MotoGP: SpanishGP Preview – Race 300 – “The Ground War” Begins

This weekend will mark the 300th MotoGP race – it’s inception in 2002, taking over from the 500cc class – and with a return to Europe at the picturesque Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto. The 2.748 mile (4,423km) circuit is situated next to the historical and beautiful city of Jerez de la Frontera, there will be a party atmosphere.

The “Ground War” so eloquently put by 3x – 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey to describe the start of the European heart of the season. The teams are all situated in Europe so they have team trucks that are set up to look like makeshift mansions and the riders live in the paddock, whereas abroad they stay in hotel rooms.

Jerez has seen a few changes in 2019, after many years of complaints about the asphalt being too old, slippery and bumpy. The circuit has had many places resurfaced over the winter period, although this sounds good for the teams and riders it does open up its own set of problems in the short term.

Venture Into the Unknown

The riders will have done hundreds upon hundreds of laps around the circuit and the teams will have thousands of megabytes of data. With no testing having been done at Jerez since the resurfacing, this weekend will feel like an adventure into the great unknown.

Michelin have decided to error on the side of caution and have brought extra sets of tyres this weekend to cover all bases, a decision that – Piero Taramasso the Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager – believes is the right choice as they had little data when they returned to MotoGP in 2016. Michelin will bring 4 sets of front and rear tyres to the weekend.

“Then we were going to many tracks where we had no data and this weekend is similar as the track has had a lot of resurfacing since we tested there last November,” – Piero Taramasso.

Ducati Feeling Confident

Jerez isn’t a circuit that you would think of when it came to success for the Bologna factory. Although they have taken victory with Loris Capirossi (2006) but this year there is a real sense of optimism from the team in red that they can genuinely mount a genuine challenge for victory.

Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso is feeling confident after a strong 2018 at the circuit, a track that he has historically struggled at. His race ended after a collision with Jorge Lorenzo’s (team mate) bike after he and Dani Pedrosa came together.

Dovizioso, has never gelled with the Jerez circuit – his best result coming in 2006 & 07 with a pair of 3rd places in the 250cc class – showed a great turn of speed in 2018, “I can’t wait for Jerez” he stated in a recent interview on Rai Radio. With Dovi feeling calm and Ducati looking strong, this could be a weekend in which they can challenge Marc Marquez.

This weekend mark’s his 200th premier (MotoGP) class race, stretching back to his debut in Qatar 2008. He will be aiming to celebrate in fashion.

Aiming for 10

Someone that is used to celebrating, although those celebrations are few-and-far between these days is Valentino Rossi. The Doctor (as he is known) comes into Jerez on the back of two back-to-back podiums, narrowly missing out on his first win since Assen 2017.

Jerez is a favourite to many riders none more so than Rossi, who has amassed 15 podiums from 23 starts – 12 coming in the premier class. His record continues, from those 15 podiums, he has scored 9 victories across all classes – 7 (MotoGP/500cc), 1 (250cc) and 1 (125cc) – his most recent victory came in 2016 when out of his 115 Grand Prix victories, he set his first Grand Slam, where a rider sets pole position, leads every lap of the race and set the fastest lap.

With the Yamaha showing signs of improvement and Rossi stating after the previous round at the Circuit of the Americas that he is riding “better than ever”, there is belief that the 40 year old can challenge for his 10th victory at the circuit.

King of “The Floss”

His biggest opposition could come Marc Marquez, who last year dominated the race, after starting from 5th on the grid and done “the floss” as he crossed the line, gathering a whole host of new fans within a certain generation. Marquez has had great success at the Andalusian circuit, he has scored a podium in every season he has competed in the premier class and winning at the circuit in 2014 & 2018.

After his costly mistake at COTA, crashing out of the race at turn 12 at the end of the long back straight. Jerez, a track that suits the Honda and Marquez’s style, will be a perfect way for him to bounce back.

Honda, are reportedly bringing new parts to Jerez, admittedly, wild card – 2011 Moto2 World Champion – Stefan Bradl will be testing the parts. One thing Honda will be looking to fix will be the issue of the chain jumping off the sprocket. This has happened to both Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo, Honda have reportedly found the issue to have been when the rider was changing gear while running over the kerb as the problem.

