What's new for 2016?
The season 2015 is not yet over. However, FIM and Dorna already announced innovations for the new season coming.
1. MotoGP provisional calendar
Round Date Grand Prix Venue
1 20/03 Qatar Losail International Circuit
2 03/04 Argentina Termas de Río Hondo
3 10/04 Americas Circuit Of The Americas
4 24/04 Spain Jerez de la Frontera *
5 08/05 France Le Mans
6 22/05 Italy Mugello
7 05/06 Catalunya Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
8 26/06 Netherlands TT Assen
9 10/07 Germany Sachsenring
10 17/07 Great Britain Silverstone
11 14/08 Austria Red Bull Ring
12 21/08 Czech RepublicBrno *
13 11/09 San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini Misano
14 25/09 AragonMotorLand Aragon
15 09/10 Malaysia Sepang International Circuit
16 16/10 JapanTwin Ring Motegi
17 23/10 Australia Phillip Island
18 06/11 Valencia Comunitat Valenciana - Ricardo Tormo
*subject to contract
2. New partnership in SBK
Dorna announced a new partnership with Motul as main Title Sponsor of SBK. Motul is a French
company specialized in oil engine. Starting from next season, Superbike will have a new logo which
will be a mixture between these two brands, and also with a new selection of SBK-Motul products.
3. Yamaha in SBK for 2016?
It was announced last month; Yamaha will make its official return to the World Superbike
Championship in 2016 in collaboration with highly experienced partner Crescent Racing and title
sponsors PATA.
The new YZF-R1 will be the protagonist of this come back with the talented hands of 2014 SBK
champion, Sylvain Guintoli and 2013 British SBK Champion Alex Lowes.
4. What’s new for pilots?
At this stage, some pilots have already officially confirmed with which team they will ride next
season.
On 1st October 2015, Honda Marc VDS has officially confirmed that Tito Rabat will replace Scott
Redding for 2016 in MotoGP. Tito will ride a Honda RC213V.
Marc van der Straten announced: “I am happy that Tito joins our team next season. His race
approach, his ethical way of work and his determination to do well are same values as our team
founding”
The 2014 Moto2 Champion, Tito Rabat declared: “To ride in MotoGP was my first objective; the
second one is to make results.”
It will be a long stage where Tito will learn. This is a big step between Moto2 category and MotoGP.
Bikes are different and the Honda RC213V is a bike factory which will not be easy to tame.
Tito had the opportunity to test his new bike during Aragon- tests and he will have all the off-season
to train.
What about Scott Redding? He will ride for Pramac and will replace Yonny Hernandez who will ride
for Aspar Team. Hernandez declared: “Aspar is a winning team as it has already been showed in the past. I
hope I will adapt to the change of direction forecasted for 2016 and also to learn with the team. It will
be a new challenge and adventure as all pilots will start from scratch with new electronic and tyres”.
As for Loris Baz, who met some problems with his team Forward Racing, after charges of tax evasion
against Giovanni Cuzari, which made Loris not riding in Indianapolis. Currently leader in Open Class
category, he will ride a Ducati Desmosedici GP14.2 by joining Avintia Ducati team.
In Moto2 and Moto3 categories, Dani Kent currently leader in Moto3, will be the team mate of
Miguel Oliveira in Moto2 category with Leopard Racing. The two pilots are doing a brilliant season in
Moto3 and this is a big step for them.
In Moto3, Leopard recruited Andrea Locatelli to ride in the team with the young promising Fabio
Quartararo.
The Swiss pilot, Dominique Aegerter announced in Misano that he will continue to ride with his Swiss team for 2016 season. However, there was a clause in his contract. This clause let Dominique to choose between
riding with Suter or with Kalex. After Aragon tests, Dominique took his decision. He tested the new
Suter and declared: “I will continue to ride with Kalex. I count on continuity and I don’t want to take
the risk in changing the brand”. In fact, a comeback with Suter would reduce any chance to have
collaboration with his team mate Thomas Lüthi.
Hoping that this new season which is coming will be better than 2015. Dominique Aegerter had some
misfortune during the last races. After a terrible accident in Aragon the Swiss pilot will probably not
race for the following three rounds.
Fred Corminboeuf, director of CGBM Evolution, the society which is the owner of two Swiss teams
(Technomag Interwetten and Derendinger-Interwetten), declared: “A lot of pilots called me.
However, Domi had the great idea to suggest Josh Hook with the one he brightly finished 2nd at the 8
hours of Suzuka last August. Josh knows the three circuits: Motegi, Phillip Island and Sepang (…) we
are happy to announce that Josh will be a new pilot in GP and through him, Dominique will not be too
far from us for the next three races”.
Joshhua Hook was born in 1993 in Australia. In 2008 he was 2nd in an Australian junior cup. 5th and 7th
of the Red Bull Rookies Cup the next two years, he became Australian champion in 125 category in
2011. He already rode in Supersport (where he was vice champion in 2012) and in the Asia Dream
Cup the same year where he was 2nd. He emigrated in Japan where he continued his career and he is
currently 4th at the All-Japan Superbike Championship.
And to finish, Nicky Hayden will leave MotoGP next season and will start to ride in SBK with the team Ten Kate.
A lot of changes are already announced and many more have to come. Stay connected to be
informed on time!
