Top Five Riders Who Can Win MotoGP Season-Opener At Qatar

Tom Roderick
by Tom Roderick

Wait, what, really? Holy crap, MotoGP is already upon us as if the last round of the 2013 season concluded yesterday. Twenty-thirteen was an amazing season that saw the legend, Valentino Rossi, return to Yamaha with renewed vigor, and the crowning of the sport’s youngest ever champion. The year in which Marc Marquez demoralized his competition while destroying long-standing records is meaningless, though, once the curtain goes up on the 2014 season.

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Although Marquez is only at the start of a promising MotoGP career, he enters ’14 a hobbled champion from a dirtbike training crash resulting in a broken fibula. Has the MotoGP phenom recovered enough to win the race in which he placed third last year? We’re not sure so we decided to critique the usual suspects and one promising outlier to see who has the best chances. Here’s our prognostication.

5. Aleix Espargaró

Yep, we’re going out on a very long limb here because when it comes to Grand Prix motorcycle racing, Aleix Espargaró has never won a race in any division. But there’s a first time for everything, right? Besides being the top CRT rider/team for the two years of CRT existence, the reason we’re giving the nod to Espargaró over the likes of Stefan Bradl, Alvaro Bautista or Cal Crutchlow is that Espargaró has been among the leaders in each and every preseason test session – factory and non-factory bikes alike.

Riding the new “Open” class this year aboard a Forward Yamaha package (similar to Yamaha’s former M1 factory machine – Ed.), with advantages such as four more liters of fuel, may give the Spanish rider the edge he needs against the factory bikes.

4. Dani Pedrosa

Most Americans won’t lose any sleep over us not picking Dani Pedrosa to win at Losail. Although eight years have passed since Pedrosa took out Nicky Hayden at Estoril, nearly ending Hayden’s championship aspirations that year, the memory still lingers. Since that time Pedrosa’s maintained his factory ride at Repsol Honda and won races, but never a championship. He’s also never won at Qatar and we believe this trend will continue.

Pedrosa has the ability to win and has been at the top of preseason testing timesheets, but with a record of three 3rd place finishes and scoring 2nd, 4th and 6th place finishes at other Qatar rounds, he might struggle again at Losail this year.

3. Valentino Rossi

There used to be a time when betting against Valentino Rossi winning a race was a long shot. The Doctor’s invulnerability is tarnished, but he has three wins at Losail dating back to his first in 2005. He’s led the timesheets during preseason tests this year, is not recovering from any injuries and, after a season back aboard the Yamaha M1, he’s either ripe for another championship or retirement. How he does at the first race of 2014 will have some bearing on the rest of this season, as well as his career. He knows this to be true and will be pulling out all the stops to regain his MotoGP glory.

2. Marc Marquez

As stated in the preamble to this countdown, Marquez injured his fibula, and because of the incident, has been unable to participate in preseason testing, choosing to instead focus on the lower risk option of rehabilitation. Will he be 100% ready for action this weekend? Judging by his youthful age and ability to drag an elbow no matter what his physical condition, he may well be able to compete and win. But there’s one determined former champion with whom he must contend.

1. Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo’s our choice to take the top spot under the lights this Saturday night. He topped the preseason testing timesheets at Phillip Island and enters 2014 in nearly perfect physical condition. He’s won the last two openers at Losail and, prior to that, placed 2nd three times and third once, matching Rossi’s six total podiums. Still stinging from last year’s narrow, four-point championship defeat to Marquez, we look to Lorenzo be as smart and fierce as ever in regaining the MotoGP title this year. Look for Lorenzo on the top step of the box at the conclusion of round 1 at the Losail Circuit in Qatar.

Tom Roderick
Tom Roderick

A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.

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 2 comments
  • Vrooom Vrooom on Mar 21, 2014

    Personally I'd put it (from 5 to 1st) Lorenzo, Aleix E, Marquez, Pedrosa, Rossi. Rossi's been fast in pre-season testing, Lorenzo not so much. Aleix has really surprised, Pedrosa has tied Rossi as the fastest time at the recent test, and while Marquez will probably not be slowed much due to his leg, he will be some. I realize relegating Lorenzo to 5th is risky.

  • Mahatma Mahatma on Mar 21, 2014

    I'll predict:Aleix,Pedrosa,Lorenzo,Rossir,Marquez.Let the race comence

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