2016 MotoGP Highlights

With new Michelin tires and new unified electronics, the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar was set to not only start a new season of the MotoGP World Championship, but also begin a new era. Testing had given fans a preview of who was fast and what bikes were working well, but few had any idea what would happen as the lights went out on the first race of the 2016 season. Qualifying saw incredibly tight times, all of the top 12 riders within a second and the front row divided by under a tenth of a second. All signs pointed to it being a stunning race, Jorge Lorenzo lining up in pole position for the 62nd time in his Grand Prix career as he aims for back-to-back premier class titles for the first time.

Issues with the rear tyre of Scott Redding’s (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) Ducati during Free Practice 4 on Saturday saw a raft of changes brought in. Michelin and Race Direction were unsure about the safety of rear tyres brought to the Gran Premio Motul de la República, and came to the decision to reduce the race from 25 laps to 20. As Warm Up had been held in wet conditions and the race started dry, riders were required to come in on their ninth, tenth or 11th lap of the race and change to their second bike. There were therefore no concerns about fuel or tyre life, riders able to give it their all on both stints. Marc Marquez secured his first win of the year and the series lead ahead of Valentino Rossi, while Dani Pedrosa completed the podium after Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso collided in the final corner while fighting for second position. Jorge Lorenzo, winner of the opening round in Qatar, had secured the hole-shot at the start of the race but eventually plummeted down the field - his race would get even worse as with 15 laps to go he suffered yet another fall at Turn 1, ending his race.

All eyes were on Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team) as the MotoGP World Championship lined up on the grid for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. The Spaniard went into the race with a perfect record on American soil, winning every MotoGP race he had started in the United States. While Márquez was quietly confident, there were a number of riders who were looking to return to the front once more.

For the 113th time in his career and the 87th time in the premier class, Valentino Rossi pulled a wheelie across the line to celebrate victory. After the disappointment of Austin, the result at Jerez is exactly what ‘The Doctor’ needed. Behind him Jorge Lorenzo took his 100th premier class podium finish and Marquez was able to keep the lead of the Championship, his lead reduced slightly to 17 points.

For the second time in 2016, Jorge Lorenzo crossed the line in first place after dominating the French GP. Over ten seconds would separate him from Rossi as the race came to an end. It was a day of celebration for both Suzuki and Maverick Viñales, the Spaniard taking his first podium finish in the premier class. Viñales’ podium is the first for Suzuki since the 2008 Czech GP, making amends for his mistake in Argentina.

For the first time since 2008, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) lined up for the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM in pole and over 100,000 people lined the hillside stands of Mugello to see if ‘The Doctor’ could win once more. When the lights went out, Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) made an incredible start to lead into Turn 1 from fifth on the grid. Every lap, Rossi attempted to pass Lorenzo into Turn 1, but Lorenzo remained in charge. Their battle had allowed Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to close down the Yamaha pair, separating the trio by under half a second. Lorenzo closed every door that Rossi tried to open, defending at every corner. On lap eight, Mugello fell silent as Rossi encountered a technical problem. The Italian dropped down to ninth and continued to drop back, his race over. Rossi may have retired but the race was by no means over, Marquez right behind Lorenzo as they crossed mid-race distance. On lap 20 Marquez launched his first attack but ran wide, Lorenzo hanging onto the lead. The attacks didn’t stop and Marquez passed Lorenzo at the start of the final lap but Lorenzo responded. Marquez looked to have the race won as they exited the final corner but his rear wheel lifted ever so slightly, Lorenzo able to grab an incredible photo finish victory. 0.019s is all that separated them across the line, the closest finish of the year.