News 20 Jan 2015

MotoGP pre-season testing resuming at Sepang in February

Three tests scheduled before Qatar's 2015 season opener.

Source: HRC.

Source: HRC.

After the December-January testing ban comes to an end, the MotoGP teams are straight back into testing in Sepang early next month, whilst the participants in the smaller classes will also be busy in February and March.

As Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez begins his third year in MotoGP looking to defend his second successive premier class title from the likes of Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, all the riders will be keen to take the initiative in testing.

Meanwhile Suzuki continue their preparations to return to MotoGP with their new riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales, whilst the likes of Cal Crutchlow and Jack Miller will be on track again with their new team CWM LCR Honda.

MotoGP testing takes the riders and teams back to Malaysia once more, for two tests from 4-7 February and 23-26 February at Sepang. There is then a third pre-season test in Qatar from 14-17 March, two weeks before the season-opening grand prix at the Losail International Circuit.

In the case of all three of those gatherings – Sepang 1, Sepang 2 and Qatar – testing will take place over four days, the first three of which will be run on Bridgestone tyres and the final day in each case on Michelin rubber, in preparation for the French tyre manufacturer’s return to MotoGP in 2016.

At the Sepang 1 and Qatar tests, factory test riders only will test on Michelin tyres on the final day, whereas at Sepang 2 the entire grid and test riders are invited to test on the final day with Michelin material.

For the Moto2 and Moto3 teams, they will prepare for the new season with a test at Valencia from 10-12 February, followed by additional visits to Jerez from 17-19 February and 17-19 March.

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