Kiko Giles

25th February 20173rd July 2017

Rea pips Davies in Tremendous Race 1

Race one of the new WSBK season was an absolute cracker. Rea, Sykes, Davies, Melandri and Lowes all lead the race, exchanging places with Fores and Camier in the mix too. However, the Northern Irishman held the lead by 0.042 to beat Chaz Davies’ slipstreaming efforts on the run to the chequered flag. Tom Sykes managed to hold Yamaha’s Alex Lowes for the final position on the podium, with MV Agusta’s Leon Camier holding on to take his best result at Phillip Island with 5th, ahead of the Barni Racing Ducati of Xavi Fores.

The race got underway and the Kawasaki were swallowed up by turn one and it was returning Marco Melandri who hit the lead, with Davies in 2nd. The Kawasaki pairing fought back, placing 3rd and 4th.

Eugene Laverty made a fairly rapid start, from 13th to 8th, whilst Althea BMW’s Markus Reiterberger went the other way, ending the first lap in 15th.

Slipstream city down the Gardner Straight led to an all-out brawl at the front, with both Ducatis, Kawasakis, Yamahas, Fores’ Ducati and the BMW of Torres were all in the leading group, swapping places at every possible opportunity.

Lorenzo Savadori was the first casualty, having got into 7th, he watched the front group start to escape. As the Italian set off on closing down the gap between the lead 12-wheeler and the Milwaukee Aprilia, he crashed at Siberia but was OK apart from a damaged pride.

The race progressed and early race leader Marco Melandri was down in 4th but remained in the leading group, however it was Alex Lowes who hit the front. The 2013 British Superbike Champion was leading the way, the first time for Yamaha at the front of a WSBK race for 6 seasons.

Rea and Sykes regrouped, with Davies, Lowes, Melandri and Fores keeping them in their sites. Unfortunately for Melandri, his race came to an end as he tagged the back of Lowes at the Southern Loop, crashing out on his return to competition on lap 15. He will start 19th for race two.

The final 5 laps saw the remaining 5 spread out, with Rea and Davies going head to head in dramatic fashion. Davies took Rea at Doohan’s on the final lap but ran wide, allowing arch rival Rea to take the lead back instantly. That was how they finished, as although the Ducati of Davies had a slipstream chance with Rea down the straight on the run for home, the Ulsterman beat him, with Sykes taking the bronze medal position 1 second back.

Alex Lowes took his best finish since his 3rd place in Thailand back in 2015, with a 4th place ahead of the revelation of Leon Camier, who saw off Xavi Fores’ privateer Ducati outfit.

Fellow Spaniard Jordi Torres was 7th, ahead of qualifying crasher Eugene Laverty, the sole surviving Milwaukee Aprilia. Yamaha’s new signing, Michael Van Der Mark was a solid 9th in his first outing on the R1, with Randy Krummenacher storming to 10th place on his and the Pucetti Kawasaki’s WSBK premier class debut.

The rest of the points were sorted out, with former GP champion Nicky Hayden in 11th, ahead of Markus Reiterberger, Roman Ramos Alex de Angelis and former Moto2 Champion, Stefan Bradl on his debut. Russo, Jezek and Badovini rounded out the field, not gaining any championship points.

The only other rider not mentioned is Josh Brookes, who retired his privately entered Yamaha with a technical problem, whilst Leandro Mercado wasn’t racing his Ioda Aprilia through injuries sustained in a testing accident.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

24th February 20173rd July 2017

WSBK Australia Preview: And The Lights Go Green

The first round of the 2017 World Superbike season is coming from Australia and the Phillip Island circuit, located around 850km away from the capital, Canberra. Three of the top ten closest finishes in the history of WSBK have come from the Australian track, including the most recent one, in race 2 in 2015, when Leon Haslam won from Jonathan Rea. With a series of changes coming in both the series and within the teams, 2017 has all the credentials to be yet another vintage season.

The preseason favourites are without doubt Kawasaki and more-so Jonathan Rea, the reigning double champion. Aiming to become the first ever rider to win three championships on the bounce, the Ulsterman has won at least one race at the track since he joined the Kawasaki Racing Team back in 2015. Rea hasn’t won since the second race at the Lausitzring last season, and if Chaz Davies’ form is anything to go by, then it might not be all in the recently-turned-30-year-old’s favour.

