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Back with a bang: the wait for the #SepangTest is over
Testing, testing: 1, 2, 3 days of action in Malaysia mean one thing and one thing only: MotoGP™ is BACK!It’s that time of year again: the Sepang test. Now a mainstay of preseason excitement as it heads up the agenda as first track action of the year, the sweltering heat and challenging layout of the Malaysian venue is once again ready to welcome the class of the new MotoGP™ season: 24 riders, 12 teams, and one World Championship title up for grabs. The questions are many, and the answers will be hard fought.
Beginning on the 28th January, there are eight hours of track action per day over three days, and motogp.com will offer extensive coverage. That includes regular updates throughout the three days, as well as interviews, action clips and a special end-of-day wrap-up show. So here we go – #2018 starts now…
Can Marquez maintain his momentum?
The man wearing the crown as the engines prepare to fire up in 2018 is Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), and Sepang will give us the first glimpse as to the six-time World Champion’s form heading into the year. So far, Marquez has only relinquished his hold on the premier class title once – in 2015 – and his name is penciled in as a key favourite. And his teammate, Dani Pedrosa, is always a big threat – and the most recent race winner. Honda were the only manufacturer who brought a 2018 prototype bike to the Valencia test – also ridden by LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow – so Sepang will prove interesting.
Could Lorenzo catch Dovizioso at Ducati?
The man who took Marquez to the wire over the spectacular 2017 season was Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). His form was stunning, taking Ducati back onto the top step six times throughout the year. His teammate, five-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, is the only man other than Marquez to have taken the MotoGP™ crown since the younger rider’s graduation to the premier class – so can a year in red turn the tables and see Lorenzo back on top? Or will years of development and a new mentality keep ‘DesmoDovi’ leading from the front at Borgo Panigale?
Does the ‘Doctor’ have a tenth title up his sleeve?
2017 had some big ups and downs for Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) – including his 300th premier class race start, at Silverstone, and a broken leg not long after. But three weeks later the ‘Doctor’ was back, at MotorLand Aragon, and he put in a stunner to duel his teammate for fourth. Starting the season healthy and showing no signs of slowing down, can Rossi take that elusive tenth? Yamaha will be pushing hard to move forward from 2017, and Sepang could be pivotal for both.
Will 2017 testing top gun Maverick Viñales strike back?
Fastest, fastest, fastest, fastest – that was Maverick Viñales’ CV during preseason last year as he got on the Movistar Yamaha for the first time. And the Spaniard won the first two races, too, before then going on to finish the season in third overall. After a winter of keen development for Yamaha – including a private test at Sepang in November – will Viñales come out the blocks swinging once more? And if he does, what does that tell us about the season as a whole?
Should sophomore Zarco be a favourite for victory?
After a stunning debut season, debut podiums and the coveted Rookie of the Year title, there are a lot of eyes on Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) as he enters his second season. Routinely top Yamaha over the second half of 2017, that named the Frenchman as a real podium contender much of the time – so will 2018 be the season that changes that from podium to victory? With good initial reports on the Yamahas he tested at Valencia at the end of last year, Zarco will be arriving at the Sepang test asking ‘why not?’
He’ll also be gunning for the first ever World Championship for top Independent Team rider. But the competition for that will be tough, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) just four of the names that will be standing in his way.
Who will win the battle of the rookies?
The Rookie of the Year crown is one that you can’t defend. One of Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), his teammate Tom Lüthi, LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and Reale Avintia Racing’s Xavier Simeon will be the fastest newcomer in 2018 – but which one? Morbidelli is reigning Moto2™ Champion and was dueling Nakagami for fastest rookie when they both first tested the machines – but Simeon was recovering from injury and Lüthi wasn’t even able to take part. Sepang will be the Swiss rider’s first taste of his 2018 bike…and he’ll be pushing hard to play catch up. Will track records remain true to form? Or will one of the newcomers stage a surprise?
Can KTM keep closing in?
2017 was an impressive debut as the Austrian factory went from drawing board to top ten finishes with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith. After development having raced forward at an awesome rate throughout the year, how will KTM blast out the blocks for 2018?
There’s also Team Suzuki Ecstar to contend with, who will want to hit the ground running with Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins. Aiming to get off to a better start than last season, the 2016 race-winning manufacturer have another year of experience with their machine – as do both their riders, having started from zero last year.
