MotoGP back in action at Sepang

MotoGP riders will take to the track for the first time in 2016 in a three-day test a Sepang in Malaysia from February 1-2 (Monday to Wednesday), with tyres and electronics the focus.

Michelin enters as the official tyre supplier for the premier class and Magneti Marelli implement their unified ‘spec’ software system. This means that the Open class is no more, all riders and bikes will be utilising the same software. Moreover, all bikes will run on 22 litres of fuel and riders will have access to the same tyres.

With the majority of teams starting from zero, this looks set to create one of the most level playing fields the MotoGP world has seen in recent years.

To overcome the new challenges posed by Michelin tyres and spec software, manufacturers are set to bring a variety of changes and upgrades for their riders. Yamaha continues to assess the difference between the more standard ‘central’ fuel tank and the innovative ‘rear’ version.

With the Michelin tyres initially appearing to favour the rear, revised bike balance will be a major focus for all the teams.  Yamaha sampled the Sepang circuit with Michelin tyres back in February 2015, but since then the French tyre maker has made significant changes to their rubber.

After a difficult 2015 season, Honda aims to continue to improve its engine and ease power delivery. An overly aggressive engine saw Honda riders struggle with the 2015 frame early in the year. With electronics playing a crucial role in power and engine management, Honda will be working to better understand the Magneti Marelli system’s parameters and how they may help to alter power delivery.

The past seasons have seen Ducati come on leaps and bounds, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone scoring a total of eight podiums between them after 2014 saw Ducati score just three podiums across all their riders. Despite the progress work doesn’t stop, the Italian manufacturer looks set to debut the GP16 during the Sepang test. Aussie Casey Stoner, who recently reunited with Ducati, recently spent several days testing the bike in a private test at the Malaysian circuit, getting his first taste of the Ducati on Michelin tyres with spec electronics.

As Yamaha, Honda and Ducati all scored more than six concession points, awarded for podium finishes, in 2015, they will each have seven engines with development frozen once the season starts. For the likes of Suzuki and Aprilia, they will be allowed to utilise nine engines during the season without a limit on testing or development. This aims to have as many riders on as many bikes as possible fighting for victory.

With a strong debut year under their belts, Suzuki aims to continue to build its success with a heavily revised GSX-RR. Maverick Viñales, who showed great pace at the post-season Valencia test, debuted a new seamless gearbox during a private Sepang test late in 2015. During its debut year, Suzuki struggled somewhat for top end speed and better high-end performance will be another focus for the Japanese brand.

Aprilia had looked set to debut its all-new MotoGP machine in Sepang, but setbacks have made this goal unobtainable. Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl will be in attendance as part of the Aprilia test team, mounted on the 2015 RS-GP to gather more data. A private shakedown of the new Aprilia is planned for later in the month. Aprilia’s 2016 machine looks set to be an all new motorcycle, no longer based off the RSV4 as the 2015 bike was.

The 2016 season will be the 68th edition of the MotoGP World Championship and will run over 18 Grands Prix in four continents and 15 different countries. After pre-season tests in Sepang, Philip Island and Losail the first race will be held in Qatar on March 20, starting an eight-month battle for the title, concluding in Valencia on November 13.

A familiar calendar will see the historic Austrian GP return. Last hosting a round in 1997, MotoGP will return to Austria on August 14 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

On the eve of the 2016 championship, 26 different riders have lifted the premier class title throughout history. The current MotoGP grid has three returning premier class champions: Jorge Lorenzo (2010, 2012 and 2015), Marc Marquez (2013 and 2014) and Valentino Rossi (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009).

Over 20 riders from 12 teams and five manufacturers (Yamaha, Honda, Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia) will form the 2016 MotoGP grid. Spain, with nine riders, is the country with the greatest representation. Italy (four) and the UK (three) also have a strong presence in the premier class, both with proud racing histories. Germany, San Marino, Australia, Ireland, Colombia and France also have at least one rider permanently on the 2016 grid.

At just 21 years old, Australia’s Jack Miller is the youngest rider of the field while Valentino Rossi, at 37, continues to challenge towards the front even as the oldest rider.

Before the start of any season a rider’s target is always the title, but there are also many old records and new milestones to overcome. Among the Spanish riders there is expected to be a hard battle to achieve the highest number of premier class podiums. Dani Pedrosa leads the way with 100 premier class podiums, but Jorge Lorenzo has already claimed 97 since his MotoGP debut in 2008 and aims to overcome his rival in 2016. The Yamaha rider could also overcome the great Angel Nieto in absolute number of podium finishes. Lorenzo has claimed 135 podiums across all classes with Nieto taking 139 and Pedrosa a stunning 141, more than any other Spanish rider.

Indeed the Honda rider could continue to make history if he can achieve at least one win this season. Pedrosa could equal Phil Read’s 52 victories. It would also be Pedrosa’s 11th premier class season of taking victory at least once, the only other rider to have achieved this feat is Valentino Rossi, between 2000 and 2010. Since the 2002 125cc season, Pedrosa has taken to the top step of the podium at least once every year.

The nine-time World Champion, Rossi, faces a new season of hunting for his tenth crown but also has other milestones in his sight. If he were to win a race in 2016, Rossi would become the ninth oldest rider to win a GP, surpassing Phil Read. Britain’s Fergus Anderson is currently the oldest rider to win a premier class race, claiming victory in Montjuich in 1953 at the age of 44 years and 237 days.

Rossi will also have the chance to achieve victory at two circuits where he has never won before in MotoGP: Austin and Aragon. Marc Marquez looks to extend his domination of America, the Spaniard having won his last nine races in the US. The only track the factory Honda rider has not conquered in the premier class is Motegi. As for Lorenzo, the Spaniard is still searching for wins in Austin, the Sachsenring, Sepang and at the Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina.

Meanwhile the manufacturers continue their own battle as Yamaha look to add to their 65 MotoGP victories and close the gap to Honda, which has 103. Suzuki continues to look for its first win since Australian Chris Vermeulen won the French GP in 2007. Ducati’s last victory also came at the hands of an Australian, Stoner’s win at the 2010 Australian GP was the Italian manufacturer’s last. Honda and Yamaha have since dominated, largely thanks to Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Rossi and Marquez who between them have won every MotoGP race since Stoner’s win at Philip Island in 2012 on the Honda.

In 2016, for the 15th year in a row, Valencia will host the final round of the season and again it may decide the championship as it did in 2006, 2013 and 2015.

Last season saw two entirely Italian podiums, in Qatar and Silverstone, with a fully Spanish podium in Valencia. On 24 occasions riders from the United States have locked out all three steps of the podium. With 23 previous full podiums, Britain, with Cal Crutchlow, Bradley Smith and Scott Redding, has a chance to match and potentially surpass the American record.

In terms of premier class wins it is Spanish riders, with 101 wins, who dominate the record books. Italy is ten victories behind and with several strong riders could challenge Spain for the coveted top spot. Marc Marquez could overtake the experienced Pedrosa in number of MotoGP wins, the rider from Cervera has already claimed 24 victories in just three seasons, the same as the legendary Wayne Rainey and four less than his current teammate. 2016 looks set to be another MotoGP season for the record books.