His teammate, Tom Sykes, set a new pole record at Phillip Island last year but came away with nothing better than a 5th and 6th place after the races. Phillip Island is one of only a handful of the current circuits that Sykes hasn’t won at and he will be looking to put an end to that statistic. Having not been on the podium at the track since 2014, he will want a return to form, as he needs to bag points early on to have a real chance of beating Rea. Can the Huddersfielder do it? Only time will tell.

Chaz Davies has been in the top three for the past two seasons, and comes into 2017 as the rider in form. Seven wins from the last eight races in 2016, the Aruba.IT Ducati Team have got every faith in the Welshman to deliver the number one plate direct to Italy. 30-year-old Davies won more races than anyone else last season, but inconsistency – crashes at Phillip Island, Donington Park and Laguna Seca most notably – lead to the bronze medal position in 2016. Having set the fastest lap in at least one race at Phillip Island since 2014, he will be looking to convert one lap speed for consistent race pace, to take his first victory at the track.

Marco Melandri has won at Phillip Island, back in 2006 in MotoGP on the Fortuna Honda. The Italian has been on the podium every season in WSBK at the track since joining the series back in 2011 and has potential to become the first Italian pole-sitter in the history of WSBK at Phillip Island. The last Italian winner was Max Biaggi in 2012 and Melandri will be hoping to rewrite that record. Ducati will also be looking for success, having not taken a victory at the Australian venue since 2012 with Carlos Checa. Melandri could become one of a select group of riders to win on four makes of bike if he manages a victory at some point this season. Keep your eyes on the #33.

Honda are sporting a new look in 2017, revamped with their new bike and with their striking appearance – fashioning a Red Bull livery – it could be love at first sight for their riders. Nicky Hayden took the old Honda Fireblade to its first victory since Portugal 2014 last season at Sepang, on his way to securing a solid 5th place in the championship. The American will be looking to add to that tally, as he begins his 2nd full season in the WSBK category after leaving MotoGP in 2015. Hayden’s best result at Phillip Island was a 4th place in race 2, although this year, the Kentucky Kid will hope for a taste of the champagne.

Joined by fellow former MotoGP star, Stefan Bradl will partner Hayden at Red Bull Honda. The 2011 Moto2 champion begins his career in WSBK at Phillip Island, a circuit he has never won at although he took 2nd in his Moto2 championship season. The German has adapted quickly during in testing for the series but expects to be playing catch up with the new Honda until Aragon in April. On his journey this year, the son of former GP winner Helmut Bradl, will be encountering new circuits such as the Chang International Circuit, Imola, Portimao, the Lausitzring and Magny Cours. Can the German be a threat?

As well as the top three manufacturers from last year, teams such as Althea BMW and Milwaukee Aprilia will be searching for victories throughout the campaign, with former GP stars such as Jordi Torres and Eugene Laverty in the mix for both teams respectively. Alongside them are Markus Reiterberger (BMW) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) – neither of which have scored their first WSBK podium.

The Pata Yamaha Team operated by Paul Denning of Crescent Racing retain Alex Lowes for a fourth straight season and introduce Dutchman Michael Van Der Mark into the fray, as Sylvain Guintoli heads back to BSB. Leon Camier stays on the MV Agusta for another season, hoping to also achieve the team’s first ever podium. He achieved a great 7th place at Phillip Island last season, wanting to do better this year no doubt.

Other riders such as Xavi Fores, who was quickest in testing Down Under, make up the grid. Alex De Angelis switches to the oldest team in the paddock at Team Pedercini Kawasaki, with Ondrej Jezek and Ayrton Badovini joining the Grillini Kawasaki outfit. Roman Ramos remains in the GoEleven Kawasaki team, the Spaniard being the only full time rider last year to finish every race he took part in. Leandro Mercado represents the whole of South America, as the Argentine teams up with Ioda Racing who in turn become a one-man outfit for this season. The grid is rounded out with Italy’s Ricardo Russo on the Guandolini Yamaha, as the team return to the championship, and by former GP star and World Supersport race winner at Phillip Island in 2016, Randy Krummenacher, who steps up to the World Superbike class with World Supersport champions from last year, Pucetti Racing.

