The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team didn‘t rest on their laurels in between the first and second 2017 official IRTA MotoGP pre-season test. After a first successful stint of Yamaha‘s ‘pre-season media tour’, Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi went on to meet their fans and the media in Thailand and Vietnam to complete their Asian promotions and get in the right mindset to start the 2017 MotoGP season.

Energised from the first half of the ’Asian media tour’ that had brought him to Indonesia and the Philippines, Viñales travelled to Thailand on Febuary 11th to start the second half of the promotions the day after.

Following a morning photo shoot, the young Spaniard attended the Yamaha Custom-Made Battle and was happily surprised by the large crowd that had assembled at the EM Quartier in Bangkok to see him take part in the presentation on stage.

After posing with the creators of the Yamaha Custom-Made Battle bikes and the fans, Viñales headed straight to the Yamaha Rev Community where again a large sea of spectators had assembled to catch a glimpse of the new Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider. Warmly greeted as he entered the stage, Viñales stayed for a while to help present the Yamaha YZF-R15 before he quickly had to make his way to the airport.

After his lightning stop in Bangkok, the young Spaniard jetted off to visit Vietnam. There he was joined by Valentino Rossi the next day when they attended a press meeting. During the presentation the riders got to add the flag of Vietnam on the YZR-M1 as a token of appreciation for Yamaha Motor Vietnam‘s support to the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team.

After the press meeting in Hồ Chí Minh, Rossi and Viñales were in the mood for some action and headed to the YRider Event, where Rossi was surprised with an early birthday cake (he will turn 38 on February 16th). Taking time to talk on the podium and wave, the riders also made sure to entertain the fans off stage and grabbed their helmets to head out on a small circuit aboard 2017 Yamaha Exciter and NVX 155 scooters.

These final days constituted a successful ending to the Yamaha‘s ‘2017 Asian promotional tour’, which has brought the entire Yamaha-family – including the Yamaha dealers, distributors and fans – closer.

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team now make their way to Australia for the Phillip Island MotoGP Official Test from Febuary 15 – 17th (circuit time).

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

Times have moved on in the world of motorcycle racing. Gone are the days of the Isle Of Man TT being on the calendar, and the days where you’d ride over train lines at Imatra. The tracks today are super modern, multi-purpose facilities that tend to run many more things than just races, ranging from executive conferences to charity car rallies and bike shows. But for heaven sake, some of the circuits that MotoGP go to are what I call sanitised. Everything about them is false, there’s little ‘feeling’ as a fan and if I’m honest, the circuit itself isn’t that great. In this article, I take a look at five tracks that MotoGP misses and why they should make a return to the calendar, before we lose more historic venues.

Suzuka, Japan

The blossoming trees in the Land of the Rising Sun. Suzuka is set in a picturesque backdrop of Japan’s Ino area. Once upon time this fast and flowing circuit hosted the Japanese Grand Prix, usually at the start of the season, and it treated us to some absolute belters!

In 1990, Wayne Rainey ran away with the win, but in 1991, it was Kevin Schwantz who mugged Rainey, Doohan and rookie Kocinski to take the verdict. In 2001, Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi had their infamous elbow barging and finger-flicking session, but despite these memories, it was one tragic afternoon that would spell the end of Suzuka as a MotoGP race circuit. Former 250cc champion Daijiro Kato lost his life in a freak accident at the chicane whilst braking.

In a way, it was great because it showed that unlike in previous years, Dorna were acting on a truly disastrous event that day. However, the fan in me is still mourning the loss of not just Kato, but of Suzuka. Yes, it is dangerous, but the final chicane could be fixed or tampered with to make it a Grand Prix circuit yet again.

The stunning opening section where it is just left to right left again, all whilst undulating and with a mix of positive and negative cambered corners made Suzuka one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar. It’d be welcomed with wide open arms by some of the more aggressive and old school riders, such as Valentino and Marc, however I’m not too sure Jorge Lorenzo would approve, but he would have every right to, seeing as the circuit was taken off for the ultimate reason.

Istanbul Park, Turkey

Lasting only three years, the Turkish Grand Prix was held around 20km outside of Turkey’s second city, at Istanbul Park. The track is one of few that has been designed with MotoGP in mind, and it was clear to see once the boys got out there in 2005.

It was won by Marco Melandri and although there wasn’t a classic head to head battle, there was a great scrap in 2006 across all classes. The 250cc race saw Alex De Angelis have a huge coming together with Hector Barbera on the run down towards the ‘M’ section that ended the lap, both miraculously stayed aboard.

2007 would prove to be Turkey’s final Grand Prix, and even the F1 boys stopped going after the 2011 race. The circuit was famous for having four consecutive left handers, and the fastest corner in MotoGP, which peaked at 170mph.

