MotoGP 2021 warming up
The wait is almost over! MotoGP bikes will soon be back on track and on our screens as the paddock heads to Doha for the Official Qatar Test, with the premier class riders turning their wheels in anger for the first time since Portimão’s 2020 curtain closer.
Track action takes place on the 5th-7th and 10th-12th of March
So what’s new? A lot. One of the biggest headlines is Valentino Rossi’s move to Petronas Yamaha SRT alongside Franco Morbidelli, with Fabio Quartararo moving to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team to partner Maverick Viñales.
All remain on Yamahas but the shuffle is sure to prove an interesting one. Yamaha also bring new test rider Cal Crutchlow to Qatar for testing, as well as Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane.
At the Ducati Lenovo Team it’s all change as Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia move into the factory team and the other Borgo Panigale machines on the grid also greet new faces.
Johann Zarco moves to Pramac Racing and has rookie Jorge Martin alongside him, with Avintia also welcoming two rookies: reigning Moto2 Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) and his former Moto2 challenger Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia). Test rider Michele Pirro will also be present for Ducati at the test.
There are a fair few headlines at KTM too. Miguel Oliveira moves into Red Bull KTM Factory Racing alongside Brad Binder, with both now premier class Grand Prix winners and eager to get going.
Danilo Petrucci arrives at Tech3 KTM Factory Racing alongside Iker Lecuona to lend another wealth of experience, and the test will also welcome back MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa as he continues his development work for the Austrian factory.
For Suzuki, meanwhile, the line-up remains the same. Reigning Champion Joan Mir and Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Alex Rins hit reset as they try and gear up for another assault on the top, and at the test they’ll have experienced test rider Sylvain Guintoli on duty, as well as Takuya Tsuda. After discovering such a winning formula in 2020, the Hamamatsu factory will likely be doubling down on that.
At Honda, we won’t be seeing Marc Marquez back on track for the Repsol Honda Team just yet, but new teammate Pol Espargaro will be a headline by himself as he settles in. Espargaro will be joined by Stefan Bradl for the test as the experienced German remains Honda test rider. Alex Marquez, meanwhile, settles into LCR Honda Castrol for 2021, joining LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami.
Aprilia, with a new bike last year and plenty on the testing programme, retain their line-up this season. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) will be eager to get going, and he’s joined in Qatar for the test by both Lorenzo Savadori and Bradley Smith as the Noale factory get down to work.
The shakedown kicks proceedings off on Friday the 5th of March, with only factory test riders and rookies on track, before the other riders then hit the asphalt for five eagerly anticipated days of testing across seven days at Losail. The excitement is building, so make sure to stay tuned to motogp.com and across social media over the next couple of weeks, and check out your local broadcaster coverage.
Provisional 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar
| Round | Date | Location |
| Round 1 | Mar-28 | Qatar, Losail (night race) |
| Round 2 | Apr-04 | Doha, Losail (night race) |
| Round 3 | Apr-18 | Portugal, Portimao |
| Round 4 | May-02 | Spain, Jerez |
| Round 5 | May-16 | France, Le Mans |
| Round 6 | May-30 | Italy- Mugello |
| Round 7 | Jun-06 | Catalunya, Barcelona |
| Round 8 | Jun-20 | Germany, Sachsenring |
| Round 9 | Jun-27 | Netherlands, Assen |
| Round 10 | Jul-11 | Finland, KymiRing (subject to homologation) |
| Round 11 | Aug-15 | Austria, Red Bull Ring |
| Round 12 | Aug-29 | Great Britain, Silverstone |
| Round 13 | Sep-12 | Aragon, Motorland Aragon |
| Round 14 | Sep-19 | Sam Marino, Misano |
| Round 15 | Oct-03 | Japan, Motegi |
| Round 16 | Oct-10 | Thailand, Chang International Circuit |
| Round 17 | Oct-24 | Australia, Phillip Island |
| Round 18 | Oct-31 | Malaysia, Sepang |
| Round 19 | Nov-14 | Valencia, Circuit Ricardo Tormo |
| Round 20 | TBA | Argentina, Termas de Rio Hondo |
| Round 21 | TBA | Americas, COTA |