21 riders, 13 rounds, 11 countries and over 40 international and national titles between them, it’s hard not to see competition levels on show this year. With new sponsors, new teams, returning riders and tracks, not to mention new, longer-lasting qualifying tyres and the race 2 grid system, World Superbikes is set to have a renaissance in 2017. After the conclusion of the first weekend, we will have a rough idea of who is hot and who most certainly is not, as well as knowing how good the new system for race 2 grid positions will be. The only absentee from proceedings this weekend is Leandro Mercado, who nurses an injury following a testing incident – the team opting not to replace him.

You can follow the season with us this year, with every round covered to the highest standard. Follow us online for exclusive interviews and polls, as well as competitions and live updates from events – our handle is @PitCrew_Online. You can follow me too, for all things bikes, whether it be WSBK, BSB, MotoGP, CEV or the Shell Asia Talent Cup! @MotoGPKiko is where to find me!
Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

24th February 20173rd July 2017

TeamByTeam WSBK Preview: Althea BMW

The final team of our big six previews is the Spanish Althea BMW Team. In 2016, the Althea Racing Team made the switch from being the satellite Ducati team to the Factory BMW team, and with a few good results, the former champions want to return to winning ways now that they have a year of experience under their belt. Keeping to the same bike is crucial but keeping to the same rider line-up is just as vital. Could 2017 see the boys in black and white reach the chequered flag first?

The BMW Factory Team withdrew from competition at WSBK after their 2012 season, leaving the GoldBet BMW squad to be the lead team for the manufacturer. However, after their collapse, it is now the Althea Team who have some backing from BMW HQ. The bike itself is a weapon. It is one of the fastest bikes in a straight line and it handles superbly through the twisty parts of the tracks. However, one issue that has occurred is that throttle control is very difficult to manage. Tyco BMW and Hawk Racing BMW experienced that issue over in the BSB series, but different regulations at WSBK level mean that the issue isn’t as prominent for Althea.

Jordi Torres remains with the team for 2nd consecutive season. The Spaniard came to the championship in 2015 aboard a semi-factory Aprilia, and took his first win at Losail. Having endured last season with no win and no podiums, Torres will feel like he needs to get back where he belongs. A handful of 4th places helped him into 6th come the season’s end, but Torres knows he is top five material, and 2017 has to be the year where he is back up front.

Partnering the former Moto2 winner is double IDM champion, Markus Reiterberger. The German had a solid rookie year at World Superbike level on a bike that is hard to get to grips with. 16th in the championship doesn’t reflect some of the more successful rides that he had in the season, with a season best 5th at Buriram in Thailand. The 5th in Thailand proved that on a more less new circuit, Reiterberger is very fast indeed. Can the 22-year-old be a spoiler from the off in 2017?

As for circuits, Thailand was a very good circuit for the team last season, highlighted by the aforementioned Reiterberger and his 5th. Imola is one of Torres’ favourites, having taken his first ever podium at the track in 2015, and a 4th place last season. The last time a BMW won a WSBK race was at Portimao in 2013 with Melandri, and that very circuit returns after a year absence in 2017.

You can keep up to date with the goings on of World Superbike here at The Pit Crew Online. Give us a follow on Twitter @PitCrew_Online, and keep up with the live text commentary of all the big meetings!

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

18th February 20173rd July 2017

TeamByTeam WSBK Preview: Red Bull Ten Kate Honda

The Honda World Superbike team come into the 2017 World Superbike season with an all new bike to play with. The much awaited new Fireblade will be used to try and propel the team to their first championship victory since 2007 and James Toseland. The team took 10 podiums in 2016 on the old Fireblade, so can they have a more successful and champagne littered year in 2017.

The bike is a beauty. A more sophisticated chassis, more horsepower and more agility is just what the team wanted and needed to play with in order to fight for the championship. Honda however haven’t endured too much of a bad World Superbike campaign in the last year, as they took their first win since Jonny Rea in 2014 with Nicky Hayden at Sepang. The bike also had one final swansong in British Superbikes with Jason O’Hallaron taking the machine to 5th in the title just in behind teammate Dan Linfoot.

The riders that are guiding the bike to potential success bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. Nicky Hayden retains his seat for a 2nd season in WSBK, as he looks forward to getting back up the sharp end of racing. The American took one win last season in the wet and took a further three podiums. The Kentucky Kid only retired four times and when he did make it to the finish, it was never outside of the top 10. If he can cut out the mistakes, bag some wins and podiums and keep in the top four, the American could become the first rider ever to win MotoGP and World Superbike titles.

