[Mashblue]

The 2015 season of MotoGP is almost upon us with the inaugural race on 29th of this month, The Qatar GP. This thread will be for discussion on the races this season, new developments, rule changes in MotoGP.

The Team-Rider line-up for 2015:



Repsol Honda (Factory class)
1. Marc Marquez (SPA) (RC213V)
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) (RC213V)

Movistar Yamaha (Factory class)
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) (YZR-M1)
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) (YZR-M1)

Ducati Team (Factory class)
1. Andrea Dovizioso ITA (Desmosedici GP15)
2. Andrea Iannone ITA (Desmosedici GP15)

Suzuki Ecstar(Factory class)
1. leix Espargaro SPA (GSX-RR)
2. Maverick Vinales* SPA (GSX-RR)

Aprilia Gresini (Factory class)
1. Alvaro Bautista SPA (ART)
2. Marco Melandri ITA (ART)

Marc VDS Honda (Factory class)
1. Scott Redding GBR (RC213V)

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (Factory class)
1. Pol Espargaro SPA (YZR-M1)
2. Bradley Smith GBR (YZR-M1)

Pramac Ducati (Factory class)
1. Danilo Petrucci ITA (Desmosedici GP14/GP14.2?)
2. Yonny Hernandez COL (Desmosedici GP14.2)

LCR Honda (Factory/Open class)
1. Cal Crutchlow GBR (RC213V)
2. Jack Miller* AUS (RC213V-RS)

NGM Forward Racing Yamaha (Open class)
1. Stefan Bradl GER (Forward Yamaha)
2. Loris Baz* FRA (Forward Yamaha)

Drive M7 Aspar Honda (Open class)
1. Nicky Hayden USA (RC213V-RS)
2. Eugene Laverty* IRL (RC213V-RS)

Avintia Racing Ducati (Open class)
1. Hector Barbera SPA (Desmosedici GP14/14.2?)
2. Mike di Meglio FRA (Desmosedici GP14/14.2?)

Cardion AB Motoracing (Open class)
1. Karel Abraham CZE (RC213V-RS)

Iodaracing (Open class)
1. Alex de Angelis RSM (ART)


CALENDER:

R01 29/03/2015 Qatar flag Commercialbank Bank Grand Prix of Qatar - Losail
R02 12/04/2015 United States flag Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas - Circuit of the Americas
R03 19/04/2015 Argentina flag Gran Premio Red Bull de la República Argentina - Río Hondo
R04 03/05/2015 Spain flag Gran Premio bwin de España - Jerez
R05 17/05/2015 France flag Monster Energy Grand Prix de France - Le Mans
R06 31/05/2015 Italy flag Gran Premio d'Italia TIM - Mugello
R07 14/06/2015 Catalunya flag Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya - Catalunya
R08 27/06/2015 Netherlands flag Motul TT Assen - Assen
R09 12/07/2015 Germany flag Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland - Sachsenring
R10 09/08/2015 United States flag Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix - Indianapolis
R11 16/08/2015 Czech Republic flag bwin Grand Prix Ceské republiky - Brno
R12 30/08/2015 United Kingdom flag British Grand Prix - Donington Park
R13 13/09/2015 San Marino flag TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini - Misano
R14 27/09/2015 Aragon flag Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón - Motorland Aragon
R15 11/10/2015 Japan flag Motul Grand Prix of Japan - Motegi
R16 18/10/2015 Australia flag Australian Grand Prix - Phillip Island
R17 25/10/2015 Malaysia flag Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix - Sepang
R18 08/11/2015 Valencia flag Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana - Valencia

Source: http://www.motogp.com/

HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SEASON:

1. Marquez may find it difficult to win a 3rd championship in a row considering his waning performance at second half of 2014.
2. Yamaha up-to-spec with Honda with their new Seamless gear shift.
3. Lorenzo was in sublime form at the end of last season, if he stays crash-free then we have a real fight on our hands for the title.
4. Interesting to see developments Suzuki will make after all these years of hiatus.
5. Jack miller: Takes a leap to the premier class straight from moto3, an exciting young prospect.
6. Aprilia: Another new team with huge potential.

[ebonho]

Most important question. Which Star Sports channel is it beamed on (there are 4 now .....). And are all races also going to be beamed on any other sports channel (Ten Sports ....).

Asking because my cable guy has made all Star channels paid, so I want to know which to pay for. And I am too lazy to shift to dish. Unless I have to.

Thanks in advance. Great thread! Go chacha!

[Mashblue]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Most important question. Which Star Sports channel is it beamed on (there are 4 now .....). And are all races also going to be beamed on any other sports channel (Ten Sports ....).

Asking because my cable guy has made all Star channels paid, so I want to know which to pay for. And I am too lazy to shift to dish. Unless I have to.

