5 changes to look out for during the 2017 MotoGP season
The 2016 MotoGP season was definitely one for the books, mainly because the premier class had nine different race winners. The 2017 season will kick off in March, with an evening race in Qatar and will end in Valencia in November.
Before the new season starts, be aware of the following changes:
New Manufacturer KTM joins premier class
The bikes will make their debut in the MotoGP class this year, after being revealed in November at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Aerodynamic wings banned next season
The new rules state that bikes cannot be fitted with any wings, bulges or fins that may provide an aerodynamic effect.
Intermediate tyres dropped
The Grand Prix Commission has confirmed that after just one season Michelin’s intermediate tyres will be dropped after hardly being used this season.
Fraud Detection System added
A first for motorsport – the introduction of a system that will monitor sports betting and signs of fraud. MotoGP promoters said Sportradar Integrity Services would apply their Fraud Detection System to all Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP races – for the next three seasons, that’s 162 races.
Team changes – who’s in and who’s out?
The dynamic duo in the Repsol Honda camp will remain the same and why not? They have the reigning World Champion Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, who had 103 podiums throughout his MotoGP career.
Movistar Yamaha says goodbye to three-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo. Experienced racer Valentino Rossi will say hello to his new teammate, Maverick Vinales from the Suzuki team.
The Ducati Team loses one of their Andrea’s next year, opting to keep Andrea Dovizioso instead of Andrea Iannone. Dovi will be joined by Jorge Lorenzo, who spent nine years racing for Yamaha.
Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins will both be new to the GSX-RR bike in the Factory Suzuki camp. Rins finished third in Moto2 this year and now joins the premier class. This season Iannone sustained a T3 vertebra fracture during practice at Misano, and missed four races which affected his title hopes.
Bradley Smith and Pol Espagaro both leave Monster Yamaha Tech3 for the new KTM team.
Older brother to Pol, Aleix Espagaro joins Aprilia Gresini with Sam Lowes who comes from Moto2 – he finished fifth.
Cal Crutchlow, who won the Australian GP this year will remain will LCR Honda next year.
Jack Miller and Tito Rabat will remain at Marc VDS Honda. Miller won his first MotoGP victory in the Netherlands this year, and Rabat had his first top 10 finish in Argentina.
Fresh from Moto2 Jonas Folger and Johann Zarco will be the riders for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team. Zarco finished in first place in Moto2, with Folger finishing seventh.
Avintia Ducati has an unchanged team with Loris Baz and Hector Barbera.
In the Pramac Ducati team, Scott Redding and Danilo Petrucci – Petrucci will ride the GP17 bike, the same bike as Lorenzo and Dovi, while Redding will get the GP16, the bike Iannone and Dovi had this year.
Karel Abraham returns to MotoGP after riding in the World SuperBike Championship last year. Abraham replaces Yonny Hernandez and will team up with Alvaro Bautista.