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

Marquez: Assen doesn't matter

09 July 2015 by Steve English

Marc Marquez said that the effects of the Dutch TT will have no change to his mindset with the five points lost or gained “not changing my life.” “Second place was okay, after [crashing at] Mugello...

Espargaro and Smith talk Suzuka

09 July 2015 by Steve English

The Suzuka 8 Hours is one of the most famous races in the world and for Pol Espargaro it provides a unique challenge. The Spaniard admitted to MCN that working with his teammates to improve the bike...

Laverty to replace Melandri for German GP

08 July 2015 by Steve English

Michael Laverty has confirmed to MCN that he will be racing at this weekend’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. The Ulsterman, who has been testing for Aprilia throughout the year, will replace...

Dovi: We've lost speed compared to rivals

07 July 2015 by Steve English

That Ducati has lost a step in recent races is undeniable. Andrea Iannone is third in the championship and Andrea Dovizioso is fifth so while the opening eight races of the year have been hugely...

Bridgestone bring asymmetric front to Germany

07 July 2015 by Steve English

Bridgestone will bring their asymmetric front tyre to this weekend’s German Grand Prix. The unique demands of the Sachsenring, ten left handers and only three right hand corners, means that this is...

Corti to replace Bradl at Sachsenring

06 July 2015 by Steve English

Forward Racing this morning announced that Stefan Bradl will miss his home Grand Prix at the Sachsenring this weekend having not recovered from his scaphoid surgery. The German suffered the injury...

Rabat fractures collarbone

05 July 2015 by Steve English

$Rabat fractures collarbone$

Tito Rabat has fractured his right collarbone in a training crash at the Almeria circuit in Spain. The reigning Moto2 world champion has been on the podium at the last five Grand Prix, including...

Smith looking forward to Germany

03 July 2015 by Steve English

One year ago Bradley Smith was a man under pressure. He was enduring a miserable MotoGP campaign and it looked for the world that he was on his way out of Tech3 and possibly the championship. The...

Lowes hoping for new chassis for Sachsenring

03 July 2015 by Steve English

Sam Lowes’ hopes of winning in Germany could be given a boost with a new chassis from Speed Up. The Lincolnshire native is looking for a softer chassis that he hopes will offer him improvements in...

Crutchlow looks for acceleration gain in Germany

03 July 2015 by Steve English

Cal Crutchlow was hampered by a slow engine at Assen and the Englishman knows that finding a solution to this issue will be key if he’s to challenge for a podium in the coming races. Throughout the...

Espargaro calls for more power from Suzuki

30 June 2015 by Steve English

Aleix Espargaro faded to the lower reaches of the open in Assen after a difficult race for the front row starter. Despite entering the first corner in second place Espargaro was unable to offer...

Clutch and brake problems for Pedrosa

30 June 2015 by Steve English

Dani Pedrosa crashed on race day morning in Assen and had to settle for eighth at the flag after a difficult day at the Dutch TT. The crash left his preferred race bike badly damaged and at the start...

Ajo's incredible escape!

30 June 2015 by Steve English

Niki Ajo channeled his inner Randy Mamola at Assen after an incredible last lap save saw the Finn roll across the finish line alongside his Moto3 machine. Having ridden his bucking KTM across the line...

Bradl in doubt for Germany after surgery

30 June 2015 by Steve English

With his home Grand Prix next on the calendar Stefan Bradl faces a race against time to be fit for Sachsenring. The German crashed during the race at Assen and fractured his right scaphoid. The injury...

Difficult Dutch weekend for Ducati

29 June 2015 by Steve English

Assen was a difficult race for the Ducati squad with Andrea Iannone able to salvage a top five finish despite suffering from braking problems. Andrea Dovizioso wasn’t so lucky with the Italian...

Rossi and Marquez serve up a classic!

27 June 2015 by Steve English

Valentino Rossi took the 111th win of his career after a superbly judged fight with Marc Marquez for the win. The duo were in a class of their own but when Rossi moved past with three laps to go there...

Zarco wins again

27 June 2015 by Steve English

Johann Zarco extended his Moto2 championship lead to 45 points from Tito Rabat after a well judged victory in a shortened Dutch TT. The race was reduced to 16 laps after a crash at the start by Luis...

