Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines STATISTICS 2015 March 25th Commercial Bank Grand Prix of #01 Losail International Circuit

MotoGP™ Riders' Profiles

CAREER 2015 4. CAREER 2015 6. Starts 222 (124 x MotoGP, 49 x 250, 49 x 125) 0 Starts 139 (52 x MotoGP, 33 x Moto2™, 54 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 10 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250, 5 x 125) - Wins/best result 7 (5 x Moto2, 2 x 125) (2nd in MotoGP) - Podiums 65 (24 x MotoGP, 26 x 250, 15 x 125) 0 Podiums 19 (1 x MotoGP, 12 x Moto2, 6 x 125) 0 Poles/best grid 15 (2 x MotoGP, 4 x 250, 9 x 125) - Poles/best grid 8 (1 x MotoGP, 7 x Moto2) - Last Win GBR/09 - Last Win GBR/11 (Moto2) - Last Podium NED/14/2nd - Last Podium USA/13/2nd - Last Pole JPN/14 - Last Pole USA/13 -

»» Dovizioso finished on the podium on three occasions at Qatar when riding in the »» Bradl’s third place finish in the 125cc race at Qatar in 2008 was his first ever smaller classes; in the 125cc class in 2004 and the 250cc class in 2005 and 2006 podium in Grand Prix racing »» He has competed in the MotoGP class at Losail for the last seven years and on every »» In 2010 he qualified on the front row at Qatar for the first ever Moto2 race but crashed occasion he has finished in the top seven Age: 29 at turn two when De Angelis high-sided in front of him Age: 25 »» In 2010 he had his only podium in the MotoGP class in Qatar, finishing 3rd, after briefly leading mid-race, »» In 2011 he qualified on pole and won the opening Moto2 race of the season in Qatar and was the only rider to finish in the top five »» He made his debut in the MotoGP class in 2012 in Qatar, qualifying in 9th place on the grid and finishing 8th »» He has been the first Ducati rider across the line for the last two years in Qatar - 7th in 2013 and 5th last year »» He has crashed out of the MotoGP race in Qatar for the last two years; last year he crashed when leading »» He has never started the MotoGP race at Qatar from the front row, but has been in 4th place on the grid on the ninth lap three times

CAREER 2015 8. Hector Barbera CAREER 2015 9. Starts 207 (85 x MotoGP, 75 x 250, 47 x 125) 0 Starts 50 - all MotoGP 0 Wins/best result 10 (4 x 250, 6 x 125) (5th in MotoGP) - Best result 8th - Podiums 32 (20 x 250, 12 x 125) 0 Podiums 0 0 Poles/best grid 9 (8 x 250, 1 x 125) (3rd in MotoGP) - Best grid 11th - Last Win VAL/09 (250cc) - Last Win - - Last Podium VAL/09/1st (250cc) - Last Podium - - Last Pole POR/09 (250cc) - Last Pole - -

»» Barbera finished on the podium in the 250cc class in Qatar on three occasions; »» Petrucci made his MotoGP debut in 2012 at Qatar when he failed to finish the 3rd in 2007, 2nd in 2008 and a victory in 2009 race due to mechanical problems »» He has raced in the MotoGP class at Qatar for the last five years, with a best result of »» He retired from the race again in 2013 with mechanical problems, after completing 9th in 2012 riding a Ducati Age: 28 twelve laps Age: 24 »» His best qualifying result at Losail in the MotoGP class is 6th on the grid in 2011 & highest placed »» Last year he made it to the end of the race in Qatar for the first time - in 14th place Ducati - the first time a satellite Ducati rider had out-qualified both factory bikes in the 800cc era of MotoGP »» Last year he retired from the race in Qatar after four laps with a technical problem

CAREER 2015 15. CAREER 2015 17. Karel Abraham Starts 248 (47 x MotoGP, 136 x 250/Moto2, 65 x 125) 0 Starts 149 (57 x MotoGP, 61 x 250/Moto2, 31 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 4 (3 x Moto2, 1 x 250) (2nd in MotoGP) - Wins/best result 1 (1 x Moto2) (7th in MotoGP) - Podiums 40 (1 x MotoGP, 32 x 250/Moto2, 7 x 125) 0 Podiums 2 (2 x Moto2) 0 Poles/best grid 11 (6 x 250/Moto2, 5 x 125) (4th in MotoGP) - Best grid 5th - 250cc (6th in MotoGP) - Last Win MAL/12 (Moto2) - Last Win VAL/10 (Moto2) - Last Podium MAL/12/1st (Moto2) - Last Podium VAL/10/1st (Moto2) - Last Pole AUS/11 (Moto2) - Last Pole - -

