With the 2010 season over and the dust settling on the Valencia testing, I thought I would list the line-ups and my predictions for MotoGP 2011. I’m probably completely wrong – feel free to add a comment with your own predictions.
Fiat Yamaha
The factory Yamaha team looks set to shine again in 2011, with a strong rider line-up and apparently a revised engine.
99. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA)
The current world champion will take some beating – Jorge has gone from strength to strength this season. Not only does he have talent in spade loads and a brilliant bike to ride, he has consistency, and that’s what wins championships.
Valencia test position & time: 2nd @ 1m 32.179s
My prediction for 2011: 2nd
11. Ben Spies (USA)
The 2009 World Superbike Champion (in his rookie year no less) had a good first season in MotoGP with the Tech 3 Yamaha team, finishing a respectable 6th. Now Ben has the faster factory M1 to ride, and it is highly likely that he will be pushing Lorenzo all the way in 2011. His 3rd place in the Valencia test bodes very well indeed.
Valencia test position & time: 3rd @ 1m 32.322s
My prediction for 2011: 4th
Repsol Honda
Honda’s factory team looks set to dominate the constructors title in 2011 with their line-up of 3 extremely talented riders.
27. Casey Stoner (AUS)
Casey hasn’t had a great time the last two seasons, with his illness in 2009, and his crashes in the 2010 season. A move away from the unpredictable Ducati to the super-smooth Honda was perhaps inevitable. Frankly, Stoner on a Honda is a frightening proposition and I cannot see him coming away with anything less than 1st place in the 2011 championship. This is borne out by his test times in Valencia, which really are stunning considering the fact he is getting used to a completely different bike.
Valencia test position & time: 1st @ 1m 32.066s
My prediction for 2011: 1st
26. Dani Pedrosa (SPA)
Dani had a good season in 2010 finishing 2nd in the championship, and had it not been for injury causing him to miss some of the end of the season, the gap between him and Lorenzo might not have been so large. Dani is the king of the race starts and he knows the Honda well, so you wouldn’t bet against him in 2011. I can’t see him being quicker than Stoner though.
Valencia test position & time: 5th @ 1m 32.497s
My prediction for 2011: 3rd
4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA)
Dovi had a mixed 2010 season and seemed to be a little lacking in consistency, and he will be looking to improve on his 5th place in 2011. I don’t think he’ll manage it.
Valencia test position & time: 9th @ 1m 32.942s
My prediction for 2011: 6th
Ducati Marlboro
Everyone will be watching Ducati with great interest following their signing of Valentino Rossi for 2011, and with a new bike, it should be interesting. Rossi and Hayden both got to test “big bang” and “screamer” versions of the thumping V4, and it’ll probably be the “big bang” engine that makes the cut. Not the first time Rossi and Hayden have been team mates either.
46. Valentino Rossi (ITA)
Arguably the greatest motorcycle racer ever and a worth world champion in 2009, but thanks to a broken leg only managed 3rd in the 2010 season. Still, even if he hadn’t had the accident, he wouldn’t have beaten Lorenzo, and at times he didn’t look much like the Rossi of old. Hopefully his planned shoulder surgery in the off-season will go well and he will be back to his best next year. Personally, I think he might find it difficult to compete with Ducati and that he should seriously look at moving to Formula 1 before that opportunity disappears. Still, you’d never bet against him…
Valencia test position & time: 15th @ 1m 33.793s
My prediction for 2011: 5th
69. Nicky Hayden (USA)
Nicky managed a 7th in 2010 and I reckon he’ll be there or thereabouts again this year. His being more familiar with the Ducati resulted in better test times in Valencia, which give a better indication of how the Ducati will perform next year.
Valencia test position & time: 6th @ 1m 32.583s
My prediction for 2011: 8th
Rizla Suzuki
How sad that Suzuki will only be running one bike in 2011. At least it will be an improved bike, if Alvaro’s test times are anything to go by.
19. Alvaro Bautista (SPA)
Alvaro finished 13th in 2010, and I reckon with a better bike under him a bit more experience he should be doing better in 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 7th @ 1m 32.738s
My prediction for 2011: 9th
San Carlo Honda Gresini
The satellite Honda team has an excellent talent in Simoncelli, and clearly a bike that is not far off the performance of the factory machine.