Beginning on the 28th January, the track will be open from 10 a.m. (GMT+8) to 6 p.m. on each of the three days as the first answers to these questions begin to appear on the horizon. motogp.com will offer extensive coverage of the #SepangTest, including regular updates throughout the three days as well as interviews, action clips and a special end-of-day wrap-up show. Don’t miss it – MotoGP™ is BACK!
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Repsol Honda Team’s 2018 season starts with first official test at Sepang
Marquez (left) and Lorenzo before the first test at Sepang 27jan2018 Image by Repsol Honda The MotoGP winter testing season officially kicks off tomorrow at the Sepang International Circuit, with the first three-day session of the year, 28-30 January.
The Malaysian track is a tradition for MotoGP’s annual opening of business, but this year Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, and their MotoGP colleagues will also have the chance to ride at a new entry on the 2018 calendar, Buriram Circuit, in Thailand, which will host a 16-18 February test and, in October, round 15 of the Championship.
Following the Thai test, the Repsol Honda Team will move to Indonesia for the team’s official unveiling on 20 February.
The final stint of winter testing will be held at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit on 1-3 March before the season starts at the same track on 18 March.
Marc Marquez said: After two months away from the circuits, I’m eager to ride my bike again. I’ve been working hard during the winter period to arrive at the Sepang Test at 100%, and I’ve also been thinking about what we can do to improve our performance from last year. We’re ready to make every effort and to work hard to have the chance to fight for the title again. We have to try to be as quick as last year but to crash less! Every season is a new story, no matter if you’ve won four, two, or zero World Championships—every rider starts on 0 points.”
Dani Pedrosa said: “We’re looking forward to this new season with high expectations. At the beginning, everything is always a bit hectic, as we’re involved in presentations, photo sessions, and commitments with our sponsors—all while also carrying out intense training on and off the bike to prepare as well as possible, both physically and mentally. Now I’m excited and eager to get on my bike again in Sepang. We know that Honda has worked hard during the winter to improve the machine, and we’ll give our best to take full advantage of the winter testing season in order to be ready for the beginning of the Championship.”
eom/Posted by Sumitra MB
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Season begins with MotoGP test at Sepang
Bangalore/Chennai, 26 Jan 2018: The new season begins! Like all of you our patrons and motorsports enthusiasts, we too are eagerly waiting for the first races to unfold. We will begin our coverage with the MotoGP test to be held at Sepang from 28 to 30 January.
Srinivasa Krishnan, an experienced photo-journalist, is accredited for the event and will bring you some delightful action shots and off-beat images from the MotoGP test. Mr. Krishnan, who is an expert in high-speed action photography, has been a regular at the Madras Motorsports Racing Trust, the venue of the National Racing Championships in Chennai for the last three years and he has also covered the Asia Pacific Rally Championship for the last two years at Chikkamagaluru. Last year he was accredited by the Abu Dhabi Formula One GP and the Malaysian MotoGP.
INDIAinF1 has a special arrangement with Mr. Krishnan.
We will also bring you news from all the teams, as usual, and also the day-to-day updates. This year we also plan to go beyond the regular coverage to rope in stories and news of India interest.
eom/
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Reigning champions from top motorsport series all over the world join ROC Riyadh line-up
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File photo from Race of Champions organisers. The field of driving royalty competing in next week’s Race Of Champions has been boosted by a host of drivers who dominated top motorsport series in 2017
- Reigning champions joining the ROC Riyadh line-up include 2017 Le Mans winner and FIA World Endurance Champion Timo Bernhard, DTM Champion René Rast and FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson
- Mexico’s 2017 European Le Mans Series Champion Memo Rojas will take to the track too, alongside 2017 NASCAR Mexico Champion Abraham Calderon and young Swedish charger Joel Eriksson
- They join a stunning ROC field featuring F1 stars, Indy 500 winners, Le Mans legends and rallycross aces such as David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tom Kristensen, Petter Solberg, Lando Norris, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves
- ROC Riyadh will take place inside the King Fahad International Stadium on February 2-3. For more info see www.raceofchampions.com
Many of the reigning champions who dominated motorsport series all over the world in 2017 have joined the field of driving royalty assembling for next week’s Race Of Champions – to be held on February 2-3, 2018 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Riyadh’s King Fahad International Stadium.The ROC Riyadh field already includes some of the greatest names in the history of motorsport such as Formula 1 stars, Indianapolis 500 winners and Le Mans legends. Now they will be joined by a host of current stars who are at the top of their game in everything from rallycross to touring cars to endurance racing to NASCAR.
