2016 Moto2 World Championship Explained

The 2016 FIM Moto2 World Championship was a part of the 68th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season was marred by the death of Luis Salom during a free practice session, at the Catalan Grand Prix.[1]

Johann Zarco started the season as the defending World Champion, having secured his first championship title at the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.[2] With victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix – his sixth of the 2016 season – Zarco was able to retain his title,[3] amassing an unassailable points lead ahead of the final round in Valencia. As a result, Zarco became the first French rider to win multiple world motorcycle racing titles,[4] as well as becoming the first rider in the Moto2 era to defend the world championship, and the first to do so in the intermediate class since Jorge Lorenzo in and .[5] Zarco completed the season with victory in Valencia,[6] as he won the championship by an eventual margin of 42 points.

The runner-up position remained up for grabs in Valencia, as four-time winner Thomas Lüthi, double winner Álex Rins and Franco Morbidelli all had a mathematical chance of finishing there. Ultimately with a second-place finish,[6] Lüthi finished clear of Rins by 20 points; Lüthi's last-lap pass on Morbidelli also cost the latter third place in the championship by a point, as Rins had finished the race in fifth place.[6] Morbidelli took a total of eight podium finishes, including each of the last five races, but was unable to take a victory. Four other riders won races; Sam Lowes took two race victories at Jerez and Aragon,[7] [8] Jonas Folger won at Brno,[9] while first Grand Prix victories went to Takaaki Nakagami at Assen,[10] and Lorenzo Baldassarri in Misano.[11] The constructors' championship went to Kalex with a maximum score of 450 points, with a 34-race winning streak at the conclusion of the season – a run stretching back to a Speed Up victory for Lowes at the 2015 Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas.

Changes for 2016

Calendar

The following Grands Prix took place in 2016.[13]

RoundDateGrand PrixCircuit
120 March ‡ Commercial Bank Grand Prix of QatarLosail International Circuit, Lusail
23 April Gran Premio Motul de la República Argentina
310 April Red Bull Grand Prix of the AmericasCircuit of the Americas, Austin
424 April Gran Premio Red Bull de EspañaCircuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera
58 May Monster Energy Grand Prix de FranceBugatti Circuit, Le Mans
622 May Gran Premio d'Italia TIMMugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero
75 June Gran Premi Monster Energy de CatalunyaCircuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
826 June Motul TT AssenTT Circuit Assen, Assen
917 July GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix DeutschlandSachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
1014 August NeroGiardini Motorrad Grand Prix von ÖsterreichRed Bull Ring, Spielberg
1121 August HJC Helmets Grand Prix České republikyBrno Circuit, Brno
124 September Octo British Grand PrixSilverstone Circuit, Silverstone
1311 SeptemberMisano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
14 Gran Premio Movistar de AragónMotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
1516 October Motul Grand Prix of JapanTwin Ring Motegi, Motegi
1623 October Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand PrixPhillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
1730 October Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand PrixSepang International Circuit, Sepang
1813 November Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat ValencianaCircuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia

‡ = Night race

Calendar changes

Teams and riders

A provisional entry list was announced on 7 November 2015.[15] All Moto2 competitors raced with an identical CBR600RR inline-four engine developed by Honda. Teams competed with tyres supplied by Dunlop.

