2015 Catalan Grand Prix - Preview

Jun 11, 2015
3 min read

MotoGP returns to Spain for the seventh round of the 2015 World Championship, this time to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Situated in Montmelo, Barcelona the circuit was opened in 1991 and hosted its first major sporting event that year – the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix. Producing one of the most iconic images in motorsport when Williams' Nigel Mansell and McLaren's Ayrton Senna ran side-by-side all the way along the pit straight, the track was destined to stage even more iconic races. In 1992 the Grand Prix Motorcycle World Championship went there for the European Grand Prix, and in 1995 the circuit became home to the Catalan Grand Prix.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is one of the most technical circuits on the Grand Prix calendar as it combines slow corners with medium and high speed ones, as well as a massive 1km straight. This will test bikes' cornering stability and mid-corner grip, as well as a bikes' electronic strength and sheer grunt. It's hard to look past Yamaha as the favourites for this race, having won all races barring one this year the numbers are in their favour. But this circuit is very much suited to the YZR-M1. Where they will be caught is on the main straight, but given that the final corner is a long right-hander, their cornering stability should see them punch out of the corner very well and keep any faster bike behind, namely the Ducati. Unless Honda have found something with their electronic set-up, then I foresee another tough weekend for HRC.

Firmly in 'Lorenzo's Land', the Catalan Grand Prix looks his to lose. But he and his team-mate have a history at the circuit, and Valentino Rossi is hungry for a third win of 2015. What better place to quash his rival's title advance than beating him on his home soil.

Circuit Stats:

Circuit Length – 4.7km (2.94mi)
Number of Turns – 13 (5 left, 8 right)
Longest Straight – 1km
Number of Laps – 25
Top Speed – 346km/h
Average Speed – 165km/h
Circuit Record – 1:42.182 (Marc Marquez, 2014)
Fastest Lap – 1:40.893 (Dani Pedrosa, 2013)
Most Wins – Valentino Rossi (6)
Most Poles – Valentino Rossi (4)

Past Five Winners:

Marc Marquez, Respol Honda Team RC213V, 2014
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1, 2013
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1, 2012
Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda Team RC212V, 2011
Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1, 2010

Classic Catalan Moment:

It will come as no surprise to you that this week's classic moment comes from the 2009 Catalan Grand Prix. What a race that was! Valentino Rossi has very much been overshadowed by his young team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, and the Italian needed to get one over on the Spaniard. And he did just that... and in heroic fashion. Rossi has said before the race that if you were behind coming into turn ten then that was race finished. He came into turn ten on the final lap in 2nd place. At the final corner, Lorenzo thinking that the win was his, Rossi sticks his M1 up the inside of his team-mate, the front almost tucking away from underneath him. Managing to keep his bike up-right Rossi powered across the line to take a sensational win after a sensational battle with Lorenzo. Thus began a very bitter rivalry.

The Weekend Schedule:

Friday: