MotoGP preview: Phillip Island, October 21-2

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez will line up in the 2016 Australian MotoGP as world champion on Sunday 23 October, void of any pressure, as Movistar Yamaha teammates Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo battle it out for second place in the world championship.

The picturesque 4.5km circuit is the scene of what many dubbed the race of the decade, the 2015 thriller which saw Marquez, Lorenzo, Rossi and Andrea Iannone (Team Ducati) swap paint and positions until the Repsol Honda rider pipped Lorenzo to the line by just 0.249 seconds.  

While Marquez’ 77pt lead after last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix was enough to hand him the trophy, just 14pts separate the Yamaha duo and being his last of nine seasons with the Japanese factory before he makes the switch to Ducati, Lorenzo will want to reign supreme.

“Phillip Island is going to be a bit strange because the fight for the championship is over, but I would like to do a great race and try to win,” Lorenzo said. “That’s my goal for the next three races and take the vice champion title as well.”

But without the pressure of needing precious championship points looming over Marquez, and with the black flag of the 2013 race and crashing out of the lead of the 2014 event fresh in his memory, the Spaniard will surely want spoil his rivals’ party and stamp his authority on what can only be another Island spectacular.

“It’s fantastic to arrive at Phillip Island with no pressure for the championship as the track is one of my favourites on the calendar, along with Austin and Aragon,” Marquez said. “It’s so fast and flowing and you really have a lot of fun riding there.

“One of the main issues to take into account there is the weather. It’s usually very cold during this period of the year and always windy, something that you feel a lot, especially at the end of the final straight. You have to find a setup to make the bike as stable as possible.”

The Aussie with one of the best views of the unfolding drama will be 2015 Australian superbike champion Mike Jones, again confirmed to take Hector Barbera’s spot in the Avintia Ducati squad as the Spanish rider once more deputises for a still-recovering Iannone in the factory Ducati team.

The 21-year-old Queenslander had a sterling MotoGP debut last weekend in Motegi, posting some credible lap times and finishing the race without a single crash at the unfamiliar circuit and on board enormously unfamiliar machinery.

“I’m very happy and I can’t believe the experience of finishing my first ever MotoGP race,” Jones said after the Motegi race. “Once I got going, I tried to follow the guys in front of me, but I had a few small problems and I couldn't get the bike stopped like in qualifying. I just wanted to finish the race, no matter how, and I did it. I really want to thank Avintia Racing and Ducati for this opportunity and I hope to do it better at Phillip Island.”

Suzuki Easter’s Maverick Vinales’ fourth place in the title standings looks to be safe this weekend with both his nearest rivals Iannone and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) forced out of the Australian Grand Prix due to injury. Island specialist and 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has been drafted in to replace Pedrosa, the American making a return to the team with whom he clinched the world title 10 years ago.

While Aussie MotoGP Jack Miller was fit enough to make his race return at Motegi, he’ll be hoping for a better performance in Australia after crashing out of the race last weekend.

“I am really looking forward to going home and riding in front of my home crowd at Phillip Island,” he said. “It will feel extra special this year going back as a MotoGP winner and I want to bounce back from what was a pretty difficult weekend in Japan. I love Phillip Island and hopefully we can find something in the bike that gives me a bit more confidence to push at the limit.

“There is always a bit of extra pressure when you race at home but it is a cool feeling to know so many fans have come to watch you put on a show. It is pressure I thrive on and hopefully I can give the Australian crowd something to shout about.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Team Ducati) moved ahead of British rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) after picking up 20pts with a second place in Motegi, both of who will be looking to capitalise on their recent run of improved performances.

MOTO2
The only championship still yet to be decided, all eyes will be on the Moto2 category this weekend as reigning world champ Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) hopes to become the first rider to defend the intermediate title since Jorge Lorenzo in 2007.

Title rivals Zarco and Alex Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP 40) arrived at the Japanese Grand Prix separated by just a single point, but a practice crash from Rins and its associated injuries would eventually see the Spaniard leave Motegi without any points and the deficit to Zarco pushed out to 21 points.

A lights-to-flag victory by Swiss rider Tom Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) combined with a crash from Briton Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) saw Luthi move up to third in the standings ahead of Lowes, and the British rider will be out to claw back some of the 17pts which now separate the pair.

Aussie Remy Gardner (Tasca Racing Scuderia) has released a statement saying he will race in the Australian Moto2 Grand Prix.

MOTO3
With South African rider Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) clinching the Moto3 world title, the 250cc class has turned into a battle for second place between Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) and Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0).

The other battle to watch out for is the ever-tightening fight for the title of 2016 Rookie of the Year. Sky Racing Team VR46’s Nicolo Bulega capitalised from Hiroki Ono’s (Honda Team Asia) disqualification at Motegi to become the top-scoring rookie, though Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing Moto3) aren’t out of contention.

Aussie rider Matt Barton has been granted a wildcard appearance for Suus Honda, as he did in the 2015 event. The youngster’s second appearance at his home Grand Prix will see Barton as the sole rider flying the Australian flag for fans in the 250cc category.

The three world championship races at Phillip Island will be held over the following distances and times:

•    MotoGP: 27 laps, 120.1 km, starting at 4:00pm AEST
•    Moto2: 25 laps, 111.2 km, starting a 2:20pm AEST
•    Moto3: 23 laps, 102.3 km, starting at 1:00pm AEST