TeamConstructorMotorcycleRiderRounds
Sports-Millions-Emwe-SAG
SAG Team
KalexKalex Moto22 Jesko Raffin[16] All
39 Luis Salom[17] 1–7
AGR TeamKalexKalex Moto2align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"4 Steven Odendaal[18] 14
23 Marcel Schrötter[19] All
49 Axel PonsAll
Ajo Motorsport
Ajo Motorsport Academy
KalexKalex Moto25 Johann Zarco[20] All
align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"45 Tetsuta Nagashima[21] 14–15
Forward TeamKalexKalex Moto27All
10 Luca MariniAll
JPMoto MalaysiaSuterSuter MMX28 Efrén Vázquez1–3
align=center style="background:#ffcccc;"69 Danny Eslick[22] 5
align=center style="background:#ffcccc;"88 Ricard Cardús[23] 6
Dynavolt Intact GPKalexKalex Moto211 Sandro Cortese[24] All
94 Jonas FolgerAll
Garage Plus Interwetten
CarXpert Interwetten
KalexKalex Moto212 Thomas LüthiAll
align=center style="background:#ffcccc;"27 Iker Lecuona[25]
70 Robin MulhauserAll
77 Dominique Aegerter1–11, 14
Idemitsu Honda Team AsiaKalexKalex Moto214 Ratthapark Wilairot1–7, 9–18
30 Takaaki NakagamiAll
Promoto SportTransFIORmers???align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"16 Hugo Clere[26] 18
QMMF Racing TeamSpeed UpSpeed Up SF1619 Xavier Siméon[27] All
60 Julián SimónAll
Leopard RacingKalex[28] Kalex Moto2align=center style="background:#ffcccc;"20 Alessandro Nocco[29] 16–17
44 Miguel Oliveira[30] 1–15, 18
52 Danny Kent[31] All
Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDSKalexKalex Moto221 Franco Morbidelli[32] All
73 Álex MárquezAll
Federal Oil Gresini Moto2KalexKalex Moto222 Sam Lowes[33] All
Speed Up RacingSpeed UpSpeed Up SF1624 Simone CorsiAll
Tech 3 RacingTech 332 Isaac ViñalesAll
97 Xavi Vierge[34] All
KalexKalex Moto233 Alessandro Tonucci1–6
align=center style="background:#ffcccc;"87 Remy Gardner[35] 7–18
Páginas Amarillas HP 40KalexKalex Moto240 Álex Rins[36] All
57 Edgar Pons[37] 1–2, 4, 6–18
Team CiattiKalexKalex Moto2align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"42 Federico Fuligni[38] 4, 6, 13, 18
Italtrans Racing TeamKalexKalex Moto254 Mattia PasiniAll
Petronas Raceline Malaysia
Petronas AHM Malaysia
KalexKalex Moto255 Hafizh SyahrinAll
align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"93 Ramdan Rosli[39] 7, 16–17
Japan-GP2KalexKalex Moto2align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"63 Naomichi Uramoto[40] 15
Team Taro Plus OneTSR???align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"84 Taro Sekiguchi15
NTS T.Pro ProjectNTS???align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"89 Alan Techer14
Montáže Brož Racing TeamSuterSuter MMX2align=center style="background:#ccffcc;"95 Anthony West[41] 11
Key
Regular rider
Wildcard rider

Team changes

Rider changes

Mid-season changes

Results and standings

Grands Prix

RoundGrand PrixPole positionFastest lapWinning riderWinning team
1 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix Jonas Folger Sam Lowes Thomas Lüthi Garage Plus Interwetten KalexReport
2 Argentine Republic motorcycle Grand Prix Sam Lowes Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport
3 Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas Álex Rins Sam Lowes Álex Rins Páginas Amarillas HP 40 KalexReport
4 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix Sam Lowes Álex Rins Sam Lowes Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 KalexReport
5 French motorcycle Grand Prix Thomas Lüthi Álex Rins Álex Rins Páginas Amarillas HP 40 KalexReport
6 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix Sam Lowes Thomas Lüthi Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport
7 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport
8 Dutch TT Thomas Lüthi Takaaki Nakagami KalexReport
9 German motorcycle Grand Prix Xavier Siméon Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport
10 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport
11 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix Johann Zarco Jonas Folger Jonas Folger Dynavolt Intact GP KalexReport
12 British motorcycle Grand Prix Sam Lowes Thomas Lüthi Thomas Lüthi Garage Plus Interwetten KalexReport
13 Johann Zarco Álex Rins Forward Team KalexReport
14 Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix Sam Lowes Franco Morbidelli Sam Lowes Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 KalexReport
15 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix Johann Zarco Franco Morbidelli Thomas Lüthi Garage Plus Interwetten KalexReport
16 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix Thomas Lüthi Franco Morbidelli Thomas Lüthi Garage Plus Interwetten KalexReport
17 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix Johann Zarco Luca Marini Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport
18 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Johann Zarco Ajo Motorsport KalexReport

