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

Smith growing in confidence with new setup

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Smith growing in confidence with new setup

A late crash couldn’t dent Bradley Smith’s confidence after the Englishman topped a practice for the first time since Catalunya last year. The Tech3 rider was in predictably high spirits after the...

Pedrosa gets his mind back up to speed

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Pedrosa gets his mind back up to speed

A relieved Dani Pedrosa spoke to the media about how he had few ill-effects on his first day back on a MotoGP machine after his arm pump surgery. Despite having some swelling Pedrosa said that the...

Rabat maintains lead in competitive Moto2 session

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Rabat maintains lead in competitive Moto2 session

Tito Rabat narrowly held onto his advantage in the afternoon’s Moto2 session with the reigning world champion outpacing Thomas Luthi and a resurgent Luis Salom by less than one tenth of a second at Le...

Smith leads the way at Le Mans

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Smith leads the way at Le Mans

A late crash will do little to take the shine off Bradley Smith’s performance in FP2 with the Englishman topping the times at Le Mans ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso. It’s the first time...

Kent continues to set the pace

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Kent continues to set the pace

Despite leaving it late Danny Kent set the pace in the afternoon session at Le Mans ahead of a hugely impressive Livio Loi and home town favourite Fabio Quartararo. Kent, was one tenth faster than his...

Consistent Rabat setting the pace in Moto2

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Consistent Rabat setting the pace in Moto2

Tito Rabat had a hugely impressive opening session at Le Mans with the reigning Moto2 world champion setting the pace and laying down a marker to the field by showing that his improved form at Jerez...

Dovizioso fastest at Le Mans

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Dovizioso fastest at Le Mans

Andrea Dovizioso bounced back from a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix to set the fastest time in the opening practice session at Le Mans. The Italian, who dropped 15 points behind Valentino Rossi in...

Kent leads way in damp Moto3 opener

15 May 2015 by Steve English

Kent leads way in damp Moto3 opener

Danny Kent topped the times in opening practice at Le Mans with the Englishman setting his fastest time on his final lap of the morning on a drying track. The conditions were difficult at the...

Rossi expecting tough weekend

14 May 2015 by Steve English

Rossi expecting tough weekend

World championship leader Valentino Rossi expects this weekend’s French Grand Prix to be very difficult with the Italian expecting to see lots of competition at the front of the field. When asked...

Crutchlow "excited" ahead of Le Mans

14 May 2015 by Steve English

Crutchlow "excited" ahead of Le Mans

Cal Crutchlow won’t race with the new swingarm that he tested at Jerez but the LCR Honda rider is “excited” about his chances this weekend at the circuit where he had his best ever result in MotoGP,...

Pedrosa cautious ahead of Le Mans but happy to be back

14 May 2015 by Steve English

Pedrosa cautious ahead of Le Mans but happy to be back

Dani Pedrosa will make his return from injury this weekend at Le Mans and with the Spaniard having missed three races due to his recovery from arm pump surgery his recovery is one of the biggest...

Iannone dislocates shoulder, still aiming for Le Mans

12 May 2015 by Steve English

Iannone dislocates shoulder, still aiming for Le Mans

Andrea Iannone ended two days of testing at Mugello in hospital after a high speed crash at the Arrabbiata corners left the Italian nursing a dislocated left shoulder. Iannone, who has enjoyed a solid...

Pedrosa confirms Le Mans return

12 May 2015 by Steve English

Pedrosa confirms Le Mans return

Dani Pedrosa has confirmed that he will return to MotoGP this weekend in France. The Spaniard has been on the sidelines since the season opening Qatar Grand Prix but now feels strong enough to return...

MotoGP movers and shakers ready to fight for French glory

11 May 2015 by Steve English

MotoGP movers and shakers ready to fight for French glory

It’s been a tremendous start to the 2015 season with all three classes serving up superb racing – and plenty of surprises. That looks set to continue in France this weekend. Last weekend saw Jorge...

Engine allocation update

09 May 2015 by Steve English

Engine allocation update

Four races into the season and the engine allocation is starting to get interesting. Marc Marquez has lost one engine, speaking at Jerez the world champion admitted that the engine that failed at COTA...

Laverty makes setup progress ahead of Le Mans

09 May 2015 by Steve English

Laverty makes setup progress ahead of Le Mans

Eugene Laverty has shown plenty of progress in his rookie campaign with the Aspar squad but circumstances have held him back in races. Last time out arm pump left him feeling that “the bike was better...

Progress for Redding ahead of Le Mans

08 May 2015 by Steve English

Progress for Redding ahead of Le Mans

After a miserable weekend at Jerez Scott Redding made plenty of progress during the Monday test and now the Englishman will be hoping to bring that form forward to next weekend’s French Grand Prix at...

The Magnificent 7: Rossi celebrations

08 May 2015 by Steve English

The Magnificent 7: Rossi celebrations

After seeing Valentino Rossi claim the 200th podium of his Grand Prix career last weekend in Jerez it seems the perfect opportunity to look back at some of the Italian superstar’s most memorable...

Progress come too late for Smith at Jerez plenty of positives

07 May 2015 by Steve English

Progress come too late for Smith at Jerez plenty of positives

Bradley Smith struggled during the Jerez race weekend with a lack of confidence in fast corners, particularly the two right handers at the end of the lap, but during Monday’s test he made a change to...

