015 by Simon Patterson

Aprilia confirm Lowes for Moto2 in 2016, MotoGP in 2017

As revealed exclusively by MCN earlier this month, Aprilia have confirmed that former World Supersport champion Sam Lowes will make is MotoGP debut with the Italian manufacturer in 2017. Signing a...

MCN Plus - The Greatest British GP Ever

21 September 2015 by MCN

MCN Plus - The Greatest British GP Ever

British 500cc GP, Silverstone, August 12, 1979 Sheene was the British superstar; Roberts his American nemesis. But while the latter seemed indomitable, Sheene had fallen out with Suzuki and was...

Moto2 title in touching distance for Zarco

21 September 2015 by Steve English

Moto2 title in touching distance for Zarco

Johann Zarco can wrap up the Moto2 title this weekend at Aragon and it could take only a top finish to do so. The Frenchman holds a 93 point lead over Tito Rabat and with five races remaining he needs...

Iannone dislocates shoulder again

17 September 2015 by Steve English

Iannone dislocates shoulder again

Andrea Iannone has once again dislocated his left shoulder after a training accident in Italy. The Ducati rider tripped while running and used his arms to break his folder and the impact jarred his...

Elias in at Forward, Corti out

16 September 2015 by Steve English

Elias in at Forward, Corti out

Toni Elias will replace Claudio Corti at Forward Racing for the remainder of the 2015 MotoGP season. The Spaniard, who replaced an injured Karel Abraham, earlier this year will race alongside Loris...

Race of two halves for Laverty

16 September 2015 by Steve English

Race of two halves for Laverty

The flag to flag San Marino Grand Prix left Eugene Laverty once again seeing positives from the weekend but no points on the table. The Irishman was strong in the dry on Friday and at the end of the...