»» De Angelis has competed in all eleven Qatar GP events »» Seventh in the 250cc race in 2008 is Abraham’s best result at the Losail circuit »» He has had a single podium finish at the Losail circuit - 2nd in 250cc race in 2007 »» In 2011 he made his premier-class debut at the Qatar GP and finished 13th, less behind than 4 seconds behind top satellite Ducati rider Hector Barbera »» Has twice competed in the MotoGP class in Qatar; he crashed out of the race in 2008 and Age: 31 »» In 2012 he qualified 10th in Qatar, but retired from the race after seven laps with Age: 25 he finished 6th in 2009 brake problems »» In 2013 he crashed without injury on the opening lap of the Qatar MotoGP race and last year he finished 13th

CAREER 2015 19. Alvaro Bautista CAREER 2015 25. Maverick Viñales Starts 202 (86 x MotoGP, 49 x 250, 67 x 125) 0 Starts 67 (0 x MotoGP, 18 x Moto2, 49 x 125/Moto3™) 0 Wins/best result 16 (8 x 250, 8 x 125) (3rd in MotoGP) - Wins/best result 16 (4 x Moto2, 12 x 125/Moto3) - Podiums 49 (3 x MotoGP, 28 x 250, 18 x 125) 0 Podiums 40 (9 x Moto2, 31 x 125/Moto3) 0 Poles/best grid 18 (1 x MotoP, 9 x 250, 8 x 125) - Poles/best grid 11 (1 x Moto2, 10 x 125/Moto3) - Last Win CAT/09 (250cc) - Last Win MAL/14 (Moto2) - Last Podium FRA/14/3rd - Last Podium MAL/14/1st (Moto2) - Last Pole GBR/12 - Last Pole ARA/14 (Moto2) -

»» Bautista won the 125cc GP in Qatar in 2006 on his way to becoming »» Viñales has twice finished on the podium in the lightweight-class in Qatar; a world champion victory in the 125cc race in 2012 and 2nd in Moto3 in 2013 »» In 2010 he made his MotoGP class debut in Qatar, but crashed at the final corner while »» Last year he qualified in 14th place on the grid and finished 4th in his first race in the battling with fellow rookie Simoncelli Age: 30 Moto2 class Age: 20 »» Did not make the start of the race in 2011 after he crashed in the third free practice session and broke his femur »» He finished 7th at Qatar in 2012, and in 2013 he was 6th; last year he crashed near the end of the race when challenging for a podium finish »» Has twice started from pole in Qatar; in the 125cc class in 2006 and the 250cc class in 2009 CAREER 2015 26. CAREER 2015 29. Starts 229 (151 x MotoGP, 32 x 250, 46 x 125) 0 Starts 161 (33 x MotoGP, 51 x Moto2, 77 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 49 (26 x MotoGP, 15 x 250, 8 x 125) - Wins/best result 12 (8 x Moto2, 4 x 125)(5th in MotoGP) - Podiums 135 (94 x MotoGP, 24 x 250, 17 x 125) 0 Podiums 24 (19 x Moto2, 5 x 125) 0 Poles/best grid 45 (27 x MotoGP, 9 x 250, 9 x 125) - Poles/best grid 8 (5 x Moto2, 3 x 125) (2nd in MotoGP) - Last Win CZE/14 - Last Win ITA/12 (Moto2) - Last Podium VAL/14/3rd - Last Podium RSM/12/3rd (Moto2) - Last Pole CAT/14 - Last Pole ARA/10 (Moto2) -

»» Losail is one of only four circuits on this year's grand prix schedule where Pe- »» Iannone won the 125cc race at the Qatar Grand Prix in 2009 drosa has not had a victory in any class of GP racing - the others are Silverstone, »» He finished 2nd in the Moto2 race in Qatar in 2011, after qualifying down in 16th Austin and Termas de Rio Hondo place on the grid, and was 2nd again in 2012, after leading for three laps in the middle »» He has finished five times on the podium in the MotoGP class at Losail; 3rd in 2007, Age: 29 of the race Age: 25 2008, 2011 & 2014, and in 2012 he was second »» Made his debut in the MotoGP class in 2013 at Qatar; he qualified in 10th place on the grid »» Last year in Qatar he qualified in 6th place on the grid, but improved in the race to finish 3rd and finished 9th »» Last year he crashed at the last corner on the second lap, re-started and finished the race in 10th place

