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

MotoGP: Pedrosa on pole after frantic qualifying at Sepang

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Pedrosa on pole after frantic qualifying at Sepang

Dani Pedrosa will start tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix from pole position, after coming out on top of a frantic qualifying session that saw the lead change a number of times in the final seconds of...

Moto3: Champion Mir breaks his pole duck with record lap

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Champion Mir breaks his pole duck with record lap

New Moto3 world champion Joan Mir has finally broken his pole position duck with a record-setting lap of the Sepang circuit, taking the first pole position of his championship-winning season and only...

Moto3: British Talent Team to move, McPhee to CIP Moto for 2018

28 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: British Talent Team to move, McPhee to CIP Moto for 2018

As reported earlier this month by MCN, MotoGP bosses Dorna have confirmed that the British Talent Team Honda squad they built around Scottish rider John McPhee for the 2017 season will leave the Moto3...

Moto2: Oliveira continues KTM hot streak with top time

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Oliveira continues KTM hot streak with top time

Miguel Oliveira has continued at the Malaysian Grand Prix where he left off last time out at the Australian Grand Prix by ending today’s Moto2 sessions at the Sepang circuit 0.073 clear of title...

MotoGP: Dovi fastest in wet and dry at Sepang

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi fastest in wet and dry at Sepang

Andrea Dovizioso has topped the day in both wet and dry conditions at the Malaysian Grand Prix, heating up the 2017 title race as he and Marc Marquez go down to the wire with only two races...

Moto3: Champion Mir tops only dry session in Malaysia

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Champion Mir tops only dry session in Malaysia

New Moto3 world champion Joan Mir has topped the opening day of action at the Malaysian Grand Prix, taking the provisional pole position ahead of home favourite Adam Norrodin on yet another...

MotoGP world shocked by sudden death of team boss

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP world shocked by sudden death of team boss

Moto2 team boss Stefan Kiefer has tragically died on the eve of this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, passing away overnight while in Sepang for the penultimate round of the season. The German was an...

Moto3: McPhee left without a ride as British Talent Team shuts

27 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee left without a ride as British Talent Team shuts

John McPhee has been left without a ride for the 2018 Moto3 season at the eleventh hour, with MCN’s sources in the MotoGP paddock believing that series bosses Dorna have taken the decision to shut...

MotoGP: Redding admits ‘I ignored team orders’

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding admits ‘I ignored team orders’

Scott Redding has admitted after Sunday’s race that he ignored team orders from his Pramac Ducati squad when he became locked in battle with fellow Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso during the race.

MotoGP: Marquez says harder to fight no-pressure Dovi

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez says harder to fight no-pressure Dovi

Marc Marquez has admitted going into this weekend’s penultimate round of the 2017 MotoGP championship at the Malaysian Grand prix that this season has been made more difficult thanks to the challenge...

MotoGP: No time for Laverty to get up to speed as Espargaró replacement

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: No time for Laverty to get up to speed as Espargaró replacement

Aprilia MotoGP boss Romano Albesiano has told MCN that there wouldn’t have been enough time for Eugene Laverty to get up to speed had the Irishman jumped onto Aleix Espargaró’s machine this weekend at...

MotoGP: Rossi looking to ‘stay modest’ after Phillip Island

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Rossi looking to ‘stay modest’ after Phillip Island

Valentino Rossi says it’s important for him to stay modest this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix despite a stunning result last weekend at Phillip Island, where Rossi came out on top of a three-way...

Moto2: Morbidelli gearing up for championship chance

26 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli gearing up for championship chance

Marc VDS rider Franco Morbidelli is gearing himself up for the first chance he has of raising the 2017 Moto2 crown this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix, with the Italian going into the weekend at...

Video: Ten minutes with Mick Doohan

25 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Ten minutes with Mick Doohan

With five-time Grand Prix world champion Mick Doohan dropping by the pre-event for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, we caught up with the Australian to hear his thoughts on the 2017...

Video: Marquez talks Sepang title chances

25 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Video: Marquez talks Sepang title chances

With his first chance of lifting the 2017 MotoGP world championship coming up this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, MCN caught up with championship leader Marc...

MotoGP: Championship battle not over for Dovizioso

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Championship battle not over for Dovizioso

Andrea Dovizioso says that the battle for the 2017 MotoGP championship is far from over, despite a disastrous weekend for him last time out in Phillip Island – and is confident that he can bounce back...

MotoGP: ‘Important result’ for Marquez at Phillip Island

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Important result’ for Marquez at Phillip Island

Marc Marquez has hailed last weekend’s stunning victory at the Australian Grand Prix as an ‘important result’ for him as he starts to eke out a lead in the 2017 MotoGP championship over Italian Andrea...

MotoGP: Aleix Espargaró to sit out Sepang with hand injury

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Aleix Espargaró to sit out Sepang with hand injury

Aprilia racer Aleix Espargaró will sit out this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang after suffering worse than originally suspected injuries to his left hand after crashing out of last weekend’s...

