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| Picture: Losail International Circuit |
Undoubtedly, the latter race is a lot closer to home, especially it being held on my home soil and "could" potentially be the last one, depending on what's announced on Sunday after the race*. But, let's not go there.
On the other hand, the first MotoGP race of the season is going to be quite exciting with the prospect of a much closer and competitive field in the premiere class. So it would seem. What makes it even more exciting is having four of my fellow countrymen flying the flag for Malaysia as they battle it out under the Qatar floodlights in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories.
Perhaps it is a no-brainer for those inclined to prefer getting stuck in the action that will take place at the floodlit Losail International Circuit, over the action at Sepang. I know where my attention could potentially go. Thankfully, I think we can avoid an epic remote control duel with one happening before the other. The one race is at 1500hrs, and the other from 2300hrs (all local Malaysian time).
Suffice to note that with all the attention on the Malaysian Grand Prix over the weekend of 27 to 29 March and the scintillating prospect of another 1-2 result for the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team, I thought I'd shift the focus slightly to the boys and gals on two-wheels.
Rumble in the Desert
The MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar - on top of being the first and only circuit to host a night-time race, has also earned itself quite a reputation for setting a spectacular tone to the start of every grand prix season. It was where the current defending MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez began his stunning 2014 campaign, winning the desert duel against Yamaha's Valentino Rossi. After taking that win, Márquez then went on to record 12 more race victories en route to his second MotoGP World Championship title.
Qatar was also where another Spaniard, Esteve "Tito" Rabat started his winning campaign in the intermediate Moto2 class. He won that race, then eventually took home 7 race wins, 14 podium finishes, 11 pole positions and a record points total of 346 on the way to his Moto2 championship title.
Going back into the archives, who could forget Casey Stoner outgunning Valentino Rossi claiming his epic win in the desert on his debut race with the Ducati's back in 2007? Back then, the commentator said, "watch the birth of a new superstar."
Now, four months after the Valencia Grand Prix last November, one post-season test and three pre-season tests later; arguably the world's best motorcycle racers return to the Qatari desert for what could very well be - at the very least - an interesting start to a brand new MotoGP season.
No doubt, some detractors may argue that a certain 22-year old Spaniard aboard a really superior Honda may have rubbed the shine off MotoGP somewhat over the past couple of seasons. Really? This isn't Formula 1 guys.
Remember when a certain Italian from Tavullia dominated the sport with 9 world championship titles across the different classes, with 6 of those earned in the premier class?
His dominance not only catapulted him into the same league as Apollo and Athena but also earned him the adoration, familiarity and allegiance of fans from literally every corner of this planet. And, I am 99.99% sure that they have at least heard of, if not know of Valentino Rossi in the Andromeda Galaxy, some 2 million or so light years away. His impact and influence is that profound.
Whether Márquez can have quite the same effect as motorcycle racing's messiah, remains quite a debatable subject. So, let's just leave it at that.
Catch and Match
The other thing is, it is also really hard to predict if Honda can remain ahead of the pack and how much the other teams have caught up and matched the reigning champs. With all the pre-season tests done and dusted, I don't think it's wishful thinking to say that fans may indeed be in for a treat. I won't go so far as to predict, but all indications are pointing in that direction.
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| Picture: Movistar Yamaha Racing Team |
Though that was noteworthy, what was far more interesting for me was how far Yamaha's YZR-M1s had caught up in terms of how well it handled and rode. With all the upgrades, including Yamaha's seamless gearbox, both riders are looking determined and poised to bring the fight to Honda.
Then what was even more fascinating was the confidence oozing out of what seems like a revived Ducati camp, especially with a very happy Dovizioso talking about the speed and handling of Ducati's GP15 bikes.
It does seem that the Italian outfit has been busy pulling out all the stops to make themselves a lot more competitive. Judging from the final pre-season tests in Qatar, which was dominated by the Ducati Desmosedici, it certainly looks very promising, one that Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli believes will bring the Red Dukes to the forefront come the start of the season.
Then as if it wasn't already an exciting prospect - the return of Suzuki to the fold, the inclusion of a very very successful team from the intermediate class and a couple of young graduates from Moto2 and Moto3 - does indicate a much healthier MotoGP grid, with 14 teams and 25 riders.
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| Picture: Suzuki |
Not only does Repsol Honda Team boss Livio Suppo agree with Meregalli that it's good to have Ducati back battling at the front, he also adds, "Suzuki are not doing too bad as well, so the rules that allow the teams that were a little bit behind to have an advantage seem to be working well."
Naturally, it is virtually impossible to tell where all the teams stand or if Ducati can mount a serious title challenge, until everyone kicks up the sand in Qatar. But, based on what we've seen so far, all indications point towards what can potentially be a really nice 2015 MotoGP championship season.
Revving up the Intermediate Classes
Typically, whilst the general attention does tend to lean more heavily on the contest in the premier class, I always feel that the action in the intermediate classes is quite spectacular, if not as good or better. The action is almost always as thrilling and often times becomes a nail-biting affair. That's especially true when you see five or more riders abreast on the same piece of tarmac heading into a tight hairpin or a corner in a battle royal for track position, on every lap. *Phew*.