CAREER 2015 33. CAREER 2015 35. Starts 207 (131 x MotoGP, 47 x 250, 29 x 125) 0 Starts 69 - all MotoGP 0 Wins/best result 22 (5 x MotoGP, 10 x 250, 7 x 125) - Best result 2nd - Podiums 62 (20 x MotoGP, 25 x 250, 17 x 125) 0 Podiums 7 (7 x MotoGP) 0 Poles/best grid 9 (3 x 250, 6 x 125) (2nd in MotoGP) - Poles/best grid 2 (2 x MotoGP) - Last Win AUS/06 - Last Win - - Last Podium FRA/09/2nd - Last Podium ARA/14/3rd - Last Pole VAL/02 (250cc) - Last Pole CZE/13 -

»» Melandri raced in the MotoGP class at Qatar for seven successive years, starting »» Crutchlow made his MotoGP debut in 2011 at the Qatar GP - qualified in 8th in 2004 place on the grid and finished 11th »» He has had one podium finish in the MotoGP class at Qatar - 2nd in 2005 behind »» In 2012 in Qatar he qualified on the front row for the first time in MotoGP and was the Valentino Age: 32 first satellite bike rider across the line in 4th, equalling his best GP result at that time Age: 29 »» He competed in the World Superbike event at Losail last year, finishing 8th and 4th »» In 2013 he qualified in 2nd place on the grid in Qatar, and again finished the race as first »» Melandri is making is making a return to MotoGP after last racing in the class at the final race satellite rider across the line, in 5th place of the 2010 season in Valencia »» Last year he finished 6th in Qatar, in his first race on the factory Ducati

CAREER 2015 38. Bradley Smith CAREER 2015 41. Aleix Espargaro Starts 149 (36 x MotoGP, 33 x Moto2, 80 x 125) 0 Starts 160 (76 x MotoGP, 61 x Moto2/250, 23 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 3 (3 x 125) (3rd in MotoGP) - Best result 2nd - Podiums 24 (1 x MotoGP, 3 x Moto2, 20 x 125) 0 Podiums 2 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x Moto2) 0 Poles/best grid 9 (9 x 125) (3rd in MotoGP) - Poles/best grid 1 (1 x MotoGP) - Last Win VAL/10 (125cc) - Last Win - - Last Podium AUS/14/3rd - Last Podium ARA/14/2nd - Last Pole POR/10 (125cc) - Last Pole NED/14 -

»» Smith’s best result in Qatar is 5th in the 125cc race in 2009 »» Before last year, Aleix Espargaro’s best result at the Losail circuit was 9th in the »» He started from pole in the 125cc race at Losail in 2008 - his first pole in GP racing 250cc race in 2008 »» Finished 9th in 2011 in Qatar in his debut race in the Moto2 class and in 2012 finished »» In 2010 he raced in the MotoGP class in Qatar riding a Ducati - he crashed on the 9th at Losail for the second successive year Age: 24 seventh lap Age: 25 »» Made his debut in the MotoGP class in Qatar in 2013; he qualified 9th but crashed out of the race »» In 2011 he finished 11th at Qatar in his first race in the Moto2 class on the 5th lap »» In 2012 he finished 15th on his debut onboard the new ART machine and in 2013 he was the »» Last year in Qatar he crashed from 5th place in the latter stages of the race, after starting from first CRT rider across the line in 11th place 3rd place on the grid - his first front row in the MotoGP class »» Last year he finished 4th in Qatar - his best dry weather result in the MotoGP class

CAREER 2015 43. Jack Miller CAREER 2015 44. Pol Espargaro Starts 55 (55 x 125/Moto3) 0 Starts 140 (18 x MotoGP, 51 x Moto2, 71 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 6 (6 x Moto3) - Wins/best result 15 (10 x Moto2, 5 x 125)(4th in MotoGP) - Podiums 10 (10 x Moto3) 0 Podiums 44 (23 x Moto2, 21 x 125) 0 Poles/best grid 8 (8 x Moto3) - Poles/best grid 17 (14 x Moto2, 3 x 125)(2nd in MotoGP) - Last Win VAL/14 (Moto3) - Last Win JPN/13 (Moto2) - Last Podium VAL/14/1st (Moto3) - Last Podium JPN/13/1st (Moto2) - Last Pole MAL/14 (Moto3) - Last Pole VAL/13 (Moto2) -

