MotoGP
MotoGP 2017 – new manufacturers, new riders, new rules
Key Takeaways
- DHL is back as MotoGP’s Official Logistics Partner
- MotoGP has welcomed a sixth manufacturer as KTM joins Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia
- The 2017 calendar features 18 races on four continents
You could say that MotoGP hardly left a stone unturned in the offseason. With new manufacturers, new riders, and new rules, the 2017 season is set deliver an unprecedented level of excitement. One thing hasn’t changed: DHL is back as MotoGP’s Official Logistics Partner, so once again you won’t be able to miss the DHL logo adorning some of the world’s most prestigious racetracks. But what you won’t see is the DHL crew working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure each race goes off without a hitch.
We’re just as excited as you are to watch our heroes roll onto the Losail International Circuit in just a few days’ time. A lot has changed. Let’s take a look at what’s new this year.
1: KTM join MotoGP
MotoGP has welcomed a sixth manufacturer as KTM joins Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia in 2017. Already very successful in Moto3 during the past few years, the team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has signed riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro. Team Principal is Mike Leitner, who was formerly crew chief for Honda driver, Dani Pedrosa.
KTM’s first MotoGP machine is designated the RC16 and has some special features. For example, it’s the only bike in the field to have a steel tube frame. The other teams use aluminum. KTM also doesn’t buy in suspension parts from Öhlins like all the other manufacturers but develops all their own components such as dampers/shockers in-house at their subsidiary plant, WP Suspension.
2: Rider changes
There have been plenty of rider changes for the 2017 MotoGP season, more than ever before in this top-class series. Twelve of the 23 riders on this year’s grid will either be competing for a new team or for the first time. The most talked-about transfer is that of Jorge Lorenzo, who, after nine years, left Yamaha for Ducati. Maverick Vinales has taken his place, moving over from Suzuki, where he was replaced by Andrea Iannone. Aleix Espargaro also left Suzuki, heading for Aprilia. KTM completely took over the Tech 3 rider pairing of Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith while Alvaro Bautista joined Ducati customer team Aspar from Aprilia.
Jonas Folger and Johann Zarco are new to MotoGP. They make up the new Tech 3 pairing while Sam Lowes is new at Aprilia and Alex Rins at Suzuki. Karel Abraham is returning to MotoGP after a year in the Superbike World Championship with Aspar. Eugene Laverty and Stefan Bradl will now contest the WSBK, and Yonny Hernandez left MotoGP to return to Moto2.
Here’s a run-down of the 2017 teams and drivers:
- Repsol Honda: Marc Marquez - Dani Pedrosa
- Movistar Yamaha: Valentino Rossi - Maverick Vinales
- Ducati Team: Jorge Lorenzo - Andrea Dovizioso
- Team Suzuki Ecstar: Andrea Iannone - Alex Rins
- Monster Yamaha Tech 3: Jonas Folger - Johann Zarco
- Octo Pramac Racing: Danilo Petrucci - Scott Redding
- Aprilia Racing Team Gresini: Aleix Espargaro - Sam Lowes
- LCR Honda: Cal Crutchlow
- Reale Avintia Racing: Hector Barbera - Loris Baz
- Pull&Bear Aspar Team: Alvaro Bautista - Karel Abraham
- EG 0,0 Marc VDS: Jack Miller - Tito Rabat
- Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: Pol Espargaro - Bradley Smith
3: Winglet ban: Twin fairings on their way
Although MotoGP didn’t make any major rule changes for the 2017 season, there is one important innovation. The winglets, the small wings on the motorcycles that have been gradually introduced over the last two seasons, have been banned for this year. No part may now project from the bike’s streamline fairing. However, manufacturers have already found a solution to the problem, and the winglets have been moved inside fairings where they are permitted by regulations.
4: The schedule
As in previous years, the 2017 calendar features 18 races, beginning with the Qatar Grand Prix on March 26 and ending with the GP of Valencia on November 12. Spanning four continents, Europe will play host to twelve races, followed by three in Asia, two in America and one in Australia. With four grands prix, Spain will again host the most events of any single country.
- 26 March: Grand Prix of Qatar
- 09 April: Gran Premio Motul de la República Argentina
- 23 April: Red Bull Grand Prix of The America
- 07 May: Gran Premio Red Bull de España
- 21 May: HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France
- 04 June: Gran Premio d'Italia
- 11 June: Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya
- 25 June: Motul TT Assen
- 02 July: GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
- 06 August: Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky
- 13 August: NeroGiardini Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich
- 27 August: Octo British Grand Prix
- 10 September: Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini
- 24 September: Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón
- 15 October: Motul Grand Prix of Japan
- 22 October: Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
- 29 October: Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix
- 12 November: Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana
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