What to Expect at the Qatar MotoGP
The MotoGP season kicks off this coming week with the Qatar MotoGP at the Losail International Circuit. Taking place from the 1st to the 3rd of March, the Qatar MotoGP is not only the first races of the season, it is also possibly the most important. The race will give punters and sports enthusiasts a good idea of how the teams are set and what to expect in the coming season.
In 2017, Spanish rider, Maverick Viñales took pole position in the race and eventually ended up winning for Yamaha. Andrea Dovizioso come in second on his Ducati while fellow Italian Valentino Rossi came home in third for Honda. But how are the teams going to fare this year?
In testing so far, Honda have been impressive with Marc Marques and Dani Pedrosa clocking impressive times. The team has also received positive comments from the riders and will be wanting to get their campaign off to a good start.
Ducati Fastest in Training
The Ducati team meanwhile have set the fastest ever lap in the Seeping training circuit with Jorge Lorenzo in the saddle. In Buriram though, Lorenzo found it much tougher going. Lorenzo and his teammate Andrea Dovizioso will be wanting to into the GP18 at Qatar and other venues. Lorenzo and 2017 runner up, DesmoDovi have excellent records at Losail and will be working on the finer details for 2018 including detailed aero investigations.
Team Suzuki Ecstar also updated their aero for the 2018 and has been testing at Buriram with much enthusiasm. The tests show positive results, despite both riders crashing early on in testing. This year, the Hamamatsu factory will be wanting a top-5 finish with Alex Rins back in action after an injury prone season last year. He will be joined by Andre Iannone who is also one of the big threats come race day.
Red Bull KTM will be racing one again, and have shown great progress in the preseason. In Buriram, Bradley Smith and Mika Kallio were on the track for testing although Esparagaro should be fully recovered for the Qatar event.
Yamaha Still Have Issues to Sort Out Before Qatar
Meanwhile Suzuki are confident which package they intend to run in the season opener. At Yamaha, they still have a few issues to sort out before they have a full 25 points on the board. Yamaha showed good results in Sepang although, both Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi left feeling they needed time in Qatar to sort out their problems. It seems grip is still an issue along with the electronics.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Betway |  | 5/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Picklebet | | 4.9/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now Review |
More About Lauren Ball
An avid writer and sports betting enthusiast, Lauren Ball has found the ideal way to combine the two. As a regular contributor and resident OnlineBettingNZ.co.nz expert, Lauren is now putting her considerable wisdom to good use, and keeps punters informed as to what’s hot and happening in the online betting and sporting world.
From the latest sports results to any upsets or developments in the betting world, Lauren makes it her business to know what’s going on in the industry and share it with those who have the same interests.
You May Also Like:
NZ Sport Agency Reacts To Fisher Departure
Canoe Racing New Zealand has been top-ordered to make immediate work of addressing new allegations of a culture of mistreatment being at play within the organisation’s elite women’s squad. The ….
Petition Signed To Save Rugby Grandstand
Sport, and certainly also in particular the 96-year-old Taihape Memorial grandstand, means a great deal to members of the Taihape community. Which is why Taihape’s Heritage Group on Thursday brought ….
Marc Marquez Wins Sixth MotoGP Title
Marc Marquez has claimed his sixth MotoGP world title – the fourth in a row – after winning at his latest event in Thailand. The 26 year old, who had ….
Anthoine Hubert Dies During Belgian GP
French driver Anthoine Hubert was killed at the Belgian Grand Prix in a Formula Two accident. The 22-year-old died on the Spa-Francorchamps high-speed track after a 160 mph crash. Hubert ….
BMW’s Da Costa Wins Formula E Opener
Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa held off a late-stage charge from defending world champion Jean-Eric Vergne to go on to win the opening race for the Formula E season that’s ….