»» Miller is the youngest Australian rider to race in the premier-class of GP racing »» Pol Espargaro finished 3rd in the Moto2 race in Qatar in 2012 - his first podium since Brendan Clarke in 2001 finish at the Losail circuit »» Miller finished outside a point scoring position in the Moto3 race at Qatar in both »» In 2013 in Qatar he qualified on pole for the Moto2 race, won the race and set 2012 & 2013 Age: 20 »» Last year he retired from his debut race in the MotoGP class in Qatar with mechanical Age: 23 »» Last year in Qatar he took his first grand prix victory problems with five laps remaining

2 CAREER 2015 45. CAREER 2015 46. Starts 118 (18 x MotoGP, 67 x Moto2, 33 x 125) 0 Starts 312 (252 x MotoGP, 30 x 250, 30 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 4 (3 x Moto2, 1 x 125)(7th in MotoGP) - Wins/best result 108 (82 x MotoGP, 14 x 250, 12 x 125) - Podiums 16 (14 x Moto2, 2 x 125) 0 Podiums 196 (160 x MotoGP, 21 x 250, 15 x 125) 0 Poles/best grid 3 (3 x Moto2)(11th in MotoGP) - Poles/best grid 60 (50 x MotoGP, 5 x 250, 5 x 125) - Last Win GBR/13 (Moto2) - Last Win AUS/14 - Last Podium GBR/13/1st (Moto2) - Last Podium VAL/14/2nd - Last Pole INP/13 (Moto2) - Last Pole VAL/14 -

»» Redding became the youngest ever rider to qualify on a GP front row when »» Rossi won in Qatar in 2005, 2006 & 2010, and finished 2nd in 2007, 2009, making his Grand Prix debut in the 125cc class at Losail in 2008, when he finished 2013 and 2014 the race in 5th place »» He crashed out of the race in 2004 after starting from the back of the grid as a penalty »» He finished 6th in 2012 in Qatar, the first time he had scored points in the opening race of Age: 22 for cleaning his original grid position at the end of qualifying Age: 36 the year since moving up to the Moto2 class »» In 2013 in Qatar he finished 2nd on his return to Yamaha after riding Ducati machinery for the »» In 2013 he finished 2nd in the Moto2 race in Qatar, after battling for the win throughout previous two years »» Last year he finished 7th in his MotoGP debut in Qatar, which was his equal best result of »» The last time that Rossi has led the world championship classification was following his win at rookie season in MotoGP Losail in 2010 »» He finished 2nd last year in Qatar, just 0.259 sec behind Marquez, after qualifying in 10th place on the grid

CAREER 2015 50. Eugene Laverty CAREER 2015 63. Starts 30 (29 x 250, 1 x 125) 0 Starts 184 (18 x MotoGP, 75 x Moto2/250, 91 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 13th - 250cc - Wins/best result 5 (5 x 125)(12th in MotoGP) - Podiums 0 0 Podiums 13 (2 x 250, 11 x 125) 0 Best grid 12th - 250cc - Poles/best grid 3 (1 x 250, 2 x 125)(19th in MotoGP) - Last Win - - Last Win AUS/08 (125cc) - Last Podium - - Last Podium POR/09/2nd (250cc) - Last Pole - - Last Pole INP/09 (250cc) -

»» Eugene Laverty is making his premier-class GP debut »» Di Meglio finished 3rd at Qatar in 2009 in his first ever race in the 250cc class - »» Has raced previously at Losail in the 250cc GP, world supersport and his first podium at the Losail circuit world superbike »» He was 7th in 2012 in the Moto2 race in Qatar, his best result of the season »» His best result at the circuit is a race victory in the world supersport race in 2009 Age: 28 »» In 2013 in Qatar he had to start the Moto2 race from pit-lane after suffering mechanical Age: 27 problems on the warm-up lap; he finished the race just outside the points in 16th position »» Last year he finished 17th at Qatar when making his debut in the MotoGP class

CAREER 2015 68. Yonny Hernandez CAREER 2015 69. Starts 82 (51 x MotoGP, 31 x Moto2) 0 Starts 198 - all MotoGP 0 Best result 6th - Moto2 (7th in MotoGP) - Wins/best result 3 (3 x MotoGP) - Podiums 0 0 Podiums 28 (28 x MotoGP) 0 Best grid 5th - Moto2 (9th in MotoGP) - Poles/best grid 5 - Last Win - - Last Win USA/06 - Last Podium - - Last Podium SPA/11/3rd - Last Pole - - Last Pole POR/07 -