Vinales learning more about electronics

06 May 2015 by Steve English

Vinales learning more about electronics

Maverick Vinales continued his adaptation to MotoGP at the Jerez test with plenty of work undertaken to improve the electronics of the Suzuki GSXR-R. Vinales, a former Moto3 world champion, has looked...

Pedrosa thanks fans for support, aims for Le Mans

06 May 2015 by Steve English

Pedrosa thanks fans for support, aims for Le Mans

Dani Pedrosa offered thanks to his fans in his weekly blog today and hinted again that he will be making his return to MotoGP action at next weekend’s French Grand Prix. Pedrosa, who underwent surgery...

Bautista pleased with Aprilia seamless

06 May 2015 by Steve English

Bautista pleased with Aprilia seamless

Alvaro Bautista gave Aprilia’s new seamless gearbox its first public running on Monday at Jerez with the Spaniard using hte new part during testing. Afterwards Bautista said that it was not dissimilar...

Ducati to test in Spain as they look for more grip

06 May 2015 by Steve English

Ducati to test in Spain as they look for more grip

With Ducati having skipped the post Jerez test the Italian team will focus their attention on finding a better setup at Mugello next week ahead of the French Grand Prix. Having had their least...

Lack of acceleration power continuing to cost Espargaro

06 May 2015 by Steve English

Lack of acceleration power continuing to cost Espargaro

The progress being made by Suzuki is such that finishing seventh in Jerez marked a disappointing day for Aleix Espargaro. With new parts being used for the first time the chatter problems that have...

Hayden disappointed after no points in Jerez

06 May 2015 by Steve English

Hayden disappointed after no points in Jerez

Nicky Hayden finished outside the points at Jerez and afterwards the American was clearly disappointed to have ended the 27 lap race in 17th position. It’s been a very difficult year for Hayden with...

Lorenzo caps dominant week by leading test

05 May 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo caps dominant week by leading test

Jorge Lorenzo topped the times at the post Spanish Grand Prix test at Jerez. The Yamaha rider followed up a weekend of domination by leading the way again with Cal Cruthclow pleased with the progress...

Lorenzo cruises to first win of 2015 at Jerez

03 May 2015 by Simon Patterson

Lorenzo cruises to first win of 2015 at Jerez

Jorge Lorenzo has cruised to his first win of the 2015 MotoGP season in front of a home crowd. The double world champion led from pole to chequered flag to win by five seconds from Marc Marquez and...

Folger wins at Jerez and regains title lead

03 May 2015 by Steve English

Folger wins at Jerez and regains title lead

Jonas Folger was in complete control at Jerez as the German ran away from the field in the closing laps of the Moto3 race. Having stood on the podium at Jerez for the last two years his success...

Kent leaves it to the last corner but wins in Jerez

03 May 2015 by Steve English

Kent leaves it to the last corner but wins in Jerez

After two races of seeing Danny Kent race off into the distance today’s Moto3 race at Jerez offered a much more typical Moto3 fare with the Englishman having to fight all the way to take his third win...

Saturday news from Jerez

02 May 2015 by Steve English

Saturday news from Jerez

Jorge Lorenzo dominated qualifying to claim pole position at Jerez with the Spaniard smashing Marc Marquez’ circuit record and showing everyone a clean set of heels in Spain. The Yamaha rider will be...

Dominant pole for Lorenzo at Jerez

02 May 2015 by Steve English

Dominant pole for Lorenzo at Jerez

Jorge Lorenzo continued to hold a vice like grip over proceedings at Jerez by claiming his first pole position of the season, his first since Misano last September. Lorenzo’s time was a new lap record...

Pramac duo make it through to QP2

02 May 2015 by Steve English

Pramac duo make it through to QP2

The QP1 session was dominated by Pramac Ducati with Danilo Petrucci and Yonny Hernandez both overcoming early mistakes to set the fastest times during the opening qualifying session at Jerez with late...

First pole for Quartararo, Kent second fastest at Jerez

02 May 2015 by Steve English

First pole for Quartararo, Kent second fastest at Jerez

Fabio Quartararo claimed the first pole position of his Grand Prix career at Jerez with the reigning CEV champion showing incredible speed throughout his first weekend at a circuit that he has raced...

Vazquez out in front as Kent concentrates on race pace

01 May 2015 by Steve English

Vazquez out in front as Kent concentrates on race pace

Efren Vazquez was fastest in Jerez today but Fabio Quartararo laid down a marker by topping FP2 and showing that he’s ready to win a Moto3 race just a week after his 16th birthday. The Frenchman has...

Rabat back on form at Jerez

01 May 2015 by Steve English

Rabat back on form at Jerez

Tito Rabat has had a torried start to his title defence in Moto2 but the Marc VDS rider was back on form in Jerez by setting the pace in Friday practice. Rabat was over a tenth clear of Sam Lowes at...

Lorenzo leads the way in Jerez

01 May 2015 by Steve English

Lorenzo leads the way in Jerez

Jorge Lorenzo led the way after the opening day of practice in Jerez with the Spaniard fastest in both practice sessions. The conditions were very different from the morning to the afternoon with the...