5 things we learned from MotoGP 2016 testing

With the 2016 MotoGP season poised to be a radical one due to the major rule changes being implemented this year and if pre-season testing is anything to go by, fans can be rest assured that it’s not going to be an ordinary season this year. Over a long testing session Malaysia, Australia and Qatar, several key points have come to light which might decide the destiny of this season.Here is a look at 5 of the most probable conclusions we could reach at by the end of the final testing session.

#5 Aprilia have momentum, but a long way to go

2016 will be the first year ever for Aprilia when they will finally enter a bike completely designed and manufactured in their own factory.

The team had a consistent although unspectacular testing session, wherein they suffered very few technical problems and the bike too has turned out better, with improvements witnessed on every aspect of the bike when compared to its predecessor.

Although, the team didn’t display their full package for this season, with several parts still to be added to their bikes, they have been considerably off the pace of other manufacturers, which has been calculated to be around two seconds.

As is clear, Aprilla has a lot of work to do match the pace of other manufacturers, but with manufacturing their own bike, they surely have laid down a firm bedrock upon which they surely can make considerable especially in the coming seasons if not this season.

Overall the 2016 season promises to be one of the most exciting ever. With almost all the manufacturer’s witnessing an improvement in their package, expect a more tightly fought battle for the title, both riders and constructors this season.

#4 Suzuki has restructured itself massively and should have a much more consistent season than it did last year

Apart from a few qualifying breakthroughs, Suzuki weren’t able to impress much on their comeback to the sport as a works team last year. But things look much brighter for them this season.

Yamaha and Honda need to be wary not only about the ever improving Ducati, but also need to keep a close eye on Suzuki, who have been flawless in testing.

The young Spaniard Maverick Vinales set the track alight with his times on numerous occasions. He was the fastest rider on the second day of testing in Australia and also emerged fastest again on second day of testing in Qatar.

The team seem to be in great form, and if they can continue this momentum come the start of the season, then we surely are in for a four-fold fight among manufacturers for the title, one of the few times it has ever happened in the history of the sport.

#3 The new Ducati has shown promise and could produce major upsets during the season

Ducati had a solid but uneventful testing session.

Throughout its run, the team didn’t set the timing sheets alight, but had a consistent session in which its riders completed most of their targets without suffering any major technical glitches.

Akin to Yamaha, the team also seems to have easily adapted to the Michelin tyres and the new regulations. It also seems that they are deliberately not displaying their true pace, with its riders mostly going for long run pace rather than shorter qualifying runs.

Although Ducati slipped a bit under the radar during testing, one could expect them to be strong as they have had an almost trouble free pre-season and could take the fight to the two Japanese giants and maybe even defeat one of them, if fortune favors them.

#2 Yamaha look to be the team to beat, with Lorenzo in supreme form

Last season, Yamaha finally got its act together, as it dominated the championship, winning both riders’ and constructors’ titles to seal an emphatic victory over arch rivals Honda.

Carrying over its last season’s form Yamaha enjoyed a smooth pre-season testing, with only few hiccups in between. Jorge Lorenzo remained at the peak of his powers as he produced fastest laps at both Malaysia and Australia, with teammate Valentino Rossi too not far behind on pace.

They surely are the team who have managed to adapt to rule changes better than anyone else on the grid. It would come as no surprise if Yamaha dominate this year too, and in an even more convincing fashion than last year.

#1 Honda has still not conquered its 2015 demons

Pre-season testing didn’t begin well for the Japanese giants, with both Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa off the pace of the Yamahas during early test sessions in Malaysia. Then Australia provided some much needed good hope as their riders had an improved performance, with Marquez producing the fastest lap time on closing day of the test.

But woefully at the final test venue in Qatar, problems again arose for the team, with Marquez complaining that the bike was losing crucial time in the corners as compared to its rivals and they needed to step up as soon as possible.

Even after these problems, as the test went on, the Honda radically improved in its times especially in the long runs, where it even ran close to Yamaha.

So the major talking point is whether they have decreased the deficit in the last few days of testing - or was it just a one-off and their problems will continue in the season. Currently, it is the latter which appears to be true, but we will know the reality in less than two weeks time.