Germany’s Timo Bernhard will make his ROC debut after a stunning year for Porsche in which he took his second win at the Le Mans 24 Hours (alongside Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber) before adding the overall FIA World Endurance Championship. He will be joined in Riyadh by his fellow countryman René Rast, who stunned the tin-top world by sealing the 2017 DTM crown in a Team Rosberg Audi in his first full year.
Sweden will also be well represented in Riyadh, starting with another ROC debutant: 2017 FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson had a dazzling year, at one point taking five successive wins to see off a star-studded field and romp to the crown. Young Swedish charger Joel Eriksson will be in action too, after a season in which he took seven FIA European F3 Championship wins and was pipped to the title by British ace Lando Norris. The pair can now resume hostilities next week…
There will also be two Mexican drivers making their Race Of Champions debuts in Riyadh after sealing championships in 2017. Triple Daytona 24 Hours winner and four-time Grand-Am Champion Memo Rojas added the European Le Mans Series title to his impressive racing roll of honour, and he will now be joined on the ROC parallel track by newly-crowned NASCAR Mexico champion Abraham Calderon.
> Watch Rojas, Calderon and the VUHL 05 ROC Edition prepare for Race Of Champions in Riyadh
The new arrivals will have their work cut out against a line-up of motorsport legends including double Indianapolis 500 winner and F1 veteran Juan Pablo Montoya, who will defend the ROC Champion of Champions crown he won on his debut in Miami last year. Fellow Indy 500 winners Helio Castroneves and Ryan Hunter-Reay will be in action too, alongside reigning IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden.
‘Mr Le Mans’ Tom Kristensen and double FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg.will compete alongside 13-time F1 grand prix winner David Coulthard and newly-crowned 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Champion Lando Norris. ROC Factor winners from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East will also earn the chance to take on this illustrious line-up of driving superstars.
Bernhard said: “Believe it or not I visited the Race Of Champions way back in 1989 when it came to the Nürburgring. That day I was just watching with my Dad but ever since I’ve been waiting for my chance to compete – and now that day has arrived! I’m really looking forward to racing on the famous ROC parallel track, and it will be a true privilege to take on such an amazing field of great drivers from all over the world who are all experts in their own fields. Bring it on…”
Kristoffersson added: “I’m thrilled to be competing at the Race Of Champions for the first time in Riyadh next week. I’ve long been a fan of the event and I’ve learned even more this year because my WRX team-mate Petter Solberg won’t stop talking about how great it is! Now I can finally experience ROC first-hand. It’s an honour to represent Sweden together with Joel Eriksson. Of course it will be a big challenge as a rookie, but I used to race touring cars so I hope that mix of experience can help me adapt quickly to all the different cars. Either way I look forward to putting on a great show for all the fans watching in the stadium and all over the world.”
The Race Of Champions is an annual contest which is now in its 30th year. It brings together some of the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines – including Formula 1, IndyCar, Le Mans, World Rally and the X Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.
In recent years ROC has visited some of the world’s best stadiums: the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006), London’s Wembley Stadium (2007-2008), the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium in Beijing (2009), Düsseldorf’s Esprit Arena (2010-2011), the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok (2012), Bushy Park Barbados (2014), London’s Olympic Stadium (2015) and Miami’s Marlins Park (2017).
Now the event is heading to the Middle East for the first time to soak up the heat of Riyadh. Saudi motorsport fans – including women for the first time at an international event – have a chance to watch the speediest action the city has ever seen as many of the world’s greatest drivers push to the absolute limit on a brand new parallel track winding its way around the confines of the King Fahad International Stadium.
The Race Of Champions is run over two days: first comes the ROC Nations Cup (on Friday February 2) when drivers pair up in teams based on nationality – including the hosts Saudi Arabia – to bid for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Nation’. Then on Saturday February 3 it’s time for the Race Of Champions itself, when teamwork goes out of the window and it’s a flat-out battle for individual glory.
The competitors will take to the track in a stunning range of supercars that have been specially prepared for the event to test them to the absolute limit. Vehicles in action include the Vuhl 05 ROC Edition, Ariel Atom Cup, Xtreme Pickup, Whelen NASCAR, KTM X-Bow Comp R and the ROC Car. To prevail, drivers will have to master this mix of machinery that will put all their hard-earned skills to the test, forcing them to adapt their driving style as they make regular switches between cars.
But that’s not all. The Race Of Champions is a non-stop show from start to finish and also features stunt shows on four wheels and two plus plenty of other entertainment to keep the race fans on the edge of their seats
ROC President Fredrik Johnsson said: “At the Race Of Champions we have always loved to take drivers from all sorts of different disciplines and throw them together in identical machinery to see who comes out on top. This year is no exception, and we have assembled another line-up of driving greats from all over the world.