Hayden has a new teammate in 2017, with a fellow MotoGP refugee in Stefan Bradl, who leaves the Gresini Aprilia Team and makes the transition over to the production based class. The German will be wanting to get straight down to business, but as ever with change, there are new challenges. Besides the bike, it will be the tracks that the MotoGP podium finisher will need to learn during the Free Practice sessions. Tracks he hasn’t been on at a competitive level include Buriram, Imola, Lausitzring, Magny Cours and Portimao. However, the former Moto2 champion is a quick rider, and a seasoned campaigner and although his recent career may not be a lot to shout about, Bradl on a quick bike could be something worth watching. Maybe, a potential dark horse?

The new Honda is more or less unproven on the tracks of the World Superbike calendar. However, recent history shows that Phillip Island, Buriram, Assen, Sepang and Laguna Seca to be good tracks, but Imola seems to be their favourite, with a double victory with Rea back in 2014, although 2 lacklustre results at the track last season do throw that statement into disrepute. The season opening round at Phillip Island was good last season, with a double podium for the departing Michael Van Der Mark, but a win hasn’t occurred since 2007 and James Toseland. Can Bradl and Hayden use their MotoGP experience at the track to re-write Honda’s history books?

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

17th February 20173rd July 2017

Repsol Honda flying Down Under

Repsol Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa worked tirelessly during the final day of testing at Phillip Island, but both riders achieved top three positions. Marc 2nd, with Dani in 3rd.

Honda found a new setting that allowed for a more settled and flexible electronics package, whilst Marquez could build on his race pace and consistency in the latter half of the day. Pedrosa’s side of the garage was in praise of the steps made by Michelin, who have been developing the front tyres throughout the test.

“I’m very happy with how it went today because we improved a lot, especially in the afternoon, even if I did my best lap time in the morning. In the end I felt much more comfortable and it seems that yesterday’s long runs were useful for improving the electronics and getting closer to the level we wanted to reach, said the reigning champion.

“Overall, I think it has been three very positive days, and we did a good job. Of course we shouldn’t forget that this circuit is quite particular, and in Qatar we’ll see where we really are.

It is the Spaniard’s birthday today, and he wasn’t shy in sharing the positive vibes that the team were emitting. “Today I had a funny present from my team, a magnifying glass; I know I’m quite persistent in asking to check the data to find the issues we had, and they told me to find it myself! I’m very thankful that HRC is putting in a lot of effort, and step-by-step we’re getting better. I’d like to wish all the best to my Crew Chief Santi, who wasn’t able to be here at Philip Island because of some medical checks. We all missed him and we’re looking forward to seeing him with us again at the next test!”

Dani Pedrosa was much happier, now that he had overcome a sudden illness which kept him down the timesheets on day 2. “Overall I think it’s been a very positive test, especially considering that this isn’t one of my favourite tracks. I was riding quite well and I think we improved day by day.

Pedrosa reiterated his illness yesterday, but was glad he got in one productive day in testing today. “Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well but today I felt a bit better and we could do a good job on the track. The team has worked very well. We focused again on electronics and on the setup of the bike, and the only thing we missed was a long run, as we ran out of time. Michelin have also made some good steps forward with the tyres. All in all, we can say we’re heading in the right direction, even if we still have some work to do.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

17th February 20173rd July 2017

Hard Work Prevails as Suzuki riders Blossom

Alex Rins showcased his undoubted premier class talents as he placed 6th on the final day of testing at Phillip Island. The Spanish rookie was yet again ahead of teammate Andrea Iannone, who failed to improve on his day 2 lap time.

Suzuki worked hard to set a bike up that easier to handle with smoother throttle control, whilst Rins as a rider worked on his riding style. Iannone’s side of the garage wasn’t too bothered about not being able to have a shot at a time attack, as they were working on race setup and speed over a long distance.

“The truth is that I’m very satisfied with these three days of testing. Apart from the best lap, the most important thing is that our progress during the sessions has been consistent and significant, cutting more than 2.3 seconds since Day One, said Rins, delighted with the work he has achieved.

“We are able to better understand the machine and also develop a finer sensitivity with the settings and the changes. With my team, we are working very intensively, and this pays us back in the end. We still have many areas to improve, both in the GSX-RR and in my riding, but our ideas are getting clearer after each session. I also had a little crash today, but this didn’t affect my performance.

