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: Zarco out to build on solid Spielberg

22 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Zarco out to build on solid Spielberg

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Johann Zarco says he’s out to build on a strong weekend last time out in the 2017 MotoGP championship at the Austrian Grand Prix as he goes into a circuit that he’s got a...

MotoGP: Marc VDS duo out to bounce back at Silverstone

22 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marc VDS duo out to bounce back at Silverstone

The Marc VDS Honda duo of Jack Miller and Tito Rabat say they’re out to bounce back at this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, after a disappointing pair of races for the pair since the 2017...

MotoGP: Abraham to remain with Aspar for 2018

21 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Abraham to remain with Aspar for 2018

Czech rider Karel Abraham will remain with the Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati team for 2018, after resigning with Jorge Martinez Aspar’s squad to remain alongside Alvaro Bautista for another season in the...

MotoGP: Nakagami joins Crutchlow at LCR Honda in 2018

20 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Nakagami joins Crutchlow at LCR Honda in 2018

As first reported by MCN in May, Cal Crutchlow will be joined at LCR Honda for the 2018 MotoGP season by Japanese Moto2 racer Takaaki Nakagami, as the twelve-time Grand Prix podium finisher confirms...

MotoGP: Two Wheels for Life reveal Day of Champions auction lots

18 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Two Wheels for Life reveal Day of Champions auction lots

MotoGP’s official charity Two Wheels for Life have revealed some of the amazing lots they have up for auction at the highlight of their annual fundraising, next Thursday’s auction at the Day of...

MotoGP: ‘Stressful’ last lap for Dovi

18 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Stressful’ last lap for Dovi

Andrea Dovizioso has admitted that despite his stunning final corner success over Marc Marquez at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, the final lap of the race was ‘stressful’ for him, knowing that...

MotoGP: Lowes confident about his GP future

18 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lowes confident about his GP future

Sam Lowes’ tenure as a factory MotoGP racer will come to an end at the end of the 2017 season, after Aprilia bosses finally confirmed to the Lincolnshire rider at the Austrian Grand Prix that they...

MotoGP: Tardozzi ‘we can call him Professor Dovi’

17 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Tardozzi ‘we can call him Professor Dovi’

Ducati MotoGP boss Davide Tardozzi has admitted that Sunday’s race went perfectly to the plan that Andrea Dovizioso had laid out to his squad beforehand, as he delivered a flawless victory over Marc...

MotoGP: €1 million for a seat at Avintia Ducati?

17 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: €1 million for a seat at Avintia Ducati?

While much of the focus of the 2017 MotoGP silly seasons remains on the final seat up for grabs at Marc VDS Honda, there’s also options available at Avintia Reale Ducati, with it looking like both...

MotoGP: Zarco gunning for Rossi's job

17 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Zarco gunning for Rossi's job

Johann Zarco has once again shown up his factory Yamaha brethren at the Red Bull Ring, by taking the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 bike to an impressive fifth place finish ahead of both Valentino Rossi and...

MotoGP: Safety woes at Red Bull Ring

16 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Safety woes at Red Bull Ring

The weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix action at the Red Bull Ring was plagued with rider safety concerns and even threats of the first rider strike since Misano in 1989, after a series of crashes during...

MotoGP: Kallio out to gain at Smith’s expense?

16 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Kallio out to gain at Smith’s expense?

One of the most impressive rides of the weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring was that of KTM test rider Mika Kallio, who took his wildcard machine to only the firm’s second ever top ten...

Moto2: Appeal for information as Rabat's bike stolen

16 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Appeal for information as Rabat's bike stolen

In the early hours of the morning on Wednesday 16th August thieves broke into the Marc VDS workshop in Gosselies, Belgium and stole the Kalex Moto2 machine on which Tito Rabat won the 2014 Moto2 World...

Moto2: BSB race winner Dixon set for Silverstone wildcard

15 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: BSB race winner Dixon set for Silverstone wildcard

MCE British Superbike double race winner Jake Dixon will make his Grand Prix racing debut in front of of a home crowd at next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as he deputises for the...

MotoGP: Chassis woes continue for Rossi and Viñales in Austria

15 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Chassis woes continue for Rossi and Viñales in Austria

The factory Yamaha pair of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales have once again chalked a difficult weekend up to the problems with their M1’s chassis, after the nine-time world champion finished the...

Moto2: Kent ruled out of Austrian race by whiplash

15 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Kent ruled out of Austrian race by whiplash

2015 Moto3 world champion Danny Kent was forced to sit out Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring thanks to an unfortunate crash on Friday, taken out by Alex Marquez and left struggling for...

MotoGP: Marquez ‘couldn’t have slept’ if he didn’t try last corner move

15 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez ‘couldn’t have slept’ if he didn’t try last corner move

Marc Marquez has admitted that he couldn’t have slept easy on Sunday night if he hadn’t tried an incredible last corner move on Andrea Dovizioso in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, even though he...

MotoGP: Redding confirmed as Lowes’ replacement at Aprilia

14 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding confirmed as Lowes’ replacement at Aprilia

Gresini Aprilia have confirmed that Scott Redding will replace fellow Brit Sam Lowes in their MotoGP squad for 2018, after Lowes confirmed at the weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix that they would be...