“Our field now contains a mix of legends and current champions from Le Mans, IndyCar, Rally X, Formula 1, Touring Cars, NASCAR and more. If you’ve ever wondered which type of motorsport really has the best drivers of all, next week’s ROC Riyadh will give you the perfect chance to find out!”
For access to rights-free high-resolution imagery and to keep up with all the latest news ahead of this year’s event please visit www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook plus @raceofchampions and #ROCRiyadh on Twitter.
eom/posted by David Bodapati, a press release from RoC
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Defending champ Ogier-Ingrassia lead after opening night stages: Rallye Monte-Carlo, WRC
S Ogier and navigator Ingrassia lead after first round in the Rally Monte Carlo, the season opener of the WRC on Wednesday. An M-Sport Ford Rally team image Reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier has made the perfect start to Rallye Monte-Carlo, the Frenchman scooping the first two stage wins and a 17.3 second lead after Thursday’s opening night stages. Andreas Mikkelsen heads Hyundai’s challenge in second with team-mate Dani Sordo third a further 8.3 seconds adrift of the Norwegian.
“M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia lead the first round with a 17.3-second advantage aboard their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC.
“As five-time winners of the prestigious event, the pairing knows exactly what it takes to master the notoriously challenging conditions. This year’s fixture threw up an immensely challenging opener – Sisteron, in reverse, in the dark – but Ogier and Ingrassia did not falter,” added a Ford Team release.
Sébastien Ogier (1st) said:
“We knew it would be tough to cross the icy section with slick tyres and we actually had a spin there. I think almost everyone had a moment in there, but luckily we didn’t lose too much time. The rest of the stage was also very tricky with the grip changing all the time and it was challenging to know where you could and couldn’t push.
“I was happy with the car and in these conditions and you need to be comfortable or you don’t have any chance to be fast. There are still some small things here and there that we can do to improve, but I’m happy and it’s a good start.”
The eagerly awaited 2018 FIA World Rally Championship kicked off this evening in Monaco, the crews leaving the famous Casino Square late afternoon and then heading directly into two daunting stages en route back to the overnight halt in Gap. Ogier was on the pace immediately, despite a low-speed spin on sheet ice, and the Gap-born driver overnights happy with his early performance. Mikkelsen, in his first full season with Hyundai, lost the brakes in the first stage but sits just 17.3 seconds adrift and ahead of Sordo who returns to the Championship with his former co-driver Carlos del Barrio.
Behind the leading trio, Esapekka Lappi surprisingly heads the trio of Toyota drivers. The Finn is on a mission not to make mistakes and while admitting his pace wasn’t the best, he was happy his confidence was building in tricky conditions. Toyota newcomer, Ott Tänak, is five seconds further behind in fifth having hit a bank in the first stage and suffering from massive understeer. Jari-Matti Latvala, in the third Yaris WRC, spun twice and played a gamble with three super soft tyres, admitting he needed to try something different. Craig Breen is seventh in the lead Citroën C3 WRC but the Irish driver stalled and got stuck in snow in the first stage and then struggled in the second when he ran out of time to set the tyre pressures before the start; a nightmare start to his 2018 campaign. Bryan Bouffier, drafted into the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team for this event, is eighth and Kris Meeke ninth. The Northern Irishman made a stupid mistake in the opener, spinning and then reversing into a ditch which cost him a precious minute. Eric Camilli holds 10th overall and leads the FIA WRC 2 Championship contenders ahead of Jan Kopecky.
Elfyn Evans has also had a bad start and is down in 16th overall, the Welshman picking up a puncture which he had to stop and change. Thierry Neuville fared even worse, the Belgian one place behind after locking up and skidding into a snow bank.
The FIA WRC 3 Championship is being led by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Franceschi in a Fiesta R2T.
Rallye Monte-Carlo – Provisional results after Section 1
1. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Ford Fiesta WRC 38min 09.8sec 2. Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jæger Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 38min 27.1sec 3. Dani Sordo / Carlos del Barrio Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC 38min 35.4sec 4. Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm Toyota Yaris WRC 38min 47.2sec 5. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC 38min 52.2sec 6. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila Toyota Yaris WRC 39min 05.2sec 7. Craig Breen / Scott Martin Citroën C3 WRC 39min 12.1sec 8. Bryan Bouffier / Xavier Panseri Ford Fiesta WRC 40min 00.8sec 9. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle Citroën C3 WRC 40min 22.5sec 10. Eric Camilli / Benjamin Veillas Ford Fiesta R5 40min 52.0sec -
Sahara Force India, Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 team withdraw EU complaint
Joint release by Sahara Force India and the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team:
We have decided to withdraw the complaint we lodged with the European Commission in 2015 on the subject of anti-competitive practices in the sport of Formula 1.
