Since 2008, each season of the MotoGP World Championship has begun under the brilliant floodlights of the Qatar circuit, the only night race on the calendar. 2016 will be no different as the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar starts what is set to be an incredible year in the premier class of motorcycle racing. The intrigue and drama of the 2015 season still lingers in the minds of many but all riders now have a plethora of new challenges and hurdles to focus on overcoming.

The 2016 season sees the most radical regulation changes since MotoGP entered the four-stroke era in 2002. A spec ECU and software package supplied by Magneti Marelli looks set to level the playing field and increase the importance of a rider’s right wrist, especially towards the end of a race with adaptive strategies removed. Michelin also step in as the official tyre supplier of the MotoGP class, presenting an all-new challenge for riders and the factories to overcome. Adapting to the French rubber has progressed well after initial concerns about the front tyre, riders able to increase their confidence at each test and push for fast laps.

Of all the riders, it seems reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo has adapted the quickest to the new MotoGP landscape. The five-time champion led both the Sepang and Qatar Tests by over half a second, stamping his authority and intent to retain his crown. Lorenzo is yet to take back-to-back championships in the premier class and will be aiming to avoid the difficulties that plagued him in Losail in 2014 and 2015. Aside from those years, Lorenzo had always finished on the Qatar podium in MotoGP, winning in 2012 and 2013 from pole.

One of the biggest revelations of testing has been Maverick Viñales, the Team Suzuki Ecstar rider leading the Phillip Island Test and finishing third in Qatar. After a solid rookie season, Viñales and Suzuki are aiming for podiums and top six finishes throughout 2016. Suzuki has continued to develop the GSX-RR, introducing an improved engine, chassis and a seamless gearbox. With all these factors combined, many are expecting Viñales to hit the ground running in 2016 and challenge from the first round. It was not as smooth a transition for Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Aleix Espargaro who has struggled with front-end confidence on his bike throughout testing.

After a hard fought title battle that went down to the final race of the year, Valentino Rossi remains as hungry as ever for his tenth title. Three times ‘The Doctor’ has won in Qatar, including his thrilling 2015 victory where he bested fellow Italian Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso after a race long brawl. As the oldest and most successful rider on the grid, Rossi has little left to prove but continues to line up with as much passion and burning desire as in 1996 when he made his Grand Prix debut.

Unfortunately for the Repsol Honda Team, 2015 proved a difficult year for Marc Marquez. The double MotoGP World Champion crashed six times as he attempted to override his RC213V, an overly aggressive engine haunting him throughout the year. Testing ahead of the 2016 season also proved difficult for Marquez who crashed multiple times and was unable to find a comfortable setting with his bike, Honda continue to work behind the scenes but 2016 looks set to start with an uphill battle. Their quest to improve the engine was hindered by the new standard electronics, HRC no longer having comprehensive control and infinite adjustments at their fingertips. It proved an even more difficult time for Dani Pedrosa, the second factory rider having a torrid time during testing and unable to get near his goals.

With the top nine riders within a second of each other at the Qatar Test and the number of technical changes, the 2016 MotoGP World Championship is building towards another fiery year. 18 races across 15 countries will decide the 2016 MotoGP World Champion, but who will wear the crown come Valencia is anybody’s guess. Practice begins on Thursday the 17th of March at 18:00 Local Time.

Source: MotoGP