2015 Aragon GP Preview

The last MotoGP race in Misano was a Yamaha dominated affair until it actually counted. Intermittent rain meant that new strategies had to be penned down on the double, scrubbed and rethought.

Yamaha were majorly caught out and that resulted with Valentino Rossi in 4th place behind winning rider Marquez and 2 very happy British riders Bradley Smith and Scott Redding. Meanwhile the other Yamaha of Lorenzo dropped it in the gravel. The Moto2 race was yet another Zarco show; he will soon be marching to his first world title – as will Danny Kent to his first Moto3 title.

Moto3

Leopard Racing’s Danny Kent

Danny Kent leads the championship by 55 points from Enea Bastianini who registered him maiden Moto3 victory of the season in Misano. Romano Fenati is a further 40 points away with Oliveira 5 points behind the Italian. Niccolo Antonelli has overtaken Spanish veteran Efren Vazquez in the standings to a season best 5th. With 5 races including this one left in the season there are still 125 points up for grabs and mathematically speaking, any rider up to 7th place could win the championship.

As of FP1 and FP2, Bastianini and Oliveira locked out the top 2 places and boy do they mean business! For Bastianini to clinch the title he needs to win all the remaining five races including the Aragon race and Kent should be no higher that 4th in the remaining races.

For everyone else they need to win all 5 races and have Kent not score at all. So basically the fight is between Kent and Bastianini, the Briton has everything to lose now while the Italian has nothing. For anyone outside the top 2 up to Brad Binder in 7th, only a miracle would help them now.

Moto2

Johann Zarco has an even bigger points advantage to his rivals. With a whopping 93-point gap to Tito Rabat and Rins a further 17 points adrift, Zarco has all but got one hand on the title. Mathematically speaking, any rider in the top 5 could win the title.

But to be really lucky Rabat, Rins, Luthi or Lowes need to win all the remaining races and have a non-points finish for Zarco but that would be wishful thinking for the likes of Rabat and Rins.

Rabat needs to win all the upcoming races including this one and have Zarco finish no higher than 10th position. Rins is in an even tougher spot because even if Zarco finishes 13th in all races and is tied with Rins on top he will win the title having had a more consistent run compared to the Spaniard. FP1 and FP2 concluded with Lowes and Rabat as the top time setters respectively.

MotoGP

23 points, just 23 points separate the Yamaha riders. Valentino Rossi is on his way to create history by winning a 10th world championship but his teammate Jorge Lorenzo is waiting to stop him. 5 rounds, 125 precious points ripe for the taking.

But whatever you do, don’t rule out the wily old fox Marc Marquez. He proved in the last race that if he was going down, he’ll go down fighting. For Lorenzo to win the championship he needs to win all the remaining races and Rossi finish second and the outcome would be Lorenzo winning by 2 points or to be more precise 349 points to 347 points. Rossi needs to win all his races and Lorenzo finish second to clinch the title by 48 points.

Marc Marquez’s chances are almost nonexistent; even if Marquez won the remaining five races, if Rossi finished 2nd in all 5, the young Spaniard would still lose the title. If Lorenzo finished second in 5 races, Lorenzo himself would still be ahead. The Movistar Yamaha rider dominated Friday practice – but it’s the race that counts.

All I can say to you right now is “Brace Yourself!” We have a cracking race to look forward to.