A New Challenger Emerges

Suzuki returned to MotoGP in 2015 after a 4 year absence, when they returned they came in with a new found motivation and more backing from the factory in Hamamatsu, Japan. After scoring multiple podiums and a win in 2016, the following year was more difficult as they took a path down the wrong development route. In 2018 they returned to the podium (including a 3rd place for Andrea Iannone at Jerez) and last time out at COTA, the Japanese marque picked up their 3rd MotoGP win.

Alex Rins, the man to take victory, has been growing in stature since his rookie year in 2017. He was arguably the most consistent rider at the end of 2018 and scored multiple podiums. His first win in MotoGP, passing and then holding off Rossi was “very emotional” for the young Spaniard but comes into round 4 without the pressure of trying to win your first race.

The Suzuki team and Rins, have every reason to consider themselves as title contenders now, sitting 3rd in the championship – 5 points off Dovizioso (1st) and 2 points behind Rossi (2nd). Jerez is filled with long fast corners and short straights, which should play perfectly into the strengths of the bike, “I think Jerez can be a good track for us, it suits the GSX-RR’s characteristics pretty well” stated Rins.Rins will be looking to pick up his first win at the circuit and Suzuki’s first since Kenny Roberts Jr won the two-part race aggregate back in 2000.

Around the Paddock

Jorge Lorenzo will be looking to return to form at a circuit in which he has won at five times in the past. He currently sits 17th in the championship on 7 points With more time to recover between races, his injuries will cause him less affect and we could see Lorenzo, challenge for his first podium of the season and his first since August of last year at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Another rider looking for a strong weekend will be the Monster Yamaha rider of Maverick Vinales, although looking quick in testing and qualifying, has struggled in the races. He has stated he had to adapt his riding position during the race to cope with being behind another rider and after a jump start at COTA, he will be looking to return to form and score his first podium at Jerez in the premier class.

The battle for the 2020 factory Ducati seat looks set to rage on at the Spanish circuit this weekend, with Danillo Petrucci sitting one point clear in 5th of his rival for the seat – Jack Miller. Miller has had the upper hand so far, with his podium at COTA putting him in a stronger position for the seat next season, Petrucci will be looking to put a stop to the momentum that Miller has been gathering.

Race 300

Two hundred and ninty-nine races in and MotoGP is stronger than ever, with 45 podium finishers since 2002 and 23 different winners in 17 years. There’s no surprise that Valentino Rossi has the most victories with 76, that’s 25.4% of all the races to be held and lets not forget that Rossi won the first race at Suzuka in 2002 ahead of Suzuki wildcard Akira Ryo and Yamaha’s Carlos Checa.

Jorge Lorenzo has the second most amount of victories (47), Marc Marquez could move to within one race win of his fellow countryman, if he wins this weekend, as he currently sits of 45 race wins.

30 different riders have qualified on pole, with Marquez leading the way on 54, three ahead of Rossi (51) and Lorenzo on 43 in the premier class.

Honda are the most successful manufacturer in terms of wins, on 142, with Yamaha next up on 107.

There have been a total of 5 different world champions, Rossi hold the record with 6 of those titles (02-05, 08,09), Marquez has 5 (13,14, 16-18), Lorenzo is on 3 (10,12,15) with Casey Stoner next up on 2 (07,11) and 2006 championship Nicky Hayden the other wold champion.

Moto2

Lorenzo Baldassarri will be looking to bounce back from his crash in COTA to establish himself as the rider to beat a circuit where he scored his only win of 2018.

With Thomas Luthi back to winning ways after his victory in America and scoring his first win since Misano 2017, could cause an upset to the championship leader at Jerez.

Moto3

Aron Canet will be looking to repeat his victory at COTA with a victory in Jerez. However, the challenge will be tough as no one has had back-to-back wins in the class since Jorge Martin done the double at assen and the Sachsenring in 2018.

Romano Fenati has the most wins at the circuit with 2. His most recent coming back in 2014 but he scored his first ever victory as a 15 year old in his second ever race in 2012.

You never know what result you will get when you head to Jerez, that’s what makes it such a compelling and exciting weekend. In many ways it feels like the the beginning of the championship again. Three different riders from three different manufacturers have won the opening three racers of the year, can we get 4 from 4? Rossi, Vinales, it’s over to you.