MotoGP riders prepare to do battle in Austin

The second round of the 2015 MotoGP season is ready to get underway in Austin, Texas and although Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi leads the points following his victory in Qatar two weeks ago, all eyes on Honda’s Marc Marquez.

The reigning MotoGP champion has won at COTA for the last two years and following on from his lower than expected 5^th place finish in Qatar the Honda rider is expected to bounce back this weekend.

Rossi’s form in Austin is somewhat lower than that of Marquez with 4^th and 6^th placed finishes in the past two years but the seven times MotoGP champion is arguably in much better shape both physically and in confidence.

Rossi and teammate Jorge Lorenzo will hope the improvements made to their YZR-M1 machines will enable them to stay with Marquez and also the factory Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone with both the Italians coming off a double podium in Qatar.

Ducati unfazed by fuel reduction

Despite the Italian manufacturer being reduced to a maximum of 22 liters of fuel as a result of their Factory Option rules, Ducati revealed it was only using 22 liters in the Qatar race and they still have the soft tire option while the factory teams have to choose from medium or hard.

The battle for best satellite machine looks likely to be headed up by Tech 3 riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith with the British rider getting the best of his teammate last time out while LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow should also be in the mix after a strong performance in Qatar.