Podium potential – After last year’s race of the ages, we’re getting ready for another weekend of amazing racing at Phillip Island.
Phillip Island is a classic venue, 2016 a classic season. So it’s hard to predict anything but a classic race, in a year where close racing and unexpected results have gone hand in hand to make what many are calling a New Golden Age.
After years, decades even, when you pretty much knew that one of the aliens – a select group of three or four – would win every race, a combination of new rules, new tyres, new electronics and new talent have led to new circumstances and new heroes.
The numbers tell the story. In the first 14 races there have been eight different winners. From when Jorge Lorenzo won Round 6 at Mugello until Márquez won Round 14 at Aragon, there was not a single repeat. MotoGP travelled through Catalunya (Rossi), the Netherlands (Miller), Germany (Márquez), Austria (Iannone), Czech Republic (Crutchlow), England (Viñales) and San Marino (Pedrosa) before Márquez won again.
Cal Crutchlow
(LCR Honda)
The 30-year-old Briton’s first win at Brno was the result of a bold tyre choice and even bolder riding – his trademark. Likewise second in Germany. After a crash-strewn start on the Honda handful, a lesser rider might have throttled back. Not Cal.
Andrea Iannone
(Ducati)
Vastly improved bike, vastly improved rider. Most of the time. Iannone’s Austria win was a master stroke of tyre choice and tactical riding. His many crashes not so. The 27-year-old missed the last two European rounds injured. Has plenty to prove. plenty of push.
Andrea Dovizioso
(Ducati)
The only top factory rider not to win this year, Dovi (30) has been plagued by bad luck in getting knocked down, but many times has also lost speed in the later laps. Needs to find a better way to overcome the Ducati’s quirks, but this track might suit him well.
Scott Redding
(Pramac Ducati)
Redding (still a youngster at 23) hasn’t scored well this year, with a series of technical problems. But when it rains he’s pretty special – made the podium in Holland, and very nearly in Germany too. He’ll be hoping for some squalls off the Bass Strait.
Danilo Petrucci
(Pramac Ducati)
Another ace in the wet, Petrucci (25) is locked in battle with teammate Redding to earn a factory bike next year. It got a bit personal at Aragon where he knocked Redding off, earning a second ‘dangerous riding’ penalty of the year.
Pol Espargaró
(Monster Yamaha)
Once considered a hot prospect, the 25-year-old younger brother of Suzuki’s Aleix has had an erratic and disappointing third season on the satellite Yamaha. He’ll be anxious to prove something before moving to KTM next season.