Oliviera wins a thriller!

27 June 2015 by Steve English

Miguel Oliviera claimed a thrilling Moto3 victory at Assen with the Portuguese rider taking the second victory of his career from Fabio Quartararo and Danny Kent. The race distilled into a battle at...

Marquez sets pace in warmup

27 June 2015 by Steve English

Marc Marquez showed his potential for today’s Dutch TT by topping the times in morning warmup by over four tenths of a second from Valentino Rossi. Marquez has had the speed this weekend to contend...

Zarco fastest in warmup

27 June 2015 by Steve English

Moto2 has been about three men all wekeend-Johann Zarco, Tito Rabat and Sam Lowes-and while Simone Corsi was able to get amongst them this morning there’s little indicators to expect the podium fight...

Kent leads way in warmup

27 June 2015 by Steve English

After qualifying off the front row Danny Kent said that he was confident in his race pace and this morning’s warmup was a clear indication that he will be the man to beat this afternoon. Kent was...

Statement from Grand Prix Commission on concessions for 2016

27 June 2015 by Steve English

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Ignacio Verneda (FIM CEO), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA) in the presence of Javier Alonso...

Ducati to lose concessions from 2016

27 June 2015 by Steve English

Ducati will lose all concessions for 2016 with an announcement today by the Grand Prix Commission stating that “any team that scores six concession points in wet or dry will lose all concessions for...

"So important" for Rossi to claim pole

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Valentino Rossi’s first pole position of the season was greeted by huge cheers from the Assen crowd and afterwards the championship leader was under no illusions as to how crucial it was for him. “It...

Pole for Zarco with Lowes confident of race pace

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Johann Zarco claimed pole position by over a quarter second from Tito Rabat and tomorrow’s race looks set to be a close fight between the duo with Sam Lowes likely to be in the thick of things. It was...

First pole of the year for Rossi

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Valentino Rossi claimed his first pole position of the season at Assen after a stunning qualifying session that saw the Italian take pole from Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez. While Rossi had a...

Espargaro and Petrucci make it through to QP2

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Aleix Espargaro and Danilo Petrucci made it through to QP2 after the Suzuki rider gambled on having done enough on his first run to make it through to the final top 12 shootout. Petrucci was...

Marquez fastest in final practice

26 June 2015 by Steve English

The final free practice session of the weekend is a crucial 30 minute session that gives the best indicator of what to expect over the course of the weekend. No longer bound by a need to finish inside...

Pole for Bastianini, Kent fourth on the grid

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Enea Bastianini took a second consecutive pole position this afternoon with the Italian continuing to show why he is rated as the only rider capable of fighting with Danny Kent for the Moto3 world...

Rabat quickest ahead of qualifying

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Tito Rabat set the fastest time of the final Moto2 practice on his final lap with the reigning world champion ending the session over two tenths faster than his nearest pursuer, Xavier Simeon, with...

Yamaha lay down a morning marker

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Yamaha laid down an ominous marker in the critical FP3 session with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo topping the timesheets ahead of the Ducati’s of Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso. Having seen...

Kent fastest ahead of qualifying

26 June 2015 by Steve English

Late in the session Danny Kent put in a series of fast times to move to the head of the timesheets in Moto3. The Englishman has led every session before this afternoon’s all important qualifying...

Fifth for Crutchlow after solid opening day

25 June 2015 by Steve English

Despite spending most of the day in the lower reaches of the top half of the field Cal Cruthclow was pleased with his speed on the opening day in Assen. Crutchlow spent most of the day using a single...

Rossi wary of Honda threat

25 June 2015 by Steve English

Valentino Rossi was pleased with his efforts on the opening day of the Dutch TT with the nine times world champion evaluating a new chassis and coming away impressed. The new Yamaha frame was tested...

Marquez feeling positive with decision to use 2014 chassis

25 June 2015 by Steve English

Marc Marquez crashed on his outlap of the opening practice session at Assen but the double MotoGP champion bounced back to finish the day second fastest. Marquez is using the 2014 chassis this weekend...

Assen to move to Sunday race day from 2016

25 June 2015 by Steve English

In a move that has been mooted for years the Dutch TT will change from its traditional Saturday race day to Sunday from 2016. The organisers originally hosted their event on a Saturday because of...