MotoGP: Van der Mark gets Folger replacement call

24 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Van der Mark gets Folger replacement call

Michael van der Mark will finally get his chance to make his MotoGP debut this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix, a month later than first intended as he joins the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad to...

MotoGP: Marquez win extends title lead in epic battle

22 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez win extends title lead in epic battle

Marc Marquez has extended his lead in the 2017 MotoGP championship with only two races to go, after taking a stunning victory in a typical Phillip Island classic at the Australian Grand Prix. The...

Moto3: Red flagged victory make Mir 2017 champion

22 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Red flagged victory make Mir 2017 champion

Joan Mir has taken the 2017 Moto3 world title in stunning style at the Australian Grand Prix, winning at Phillip Island despite a shortened race and becoming the first of the season’a champions by...

MotoGP: Marquez on pole as Dovi suffers a disaster

21 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez on pole as Dovi suffers a disaster

Marc Marquez will start tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island from pole position, capitalising on a difficult day for championship rival Andrea Dovizioso, who will have to come through...

Moto3: Martin takes pole number eight in rain-struck qualifying

21 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Martin takes pole number eight in rain-struck qualifying

Mr Pole Position Jorge Martin will start tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix from the front of the grid for the eighth time in this 2017 Moto3 championship, after timing his fast lap to absolute...

MotoGP: Michelin extend one-make tyre deal until 2023

21 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Michelin extend one-make tyre deal until 2023

French firm Michelin have confirmed that they will extend their deal as MotoGP’s sole tyre manufacturer until at least 2023, adding five more years to the contract that saw them take over as sole...

Moto2: Nakagami tops red flagged session

20 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Nakagami tops red flagged session

Takaaki Nakagami has dominated the first day of Moto2 action at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing the day well over half a second faster than Mattia Pasini in a red-flagged and crash-strewn session...

Moto3: Mir lays down a marker at Phillip Island

20 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir lays down a marker at Phillip Island

Moto3 champion-elect Joan Mir has laid down an important marker on the first day of action at the Australian Grand Prix, controlling the day’s first two sessions to finish a quarter of a second clear...

MotoGP: Espargaró a surprise leader on day one

20 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Espargaró a surprise leader on day one

Aleix Espargaró has ended the first day of action at the Australian Grand Prix a surprise provisional pole position, handing Aprilia the top spot after making the most of windy but sunny conditions at...

MotoGP: Petrucci ‘always has the same problem’

18 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Petrucci ‘always has the same problem’

Danilo Petrucci was quick to laugh off his ‘usual problem’ after Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, where the Italian was once again denied his debut Grand Prix victory by championship contenders...

MotoGP: Lorenzo and Zarco trade barbs after Motegi clash

18 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo and Zarco trade barbs after Motegi clash

Five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo has become the latest person to end a MotoGP race frustrated with the aggressive style of rookie Johann Zarco, after contact between the pair left the Ducati...

Moto3: McPhee's future hanging in the balance?

18 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: McPhee's future hanging in the balance?

British Talent Team Honda rider John McPhee’s future in the Moto3 championship could well be hanging in the balance as rumours continue to circulate the MotoGP paddock about the future of the entire...

MotoGP: Wildcard rule changes brought in for 2018

18 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Wildcard rule changes brought in for 2018

New rules have been agreed by MotoGP’s governing body the Grand Prix Commission that may prevent a repeat of KTM’s prolific use of wildcard rides for test rider Mika Kallio in the future, as the...

MotoGP: Radical testing rule changes for coming seasons

18 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Radical testing rule changes for coming seasons

The next two seasons will see a radical change in the way that MotoGP goes testing, after the FIM today confirmed major changes to the testing program, as first reported in today’s MCN. The first...

Moto2: ‘Dream come true’ for Vierge and Tech 3

16 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: ‘Dream come true’ for Vierge and Tech 3

Tech 3 Moto2 racer Xavi Vierge has admitted that yesterday’s podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix was a ‘dream come true’ for him and his team, after making the absolute most of torrential rain at...

MotoGP: Fuel issues halt Lowes’ best ever charge

16 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Fuel issues halt Lowes’ best ever charge

Sam Lowes’ best ever charge through the MotoGP field was halted during yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi, running out of fuel in the final corners of the race and conceding a...

MotoGP: Battered and bruised Rossi working for 2018

16 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Battered and bruised Rossi working for 2018

A battered and bruised Valentino Rossi has admitted that the goal of him and his Movistar Yamaha team for the remaining three races of the 2017 season is to begin work on next year’s iteration of the...

MotoGP: Dovizioso reignites title with epic Motegi battle

15 October 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovizioso reignites title with epic Motegi battle

Andrea Dovizioso has reignited his hopes of winning the 2017 MotoGP championship after an incredible last lap battle with Marc Marquez at the Japanese Grand Prix, hunting down the Spaniard to make an...