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Fab four gets ready as Qatar MotoGP looms

It is difficult to think of someone else other than the 'Fab Four' winning the MotoGP crown this season.

From left, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales

Bengaluru/Doha, March 16: As a new MotoGP season gets underway at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar on Sunday (March 18), the leading protagonists remain more or less the same -- defending champion Marc Marquez, his arch-rival Valentino Rossi, last year's runner-up Andrea Dovizioso and Maverick Vinales.

It is difficult to think of someone else other than the 'Fab Four' winning the MotoGP crown this season.

No wonder the Fab Four were the centre of attraction at the pre-season press conference at Losail media centre.

Talk centred on the new season, debriefing testing and contract renewals - with Marquez signed up for another two seasons at Honda last week, and Rossi announcing just ahead of the presser that he will race on to the end of 2020; making it an incredible 25 years overall.

The countdown is nearing its end as the first 25 points and up for the grabs in the Middle East desert venue which hosts the only night race of the FIM World Championship calendar.


Fasten your seat belts and get ready guys! As the sun sets on Sunday, the lights will glow at the 5.3km Losail circuit at 7pm local time (9.30pm IST).

Back to school

Back to school

The class of 2018 was unveiled at Losail with the grid gathering on the start-finish straight for the traditional photoshoot.

For the riders it was 'back to school' activities as the stage is set for another incredible season. Back on testing and focusing on the race weekend ahead, morale was high ahead of the season opener and everyone is eager as the grid gets ready to have a crack at the championship.

Best soundbite

Best soundbite

When it was time for riders to face the media for the first time, just like the fluorescent yellow No.46 on his bike, it was Rossi, as usual who hogged the limelight.

The best soundbite from the ‘Doctor' raised a laugh as the rider from Tavullia justified his rationale to extend his Yamaha contract, with a characteristic smile: "I've seen a lot of drivers and riders retire at the top, like Schumacher, Biaggi, Bayliss...but then they always come back. So I decided to race on until the end!"

Mission Marc

Mission Marc

Defending champion Marquez, who beginning the fight for his seventh crown sounded upbeat about his prospects.

"I'm happy to be here to start the season after a long winter, I think everyone is ready to start," said Marquez. "We started more or less in the best way, with my future already decided. We agreed, I was happy with them and I was waiting a bit to see how preseason started but then I felt happy, and I feel important inside Honda. That's important. So I'm happy and really grateful to them. It will help a bit this season because everything is sorted.

DesmoDovi

DesmoDovi

Dovizioso, who was the only challenger to Marquez in the previous season was also in a buoyant mood.

'DesmoDovi' holds the advantage in his Ducati as competition starts in the desert, with the Italian already having taken some impressive podiums at the venue.

"When I finish the season in a good way, the winter is wonderful," said Dovizioso, who fought for the title last year down to the wire. "It was a nice winter. I expect to be even more competitive this year, we've worked well over winter and we had a lot of new material to test. I think we tested it all well but only races can show that reality so we'll have to see. In the race here, but especially in the races after."

Maverick Magic

Maverick Magic

Last year's winner Vinales has not had the same run in pre-season this season, but the confidence of the Movistar Yamaha rider remains high.

"I feel great, this year I feel really good," affirmed the rider from Roses. "Sometimes on the bike we've not been at the best level because we were testing many things, but I'm confident we can do things. We know where we have to improve but like last year, I start with good motivation and I feel good on the bike."

Story first published: Friday, March 16, 2018, 9:56 [IST]
Other articles published on Mar 16, 2018