»» Hernandez made his Grand Prix debut in the Moto2 class at Losail in 2010, »» Hayden has twice finished on the podium at the Losail circuit; 3rd in 2005 and when he retired early in the race with technical problems 2nd in 2006 riding a Honda on both occasions »» In 2011 he finished 12th in the Moto2 race in Qatar after qualifying down in 20th place »» In 2010 he was 4th in Qatar, after just missing out on a podium in a sprint to the line on the grid Age: 26 with Dovizioso Age: 33 »» In 2012 he finished 14th in Qatar on his debut in the MotoGP class and in 2013 he finished »» In 2011 he finished 9th after dropping to last place on the first lap when De Puniet crashed in front 14th for the second successive year of him »» Last year he opened his season with a 12th place finish in Qatar »» In 2012 Hayden was the first Ducati rider across the line in 6th, he was 8th in 2013 and last year was 8th again »» He is the only rider to have scored points in all eleven previous MotoGP races held at the Losail circuit

CAREER 2015 76. CAREER 2015 93. Marc Marquez Starts 0 0 Starts 114 (36 x MotoGP, 32 x Moto2, 46 x 125) 0 Best result - - Wins/best result 45 (19 x MotoGP, 16 x Moto2, 10 x 125) - Podiums 0 0 Podiums 69 (30 x MotoGP, 25 x Moto2, 14 x 125) 0 Best grid - - Poles/best grid 50 (22 x MotoGP, 14 x Moto2, 14 x 125) - Last Win - - Last Win VAL/14 - Last Podium - - Last Podium VAL/14/1st - Last Pole - - Last Pole MAL/14 -

»» Baz is making his MotoGP race debut »» In 2009 Marquez crashed out of the 125cc race in Qatar while battling for a po- »» He is the youngest French rider to compete in the MotoGP class since Sylvain dium position, and in 2010 he qualified on pole and finished 3rd in the 125cc class Guintoli appeared as a replacement rider in 2002 »» In 2011 he qualified 2nd on the grid for his first Moto2 race but crashed on lap five »» Baz finished 2nd and 7th in the two world superbike races at Qatar last year Age: 22 when making up for a slow start Age: 22 »» In 2012 he qualified in 2nd place on the grid and won the opening Moto2 race of the year on his way to taking the world title »» Made his debut in the MotoGP class in 2013 in Qatar; qualified in 6th place on the grid and finished the race 3rd »» Won the opening MotoGP race of 2014 in Qatar, from

CAREER 2015 99. Jorge Lorenzo Starts 214 (120 x MotoGP, 48 x 250, 46 x 125) 0 Wins/best result 54 (33 x MotoGP, 17 x 250, 4 x 125) - Podiums 123 (85 x MotoGP, 29 x 250, 9 x 125) 0 Poles/best grid 56 (30 x MotoGP, 23 x 250, 3 x 125) - Last Win JPN/14 - Last Podium MAL/14/3rd - Last Pole RSM/14 -

»» Before last year Lorenzo had qualified on the front row and finished on the podium in all nine starts at Qatar across the GP classes »» He scored 3 victories in the smaller classes at Qatar: the 125cc race in 2004 and the 250cc race in both 2006 & 2007 Age: 27 »» In 2008 Lorenzo started on pole and finished 2nd in Qatar on his debut in the MotoGP class & in 2009 took the final place on the podium in his first race using tyres »» Finished 2nd in 2010 after passing both Hayden and Dovizioso on the penultimate lap and in 2011 he finished 2nd again after passing Pedrosa in the latter stages of the race »» In both 2012 and 2013 he qualified on pole and won in Qatar; last year he crashed on the 3 opening lap whilst leading the race STATISTICS 2015 March 25th Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar #01 Losail International Circuit

Record breaking MotoGP full-time entry list he MotoGP entry list for 2015 maintains the high standard of recent years, with a huge amount of experience and Ttalent on display, illustrated by the statistics given below.

The full time entry list for this year has increased from 23 to 25, with the following changes:

Departing the series after last season - , , and who retired from racing after the 2014 Indianapolis GP and was replaced by Alex de Angelis. Joining the MotoGP class for 2015 - Maverick Viñales, Marco Melandri, Jack Miller, Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz.

The following table shows the amount of Grand Prix wins and world championships achieved by the riders on the 2015 entry list.

