MotoGP

Tonight marks the opening day of testing (European time) for the premier class MotoGP riders and teams at Jerez in Spain, which also marks the final test of the year as far as the regular riders in MotoGP goes. The season’s start is just around the corner, which is set up to be one of the most exciting seasons in the history of the sport.

Who will win out of Casey and Valentino? Can Hayden adapt to the Ducati well enough to be a championship threat? Does Dovizioso have what it takes to outdo Pedrosa at Repsol Honda? Can Melandri surprise behind the handlebars of the Hayate Racing Team machine? The list goes on, and we can’t wait.

One team to watch out for is Rizla Suzuki, both in the Jerez test and when the season officially begins. Loris Capirossi is fast at Jerez and always has been, while Chris Vermeulen has proven time again that he has what it takes to match his teammates.

The greatest thing is that Suzuki has finally provided these guys with a competitive bike, and the results have show at every pre-season test of the year so far. These guys could surprise this season, and probably will.

Both Rizla Suzuki and Monster Tech 3 Yamaha will be unveiling their liveries this weekend in the lead up to tonight’s test and we’ll update this edition of Racing Insider when the images come through.

We’ll check back later this afternoon with an update from the 125 and 250cc tests that are currently taking place, finishing up their second day of testing today. Those classes are actually shaping up to be rippers as well.

British Superbike
With the British Superbike Championship starting in just a few weeks, one rider who is getting a bit nervous is series rookie Josh Brookes, who has been delayed in acquiring a visa to race in Britain and is still currently in Australia. Brookes returned home directly following the recent tests in Spain and has continued his training, frantically sorting any issues that he may have. Despite the scare, there is no real concern that he will miss the opening round – he will be there for HM Plant Honda for sure.

American Supercross
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, continues tomorrow night, with the series visiting Toronto in Canada – the only round of the season out of the USA that makes it a true world championship. If you look at it that way then it really isn’t a world championship, although considering it’s full of the best riders in the world and many internationals including Australia’s own Chad Reed, Michael Byrne, Brett Metcalfe, and Dan Reardon, then we will give it to them that winning the series does pretty much make you the world’s best.

Reed heads into Toronto as the series leader by 11 points over James Stewart, himself a former champion, and it’s these last five rounds that will be vital for both riders in the cat and mouse game that this season has turned out to be. Let’s hope that Reed can pull through and win his third title.

That’s all for now. Have a great weekend and check back over the weekend for Press Releases on the MotoGP test in Jerez.