Rins isn’t finished yet, and is looking to improve more over the next test and races. “I’m satisfied with these days and confident that we will be able to further improve.”

Iannone was optimistic and certainly more upbeat than day 2, as the GP winner from last season said that the more he rides the bike, the more familiar things are and that gradually, everything is falling into place.

“We understand more-and-more the direction we need to take for the future. I managed a very constructive long run where we could put together all the information collected in these three days and I must say the result was not bad at all, the #29 rider stated.

“Obviously, I couldn´t take advantage of the new tyres for a proper time attack. I ruined the front tyres as I used them so much for the long run attempts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Therefore, my position in the classification is not the one I’d like, but looking overall, we did a good job. We are working on the electronics but not just there.

Iannone recognised that there are areas needing refining to be back near the top like on day 1. “We have many areas where we can make big or small improvements, and we are trying to fix everything. These kinds of tests require time and patience. It is like being a test rider more than a race rider. It is hard to be in the position of tapping the bike´s full potential, but I’m confident that in Qatar we will reap the benefits of this hard work.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

17th February 20173rd July 2017

Aprilia on the Up as Phillip Island Test Concludes

Aleix Espargaro concluded the Phillip Island Test with a lot of positives, as he placed the Gresini Factory Aprilia in 10th place, whilst teammate Sam Lowes was 21st on the final day.

The team worked solidly, trying to find a sweet-spot for race distance runs, maintaining the pace through a race being the end goal. Espargaro praised the forward direction, saying that they’d found solutions in fast corners as well as saying that the bike suits his riding style.

“We are leaving these tests at a good overall level. We really worked hard. Today we focused on consistent performance. The RS-GP did very well in race simulations but we know that there is still room for improvement on that front, said Aleix, who joined the team from Suzuki last season.

“Here at Phillip Island I found a bike that once again suits my riding style in braking, whereas we were able to improve in terms of grip compared with the Sepang tests. After talking with the others, I think that we should be able to gain something in the turns, especially the fast corners, speaking of which, we tried a few changes to the chassis architecture to see if we could find more speed in the centre of the turns.

The 27-year-old said that they will continue with this attitude in Qatar. “In Qatar we will continue in this direction, trying both the new fairing and the evolved engine again to establish the base for the first race weekend.”

Sam Lowes was also riding well; the Brit was one of only two riders not to break the pole time set in 2016 but the distance from him to the top has shrunk dramatically over the three days, and now stands at just 1.6 seconds.

“There are many more positive aspects of our tests than it may seem. I started off with a few difficulties, but growth was constant. I managed to stay up with the group of riders ahead of me, despite a few uncertainties in my fast lap that cost me a couple of tenths, said the Moto2 winner from the previous two seasons.

“We obviously need to be faster, but I think that all the riders on the grid would say the same. The gaps are incredibly close. Except for the top two, practically all the other riders are within just over a second.

The former World Supersport champion said that he could battle for points in the race, but their potential is far superior to that.

“To be honest, if we were to race tomorrow I think I could battle for the points zone, but I know that our potential is much higher, so the tests in Qatar will be our chance to look for another step forward. What Aleix demonstrated with the 2017 bike is an important sign. I know that I have a good technical package to start the season in the best possible way.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

17th February 20173rd July 2017

Inside Line: Phillip Island Test Day 3: Vinales is Serious

On the third and final day of testing at Phillip Island, it was Yamaha’s new boy Maverick Vinales who took honours, and made it three from three as he topped all other pre-season tests. The Spaniard was ahead of newly found rival Marc Marquez and his teammate, Dani Pedrosa, who sprung up the order after a tricky day one and two.

The British GP winner from last season racked up an impressive 101 laps on his #25 Movistar Yamaha, setting his best on lap 13. Vinales topped day 2 also, meaning that he can leave the Australian circuit with the upper hand as we approach Losail. His teammate however, did not fare so well. Valentino Rossi also set his quick lap on the 13th, but managed just over half of what Vinales completed. The Italian was languishing in 11th. Perhaps one too many pints last night, as the 9-time champion celebrated his 38th birthday.