TITLES RACE WINS

Total MotoGP/500cc Moto2/250cc Moto3/125cc Total MotoGP/500cc Moto2/250cc Moto3/125cc Valentino Rossi 9 7 1 1 108 82 14 12 Jorge Lorenzo 4 2 2 54 33 17 4 Marc Marquez 4 2 1 1 45 19 16 10 Dani Pedrosa 3 2 1 49 26 15 8 Marco Melandri 1 1 22 5 10 7 Alvaro Bautista 1 1 16 8 8 Maverick Viñales 1 1 16 4 12 Pol Espargaro 1 1 15 10 5 Andrea Dovizioso 1 1 10 1 4 5 Stefan Bradl 1 1 7 5 2 Mike di Meglio 1 1 5 5 Nicky Hayden 1 1 3 3 Andrea Iannone 0 12 8 4 Hector Barbera 0 10 4 6 Jack Miller 0 6 6 Scott Redding 0 4 3 1 Alex de Angelis 0 4 4 Bradley Smith 0 3 3 Karel Abraham 0 1 1 Total 28 12 9 7 390 169 123 98

The strength of the MotoGP grid can be illustrated by the following facts about the riders who will line up on the grid for 2015:

There are twelve riders who have won a Grand Prix World Championship. This is the greatest number of grand prix world champions ever assembled on one grid. These twelve riders have won a total of twenty-eight World Championships titles between them; a new record for the full-time MotoGP entry list. Seven riders on the list have won races in the premier-class. These seven riders have between them won a total of 169 premier-class GP races - the highest number of accumulated premier-class GP wins ever assembled on the entry list. Nineteen riders on the MotoGP entry list have had race victories in at least one of the three classes of Grand Prix racing The combined total of Grand Prix victories for the riders in the list above is 390. If all of these GP winners line up on the grid in Qatar it will set a new record for the greatest aggregate number of GP wins for riders starting a Grand Prix race; the current record is a total of 360 GP wins for the riders lining up on the grid for the final MotoGP race of 2014 at Valencia.

The oldest rider on the MotoGP full-time entry list is Valentino Rossi, who celebrated his 36th birthday in February. The youngest rider is Jack Miller, who will be 20 years and 70 days old when he lines up on the grid in Qatar; Miller is just six days younger than fellow MotoGP rookie Maverick Viñales.

Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines 4 STATISTICS 2015 March 25th Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar #01 Losail International Circuit

Fifteen Grand Prix winners on Moto2 grid or the first time since the class was introduced in 2010, the Moto2 World Champion is attempting to defend his world Ftitle. Esteve Rabat is joined in the Moto2 class in 2015 by two of the top three riders from last years Moto3 championship. Maverick Viñales is the only one of the top fifteen riders from last years Moto2 championship who will not be riding in the class again in 2015. The main changes in the full time entry list for this year are as follows:

Out from last year have gone: Maverick Viñales, Jordi Torres, , , Nico Terol, Roman Ramos, Tetsuta Nagashima and Josh Herrin who dropped out of the series after Silverstone last year. Joining the Moto2 class as full-time entrants come the following riders: Jesko Raffin, Alex Rins, Zaqhwan Zaidi, Florian Alt and Alex Marquez

The strength in depth of the Moto2 grid can be illustrated by the following facts and figures about the riders lining up lining up on the grid for 2015:

Fourteen of the riders on the full-time entry list have previously won Grand Prix races Between them, these fourteen riders have scored eighty-three World Championship race wins. Four of the riders competing in Moto2 in 2014 are previous 125cc or Moto3 World Champions: Julian Simon, Thomas Luthi, and Alex Marquez.

The youngest rider in the full-time Moto2 entry list, for the second successive year, is eighteen year old Lorenzo Baldassari, one of six riders in Moto2 who will start the season as teenagers, along with Jesko Raffin, Florian Alt, Alex Marquez, Alex Rins and Zaqhwan Zaidi. The oldest rider is Anthony , who is one of only three riders in Moto2 to have celebrated their 30th birthday’s before the opening race of the year in Qatar, the others being and Azlan Shah.