We have been greatly encouraged by the dialogue that has been introduced following the appointment of Chase Carey as Executive Chairman and CEO of the Formula 1 commercial rights holder and his new management team. Their approach has brought a new culture of transparency to the sport and illustrates willingness to debate fundamental issues such as the distribution of the prize fund monies, cost control and engine regulations.
We are encouraged and reassured by the even-handed and fair negotiating approach taken by the new management of Formula 1 to all the teams and their issues. While the concerns leading to the compliant were fully justified, we believe this new approach provides the necessary degree of assurance that our concerns will be looked at objectively, and we prefer to resolve the issues facing the sport through dialogue rather than a legal dispute.
We want to support this transformational process in Formula 1 and thus have resolved to withdraw our complaint with immediate effect.
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Rally Monte-Carlo to kickstart the WRC season:
A file photo of WRC action by FIA. Rallye Monte-Carlo, the oldest and most famous rally in the world, kick starts the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship and this year runs one week later than normal (25-28 January). While essentially an asphalt rally, the event’s winter slot in January almost certainly guarantees a tricky mix of dry and wet roads, treacherously slippery ice and snow. As such, tyre choice is always a gamble and compromise, as all these conditions could be found in one stage requiring drivers to be able to read the road, manage pace and tyre wear throughout not just one stage but an entire loop.
The teams now have one year behind them with the new generation of World Rally Cars, but competition is sure to remain as fierce and unpredictable as each manufacturer demonstrated rally-winning pace in the debut season with the cars. While most of the driver line-ups stay the same, there are nevertheless some exciting new combinations sure to add another dimension in Monte-Carlo. Reigning FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier remains with M-Sport Ford with Elfyn Evans as his regular team-mate. Bryan Bouffier, however, joins the squad as something of a specialist with eight starts and one victory to his name. Hyundai will be fielding Thierry Neuville, Andreas Mikkelsen, and Dani Sordo, who returns this season with former co-driver Carlos del Barrio. Ott Tänak will make his debut for Toyota, partnering Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi, both of whom won events for the Japanese marque in its first season back in the WRC last year. Citroën regulars Kris Meeke and Craig Breen round off the manufacturer entries for the all-important season-opener.
The FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 Championship crews will be back in action and Rallye Monte-Carlo is also the opening round of the FIA RGT Cup.
Before any of the action gets underway, however, the WRC Season Opening celebration will kick off the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship in Monaco on Thursday afternoon.
THE 2018 ROUTE
As ever, Casino Square in Monte-Carlo will host the start ceremony on Thursday and the crews immediately head into the first two night stages as they make their way back to Gap for the overnight halt. Thoard-Sisteron is effectively new, running in the opposite direction for the first time in the WRC. Friday the drivers head south of Gap for the longest day of the event covering two loops of three stages and 144.88 competitive kilometres, Roussieux-Eygalayes and Vaumeilh-Claret new to the itinerary this year. Saturday is another long but largely familiar day and takes the crews back to Monaco for the overnight halt. Sunday’s two stages see the drivers twice over the iconic Col de Turini and La Cabanette-Col de Braus, which is again new this year and will also run as the closing Power Stage. The traditional prize-giving then takes place in front of Monaco’s Place du Palais Princier, one of the highlights of the season.
Three stages will be broadcast live on television; SS12, SS15 and SS17, with all stages also available live on the newly launched WRC All Live on the WRC+ platform.
RALLY DATA
Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:1,642.40 km
388.59 km (23.66%)
17eom/FIA press release
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Maverick to ride two more years with Yamaha Factory Racing team: MotoGP
Maverick Vinales resigns with Movistar Yamaha Factory team for two years till 2019. A Movistar Yamaha image Madrid, 24 Jan 2018: Yamaha Motor Company Limited extended the contract of Maverick Viñales with the Yamaha Factory Racing Team for another two years. The official anouncement of the re-signing came today during the 2018 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team presentation, held in Casa Del Lector, Matadero (Madrid, Spain).