Marc Marquez hounded Vinales for part of the session, sitting in the wake of the Yamaha man. The reigning champion put together 96 laps, and like yesterday, set his fastest lap early on, on lap 14. The Spaniard praised his long runs from day 2, in enabling him to ride a more comfortable bike with a more sophisticated electronics package. Dani Pedrosa shocked everyone by rocketing up the order on the final day, from as low as 16th yesterday to 3rd today. Dani, like Marc, worked on electronics and the setup of the bike for the race, despite not being able to complete a long run.

Jonas Folger continued to show the world why although only winning one Moto2 race last year and stepping on the podium a mere four other times, as he rounded out the test in 4th place. The German has incrementally gone about his business, making refinements to both the bike and his riding style. His teammate and reigning double Moto2 champion Johann Zarco was also happy with his testing performance, as he was one of 20 riders to get under the pole time from 2016 – despite being in 14th – although just over a second of Vinales.

Double Grand Prix winner Cal Crutchlow stormed to a solid 5th place at the final drop of the chequered flag. The Brit’s performance is backing up his strong latter half-of-season form from 2016. Crutchlow was ahead of new kid on Suzuki’s residential estate Alex Rins, who once again beat his teammate Andrea Iannone, meaning the Italian has work to do. Both Suzuki riders set their fast laps towards the end of the session, with Iannone ending up in a lowly and uncharacteristic 12th.

Behind Rins, the Ducati pairing of Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo. The two former champions struggled throughout the test, with the latter being in 15th after day 2. Both riders salvaged something though, putting the Ducatis in the top 10. Dovizioso was testing the bike, whilst Jorge Lorenzo continues to work through his program schedule in adapting to the fierce Bologna Bullet.

In 9th place, last year’s Dutch TT victor, Jack Miller. The local hero slotted his Estrella Galicia Honda nicely in the top 10, proving that last year’s successes were no fluke. He, like for the previous days testing, was the only Marc VDS rider testing, as Tito Rabat takes up the role as benchwarmer (or the MotoGP equivalent), as he recuperates from a fairly big crash in Sepang.

Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro was next up in 10th, as again he proves the Aprilia is a bike capable of threatening the serious end of the points. A string of laps which amounted to 65 come the chequered flag, the Barcelona boy set his best on the 61st of these. His teammate Sam Lowes was 21st, but only 1.6 seconds away from Maverick Vinales’ time, highlighting two things: the first is that the placings of riders in the test isn’t that relevant, and the 2nd is that MotoGP is ridiculously close, and if the whole field is under 2 seconds from the top man, then there is going to be some seriously hard riding – as ever – in MotoGP this season.

Danilo Petrucci was flying the Pramac Ducati flag in 13th place; the Italian leaving ‘The Island’ in one piece and with the Pramac team this year, unlike last year when he left the circuit with the Ambulance crew. His teammate, Scott Redding, was in 20th, but once again, being just 1.4 off the top on arguably the most daunting circuit of them all is nothing to be shy about.

Hector Barbera was in 15th position for the newly named Reale Espnsorama Racing outfit (Avintia to me and thee). The front row qualifier from last season’s German GP set his fastest lap on the penultimate lap of his session, whilst teammate Loris Baz was 17th, setting 71 laps and completing his best of them on lap 64.

Pol Espargaro was a pleasant surprise in 16th, as the Spaniard continued to improve and impress on the Red Bull KTM. The Austrian factory completed 135 laps with both riders, as Bradley Smith also climbed the order, up to 18th on the final day. Both under the pole lap from last year’s qualifying, although the conditions were poor.

Alvaro Bautista – arguably the revelation of testing so far – couldn’t improve on his time from day 2 and was fairly subdued in 19th place. The #19 said that they (the team) had not found an ideal setting, but that his confidence has grown with the Ducati. Teammate and WSBK refugee Karel Abraham was in last position on day three, but drew the positives, saying that his long run would be helpful in preparation to Qatar, as he acclimatises to not just a new bike and team, but new tyres, having never ridden on the MotoGP Michelins before.

After an eventful test, which saw red flags and animals on day one and incredibly quick lap times and surprises on day three, it’s fair to say that MotoGP has really been set up for yet another incredible season. Could we see 10 riders on the winners list this season? Stay tuned to find out. The next test will take place in Qatar, on the 10th – 12th of March (also the weekend of the Thai World Superbike round).

You can follow us @PitCrew_Online for all things two and four wheeled. You can follow me personally @MotoGPKiko for more original content and all things bike orientated, as we look forward to our third season together!

