cessful Yamaha) in the last two
days of January, then in earnest
for the full grid three days later
at the same track.
All eyes will be on the new
lineup for the last year of the big
bruisers. Next year a new era
begins, when new MotoGP rules
shrink the engines (to 850cc)
and simplify the technology (less
aero, no rider-height devices).
In the 14 years since the
1000s arrived, Marc Marquez
has won half remaining titles,
Jorge Lorenzo and Francesco
Bagnaia two each, Joan Mir, Fa
-
bio Quartararo and Jorge Martin
the remainder.
C
asey Stoner was the first
1000cc champion, an
astonishing 15 years ago.
His successors line up again
soon to discover who will be
the last. After the winter layoff,
testing begins in earnest with
the shakedown at Sepang (for
rookies, test riders and unsuc
-
P130
CN IIIN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
Can Toprak Razgatlioglu
become MotoGP Champion in
his first year out on the Prima
Pramac Yamaha YZR-M1 V4 in
the last year of liter-bike racing?
WHO WILL
LEAD
THE
ONE
LITER
SWANSONG?
