The 2016 MotoGP World Championship will head to the picturesque Phillip Island circuit in Victoria this weekend for the 16th stop of the series. CycleOnline.com.au previews what’s to come when the lights go out.

Source: Supplied.

Form

Our pick:
Marc Marquez – Just one week after clinching the world championship in Japan, Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez is being let off the ‘leash’ for Phillip Island and we’re tipping he will either run away with it or crash out. With the pressure off, he’ll probably keep it on two wheels and win the AGP for a second-straight year.

Next best:
Valentino Rossi – The Doctor has won no less than eight times at Phillip Island during his grand prix career, his most recent coming in 2014. Last year he claimed a controversial fourth, however with the title said and done, we’re tipping he can take up the fight to Marquez.

Outside chance:
Jorge Lorenzo – Last year’s world champion has won twice in the 250GP class (2006 and 2007) at the Island, plus also won the MotoGP race in 2013. He has those runs on the board in Australia, but then again, with rain a possibility across the weekend, he may not even be in contention.

Watch for:
Jack Miller, Nicky Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso, Maverick Vinales, Mike Jones

Rider lists

MotoGP:
4 Andrea Dovizioso
6 Stefan Bradl
7 Mike Jones
8 Hector Barbera
9 Danilo Petrucci
19 Alvaro Bautista
25 Maverick Vinales
35 Cal Crutchlow
38 Bradley Smith
41 Aleix Espargaro
43 Jack Miller
44 Pol Espargaro
45 Scott Redding
46 Valentino Rossi
50 Eugene Laverty
53 Tito Rabat
68 Yonny Hernandez
69 Nicky Hayden
76 Loris Baz
93 Marc Marquez
99 Jorge Lorenzo

Moto2:
2 Jesko Raffin
5 Johann Zarco
7 Lorenzo Baldassarri
10 Luca Marini
11 Sandro Cortese
12 Thomas Luthi
14 Ratthapark Wilairot
19 Xavier Simeon
21 Franco Morbidelli
22 Sam Lowes
23 Marcel Schrotter
24 Simone Corsi
27 Iker Lecuona
30 Takaaki Nakagami
32 Isaac Vinales
40 Alex Rins
49 Axel Pons
52 Danny Kent
54 Mattia Pasini
55 Hafizh Syahrin
57 Edgar Pons
60 Julian Simon
70 Robin Mulhauser
73 Alex Marquez
87 Remy Gardner*
93 Ramdam Rosli
94 Jonas Folger
95 Anthony West*
97 Xavi Vierge

Moto3:
3 Fabio Spiranelli
4 Fabio Giannantonio
6 Maria Herrera
7 Adam Norrodin
8 Nicola Bulega
9 Jorge Navarro
11 Livio Loi
12 Albert Arenas
14 Matt Barton
16 Andrea Migno
17 John McPhee
19 Gabriel Rodrigo
20 Fabio Quartararo
21 Francesco Bagnaia
23 Niccolo Antonelli
24 Tatsuki Suzuki
33 Enea Bastianini
36 Joan Mir
40 Darryn Binder
41 Brad Binder
42 Marcos Ramirez
43 Stefano Valtulini
44 Aron Canet
48 Lorenzo Dalla Porta
55 Andrea Locatelli
58 Juanfran Guevara
64 Bo Bendsneyder
65 Philipp Oettl
76 Hiroki Ono
77 Lorenzo Petrarca
84 Jakub Kornfeil
88 Jorge Martin
89 Khairul Idham Pawi
95 Jules Danilo

Circuit location

Back Beach Road
Phillip Island, VIC

Circuit facts

Length: 4.4 kilometres
Turns: 12
MotoGP lap record: Marc Marquez 1m28.108s
Moto2 lap record: Alex De Angelis 1m32.814s
Moto3 lap record: Jack Miller 1m36.302s

Event entry

Three-day $160
Friday $45
Saturday $75
Sunday $95
Information:
Tickets and information available here.

Event schedule

Friday, 21 October:
7:55-8:15 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Superbike practice (20 minutes)
8:25-8:45 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Supersport practice (20 minutes)
8:55-9:15 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Superbike qualifying (20 minutes)
9:35-9:50 – RAAF Roulettes aerial display (15 minutes)
10:00-10:40 – Moto3 free practice 1 (40 minutes)
10:55-11:40 – MotoGP free practice 1 (45 minutes)
11:55-12:40 – Moto2 free practice 1 (45 minutes)
12:55-13:15 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Supersport qualifying (20 minutes)
13:30-13:50 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Superbike race 1 (10 Laps)
14:10-14:50 – Moto3 free practice 2 (45 minutes)
15:05-15:50 – MotoGP free practice 2 (45 minutes)
16:05-16:50 – Moto2 free practice 2 (45 minutes)
17:05-17:20 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Superbike race 2 (8 Laps)
17:25-17:35 – RAAF F/A-18A Jet aerial display, TBC
17:40-17:55 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Supersport race 1 (8 Laps)

Saturday, 22 October:
8:15 – 8:30 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Supersport race 2 (8 Laps)
8:55-9:10 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Superbike race 3 (8 Laps)
9:35-9:45 – RAAF F/A-18A Jet aerial display
10:00-10:40 – Moto3 free practice 3 (40 minutes)
10:55-11:40 – MotoGP free practice 3 (45 minutes)
11:55-12:40 – Moto2 free practice 3 (45 minutes)
12:50-13:25 – MotoX2 session 1 (35 minutes)
13:35-14:15 – Moto3 qualifying (40 minutes)
14:30-15:00 – MotoGP free practice 4 (30 minutes)
15:10-15:25 – MotoGP qualifying 1 (15 minutes)
15:35-15:50 – MotoGP qualifying 2 (15 minutes)
16:05-16:50 – Moto2 qualifying (45 minutes)
17:05-17:30 – MotoX2 session 2 (30 minutes)
17:40-17:50 – Honda Junior GP Challenge (10 minutes)
17:40-17:55 – RAAF Roulettes aerial display (15 minutes)

Sunday, 23 October:
9:05-9:20 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Supersport race 3 (8 Laps)
9:25-9:30 – Show’n’Shine winners parade lap (5 minutes)
9:40-9:55 – Phillip Island Championship Rd 2 Superbike race 4 (8 Laps)
10:00-10:15 – RAAF Roulettes aerial display (15 minutes)
10:40-11:00 – Moto3 warm-up (20 minutes)
11:10-11:30 – Moto2 warm-up (20 minutes)
11:40-12:00 – MotoGP warm-up (20 minutes)
12:05-12:10 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Supersport podium presentation
12:05-12:55 – MotoX2 session 3 (20 minutes)
12:15-12:20 – Phillip Island Championship Rd2 Superbike podium presentation
12:25-12:40 – MotoGP riders’ parade
13:00-13:45 – Australian Moto3 Grand Prix (23 Laps)
14:20-15:05 – Australian Moto2 Grand Prix (25 Laps)
15:25-15:35 – RAAF F/A-18A Jet Aerial Display
15:51-15:53 – National Anthem
16:00-16:45 – Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2016 MotoGP (27 Laps)

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