Riders' standings

Scoring systemPoints were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had to finish the race to earn points.
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th  11th  12th  13th  14th  15th 
Points252016131110987654321
PosRiderBikeQAT
ARG
AME
SPA
FRA
ITA
CAT
NED
GER
AUT
CZE
GBR
RSM
ARA
JPN
AUS
MAL
VAL
Pts
1 Johann ZarcoKalex12135241121111224821211276
2 Thomas LüthiKalex1776345RetRet4DNS1641162234
3 Álex RinsKalex84131726Ret3272620Ret145214
4 Franco MorbidelliKalex72514448113Ret282533223213
5 Sam LowesKalex92216364RetRet321Ret1RetRetRet4175
6 Takaaki NakagamiKalex1491575931117Ret33545216169
7 Jonas FolgerKalexRet352Ret1571022615810Ret638167
8KalexDNS1323171721455816617Ret4414127
9 Hafizh SyahrinKalex461611854Ret7216471413Ret515118
10 Simone CorsiSpeed Up3206Ret212Ret7RetRet198Ret9671111103
11 Mattia PasiniKalex1610171216Ret12194134916127Ret23772
12 Dominique AegerterKalex55481310Ret91010172271
13 Álex MárquezKalexRetRet11RetRet16188Ret6525102RetDNS7Ret69
14 Marcel SchrötterKalex171110Ret14181013Ret51811111599201064
15 Sandro CorteseKalex15Ret12RetDNS11Ret12151123129135317Ret61
16 Axel PonsKalexRet822Ret769RetRet9Ret10Ret16Ret8RetRet55
17 Xavier SiméonSpeed UpRet1281011DNSRet11Ret231516Ret111011151646
18 Julián SimónSpeed UpRet199DNSRet1713163151314Ret218RetDNS2340
19 Luis SalomKalex21513910RetDNS37
20 Xavi ViergeTech 3Ret1420Ret15Ret2017Ret1612131217111081237
21 Miguel OliveiraKalex1121RetRet913815Ret149Ret17DNSDNS1336
22 Danny KentKalex616RetRet1914Ret14DNS12715Ret29RetRet18935
23 Luca MariniKalex1018Ret1612RetRetRet617RetRet1325121692234
24 Isaac ViñalesTech 3192418132024162191814RetRet2815DNS10Ret19
25 Jesko RaffinKalex182321142326DNS18824241715201713161714
26 Remy GardnerKalex152012192120191919Ret13188
27 Anthony WestSuter106
28 Ratthapark WilairotKalex131719Ret2122RetRet2225181426181524206
29 Ramdan RosliKalex1918124
30 Robin MulhauserKalex2022Ret1518212122132522242027Ret17Ret214
31 Edgar PonsKalexRetDNSDNS23172314202023Ret24161419194
32 Tetsuta NagashimaKalex23142
33 Federico FuligniKalex182018Ret0
34 Steven OdendaalKalex180
35 Alessandro TonucciKalex2127241922250
36 Iker LecuonaKalex1921RetRet22240
37 Ricard CardúsSuter190
38 Naomichi UramotoKalex210
39 Efrén VázquezSuter2226DNS0
40 Taro SekiguchiTSR220
41 Danny EslickSuter250
Alessandro NoccoKalexRetRet0
Hugo ClereTransFIORmersRet0
Alan TecherNTSRet0
PosRiderBikeQAT
ARG
AME
SPA
FRA
ITA
CAT
NED
GER
AUT
CZE
GBR
RSM
ARA
JPN
AUS
MAL
VAL
Pts
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
Light blue – Rookie

† – Rider deceased

Constructors' standings

Each constructor received the same number of points as their best placed rider in each race.