Sadly, although the circuit is still in use for national and regional championships, there doesn’t seem any signs of a return to Turkey in the near distant future. World Superbikes went in 2013 but never returned, and one of MotoGP’s greatest additions is going begging. Political and social unrest in Turkey and the complications of neighbours Syria don’t make this the most sort-after circuit on the calendar. A huge shame.

Laguna Seca, USA

Home to the corkscrew, Laguna Seca has provided thrilling battles over the years. In 1988 it burst onto the scene and witnessed a truly heroic comeback from Eddie Lawson, beating Wayne Gardner and Niall Mackenzie to take the win from well down on the grid. In 2008, 3 years after returning, Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner went head to head at the Californian circuit, with shoulder charging and contact being made around the track, especially at the Corkscrew.

It is synonymous to American motorsport, up there with the likes of Indianapolis, Daytona and Sebring, but maybe, just a step above even those historic venues. Dangerous, challenging, fast and technically demanding are just sine ways to describe the frightening Laguna Seca.

Nicky Hayden won the first two Grand Prix there upon its return to the calendar in 2005, but since then, the Americans haven’t been able to repeat. However, in 2013, the shock decision to take the race off the calendar completely was one that didn’t go down well amongst fans or riders. After all, World Superbikes do still go there, so if it’s good enough for them, surely it’s good enough for the Grand Prix warriors?

To add to the pain for us fans, the chance of Laguna returning for a 3rd stint at hosting a Grand Prix look over. It would cost too much money for the event organisers at Laguna Seca to run, so they decided to keep to the World Superbikes. Also, like before, there wouldn’t be enough room in the paddock for all three classes, and I’m not sure that having just one race is financially viable. Again, it’s a crying shame, but one that is accepted.

Nurburgring, Germany

Before the days of the Sachsenring and during the days of the Hockenheimring, the Nurburgring has hosted some of the most thrilling races of all time. The circuit which witnessed the sensational Chili-Doohan synchronised high-side, along with one of the most dramatic World Superbike races of all time back in 1999. Steeped in history, but no longer serving a purpose, I will come out and say that the Nurburgring is the best race circuit in Germany.

One thing that makes the Nurburgring special is the unlimited opportunity for overtaking around the track. Apart from a couple of fast chicanes, you can pass virtually anywhere on the circuit. This is particularly highlighted when the bikes race there. In 1997, the 250cc race was hectic, with greats like Harada, Jacque, Waldmann and Biaggi going at it right until the final corner, crossing the line 4 abreast. 0.135 covered the top four in a truly remarkable race.

Sadly, those times have vacated the current era of elbow bashing MotoGP stars. Although, having said that, the WSBK paddock did go there up until 2013, and the German F1 race was held there for many seasons. The circuit is effectively bankrupt, and if it can’t afford to host a WSBK meeting, then I’m sure it wouldn’t be able to cough up the money for a multi-million Euro MotoGP event. It is a massive shame, especially as there is so much heritage surrounding the circuit. It is without doubt one of the most entertaining circuits, where greats of both two and four wheels have graced the German asphalt. Unless miracles happen and money is found, the Nurburgring may as well cease to exist. ‘Tragic’ doesn’t cover it.

Kyalami, South Africa

Fast, exciting, undulating and terrifying, the South Africans didn’t half make Kyalami into one of the fiercest circuits in the world. The Rainbow Nation became home to bikes again back in 1992 and it was Kyalami where the likes of Rainey, Schwantz, Kocinski and Chandler would do battle. Sadly, this would also be the final time that it would host the South African Grand Prix, before the Phakisa Freeway in Welkom took over. But wow, we have some amazing memories.

World Superbikes’ arrival in South Africa back in 1998 was the first motorsport event in the country since Nelson Mandela came to power in 1994. Over 65,000 fans flocked to the venue to see the return of motorcycle racing in the modern time, and they got a treat!

Catastrophically, the Kyalami circuit would yet again be wiped off the WSBK calendar after the 2001 meeting and briefly re-joined for 2009. The track itself hasn’t held a Grand Prix since 1992, and the South African Grand Prix has been missing since 2004, when it was last held at Welkom, and signed off with Valentino Rossi becoming the first rider to win back to back races on different bikes.

The circuit has undergone a makeover. The fast, downhill esses that started the lap have been removed and the incredibly fast Mineshaft corner has been made into a more obtuse and scary left hander before a hairpin. Although most the track remains unchanged, the ferocious turn one and two combination was a spectacle that only Kyalami had, but despite this substantial change, the circuit itself is wonderful. One can only hope that the FIM gives back Grade 1 to the track for Rossi and Marquez to take their rivalry to a new continent, and the country of Gold.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

The premier class of motorcycle racing has always been great for the true head-to-head title fights, the dramatic off and on-track moments and the scintillating pace at which the front runners set. However, there is often a battle that gets very little coverage. Welcome to the battle of the energy drinks.