TITLES GRAND PRIX WINS

Total Moto2/250cc Moto3/125cc Total Moto2/250cc Moto3/125cc Esteve Rabat 1 1 10 10 Thomas Lüthi 1 1 9 4 5 Julian Simon 1 1 8 8 Sandro Cortese 1 1 7 7 Alex Marquez 1 1 4 4 Mika Kallio 0 16 9 7 0 9 9 Alex Rins 0 8 8 0 5 5 0 2 2 Anthony West 0 2 2 0 1 1 Louis Rossi 0 1 1 0 1 1 Total 5 1 4 83 26 57

New young riders join the Moto3 class nce again the Moto3 class has attracted a host of young, talented riders to grand prix racing from around the world. OThe main changes in the Moto3 entry list compared to 2014 are given below:

Out from last year have gone: Alex Marquez, Jack Miller, Alex Rins, Gabriel Ramos, Hafiq Azmi, Arthur Sissis, Eric Granado, Scott Deroue, Luca Gruenwald and Bryan Schouten. Into the series as full-time riders come the following: Remy Gardner, Maria Herrera, , , Tatsuki , Stefano Manzi, Darryn Binder, , Jorge Martin, Gabriel Rodrigo and Jorge Navarro who replaced Livio Loi half way through 2014.

This influx of young talent means that at the opening race of the year only four of the riders on the full-time entry list will be over the age of 21: Hiroki Ono (22), Zulfahmi Khairuddin (23), Alexis Masbou (27) and Efren Vazquez (28). Of the thirty-four riders on the Moto3 full-time entry list, twenty-three will still be teenagers at the opening race of the year. The youngest rider competing full-time in Moto3 in 2015 is Fabio Quartararo, who will be 15 years and 343 days old when he makes his GP debut in Qatar, at the same time becoming the youngest ever rider to compete in the Moto3 class.

Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines 5 STATISTICS 2015 March 25th Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar #01 Losail International Circuit

Suzuki return to grand prix racing uzuki are returning to grand prix racing with a full-time factory entry in the MotoGP class after a three year break. SThe Japanese manufacturer has a long and successful history in grand prix racing, as shown by the following:

Suzuki took their first grand prix win with Ernst Degner in 1962 in the 50cc class, going on to claim the manufacturers first ever World Championship title in the same season. Suzuki also won their first constructors title in the 50cc class in 1962. The first win in the premier-class for Suzuki came in at the Ulster Grand Prix in 1971, ridden by . This win was also significant as it was the first 500cc GP victory by a two-stroke machine. Suzuki entered the 500cc world championship with a full factory effort in 1974 with a brand new four-cylinder two-stroke machine, the RG500, with as the number one rider. Barry Sheene gave the RG500 its first GP win at the Dutch TT in 1975, and in the following year he became the first rider to win the 500cc World Championship on a Suzuki; a title he successfully defended in 1977. Suzuki also took their first 500cc constructors championship in 1976, and went on to dominate the class during the following years, not relinquishing the title until the 1982 season. Suzuki also manufactured a version of the RG500 for sale to “privateer” racers, and this was so successful that in 1976 eleven of the top twelve riders in the 500cc World Championship standings were riding Suzuki machinery. Since Sheene’s success in 1977, the manufacturerhas claimed four more 500cc world titles with riders: (1981), (1982), (1993) and (2000). Since the introduction of the four-stroke MotoGP class in 2002, Suzuki have taken just one victory - with at Le Mans in 2007. In total Suzuki have amassed a total of 155 grand prix wins: 1 x MotoGP, 89 x 500cc, 35 x 125cc, 30 x 50cc.

Spain and equal on MotoGP victories he win by Marc Marquez at the final race of 2014 was the 87th victory in the MotoGP World Championship by TSpanish riders since MotoGP became the premier class of grand prix racing in 2002. This is the same number of wins achieved by Italy in the MotoGP class over the same period.

NATION MotoGP VICTORIES

Italy 87 87 40 USA 4 3 3

Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines 6 STATISTICS 2015 March 25th Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar #01 Losail International Circuit

Grand Prix racing numbers

150 - Karel Abraham will be making his 150th grand prix start at the Qatar GP. He will be the first Czech rider to reach the milestone of 150 grand prix starts.

150 - At the Qatar Grand Prix Bradley Smith is scheduled to become the youngest ever British rider to reach the miles- tone of 150 grand prix starts across all classes; the current holder of this record is .

94 - Dani Pedrosa’s third place finish in the final race of 2014 at Valencia was the 94th time that he has stood on the po- dium in the MotoGP class. One more top three finish for Pedrosa and he will equal the number of premier-class podiums of . Only Valentino Rossi, with 160 top three finishes, has more podiums in the premier class than Pedrosa and Doohan.