Unlike their big brothers in MotoGP, the boys and girls in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories didn't have such a great pre-season tests with the weather playing havoc to the teams' carefully laid out plans. So, it was much harder to see who could dominate this season. All the better as that uncertainty just makes it far more exciting to watch!
Sure, Tito Rabat will want to be up there fighting to defend his title. Now unlike past Moto2 champs who all graduated to the MotoGP class, Rabat decided to stick around. And this year, his challenge comes in the form of 14 of the top 15 Moto2 riders from 2014, as well as two of the top three Moto3 riders from last season.
Essentially, we can expect the likes of Mika Kallio, Tom Luthi, Johann Zarco, Luis Salom, Axel Pons and Simone Corsi to be in the mix. Don't forget, we have another Márquez in that contender seat - 2014's Moto3 World Champ Alex Márquez.
Triple Treat in Moto2
Now, for us locals, there are three Malaysians represented in the Moto2 class - Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and rookie rider, Zaqhwan Zaidi. Both Hafizh and Azlan are on the same machinery that the majority of the field will be using - Kalex, with Zaqhwan being in the minority on a Suter bike.
If you're Malaysian and did watch that highly memorable 2012 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix, you would know who Hafizh Syahrin is, and that incredible race he had that year as a wildcard rider. That race alone launched the Klang-born boy into the stratosphere.
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| Picture: Hafizh Syahrin's twitter |
When I caught up with him before the pre-season tests, he was naturally cautiously optimistic to indicate that his performance last season serves a good baseline for him to achieve more, albeit realistic targets. And at the Valencia and Jerez tests, Hafizh's performance demonstrated where the young Malaysian wants to be in - within reach of the top-10 riders. But, there's always something about Hafizh and when he topped the timesheets in the wet, he at least lived up to his nickname Pescao.
Meanwhile, for his compatriot Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, things might not have gone as planned in 2014. But one can't take away the fact that Azlan is one of the hardest working riders I know, especially getting to know him and watching him race through the ranks in the past. Like everyone else, the bad weather at the pre-season tests did throw a wrench into the works and affected everyone, even Azlan. As a baseline, I am hopeful he can improve on his 2014 results.
The third Malaysian in Moto2 championship is Zaqhwan Zaidi. He was very optimistic when I spoke to him - coming off the back of an incredible regional and domestic 2014 season. But, the reality is that he is coming into a highly competitive level, one that he has not yet had any experience in.
Being an unknown quality, Zaqhwan will be tested to the max at this level. It's good to see that level of confidence especially after winning the Malaysian Cub Prix championship, the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship and the Malaysian Super Series. His talent is undeniable, but riding a machinery that is one of the minority makes this year coupled with the fact that he has not had as much time on the bike as he would like, will undoubtedly make his debut in Qatar more about gaining experience.
Whatever the outcome is, Malaysians ought to take pride in the trio of riders who will be representing the country at arguably the best motorcycle racing championship in the world.
Moto3's YoungGuns
This is a category that is so incredibly fun and highly entertaining to watch with so much happening on every lap at every race. And what makes it even more fascinating is that of all the riders in this category, only four, yes, four riders are over the age of 21. No kidding!
The youngest this season at just 15-years and 343-days old, and probably where most of the attention has gone to in the off-season is the Estrella Galicia 0,0 team's French rider, Fabio Quartararo. Already everyone in the media have begun comparing him to Marc Márquez, and this even BEFORE the lights go off in Qatar. Unbelievable. It's worth keeping an eye on this kid due to his undeniable talent.
Though the 2014 Moto3 World Champ Alex Márquez has graduated to the Moto2 category and vice champion Jack Miller straight up to MotoGP, the competition in Moto3 remain a hotly contested one, with several new faces to the line-up in 2015.
What makes Moto3 pretty cool is the fact that there are two ladies in this category - Maria Herrera and Ana Carrasco, the latter unfortunately sustaining a broken arm in the pre-season tests.
What's also cool for us would probably be Zulfahmi Khairuddin back for another season in the Moto3, this time with a new team (Drive M7 SIC Racing Team), a new bike (KTM) and a whole new attitude.
When I spoke to him, he was very much aware that he is already one of the veterans in this category as well as the pressure on him to perform. But, he was optimistic and quite possibly a happier man. But, like Zaqhwan, Zulfahmi did not get as much time on his bike as he would have preferred. So, like everyone else in the intermediate classes, heading to Qatar will be more of a learning experience.
At the end of the day, it is really hard to gauge where everyone is at the start of every brand new MotoGP season. We just have to wait and see what happens when the riders descend onto the 5.4km fast-flowing Losail International Circuit with its nice combination of medium and high-speed corners this weekend......
Holding my breath...
Postscript - all the videos may not be viewable here, and will direct you to MotoGP's YouTube page.
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