MotoGP of Australia 2016: Key Battles, Predictions and Track Breakdown

The MotoGP of Australia will be a lap of honour for newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez, who sealed his third title in four years by winning the Japanese Grand Prix on Oct. 16. But despite the Spaniard’s triumph there is still plenty left to race for this weekend. 

The manufacturers' championship is far from over, while Jorge Lorenzo will be fuelled by bitter memories of last year’s dramatic Australian MotoGP.

Key Battles

Lorenzo vs. Marquez

The championship may have already been decided but that won’t stop Lorenzo trying desperately to close the gap on Marquez. The 2015 Australian MotoGP was one of the most fascinating races in recent memory as Marquez overtook Lorenzo on the final lap and through the final corner.

It was an astonishing victory that, at the time, looked set to crush Lorenzo’s hopes of lifting the championship trophy. Memories of that day will feel fresh once again after Lorenzo lost his title earlier in October, making this rivalry particularly intriguing.

Marquez has the upper hand. He has won each of the last two races and five over the course of the season, while Lorenzo has not stood tallest on the podium since the Italian MotoGP on May 22—some 10 races ago.

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

Honda vs. Yamaha

Yamaha are only 28 points behind Honda in the manufacturers' championship, ensuring that the final three races are still relevant. Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi and Lorenzo may only be vying for second place, but together they could still dampen Marquez’s achievements.

This weekend’s race looks set to be the most important of the remaining three considering what occurred in Japan. Both Rossi and Lorenzo crashed out, and so may suffer from being overly cautious on the track. Their personal battle for second place only further complicates matters on what is a very difficult and unpredictable track.

It may seem like a big gap to breach, but the task is fairly simple, as #USGP pointed out on Twitter:

"

Tomorrow Yamaha can overtake Honda in the Constructors championship if both the riders finish in the Top 5.#JapaneseGP 

— #USGP  (@Formula1_MotoGP) October 15, 2016"

The Track

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a magnificent venue for sport. It winds on the edge of the ocean among the cliffs of Victoria, making for a glorious viewing experience. Here is a short video highlighting the track’s main features:

This track, historically dominated by Australian Casey Stoner, has thrown up some very eventful races in recent years that help fuel the rivalry between Marquez and Lorenzo. Marquez received a black flag when Lorenzo won the 2013 race and 2014 was partially overshadowed by Lorenzo’s tyre issues.

Most riders enjoy the circuit because of its big open curves that allow for aggressive driving, although this does not mean it is an easy track to navigate. “The circuit features a lot of fast left-handers,” says Michelin's director of motorcycle racing Jean-Philippe Weber, as per MotoGP.com. “The other challenge at Phillip Island is the track's asymmetric layout. It is as asymmetric as Valencia, but more demanding.”

The two most difficult corners to navigate are Turn 4 and Turn 10, both of which are overtaking hot spots.

This is always a fascinating event with a beautiful landscape, and despite Marquez having already sealed the title, the battle between manufacturers should make this a race worth watching. Lorenzo probably won’t close the gap personally, but his team will.

Prediction: Marquez to win and Honda to remain top of the manufacturers' championship