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

16th February 20173rd July 2017

TeamByTeam WSBK Preview: Aruba.IT Ducati

The Aruba.IT Ducati Team come into the 2017 World Superbike season as one of the favourites to take not just the constructors championship, but a riders’ championship too. The bike, which has no fully acclimatised to WSBK and is up to speed, has been in the series for four seasons now without a title success. Can they go all the way?

The bike itself is a proven race winner in the hands of Welshman Chaz Davies. After initial teething problems, the machine is now firing on all four cylinders (despite it being a twin cylinder), and is ready to take championship success from national, to international race series. Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne took the Panigale to its first British Superbike Championship in 2016 at the first time of asking and Matteo Baiocco took the bike to Italian Superbike glory also. Having finished in the top three in the WSBK on two consecutive seasons, the Aruba.IT Ducati will seek to go on to finish top of the championship tree in 2017. One problem that prevailed last season was the straight-line speed of the bike – yes, you just read that Ducati struggled with top speed! It was an issue in Phillip Island and at Buriram due to the long corners that lead onto the huge straights.

But just who have Ducati hired to take the bike to the top? Unsurprisingly, Chaz Davies signed for a 4th season on the Ducati, having come so close to glory last season. Despite taking 11 race wins – more than anyone else – Chaz could only manage third in the title as inconsistencies in the mid-season put him on the back-foot. 20 wins to his name thus far, can the soon-to-be 30 year old take that all important championship victory?

Out to stop him – or act as wingman – is former 250cc champion and MotoGP winner, Marco Melandri. The famous #33 returns to a series in which he has become known as a nearly man, where the Italian has never been out of the top four, but never took the elusive title win. Having had a torrid time in 2015 for half a MotoGP season, and a retirement year in 2016, Melandri comes back hungrier than ever to challenge at the front. Having had successful surgery to fix an injured leg, he can now focus on returning to former glory and becoming the first Italian to win on the Bologna Bullet since Michel Fabrizio in 2010.

The more troubling issue for Ducati is their start of season form, as they haven’t taken a win in the opening two rounds since Carlos Checa in 2012. They’ve never won in Thailand and haven’t won at Assen since 2012 with Sylvain Guintoli. Donington Park hasn’t been kind to them either, with no win since Carlos Checa back in 2011. However, Davies comes into the championship off the back of six consecutive wins towards the end of last season – the first to win the final six races in a season since Colin Edwards in the amazing 2002 season. Both of their riders are seasoned campaigners and both will be looking for a title win, at any costs…

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

16th February 20173rd July 2017

Rins Optimistic, Iannone wants more Control

Alex Rins has shown that injury doesn’t always hinder you, as he goes to 9th place on the second day of testing. The Spaniard, who was way down the order on day 1, was keen to try the team’s solution to chassis issues, trying a variety of configurations.

The GSX-RR rider is still getting used to his new surroundings, but reports from the team suggest that his relationship with them is getting better, as his confidence with the bike is beginning to shine through.

The same could not be said for Austrian Grand Prix winner Andrea Iannone, who, after finishing 3rd on day 1, didn’t improve his time on day 2, placing him in 12th place. Iannone is also a new signing, with team boss David Brivio putting it down to “not being able to find a style that suits his needs.

“Today we tried different things; some new specs of the chassis and the new fairings. I feel comfortable. We took a big step since yesterday. Step-by-step, lap-by-lap, I can take better lines and so I can be more consistent”.

The Moto2 title challenger from 2016 went on to say: “We could improve a lot in the third sector. We are more consistent than yesterday, we gained a lot of corner speed and I’m happy we are working in the right direction.”

As for Andrea Iannone, he was not as optimistic. “Today’s been hard because we could not find a way to improve the lap time”, he began. “We are at a point where we still have work to do. Although, looking at the pace, I’m not that bad and it’s better than yesterday. I still don’t have 100% control of the machine; it’s only the second test, little-by-little”.

The Italian went on to say that his understanding of the behaviour of the bike must improve: “I need to understand how to attack the track to achieve a better lap time and how to best read the GSX-RR, but I believe this will come with time, after riding longer and longer. Now, we are focused on many aspects. We have many positives and we are working hard on our negatives.”

The test resumes tomorrow, for the final time.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko