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

Moto2: Marquez pips Morbidelli to pole

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Marquez pips Morbidelli to pole

Alex Marquez pipped team-mate Franco Morbidelli to pole position for the final race of the 2017 Moto2 season after an intense qualifying session in Valencia. The two Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS...

MotoGP: Vinales slams Yamaha after another tough day

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Vinales slams Yamaha after another tough day

Maverick Vinales vented his frustrations after Yamaha endured another difficult day in Valencia. Vinales continued to struggle for pace throughout Saturday’s sessions, finishing FP4 in 20th place,...

MotoGP: Lorenzo admits it’s all down to Dovi now

11 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo admits it’s all down to Dovi now

Ducati racer Jorge Lorenzo has admitted that his teammate Andrea Dovizioso’s chances of lifting the 2017 MotoGP championship tomorrow at the Valencian Grand Prix are small – and that there’s little...

MotoGP: Marquez, Zarco, Iannone a ‘dangerous front row’

11 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez, Zarco, Iannone a ‘dangerous front row’

MotoGP champion-elect Marc Marquez says he’s prepared for a wild few opening laps in tomorrow’s Valencian Grand Prix as he starts alongside Johann Zarco and Andrea Iannone. Only needing to finish...

MotoGP: Silverstone confirm three-year British Grand Prix deal

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Silverstone confirm three-year British Grand Prix deal

Silverstone has signed a three-year deal to host the British Grand Prix, it has been confirmed. As MCN reported earlier today, the Northamptonshire circuit has won the rights to host the British...

MotoGP: Marquez on pole despite 27th crash

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez on pole despite 27th crash

Marc Marquez shrugged off his 27th crash of the year to take pole position for this weekend’s title decider in Valencia. The Spaniard looked to be on electric pace, clocking a 1’29.897 on his first...

MotoGP: British Grand Prix set to remain at Silverstone

11 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: British Grand Prix set to remain at Silverstone

MCN’s sources in the MotoGP paddock say that the British Grand Prix will remain at Silverstone and not make the move to Donington Park for 2018, with the deal potentially being announced as soon as...

Moto3: Martin takes pole with record lap

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Martin takes pole with record lap

Jorge Martin notched up his ninth pole position of the year after an action-packed Moto3 qualifying at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. The Spaniard broke the outright Moto3 lap record in FP3 with...

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli quickest in final practice

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli quickest in final practice

Recently crowned World Champion Franco Morbidelli took over at the top of the Moto2 timesheets after the third and final practice session ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying. The Italian’s time of...

MotoGP: Marquez ups the ante to lead FP3

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez ups the ante to lead FP3

Marc Marquez upped the ante with the quickest lap of the weekend in the final timed free practice session ahead of this afternoon’s qualifying. The Spaniard’s time of 1’30.255 saw him outpace rookie...

Moto3: Martin under outright record to top FP3

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Martin under outright record to top FP3

Jorge Martin set the quickest ever Moto3 lap of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit to remain in control as final free practice concluded in Valencia this morning. The Spaniard’s time of 1’38.989 is the...

MotoGP: Zarco defends safety commission absence

11 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Zarco defends safety commission absence

Johann Zarco has hit back at criticism that he does not attend the meetings MotoGP’s safety commission to say that he will only go if he feels he has something to say. Held on the Friday evening of...

MotoGP: Marquez shrugs off Friday crash

10 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez shrugs off Friday crash

MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez has shrugged off a crash on the opening day of practice for the Valencian Grand Prix, downplaying the spill at the end of the day’s action as normal despite...

MotoGP: Espargaro hit with engine penalty

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Espargaro hit with engine penalty

Pol Espargaro will start this weekend’s Valencian Grand Prix from pit lane after having to use a tenth engine this weekend, one more than the nine KTM are permitted to use as a new...

MotoGP: Dovizioso: 'Marquez is one step ahead'

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Dovizioso: 'Marquez is one step ahead'

Andrea Dovizioso has said Marc Marquez is ‘one step ahead’ after the opening day in Valencia despite the Italian outranking his rival on the timesheets. Dovizioso was third quickest in this...

Moto2: Oliveira remains quickest in FP2

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Oliveira remains quickest in FP2

Miguel Oliveira continued his recent run of form to top the opening day for the Moto2 class in Valencia, placing quickest in both of the Friday’s free practice sessions. However, the Red Bull KTM...

MotoGP: Lorenzo takes control in FP2, Marquez crashes

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo takes control in FP2, Marquez crashes

Jorge Lorenzo was quickest in this afternoon’s second free practice for the final round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship in Valencia while title contender Marc Marquez suffered his 26th crash of...

Moto3: Martin tops opening day at Valencia

10 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin tops opening day at Valencia

Jorge Martin has topped the opening day of action at the final race of the 2017 Moto3 season, coming out ahead of a pack of fellow Spaniards in front of home crowds at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo...

Moto2: Oliveira quickest from Marquez and Binder in FP1

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto2: Oliveira quickest from Marquez and Binder in FP1

Winner of the last two Grand Prix, Miguel Oliveira continued to lead the way in Moto2 as free practice got underway for the final race of the season. The Red Bull KTM rider clocked a time of 1’35.847...

MotoGP: Iannone tops FP1 from Miller and Espargaro

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Iannone tops FP1 from Miller and Espargaro

Andrea Iannone topped the timesheets as the final round of the MotoGP World Championship got underway with FP1 at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. The Ecstar Suzuki rider, who has struggled for most of the...

Moto3: Ramirez leads way as Mir crashes in FP1

10 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

Moto3: Ramirez leads way as Mir crashes in FP1

Marcos Ramirez led the way as the final weekend of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship got underway at Valencia. The sun might have been shining over the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, located just outside the...

MotoGP: Dovizoso: 'We have one strategy - we have to win'

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Dovizoso: 'We have one strategy - we have to win'

Andrea Dovizioso has said he will be happy with his 2017 season regardless of whether he beats Marc Marquez to the title on Sunday, after the Ducati team made such a gigantic step forward this...

MotoGP: Marquez: 'I will try to keep the same mentality'

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Marquez: 'I will try to keep the same mentality'

Marc Marquez has said he will treat this weekend’s final Grand Prix of the season like any other weekend until he decides his strategy ahead of Sunday’s race. The Repsol Honda rider is 21 points ahead...

MotoGP: 2017 ‘not an exciting season’ for Rossi

09 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: 2017 ‘not an exciting season’ for Rossi

Valentino Rossi has admitted that he’s glad to see the final round of the 2017 MotoGP season this weekend at the Valencian Grand Prix, after a difficult season for the Italian and teammate Maverick...

MotoGP: Aprilia renew partnership with charity (RED)

09 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aprilia renew partnership with charity (RED)

The Aprilia MotoGP team will renew their partnership with HIV/AIDS charity (RED) this weekend at the Valencian Grand Prix and the final round of the 2017 season, running both Aleix Espargaró and Sam...

MotoGP: Lorenzo: 'I will help Dovi if I can'

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Lorenzo: 'I will help Dovi if I can'

Jorge Lorenzo has said he will help team-mate Andrea Dovizioso to win the 2017 MotoGP world championship if he is in the position to do so in Sunday’s final race of the year. Dovizioso sits a massive...

MotoGP: Folger illness diagnosed

09 November 2017 by Oli Rushby

MotoGP: Folger illness diagnosed

The mystery illness that led to Jonas Folger missing the final three Grand Prix of the 2017 season has finally been diagnosed after the German underwent extensive tests at home in Germany. The rookie...

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli hunting records in final race

07 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli hunting records in final race

New Moto2 world champion Franco Morbidelli is going into this weekend’s final round of the 2017 season with a clear goal in mind even though the championship is in the bag – to take Marc Marquez’s...

MotoGP: ‘Natural’ for Marquez to have final round pressure

07 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Natural’ for Marquez to have final round pressure

2017 MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez says it’s only natural that he goes into this weekend’s final round of the season under more pressure than usual, as he sets out to secure his sixth title...

MotoGP: Van der Mark gets second Tech 3 opportunity

07 November 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Van der Mark gets second Tech 3 opportunity

World Superbike racer Michael van der Mark will get his second ride on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine this weekend at the final round of the 2017 MotoGP season, as he continues to deputise for the...

MotoGP: Dovi keeps championship hopes alive with Ducati one-two

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi keeps championship hopes alive with Ducati one-two

Andrea Dovizioso has kept the fight for the 2017 MotoGP championship alive to the last round of the season, after taking a stunning victory from teammate Jorge Lorenzo at the Malaysian Grand Prix...

Moto2: Oliveira and Binder double up for KTM

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Oliveira and Binder double up for KTM

Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder have made it two one-twos for the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad in two races, after the pair took another incredible result at the Malaysian Grand Prix to back up last...

Moto3: Dominant Mir stamps authority with easy race win

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Dominant Mir stamps authority with easy race win

Dominant 2017 Moto3 world champion Joan Mir has stamped his authority on the lightweight class for the penultimate time at the Malaysian Grand Prix, taking victory over Jorge Martin and Enea...

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli crowned early as Luthi ruled unfit

29 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Champion Morbidelli crowned early as Luthi ruled unfit

Marc VDS rider Franco Morbidelli has been crowned the 2017 Moto2 champion without turning a wheel in anger at today’s Malaysian Grand Prix, after only remaining championship rival Thomas Luthi was...

MotoGP: What Marquez needs to do to win the title

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: What Marquez needs to do to win the title

Despite an incredible 2017 MotoGP world championship battle that saw four riders in the fight until well after the half way point, Marc Marquez has now just about eked out a small lead in the race to...

Moto2: Champion-elect Morbidelli eases closer with Sepang pole

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Champion-elect Morbidelli eases closer with Sepang pole

Moto2 champion-elect Franco Morbidelli has eased closer to the 2017 crown after taking pole position for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix in a drama-filled qualifying session at the Sepang circuit –...