Thanks in advance. Great thread! Go chacha!

Ten sports it will be .They have secured the broadcast rights for the next 5 seasons too .
Have a look here : http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+Basics/tv_broadcasters & http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/FPr...or-MotoGP.html

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by Mashblue

Ten sports it will be .They have secured the broadcast rights for the next 5 seasons too .
Have a look here : http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+Basics/tv_broadcasters & http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/FPr...or-MotoGP.html

That is music to my ears. Serves the greedy bloodsuckers at Star (and my cable guy, who for personal health reasons I shall not name ....) right!

What about F1? Sorry for the OT.

[nkrishnap]

I believe there will be telecast on Star sports too (most probably Star Sports 4). 2014 races were relayed both on Ten Sports and Star Sports.

I completely agree, the Star Sports has simply got too greedy

[Mashblue]

Lorenzo brake experiment unlikely to continue:


Jorge Lorenzo is unlikely to try the experimental hand-operated rear brake during this weekend's final pre-season MotoGP test in Qatar.

Instead of the usual right-foot brake lever, the former double world champion was seen with a second lever on the left side of the handlebar (pictured) on his Movistar Yamaha.

The Spaniard, who had tried a thumb brake the previous year, explained that he was seeking alternatives due to losing some sensitivity and power when he broke both ankles in 2008. However the final verdict was that the foot lever is still a better option.

Source: http://www.crash.net/

[killjoy]

I see the Rossi fanboys (including me) are at the poll again. Strongly hoping that he will take the championship again

[Thirugnnanam]

Ah.. yes!! The thread is up here!

Ducati with their GP15 have really spiced up things now. Looking forward to some Iannone-Marquez epic this year. Not to forget Yamaha with their new seamless gearbox in the fray. Hope to see longer battles at the top during races this year.

As a GP fan, I couldn't ask more

[Mashblue]

Surprise Surprise! Ducatis are the fastest at the end of pre-season testing . Also Suzuki has done a marvelous job with Aleix Espargaro finishing 10th overall. Jack miller lamenting at 22nd , Sad to see hayden so low down in the standings. Rain-expert melandri returns to the premier class only to find himself at the bottom.
Hope this year's championship goes all the way up to the final round.
Combined results for the final pre-season testing:

1. Andrea DOVIZIOSO - Ducati Team
2. Marc MARQUEZ - Repsol Honda Team
3. Andrea IANNONE - Ducati Team
4. Jorge LORENZO - Movistar Yamaha
5. Valentino ROSSI - Movistar Yamaha
6. Dani PEDROSA - Repsol Honda Team
7. Cal CRUTCHLOW - CWM LCR Honda
8. Bradley SMITH - Monster Yamaha Tech 3
9. Pol ESPARGARO - Monster Yamaha Tech 3
10. Aleix ESPARGARO - Team Suzuki Ecstar
11. Karel ABRAHAM - AB Motoracing
12. Yonny HERNANDEZ - Pramac Racing
13. Scott REDDING - Estrella Galicia 0.0 Marc VDS
14. Maverick VIÑALES - Team Suzuki Ecstar
15. Hector BARBERA - Avintia Racing
16. Nicky HAYDEN - Drive M7 Aspar
17. Danilo PETRUCCI - Pramac Racing
18. Mike DI MEGLIO - Avintia Racing
19. Eugene LAVERTY - Drive M7 Aspar
20. Michele PIRRO - Ducati Test Team
21. Stefan BRADL - Athina Forward Racing
22. Jack MILLER - CWM LCR Honda
23. Loris BAZ - Athina Forward Racing
24. Alvaro BAUTISTA - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
25. Alex DE ANGELIS - Octo Ioda Racing Team
26. Marco MELANDRI - Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

[fz_rider]

Its going to be better season compared to last. I mean it was great to see Marquez being supreme in season, but for more than half a season, there was no catching him. This year the bikes are all stacked closer, performance looks similar. Yamaha really picked up at the end of last season. Ducati seems all geared up. I hope its an exciting season.

[killjoy]

Ducati looks really strong!!!

[Mashblue]

But Ducati's fastest lap was done on softer compound tires while almost everyone was on medium compound. Will be really interesting to see if Ducati can be competitive for the entire race distance today.

[fz_rider]

Ducati has got pace. Marquez needs a good start to win the race. Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Rossi are always good with starts. Its going to be one of toughest race for all.

[naveenroy]

Thankfully the thread is up! Looking forward to this season.

Loads of Marquez haters and Rossi lovers

Suzuki back in the fray after years too. And serves Star Sports right for losing the rights to beam the races!!

[Mashblue]

Rossi wins.
What a race! Absolute epic. The duel for the win reminded me of rossi vs stoner (2008 Laguna seca). Ducati is back alright and is clearly the fastest bike on the grid.