The wait is finally over! It has been 110 days since engines went quiet after 2018 Valencia Grand Prix. This weekend, the MotoGP 2019 World Championship season kicks off with 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix.

The preparations and fine-tuning efforts of the winter tests are over as the moment of truth is upon us. The 22 riders of 2019 MotoGP Championship will star on their first duels of the season under the artificial lighting of the Losail Circuit. Doha track host the inaugural 2019 MotoGP Calendar.

Honda ‘dream team’: Márquez & Lorenzo

The Repsol-Honda ‘dream team’ of Marc Márquez and Jorge Lorenzo is, a priori, the absolute favourite to win the most races and seal the title, the Spanish couple is not at the best of forms after their respective surgeries.

Lorenzo, who is still getting to know his new bike, has taken the pressure off by self-discarding for the victory at the 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix. The scaphoid of his left wrist will dictate his performance in the short-term. As soon as he picks up the rhythm, however, he will give it all.

His teammate Marquez is also painfully aware that he is not completely recovered from his left shoulder. For that reason, the team is urging him to be cautious in order to avoid any fall or accident, but Marquez always shows his teeth if he has to. On a technical level, Honda seems to have the best top speed. Besides, the racer from Cervera has declared that he want to run at full throttle at the 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix.

Yamaha: The winter champion

The Yamaha team has also undergone an important qualitative jump. How will they do at the 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix? It is hard to say. The only sure thing is that the new machine from Iwata is more competitive than its predecessor. Maverick Viñales has demonstrated the power of the new bike by sealing numerous poles during the pre-season testing sessions which have led to him being proclaimed ‘winter champion’. 

In the words of Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, however: “Pre-season results are worthless”. Viñales has to prove he can match the excellent times harvested during testing with actual victories at each Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi has not been as comfortable with his bike as his companion Viñales.

But…who dares to rule out the most successful pilot in history? The 40-year-old from Tavullia does not lose his motivation nor the hope of being crowned again and will put up his usual fight at the 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix.

Suzuki

One of the most promising teams for this season is Suzuki. The machine from Hamamatsu has kept on growing during 2019, just as it was doing during the last part of 2018. Alex Rins has shown he has what it takes to be a champion and wants to make a start building up his very own track record of triumphs.

The pilot from Barcelona has demonstrated he is in great form after the thrilling duels he has held against Viñales every day. His rhythm has been excellent during both short and long stints. Teammate and a great complement to Rins will be the talented rookie Joan Mir. 

Ducati

Ducati is the other big favourite to take the 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix. Among its ranks is current world sub-champion: Andrea Dovizioso. The Italian pilot’s driving style is perfectly suited to the Losail layout, where he won in 2018.

 We’ll also be keeping an eye on his talented and confident teammate, Danilo Petrucci. On a general sense, however, the Italian team’s performance is a bit of a mystery as they have hidden their cards well during the pre-season.

The quick rookies

Finally to note is the very high level of this season’s MotoGP rookies. 2018 Moto2 champion 2018 ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sprintia) have both shined with the Ducati satellite and Yamaha teams, respectively.

They both have shown their great adaptability; so much so that it would seem they had been driving in the category for years. We are hoping they make some noise at the 2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix as well. 

2019 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix Images: Ducati, Suzuki, Honda. Pramac, Yamaha & MotoGP.