PosConstructorQAT
ARG
AME
SPA
FRA
ITA
CAT
NED
GER
AUT
CZE
GBR
RSM
ARA
JPN
AUS
MAL
VAL
Pts
1 Kalex111111111111111111450
2 Speed Up312610212137315138Ret9671111136
3 Tech 3191418131524161791612131217111081247
4 Suter2226DNS2519106
TSR220
Ret0
NTSRet0
PosConstructorQAT
ARG
AME
SPA
FRA
ITA
CAT
NED
GER
AUT
CZE
GBR
RSM
ARA
JPN
AUS
MAL
VAL
Pts

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Luis Salom passes away. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 3 June 2016. 3 June 2016.
  2. News: Motegi Moto2: Tito Rabat withdraws, Johann Zarco wins championship. Autosport.com. Autosport. 9 October 2015. 9 October 2015.
  3. News: The return of the King: Zarco reigns to retain his crown. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 30 October 2016. 30 October 2016.
  4. News: The history maker: Zarco takes Moto2 crown number 2. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 30 October 2016. 30 October 2016.
  5. News:
    1. 2arco: Stats on Zarco's stunning second title
    . MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 30 October 2016. 30 October 2016.
  6. News: Final farewell: Zarco wins a four-way war. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 13 November 2016. 13 November 2016.
  7. News: Lowes extends points lead with dominant win. Jamie. Klein. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 24 April 2016. 13 November 2016.
  8. News: Sam Lowes believes Moto2 title bid is back on after Aragon win. Mitchell. Adam. Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 26 September 2016. 13 November 2016.
  9. News: Folger wins in the wet, disaster for Zarco. Darshan. Chokhani. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 21 August 2016. 13 November 2016.
  10. News: Nakagami fights through for maiden win. Valentin. Khorounzhiy. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 26 June 2016. 13 November 2016.
  11. News: Baldassarri takes dramatic first win on home soil. Lisa. Lewis. Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 11 September 2016. 13 November 2016.
  12. News: Total Will Be The Exclusive Fuel Supplier For The FIM Moto2 And Moto3 World Championships. 14 December 2015. 14 December 2015. roadracingworld.com. roadracingworld.com.
  13. News: 2016 provisional MotoGP calendar announced. 11 September 2015. 11 September 2015. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports.
  14. News: MotoGP Will Not Return to IMS in 2016. 11 September 2015. 11 September 2015.
  15. News: 2016 Moto2 provisional entry list. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 7 November 2015. 7 November 2015.
  16. News: Jesko Raffin and the SAG Racing Team together for the 2015 and 2016. stopandgo.es. SAG Team. 14 September 2014. 14 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210227/http://www.stopandgo.es/noticias/noticias-generales-news/posts/jesko-raffin-and-the-sag-racing-team-for-the. 2016-03-03. dead.
  17. News: For 2016 @LuisSalom39 will join @jeskoraffin1 in the @SAGRacingTeam, continuing in the #Moto2 Championship.. 11 September 2015. 11 September 2015.
  18. News: Top10 for Pons in the first day at Motorland. AGR Team. Argiñano & Ginés Racing Team. 23 September 2016. 23 September 2016. The Argiñano & Ginés Racing Team brought 3 riders this time to Alcañiz; the two official riders, Marcel Schrötter and Áxel Pons, and our European Champion Steven Odendaal as a wild card.. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924112256/http://www.agrteam.com/en/noticias/201609/top10-para-pons-primera-jornada-1297.html. 2016-09-24. dead.
  19. News: Isaac Viñales fährt 2016 statt Schrötter für Tech3. Isaac Viñales replaces Schrötter in Tech3 for 2016. de. Speedweek.com. Speedweek. 16 October 2015. 16 October 2015.
  20. News: Johann Zarco delays MotoGP until 2017. Crash.net. Crash.net. 6 September 2015. 6 September 2015. 19 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160319043746/http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/222648/1/johann-zarco-delays-motogp-until-2017.html. dead.
  21. Web site: Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 22 September 2016. 23 September 2016.
