2018 Moto GP season

Well the experts were predicting a win for Dovi at the opening round of the Moto GP and they were right. He did leave it a bit late but once in front apart from a brief spell when Marquez nipped past he just held the lead for the chequered flag. Credit must go to Zarco who led for most of the race only to fade in the later stages. Anyone of a few riders could have won that race, Rossi wasn't far behind neither was Crutchlow and Vinales after a low qualifying position was going fast enough to be a threat at the end. It's going to be a great season with quite a few new faces on the scene.

Jack Miller with a sensational lap in Argentina in drying conditions to claim his maiden MotoGP pole position. Superb and fearless from the young Australian

Well if Drama is your thing then you wouldn't have been disappointed after the Racing in Argentina. From the start when all but Jack Miller had to start from the back of the grid due to a rule about tyres. Marquez stalled his bike on the starting line, got it going and by the end of lap two had taken the lead only to be told he had to do a ride through penalty which left him at the back of the field leaving Miller Zarco Rins and Crutchlow to fight for the lead. Marquez with some aggressive riding was cutting through the field when he made a move on Rossi who was in 6th position unfortunately bringing him off. At the front the drama continued with Crutchlow just managing to hold off Zarco and Rins. A great race.

Marquez should've been black flagged and banned. Three infringements two of which resulted in a drive through pen and the 30 sec pen which was the equivalent of a drive through. Not the best idea to get the GOAT as your enemy

So the Italian gp was this past weekend. Valentino stuck his Yamaha on pole for the first time in nearly two years. In the race Lorenzo finally won on a Ducati, Dovizioso was second and Valentino was third. Championship leader and world champion Marc Marquez crashed.

Then came the big stories today, Repsol Honda confirmed that Dani Pedrosa's 17 year association will come to an end and the closure of the 2018 season.

Then the big story #99 Jorge Lorenzo has signed a two year deal with Repsol Honda!

I was beginning to think that no one was watching Moto GP any more. At least there is Nathaniel and myself. I hadn't heard the news about Lorenzo, I thought Crutchlow might have been offered a factory bike as he has had some good results recently. Marquez looks comfortable in his bid for another championship win, Dovizioso his biggest threat.

Triple world champion Jorge Lorenzo went some 567 days without a win on the red bikes of Ducati. But within that space of 14 days the Spaniard has doubled up, mugello and Barcelona now on his Ducati resumé. Seems sad that he's going to leave Ducati for Repsol. Marquez was second and Rossi third. Dovizioso's woes continued with another DNF

Rumours growing that jettisoned Honda stalwart Dani Pedrosa will be on board a Petronas based Yamaha for 2019. With Pedrosa’s riding style I think an M1 Yamaha would be a good partnership.

Well the crowd at Assen were treated to the best Moto GP race this season with up to 8 riders fighting for the number one spot on the podium. At one stage it looked like Lorenzo was going to make it three in a row as he shot from 7th on the grid to take top spot on the first lap but Marquez Rossi and Dovi were snapping at his heels. As the race progressed Crutchlow Vinales and Rins joined in the fray. The Ducatis seemed to have the edge on the power but Marquez isn't one to sit back and despite having to do another of his amazing saves he managed to grab the number one spot and pull away from the rest and finish over a second in front of Rins who just pipped Vinales who finshed third. Three different makes on the podium and Marquez with a 41 point lead in the title race.

Dani Pedrosa has announced he will retire at the end of the current season. A sad day for MotoGP as Pedrosa is a genuinely nice guy. It's a shame that a MotoGP title alluded him.

Yes one of my favourites too and was still capable of getting on the podium. He's had a great career and I hope we see him around the circuits for a while yet.

Marc Marquez won the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring for the ninth consecutive year. The Spanish superstar owns this track. Rossi and Vinales rounded off the podium. 

Marquez leads by 46 points as we hit the summer break

Andrea doviziso won the Czech gp leading home a Ducati 1-2. Marquez was third and extended his lead. This season is already decided

Yes the Ducatis do seem to have the power and both members of the team are on form. Marquez did the sensible thing and settled for third rather than risk coming off trying to get past Dovi and Lorenzo. A win looks likely for Marquez but it only takes a DNF and things can change rapidly. There are some young riders showing promise, Zarco and Crutchlow are capable of a podium finish at any track.