58. Marco Simoncelli (ITA)
One of the real rising stars of MotoGP, surely Marco will have a factory ride before much longer. His performances towards the end of 2010 were stunning, and his test times at Valencia show there’s more of the same to come. Simoncelli could be the real surprise package of 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 4th @ 1m 32.450s
My prediction for 2011: 7th
7. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN)
Hiroshi had a reasonable season in 2010 finishing 15th, and he’ll be hoping for better in 2011, particularly since Marco is ably demonstrating the capabilities of the bike. I can’t see him doing much better though.
Valencia test position & time: 10th @ 1m 33.105s
My prediction for 2011: 14th
Monster Yamaha Tech 3
Ben Spies showed in 2010 what the satellite Yamaha bike is capable of, but it’s clearly no match for the factory machines, and with a relatively weak rider line-up, I can’t see 2011 being a great season for Tech 3.
5. Colin Edwards (USA)
Colin is getting on a bit now and it seems unlikely that he will have anything new to offer in 2011. Still a great rider, and may pull the odd surprise finish, but a mid-table finish is probably the best he can hope for.
Valencia test position & time: 12th @ 1m 33.325s
My prediction for 2011: 12th
35. Cal Crutchlow (GBR)
Cal is a new face in the MotoGP paddock having recently stepped up from World Superbikes. He’ll probably have found his feet by the middle of the season and finish more strongly, and I reckon he may even finish ahead of his team mate Colin.
Valencia test position & time: 13th @ 1m 33.483s
My prediction for 2011: 11th
Pramac Racing Team
Pramac have an all-new line-up for 2011, and hopefully they’ve worked some better reliability into their Ducati powered bikes.
14. Randy De Puniet (FRA)
Randy is one of my favourite riders with his flamboyant style. Often though, this costs him, like at Silverstone in 2010 where he wore his tyres out power sliding through the corners and saw his excellent position evaporate. It will be interesting to see him riding the Pramac Ducati, and assuming the reliability is there, I think he’ll have a reasonable season.
Valencia test position & time: 8th @ 1m 32.836s
My prediction for 2011: 10th
65. Loris Capirossi (ITA)
The elder statesman of MotoGP moves to Pramac from Suzuki and probably won’t see much improvement over his 2010 performance. Still able to cut it with the youngsters despite being in his forties. Respect!
Valencia test position & time: 14th @ 1m 33.740s
My prediction for 2011: 15th
Paginas Amarillas Aspar
The satellite Ducati team fared reasonably well in 2010, but stiff competition up the top will make it harder to make an impression in 2011.
40. Hector Barbera
Hector still has time to improve in MotoGP, but I can’t see him doing much better in 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 11th @ 1m 33.168s
My prediction for 2011: 13th
LCR Honda
Randy made the satellite Honda bike look better than it probably is, and I can’t see Toni Elias managing to do the same. LCR will probably need to get used to being closer to the rear in 2011.
24. Toni Elias (SPA)
Toni comes back into MotoGP after a season out in Moto2, where he took the Championship. The big bikes are in a different league though and I think Toni may struggle in 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 17th @ 1m 34.800s
My prediction for 2011: 16th
Cardion AB Motoracing
I know less than nothing about this team and their rider, so I’m predicting a last place finish. The team is moving up from Moto2 and will be fielding a Ducati. Who knows what to expect?
17. Karel Abraham (CZE)
Karel placed 10th in Moto2 last season, so I can’t image he’s going to jump up to the big league and show the rest of them how it’s done. His test times in Valencia weren’t bad though, so this could be another surprise package for 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 16th @ 1m 33.793s
My prediction for 2011: 17th
The Casualties
Mika Kallio: will be racing in Moto2 for Marc VDS Racing Team in 2011
Aleix Espargaro: will be racing in Moto2 for Pons Kalex in 2011
Marco Melandri: will be replacing Cal Crutchlow in the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike team for 2011, ending 8 years in MotoGP, where he managed an excellent 2nd place in 2005. Will no doubt be in the running for the World Superbike title in 2011.
Interwetten Honda Team: will be focusing on Moto2 for 2011, but plan to return to MotoGP in 2012.
The Support Riders
Alex de Angelis: replaced Hiroshi Aoyama for three races in 2010. Will continue in Moto2.
Roger Lee Hayden: replaced Randy de Puniet for Laguna Seca. Rumours are that Roger will be in Moto2 next year.
Kousuke Akiyoshi: replaced Hiroshi Aoyama for two races in 2010. No confirmed ride for the Japanese test rider next year.
Carlos Checa: replaced Mika Kallio for two races in 2010 and finished 3rd in World Superbikes. Will continue in World Superbikes in 2011.
Wataru Yoshikawa: replaced Valentino Rossi for one race in 2010. No confirmed ride for the Japanese test rider next year.
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