2017 FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
P92
FEATURE
harder than usual.
Three more have the capacity
to surprise, including former 125
champion Alvaro Bautista, who
has endured difficult times with
Suzuki, a quirkily different Honda
and later Aprilia. Fast test times
on the Aspar team's GP16 Ducati
suggest the 32-year-old's show
may not quite be over.
At 26, Danilo Petrucci's
chances of lucking a few
podiums are probably bet-
ter, especially since he has
the Octo Pramac team's GP17
factory-level Ducati. But nor
should Hector Barbera (30) be
ruled out. Some strong rides
on the Avintia Ducati last year
underlined how unified software
had cut the advantage of fac-
tory riders, and suggested the
Spaniard might have been badly
undervalued in the past.
ROOKIES GALORE
Most exciting, the rookie manu-
facturer. Burgeoning Austrian
company KTM, now Europe's
largest, is coming in all guns
blazing with a combination of
heresy (a tubular steel chassis)
and reputation—for competitive
success in a wide variety of on-
and off-road disciplines.
Of course there is a lot to
learn, and the competition is
fierce.
KTM recruited both satellite
Yamaha riders Bradley Smith
(26) and Pol Espargaro (25) to
lead the charge—very different
riders, the latter claiming eighth
overall last year with a string of
top-10 rides. Smith had a harder
time. If one or both is regularly
in the top 10 by the end of 2017,
that will be a substantial achieve-
ment for the Red Bull-backed
rookie squad.
The same is true of four Moto2
hotshots, all up to the next class
to continue a battle that was very
lively throughout 2016.
Ultimate winner Johann Zarco
(26) is joined by race-winner
Jonas Folger (23) at the French-
run Tech3 Yamaha squad, and
both impressed in early tests.
The other two might find it
harder: Alex Rins (21) has joined
Iannone at Ecstar Suzuki. Sam
Lowes (26) is on the Aprilia,
starting even further behind the
establishment.
Dovi has a new
motivation for 2017. His
name is Jorge Lorenzo.