20 - 2015 is Valentino Rossi’s 20th successive year as a grand prix rider. During this lengthy GP career he has only missed four races, after breaking his leg at Mugello in 2010.

19 - The victory by Marc Marquez at the final race of 2014 in Valencia was his 19th victory in the MotoGP class, the same number of premier-class wins that Barry Sheene achieved during his career. One more win for Marquez and he will equal the 20 premier-class career wins achieved by .

12 - This will be the twelfth occasion that a Grand Prix event has been held at the Losail circuit and the eighth under floodlights.

9 - This will be the ninth successive year that the Losail International Circuit has hosted the opening Grand Prix event of the year.

5 - The two riders with most GP victories at Losail, having amassed five wins each, are (4 x MotoGP, 1 x 250cc) and Jorge Lorenzo (2 x MotoGP, 2 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc).

5 - Yamaha have been the most successful manufacturer in MotoGP at this circuit with five wins, while both Ducati and Honda have had three MotoGP victories at the Losail circuit.

Photo: 2014 Season

Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines 7 STATISTICS 2015 March 25th Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar #01 Losail International Circuit

Moto2 stats and facts

For the last four years, the winner of the Qatar Moto2 race has gone on to clinch the world title: Stefan Bradl in 2011, Marc Marquez in 2012, Pol Espargaro in 2013 and last year. Tito Rabat won the Moto2 race at Qatar last year from pole position. He is the first rider since the Moto2 championship was introduced in 2010 to attempt to defend his world title, and could be the first rider to become a double World Champion in the Moto2 class. In addition to Rabat, the only other past Qatar GP winner who is currently competing in the Moto2 class is Luis Salom, who won the Moto3 race at Losail in 2013. Mika Kallio has finished second at Qatar on three occasions: in the 125cc class in both 2005 & 2006, and in the Moto2 race last year. Three of the riders in the Moto2 class in 2015 have competed in all eleven previous grand prix events to be held at the Losail circuit: Mika Kallio, Julian Simon and Simone Corsi. Thomas Luthi has finished on the podium twice in the Moto2 class at the Qatar Grand Prix; 3rd in both 2011 and 2014. Luthi also qualified on pole at Losail in 2012 and was leading the race starting the final lap, before a clash with Marquez at Turn 1 resulted in him running off the track and eventually finishing fifth. Luthi won the final Moto2 race of the 2014 season and in Qatar will be aiming to take back-to-back wins for the first time in his GP career. finished 3rd in the Moto2 race at Qatar in 2013 and he was the second rider across the line last year at Losail, but was later disqualified for a technical infringement. Alex Rins qualified on pole for the Moto3 race last year in Qatar, but made a bad start and finished the first lap down in 10th place before battling his way back to second place and then losing out on the run to the line to finally finish 5th. Alex Marquez, who finished 2nd in the Moto3 race last year in Qatar, will be aiming to become the first lightweight-class world champion to win on his debut in the intermediate-class since Dani Pedrosa in 2004. After five seasons of the Moto2 class, Dominique Aegerter is now the only rider to have competed in all 86 Moto2 races that have taken place.

Photo: 2014 Season

Moto3 stats and facts

No rider in the current Moto3 field has won a World Championship GP race in Qatar. finished second at Qatar in 2012 on his grand prix debut; since then he has been less successful at Losail, finishing 15th in 2013 and 12th last year. Efren Vazquez finished second in the 125cc GP at Qatar in 2010 - his first podium finish in Grand Prix racing. Last year he was again on the podium at the opening race of the year, finishing third, just 0.280s behind race winner Jack Miller. The first six riders across the line in the Moto3 race in Qatar last year were covered by just 0.586 seconds. For the last six years in the Moto3/125cc class, the rider winning the World Championship has finished on the podium at the opening race of the year in Qatar. With Darryn Binder joining brother in the Moto3 class in 2015, it will be the first time since 2004 that a pair of brothers has competed full- time in the lightweight-class of racing, when Mika and elder brother Vesa both did a full season in the 125cc class. Fourteen nationalities are represented on the full-time entry list for the Moto3 class, with Italy having the most riders with nine, followed by Spain with seven, with three, Britain, Japan, and Czech all with two, and Australia, Belgium, , , , and with one. Gabriel Rodrigo is the first rider from Argentina to start the season as a full-time entry in the lightweight-class of grand prix racing since Willy Perez in 1987.

Photo: 2014 Season

Official statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines 8