This year will see a brand new generation of
MotoGP™ bikes on track with regulations changes increasing the maximum
engine capacity to 1000cc. As manufacturers have been developing this
new breed of bike since last year, the pre-season tests will be crucial
for them to put the finishing touches to their 2012 contenders. Teams and riders will have to make the most of the three, 3-day
testing sessions, with a first test from 31/01 to 02/02 in Sepang,
another at the Malaysian track from 28/02 to 01/03, before a final test
in Jerez from 23/03 to 25/03, just two weeks before the start of the
season in Qatar on the 8th of April.
The key factory teams will see their riders' line-up unchanged, with
Casey Stoner set to defend his World Title alongside Repsol Honda
team-mate Dani Pedrosa; the Yamaha Factory team will again be
represented by Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, while Valentino Rossi and
Nicky Hayden will be hard at work with the Ducati team in order to push
the Italian outfit at the front of the MotoGP pack.
The off-season saw some major migrations including that of Andrea
Dovizioso, who will make his debut on a Yamaha with Tech3 alongside Cal
Crutchlow, and Alvaro Bautista, who will spearhead the Honda Gresini
team effort. Hector Barbera will now be the sole rider of the Pramac
Racing Team while Karel Abraham will continue his career with Cardion
AB Racing Team.
Colin Edwards and Randy de Puniet joined the ranks of Forward Racing
and Aspar Team respectively, for which they will ride the new CRT-spec
machines. With the new CRT entries, a total of 21 riders will form the
MotoGP grid this year, giving newcomers such as Danilo Petrucci, Ivan
Silva, Michele Pirro and Yonny Hernandez a chance to shine in the
premier class, and also a path back into MotoGP for the likes of
Anthony West, Aleix Espargaro and James Ellison.
Another noteworthy entry is 2011 Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl,
who will join the LCR Honda team as he graduates into the MotoGP class.
The next two months will also have riders from the lower classes
getting into gear as the Valencia and Jerez circuits will host testing
sessions for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes.
The Moto2™ class promises to be as entertaining and unpredictable as
ever, with favourites such as Marc Marquez, Andrea Iannone and Scott
Redding facing 125 World Champion Nico Terol and his runner-up Johann
Zarco, in addition to the inaugural Moto2 World Champion, Toni Elias,
who is set to make his return to the category that saw him take the
crown in 2010.
Pre-season testing will be particularly important for the Moto3™
class contestants as the new 4-stroke 250cc bikes replace the old
2-stroke 125cc motorcycles. It will be interesting to see how the likes
of Maverick Viñales, Sandro Cortese and Hector Faubel will fare on the
brand new machinery.
Testing calendar:
- Sepang 1 MotoGP, 31/01-02/02
- Valencia Moto2/Moto3, 08/02-10/02
- Jerez 1 Moto2/Moto3, 16/02-18/02
- Sepang 2 MotoGP, 28/02-01/03
- Jerez 2 Moto2/Moto3, 19/03-21/03
- Sepang 2 MotoGP, 23/03-25/03
