Doha, Qatar - The big guns of two-wheeler racing are back, with the 2015 MotoGP World Championship kicking off this Sunday at Qatar’s Losail circuit for a night race under floodlights.
It promises to be an eventful year, as already during pre-season testing a few surprises have been thrown up.
Ducati has dramatically come back with a competitive machine for 2015, with the Luigi Dall’Igna designed Desmosedici GP15 dominating the final pre-season test in Qatar. The new machine is not only fast, but the Italian factory team seemed to have finally cured the understeer problem that affected previous versions of the bike.
While the GP15 has shown good pace since it debuted at the second test in Sepang, it will be interesting to see how it performs over race distance under the floodlights at the Losail circuit in the hands of factory Ducati riders Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone.
Suzuki has returned to MotoGP with an all-new factory squad, spearheaded by riders Aleix Espargaro and class rookie Maverick Viñales. They have been developing the GSX-RR machine over the past year, and already it has proven competitive, plus the Suzuki team believes there is a lot more potential to unlock in the bike throughout the season.
On the subject of comebacks, Aprilia has also returned to the MotoGP grid for 2015, although this year will be more of a season-long test for riders Alvaro Bautista and Marco Melandri, as they look to develop the RS-GP bike to be competitive in 2016.
Honda’s Marc Marquez will be looking to defend his title once more, having claimed back-to-back championships in the past two seasons.
The young Spaniard believes that the serious challenge for the title will not come from Ducati, but his own team-mate Dani Pedrosa and the Movistar Yamahas.
THE DOCTOR STILL THE BIGGEST DRAW IN MOTOGP
Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will be desperate to wrestle the title from Marquez’s grasp, and with 11 world titles between them, the factory Yamaha team will be looking to claim the championship once more. Rossi experienced a resurgence last season while his team-mate Lorenzo ended the season brilliantly after a disastrous start to 2014 cost him any chance of the title.
Rossi is still the biggest draw in MotoGP and after a strong showing in 2014 the charismatic Italian's statement that he is eyeing a 10th world title doesn't ring as hollow as it might have done ahead of last year's championship.
The 36-year-old, who has earned the nickname 'Il Dottore' (The Doctor) according to his father Graziano because in Italy it is a title that demands respect, has not won the title since 2009 and experienced several fallow years, especially during an unhappy three-year spell at Ducati where he finished as low as seventh in 2011.
However, a change to Yamaha has re-energised the exuberant rider and last year's superb season, which included two victories and another 11 podium finishes saw him finish runner-up - albeit 65 points adrift of Marquez, who is threatening to eclipse even his achievements after winning two consecutive titles.
Hence Rossi, who with 108 wins in all categories has legendary compatriot Giacomo Agostini's overall race wins record of 122 in his sights, is upbeat about his chances of securing a magical 10th title overall and eighth in the premier category beginning at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix this weekend.
“I will just be focused on delivering my best, on winning as many races as I can,” said Rossi in February at the team's launch of their bike for the upcoming season.
“So... yes, I am also thinking to my 10th title.”
FORMIDABLE OBSTACLE
Rossi, who is the oldest rider in the MotoGP championship, said he was looking to get a good start to the championship, unlike 2014 where both he and team-mate Lorenzo struggled in the first half of the season while Marquez had the title virtually sewn up after winning 11 of the first 12 races, with team-mate Pedrosa winning the other one.
“I am fully focused on a good start to the new season and I want to be immediately competitive.” said Rossi, who is contracted to Yamaha till 2016. “I am sure both of us will start the new season with a great desire to win.”
Marquez, though, will be a formidable obstacle to overcome, as confirmed by an impressive series of testing in Sepang, Malaysia, in February.
Just 22 years old, in 2013 he became the youngest rider to win motorcycle racing’s Bue Riband title and the first since Kenny Roberts in 1978 to win the title in his rookie year.
Marquez is understandably wary of Rossi but even more so of Lorenzo.
“You never know with Valentino,” he said, “I didn't expect his level. I expected more like in 2013 but he will be there because his motivation is there.
“Maybe he won't be better or worse than you but he will always be there and you need to pay attention with him. But I expect Jorge will be the strongest rival.”
SATELLITE RIDERS
Lorenzo, who will be seeking a better start to last term where he failed to finish in Qatar, backed up Marquez' prediction he would be the big danger after finishing the testing session in Malysia second fastest.
“I am better this year because I have not had to undergo surgery in the off-season. Yamaha and I finished well last year, but while we've taken a step forward with the new updates to the bike, the favourite is still Honda and Marquez,” the 27-year-old said.
“Last year I was the rider with the most points from Germany to Valencia and finished the Championship very strongly. If we can start at the same level or even stronger, then we can definitely aspire to win the championship. “
There is also the interesting battle of the satellite teams with riders Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding on Hondas, the Yamahas of Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro, and the Ducatis of Yonny Hernandez and Danilo Petrucci.
In 2015 the number of riders competing in the MotoGP class has increased to 25 - up from 23 in 2013 - and this season there will be more riders on the grid that have won world championships than ever before. Twelve riders, who have won a total of 28 titles between them, will line up under the lights in Qatar to compete in the first round.
Star Motoring, AFP