MotoGP: ‘Crazy race and incredible weekend’ for Dovi

14 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: ‘Crazy race and incredible weekend’ for Dovi

Andrea Dovizioso says that his weekend at the Austrian was incredible despite a crazy end to Sunday’s battle with Marc Marquez with the Ducati rider coming out on top to take his third win of...

MotoGP: Dovi takes stunning last corner win

13 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi takes stunning last corner win

Andrea Dovizioso has taken a stunning last corner victory over Marc Marquez to win the Austrian Grand Prix for Ducati for the second year in a row – and to make amends for losing out in last year’s...

Moto2: Morbidelli reasserts his dominance at Red Bull Ring

13 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli reasserts his dominance at Red Bull Ring

Franco Morbidelli has launched himself back into control of the 2017 Moto2 season, after taking an impressive victory over teammate Alex Marquez at the Red Bull Ring – and to extend his championship...

Moto3: Mir extends championship lead with faultless win

13 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Mir extends championship lead with faultless win

Joan Mir has extended his lead in the Moto3 world championship with yet another faultless victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, picking his way through the field from a bad qualifying to take a...

Moto3: Rodrigo on pole as title challengers penalised

12 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Rodrigo on pole as title challengers penalised

Gabriel Rodrigo will start tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring from pole position after taking the top spot for the second weekend in a row, in a dream qualifying session that saw his...

MotoGP: Marquez blitzes the opposition for Red Bull Ring pole

12 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez blitzes the opposition for Red Bull Ring pole

Marc Marquez has blitzed his MotoGP opposition to take pole position for this year’s Austrian Grand Prix, rolling out a stunning lap to take the top spot from the Ducati duo of Andrea Dovizioso and...

MotoGP: Lorenzo unveils 'Diablo' helmet

12 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Lorenzo unveils 'Diablo' helmet

Jorge Lorenzo has unveiled a new ‘Diabolo’ themed helmet for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, as the Ducati rider goes into this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix full of confidence for his potential...

Moto2: Kent battered and bruised after Marquez collision

12 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Kent battered and bruised after Marquez collision

Danny Kent has had an ignominious return to the Moto2 championship, after getting taken out during his first session back in the class at the Austrian Grand Prix. He was involved in a free practice...

Moto2: Morbidelli back in control in tricky conditions

11 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Morbidelli back in control in tricky conditions

Franco Morbidelli has got his Moto2 title campaign back on track on the first day of action at the Austrian Grand Prix, holding off rival and last weekend’s winner Thomas Luthi for the top spot...

Moto3: Championship leader Mir leads the way

11 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto3: Championship leader Mir leads the way

Moto3 championship leader Joan Mir has once again led the way on the opening day of action at the Czech Grand Prix, despite weather conditions meaning it was a tricky day of action for the lightweight...

MotoGP: Dovi tops the opening day of action in Austria

11 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Dovi tops the opening day of action in Austria

Andrea Dovizioso has started where he left off twelve months ago by topping the first day of MotoGP action for Ducati at the Austrian Grand Prix, by making the most of tricky conditions at the Red...

MotoGP: Redding to replace Lowes at Aprilia in 2018

11 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Redding to replace Lowes at Aprilia in 2018

As first reported by MCN a month ago, it now looks like Scott Redding will replace Sam Lowes at the Gresini Aprilia squad for the 2018 MotoGP season. Although the Italian manufacturer has still to...

Moto2: Kent to return in 2018 with Speed Up

11 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Kent to return in 2018 with Speed Up

2015 Moto3 world champion Danny Kent will return to the Moto2 world championship in 2018, after signing a two-year deal to join the Speed Up squad in the middleweight class. Kent has been without a...

MotoGP: Miller finally confirmed at Pramac Ducati for 2018

10 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Miller finally confirmed at Pramac Ducati for 2018

As MCN first reported over a month ago, Australian Jack Miller will make the switch from Honda machinery for the first time in his career next season with his move from Marc VDS to Pramac Ducati...

MotoGP: Marquez confident about not repeating 2016 struggles

10 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Marquez confident about not repeating 2016 struggles

Marc Marquez says he’s feeling confident that he and the Repsol Honda will suffer less this weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix than they did twelve months ago at the Red Bull Ring, with improvements...

MotoGP: Austria ‘not very favourable’ to Rossi and Yamaha

10 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Austria ‘not very favourable’ to Rossi and Yamaha

Valentino Rossi has admitted that despite a strong showing last weekend at Brno and a successful test that he topped the day after the Czech Grand Prix, he’s not confident of being too strong on the...

Moto2: Kent steps in to replace injured Schrotter

10 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

Moto2: Kent steps in to replace injured Schrotter

Danny Kent will return to the Moto2 world championship this weekend, as he replaces the injured Marcel Schrotter at the Dynavolt Intact GP Suter squad for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. It marks...

MotoGP: Where to host the British Grand Prix?

09 August 2017 by Simon Patterson

MotoGP: Where to host the British Grand Prix?

With today’s exclusive MCN story that the Circuit of Wales’ contract with MotoGP bosses Dorna has expired, it reopens one of the most controversial questions in British motorcycling – should the...