After an unbelievable 2018 a new season is dawning, and with it comes plenty of questions and challenges…
After Andrea Doviziosoās (Ducati Team) victory at a rain-soaked Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, the time had arrived to close the curtain on yet another unforgettable MotoGPā¢ season. Now, the focus is firmly on 2019 – a year that has so much in the offering.
motogp.com share 10 of the key points to look out for at the Valencia test, which commences on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st of November.
1.Ā Marquez vs Lorenzo ā a domestic duel
The arrival of five-time World ChampionĀ Jorge LorenzoĀ to the Repsol Honda Team after two years with Ducati, to race in the same colours as seven-time World Champion Marc Marquez is ā arguably ā the most anticipated move in recent MotoGPā¢ history. Itās certainly one of the main talking points ahead of 2019, withĀ MarquezĀ claiming there are now no excuses for him. If Lorenzo beats him, itāll be on the same machinery, but how quick can the āSpartanā adapt to the RC213V? People like MotoGPā¢ LegendsĀ Mick DoohanĀ andĀ Kevin SchwantzĀ have had their say, but itās time for the real talking to be done on track.
2. Rossi eying that lucrative tenth
He may be turning 40 before the 2019 campaign begins in March, but thereās still plenty of fire left in the nine-time World Champion. AnĀ improved YamahaĀ at the end of 2018Ā has seen light appear at the end of the tunnel, and if the bike is on songĀ next season,Ā Rossi is undoubtedly in the hunt for thatĀ tenth crown.Ā
3. Four ravenous rookies arrive
2018 Moto2ā¢ World ChampionĀ Francesco Bagnaia is joined by runner-up Miguel Oliveira, race winner Fabio Quartararo and Rookie of the Year Joan Mir. Bagnaia takes a seat in the Alma Pramac Racing garage to ride a proven race-winning GP18, while Mir hops onto a Team Suzuki Ecstar machine that is now a weekly podium contender. Oliveira will be buoyed by KTMās first premier class podium as he joins Red Bull KTM Tech 3, with Quartararo competing on the new Petronas Yamaha SRT. Who will hit the ground running and who willĀ spring a surprise in 2019? Ā
4. Iannone arrives at Aprilia
A return to an Italian factoryĀ is in store for āThe Maniacā after spending two years with Suzuki, which saw him pick up four podiums in an impressive 2018 campaign. A race winner with Ducati and said podiums with the Hamamatsu factory prove one thing; Iannone is a fast rider. Can he help turn the Aprilia ā alongside Aleix Espargaro ā into a more competitive machine in 2019?
5. New colours
After a 20-year relationship with Yamaha,Ā Tech 3 will switch to KTMĀ machinery as they line up with two full factory RC16s next season. And with a couple ofĀ huge prospects like Hafizh Syahrin and Oliveira on board, an exciting season awaits Herve Poncharalās team. Meanwhile, the premier class welcome aĀ brand-new teamĀ to the grid in the form of Petronas Yamaha SRT. A new Yamaha Independent Team in the capable hands of rising stars Franco Morbidelli and Quartararo is one of the most exciting prospects to 2019.
6. Zarco makes factory stepĀ
After securing the Rookie of the Year title and two consecutive top Independent Team rider accolades, Johann Zarco gets his first taste of MotoGPā¢ on a factory machine āĀ the KTM RC16. The double Moto2ā¢ World Champion has quickly surfaced as one of the leading riders on the grid, his challenge now? To help take KTM to the top. The Austrian factory will enter their third season and after claiming their first MotoGPā¢ podium in Valencia, things are looking very good. French motorcycling legendsĀ Christian Sarron and Regis LaconiĀ have also had their say on Zarcoās next chapter. Ā Ā
7. Petrucci gets his chanceĀ
As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. This is certainly true for Danilo Petrucci, as he rises into the ranks of theĀ factory Ducati TeamĀ from Alma Pramac Racing. An impressive six podiums have come the Italianās way in the colours of Ducatiās leading Independent Team, but now itās time take his chance after years of persistence. The perfect squire to Dovizioso? Petrucci certainly wonāt want to be playing second fiddle. But is a first win on the horizon for the lovable character in 2019? Ā Ā
8. Italian star meets YamahaĀ
Weāve heard this before, havenāt we? After spending his rookie season with EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda, 2018 Rookie of the YearĀ Morbidelli follows in the footstepsofĀ Italyās master: Valentino Rossi. With a year under his belt, now is the time for the 2017 Moto2ā¢ World Champion to start displaying the future for Italian motorcycle racing is already here. And with aĀ āSpec-Aā Yamaha beneath him, can Morbidelli challenge for the top six, top five or even podiums next season? Ā
9. Top level test ridersĀ
As well as a full-time grid oozing talent, test rider roles are now jam-packed with seriously fast riders.Ā Michele PirroāsĀ P4 in Valencia for Ducati proved ā once again ā how quick he is on a MotoGPā¢ machine, while HRC test rider and former Moto2ā¢ World Champion Stefan Bradlās P9 again provided evidence that heās more than quick enough to race in the premier class. Then we have Yamaha European test riderĀ Jonas FolgerĀ – a podium finisher in his rookie MotoGPā¢ season – andĀ Bradley Smith, who switches to Aprilia Racing Team Gresini testing duties from a strong season with KTM. And talking of KTM, what can we say about their new test rider:Ā Dani Pedrosa? Three-time World Champion, 54 times GP winner, 153 podiumsā¦ in short, we have some incredibly talented test riders on our hands in 2019.
10. Miller and his GP19
A strong year with a season-old Desmosedici GP17 now sees Miller take over the baton as Ducatiās leading Independent Team rider. This means aĀ GP19 is his in 2019, and what an enthralling prospect it is for āJackassā. The Australian is already a premier class winner and with the same equipment as factory riders Dovizioso and Petrucci, itās an opportunity heāll be grasping with both hands ā more podiums and totting up that win tally will be Millerās aim in 2019.Ā