It hasn’t always been energy drinks. Once upon a time, Marlboro, Lucky Strike and Rothmans all went head to head in a battle for cigarette bragging rights. However, as cigarette advertising becomes more regulated and energy drinks become more popular, there has been a shift in just how much energy drink sponsorship can mean.

Red Bull are the long-serving sponsors as far as energy drinks are concerned. They have sponsored the Yamaha WCM team back in the late 90s and early 2000s, they were also sponsors of Ben Atkins’ Reve Red Bull Ducati team in BSB in 1999, which fielded John Reynolds and Sean Emmett, with James Haydon joining Reynolds a year later. They sponsored the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in its comeback years as well as continuing to sponsor many riders, like Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales. However, the tide is turning and now, there’s some good, healthy competition.

Monster burst onto the scene back in 2009 with James Toseland, who was in his 2nd season in MotoGP on the Tech 3 Yamaha, also sponsored by Monster. Incrementally, they’ve got onto the shirt tails of Red Bull and now Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow and the Tech 3 boys all sponsored by the energy drink giant. In fact, they have so much input that now they sponsor Grand Prix, the French Grand Prix most notably. Above and beyond this, MotoGP is having an influence on their products too! The Monster Energy VR46 ‘The Doctor’ drink smashed its ways onto the shelves of British supermarkets last year and have gone down a treat with not just bike fans, but the public, promoting the sport we love in markets that aren’t afraid of mass consumerism.

However, there is one more big name energy drink. Rockstar. And they back Jorge Lorenzo. Despite him winning the championship in 2015, there was no limited-edition drink or much say from anyone in Rockstar at all come to think of it. They’re a relatively new sponsor to the sport, although they had a lot of involvement in Yamaha when Fiat left at the end of 2011, when the team didn’t have a title sponsor.

So now you know the background of each drink, what significance does it carry? Well, you could say it promotes healthy competition. For many years it was tobacco brands that would carry ‘unhealthy’ healthy competition, but due to tobacco promotion regulations, that has faded away and been replaced by the energy drinks market which is worth a staggering £40bn.

It is also promoting the sport. As I have already said, Valentino Ross tribute drinks are readily available but it goes another step further than that. Not only does it sell products and expose MotoGP to a worldwide players, but it allows for other sponsors to chip in to. To come away from energy drinks for a split second, I’ll give you an example. Repsol are the main oil sponsors for Honda, however, Castrol have made some appearances on the side of Cal Crutchlow’s Honda and Eneos have been on the Yamaha. In effect, back to energy drinks, once one of them does it, all of their rivals have to do it, and this neo-liberal idea of competition and individual gain is having massive positive effects on our sport across all series, and not just MotoGP.

Energy drink competition give us another on track battle. Now, it isn’t just about winning as a rider, team, constructor or because of your nationality, but it’s about taking your own energy drink sponsors to the top of the podium. The battle last year with Rossi and Lorenzo was Monster VS Rockstar. This year it has been Monster VS Rockstar with Rossi and Marquez. It adds yet another dynamic to our sport, where it gives us something else to read into or analyse. It may have absolutely no interest for some, but it might form a rivalry for others.

One may argue however that energy drinks should have no place in sport of any form, not just motorcycle racing. After all, they are unhealthy, and that isn’t what’s needed to carry out sporting tasks such as racing, running, etc. Similar things happened with the London Olympics, where Coca Cola and McDonalds stepped up as the two big sponsors. Maybe we need to have Tropicana VS Capella instead, maybe stick an innocent smoothie in there somewhere too.

I personally, totally disagree with people who believe energy drinks shouldn’t have a place in sport. They are ENERGY DRINKS. Energy is required if you are going to compete in any sports, and the extra 150 calories that you consume will be burnt off by the time you’ve finished. Unless of course you play the very active sport of golf or bowls, then it may take longer.

Conclusively, the roll of energy drinks in MotoGP is bigger than tobacco was in the 80s and early 90s. The competition dynamic between the different brands is sizzling and the outcome for our sport isn’t bad either. It adds that extra dimension of rivalry and gives MotoGP that extra edge over most other sports, as it has sponsors from the same field, but from different brands, coming together at the top of the championship tree.

And after all, who’s to say that before too long, we will have a watermelon Marquez drink from Red Bull, and a Lime and Orange Lorenzo alongside The Doctors Lemon fizz on the shelves of Asda. Now that would make an incredible front row.

“And down to checkout 1”…

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko