Remarkably, Repsol Honda Team’s Marquez has finished on the podium in every race bar one since he joined the premier class at the start of 2013. To date, he has recorded six Grand Prix victories, eight pole positions and no less than ten fastest laps as well as – at 20 years of age – becoming the youngest ever rider to claim a pole position and race victory. He will be crowned World Champion this weekend, with two races still to go, should he leave Phillip Island with a points lead of 51 or more; this would make him the first rookie premier class title winner for some 35 years.

However, wrapping up the ultimate honours this weekend could be tricky for the newcomer, beating in mind teammate Pedrosa won at Sepang last weekend as well as setting the fastest lap in Aragón just before his much-publicised accident. Furthermore, the cooler conditions of Phillip Island could well suit the Yamaha Factory Racing M1 bikes of Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. Let battle recommence…

Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Cal Crutchlow will aim to take the fight to the front-runners once more, as a setup error at Sepang left him with too much power in the early stages, spinning the rear tyre up too much and losing traction in the corners.

GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista, who beat Crutchlow last time out, will aim for a repeat or better, whilst many will be waiting to see whether LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl will be declared fit after fracturing his right ankle on Saturday. Tech3’s Bradley Smith had one of his best races to date in Malaysia and wants more of the same, whilst the Ducati Team of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden will again strive to close the gap to the Japanese manufacturers.

Yonny Hernandez will continue to substitute for Ben Spies on the Ignite Pramac Ducati, with Damian Cudlin maintaining the spot at PBM for his home Grand Prix. Luca Scassa remains the replacement for the inured Karel Abraham at Cardion AB Motoracing. All three will be once again looking to get ahead of Power Electronics Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro, who remains the dominant force in the CRT ranks and hopes to claim overall honours before heading straight on to Motegi in Japan.

via MotoGP