The 23-year-old Viñales finished his first year with Movistar Yamaha MotoGP in third place in the MotoGP Championship standings. With three brilliant race wins and a total of seven strong podium finishes in 2017, Yamaha is confident in their partnership with the 23-year-old Spaniard and looks forward to being a serious title-contender in 2018 and the following two seasons.
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing said: “I am very happy we have reached an agreement for Maverick to continue as a factory rider for Yamaha. The announcement that he will be staying with the team for two further years after 2018 is a fantastic way to start the new season: it shows clear commitment by both parties and affirms a reciprocal confidence that together we can achieve our mutual goal of becoming MotoGP World Champions.”
“Maverick has been a real asset to the team as soon as he came in. He‘s full of motivation and never loses sight of his goals. The 2017 season wasn‘t easy, yet he has already delivered Yamaha three race wins and secured the manufacturer its 500th Grand Prix win in his first year with us. Furthermore, he took third in the championship standings after switching manufacturers, which is also an impressive achievement,” he added.
“Maverick is still very young, so we see a great future for him in Grand Prix racing, and we are very excited to challenge alongside with him during the upcoming three seasons of MotoGP,” he concluded.
Maverick Vinales, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider said: “I am really happy that Yamaha and I have extended our contract by two more years. It‘s great for me and the team that we were able to make this announcement this early on, because it gives us a sense of calm: we know that I will continue riding my M1 for the coming three seasons, so now we can just focus on the actual racing. I‘m very satisfied with this decision. I have a lot of belief in the team and in Yamaha and I‘m happy that they feel the same way. I want to thank Yamaha for their vote of confidence, and also the fans, who are always supporting us. We will continue to work hard. We will be pushing to the maximum at all the Grands Prix and I look forward to three more incredible season together,” said the MotoGP star.
Maverick Viñales, born in Figueres (Spain) on 12th January 1995, made his World Championship debut in 2011 in the 125cc Class. His racing career highlights include the overall victory in the Moto3 World Championship in 2013 as well as 3 ‘Rookie of the Year’ awards in 2011 (125cc), 2014 (Moto2) and 2015 (MotoGP), and securing Yamaha their 500th Grand Prix win in Le Mans, France, last year.
Age: 23
Height: 1.71m
Weight: 64kg
Grand Prix Wins: 20
Grand Prix Podiums: 51
Grand Prix Contested in Total: 121
Grand Prix Pole Positions: 16
World Championship Titles: 1
MotoGP
2017 – 3rd, Race Wins 3
2016 – 4th, Race Wins 1
2015 –12th, Race Wins 0
Moto2
2014 – 3rd, Race Wins 4
Moto3
2013 – 1st, Race Wins 3
2012 – 3rd, Race Wins 5
125cc
2011 – 3rd, Race Wins 4
For his full biography see: www.yamahamotogp.com/maverick-vinaleseom/Movistar Yamaha Racing team press release
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A summary of WRC rule changes for 2018
Throughout the course of last year, the World Motor Sports Council approved a number of changes to the Sporting Regulations for the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship. The main amendments are as follows:
Private teams or individual drivers will be permitted to enter 2017 specification World Rally Cars on WRC events, without the obligation to be entered by a manufacturer. P1 status will be given to all drivers entered with 2017 WRC Cars. Such entries will, however, remain subject to the approval of the FIA Rally Department.
Dedicated testing regulations for P1 drivers entered with a 2017 WRC Car but who are not nominated to score points for a manufacturer have been introduced. These drivers are not permitted to test outside Europe, bringing them into line with the restrictions placed on the other P1 teams.
If a driver is shown in the Power Stage classification but is not classified in the Final Classification, the Stewards will decide whether the next competitor should be moved up in the Power Stage classification for the attribution of Power Stage points.
DMACK, Michelin and Pirelli are the official tyre suppliers for 2018. Pirelli is the official partner of the FIA Junior WRC Championship and for competitors registered solely in the FIA WRC 3 Championship, there is no imposed tyre supplier.
Tyres used during the shakedown will not count in the overall quantity for the rally. For WRC Cars, the four tyres used during the shakedown must be from the same compound, as defined by the tyre suppliers.
The FIA WRC 2 Championship will continue to be contested over seven events, with the best six scores counting towards the title. However there will no longer be mandatory rallies.
Drivers entered with R5 cars who are not registered in the FIA WRC 2 Championship, or who have not been entered by a registered WRC 2 Team during the year, may use any tyre brand, including those not nominated by the FIA for the WRC.
There will be no WRC Trophy title, although 2016 World Rally Cars remain eligible in the Championship events.
eom/FIA release