Jorge Lorenzo wins the Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring to secure his third win on a Ducati. Marc Marquez came gone second and Andrea Dovizioso completed the podium.

Yamaha falling away here. It's Marquez vs Ducati

Yes Lorenzo is showing that he is still a force to be reckoned with, not many get past Marquez and make it stick these days.

British GP cancelled due to torrential rain at Silverstone. Marquez dodges another bullet as Lorenzo and Dovi has sealed a Ducati 1-2 in qualifying.

Andrea Dovizioso won the San Marino GP giving Ducati their first win at their home track since 2007. Marquez came home second and Crutchlow third after Lorenzo fell towards the end. Ducati really coming on strong now third consecutive win. But 2018 will be a season of what might've been. Lorenzo slow start and Dovi had a woeful time at the early European races. Ducati should really be landing the championship in 2019.

There were shocking scenes in the MotoGP race as Romano Fenati did the unthinkable and grabbed the brake lever of Stefano Manzi on the main straight when both where going over 200mph. Unsurprisingly there was uproar across the paddock. Fenati received a two race suspension but was promptly fired by this current team and his team for 2019. Fenati subsequently retired from professional motorcycling.

Marc Marquez won his fifth MotoGP title with a thrilling win at Motegi. The Spaniard had a great battle with Andrea Dovizioso until the Italian fell off 2 laps from the end and that clinched Marquez the championship. Marquez has 7 championships overall all within a 9 year period. The era of Marquez and all at the tender age of 25. He could challenge Agostini's 15 championships if he remains motivated

Yes tough luck for Dovi, he took a chance on the soft front tyre and he paid the price, Marquez has been dominant all season and he will be the one to beat for a few years to come I think. Good to see Crutchlow so far up, maybe with a works bike he could do even better.

I think it's generally accepted that Ducati has the best bike but Marquez's insane ability can basically still get it done. For Dovi, 2019 has to be the year it all clicks. Honda with two bulls in Marquez and Lorenzo which could cause issues. Dovi and Ducati need a perfect season to finally emerge from Casey's shadow

Maverick Vinales ended Yamaha's 25 race winless streak at Philip Island, it was Yamaha's longest drought in the premier class in their entire history. It was Vinales' first win since Le Mans 2017 and Yamaha's first since Rossi won in Assen 2017. Andrea Iannoue took second for Suzuki and Andrea Dovizioso third for Ducati. Note able mention for Alvaro Baustita, standing in for injured Jorge Lorenzo, took fourth place. There was a massive crash by Johan Zarco, who rear ended Marc Marquez at 185mph on the main straight. Fortunately both sustained no injuries.

Philip island is one of the great track in the history of motorcycling and one of my all time favourites. I offer refer to it as "Casey's playground".

Just when it looked like Rossi was going to claim top spot on the podium or at least one of the spots, he was pressurized into making a mistake at Sepang. A touch of deja vu when you go back a few years and remember how Rossi used to get on the back wheel of an opponent and force them to over reach themselves. Good to see Rins and Zarco finish on the podium and make it three different makes, but no Ducati. Marquez does push the boundaries a bit, but that's why he's the Champion.

The rain master Andrea Dovizioso won the Grand Prix of Valencia is absolutely terrible conditions. Dovi for a long time has been the king in these conditions. Alex Rins(Suzuki) and Pol Espagaro(KTM - first podium for KTM in the premier class) around of the podium. Rossi, Marquez and Lorenzo all crashed.

Dani Pedrosa came home fourth in his final race, the pocket rocket was inducted into the MotoGP hall of fame yesterday. MotoGP will be poorer without Dani.

Alvaro Baustita also bid fairwell to MotoGP, with the former 125cc world champion switching to WSB.

And the crowning moment of the weekend was 15 year old Red Bull rookie Can Oncu winning on his moto3 debut. The Turkish sensation becomes the youngest winner in GP racing history.