VOL. 52 ISSUE 10 MARCH 10, 2015 P95
box, but are still very much a work in progress.
Bautista was two seconds off the pace, while a
seriously discombobulated Melandri was almost
2.5 seconds slower still, and plumb last.
Four production "Open" Hondas—the newly
upgraded RS version promising more power
than last year's RCV1000R—see former World
other, with a high level of
threat, after finishing his first
MotoGP season last year as
best of the underpowered
production Honda riders.
A N D T H E R E S T
Suzuki sees last year's top
production rider Aleix Espar-
garo joined by former Moto3
champion Maverick Vinales,
making his class debut.
Aprilia features the return of
former 250 champion and MotoGP race winner
Marco Melandri after four years in the wilderness
of World Superbikes, alongside another ex-cham-
pion (125cc) Alvaro Bautista in the squad run by
ex-Honda stalwart Fausto Gresini.
The Factory Option bikes have gained pneu-
matic valve springs and a seamless-shift gear-
(Above) Cal Crutchlow
made the switch from
Ducati to CWM LCR
Honda for 2015 and
looks to get back to
fighting for podiums
on his new machine.
(Right) Will the
upgraded Open Class
Honda—the RCV213V-
RS—help American
Nicky Hayden close
the gap?