  22. Web site: Monster Energy Grand Prix de France - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 5 May 2016. 22 May 2016.
  23. Web site: Gran Premio d'Italia TIM - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 19 May 2016. 22 May 2016.
  24. News: Jonas Folger joins Dynavolt Intact GP in 2016. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 3 September 2015. 3 September 2015.
  25. Web site: Octo British Grand Prix - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 1 September 2016. 1 September 2016.
  26. Web site: Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 10 November 2016. 10 November 2016.
  27. News: Xavier Siméon: 2016. Kallio in QMMF team. Xavier Siméon: Replaces Mika Kallio in QMMF Team for 2016. de. Speedweek.com. Speedweek. 24 October 2015. 24 October 2015.
  28. News: MotoGP Australia: Kent explains reasoning behind Moto2 deal. 15 October 2015. 15 October 2015. Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 19 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160319013438/http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/224165/1/kent-explains-reasoning-behind-moto2-deal.html. dead.
  29. News: A Phillip Island Nocco per Oliveira. it. Nocco at Phillip Island for Oliveira. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 27 September 2015. 27 September 2015.
  30. News: Miguel Oliveira to Moto2 with Leopard Racing. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 13 September 2015. 13 September 2015.
  31. News: Kent moves to Moto2 with Leopard Racing. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 27 September 2015. 27 September 2015.
  32. News: Morbidelli and Marquez confirmed for 2015. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 11 October 2015. 11 October 2015.
  33. News: Aprilia signs Bradl for 2016, Lowes for 2017. 22 September 2015. 22 September 2015. Crash.net. Crash.net.
  34. News: Vierge to continue with the Tech3 Racing Team for 2016. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 25 September 2015. 25 September 2015.
  35. News: Remy Gardner con Tasca Racing nel Mondiale. it. Alessio. Piana. Remy Gardner with Tasca Racing in the Worlds. CorseDiMoto. GazzaNet. 2 June 2016. 5 June 2016.
  36. News: Rins joins Paginas Amarillas HP 40 for the next two seasons. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 12 September 2014. 14 August 2015.
  37. Web site: @Rins42: 26 September. Twitter. Twitter Inc.. 26 September 2015. 27 September 2015.
  38. Web site: Gran Premio Red Bull de España - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 21 April 2016. 22 May 2016.
  39. News: Meet the Wildcards: A mixing pot. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 30 May 2016. 5 June 2016. Ramdan Rosli (Petronas AHM Malaysia) will join the Moto2 World Championship for the weekend, the Malaysian also making the step over from the FIM CEV Repsol series..
  40. Web site: Motul Grand Prix of Japan - Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 13 October 2016. 13 October 2016.
  41. Web site: HJC Helmets Grand Prix České Republiky — Moto2 Entry List. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 18 August 2016. 18 August 2016.
  42. News: JiR-Team: Moto2-Rennstall wird für 2016 zugesperrt. JiR Team: Moto2 team is closed for 2016. de. Speedweek.com. Speedweek. 24 October 2015. 24 October 2015.
  43. News: AGP-Team steigt aus – Gardner und Fuligni ohne Job. AGP team gets out - Gardner and Fuligni without job. de. Speedweek.com. Speedweek. 20 December 2015. 27 December 2015.
  44. News: Moto2-WM 2016: Startfeld schrumpft weiter. Moto2 World Championship 2016: Starting field continues to shrink. de. Speedweek.com. Speedweek. 23 December 2015. 27 December 2015.
  45. News: Jesko Raffin, compañero de Salom, no correrá en Montmeló. Jesko Raffin, team mate of Salom, will not race at Montmeló. es. Marca. Unidad Editorial. 4 June 2016. 5 June 2016. Jaime. Martín.
  46. News: Luis Salom's team to complete Moto2 season with one rider. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 22 June 2016. 24 June 2016. Jamie. Klein. 9 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170909142921/https://www.motorsport.com/moto2/news/luis-salom-s-team-to-complete-moto2-season-with-one-rider-790732/. dead.