MotoGP: The Qatar GP live exclusively on Sky

MotoGP 2016 – The Qatar Grand Prix is ​​scheduled for next Sunday, the inaugural race of the 2016 world championship. However, the engines will start roaring on Thursday and the first press conference is scheduled for tomorrow, which will be visible live on Sky. Speaking of pay TV, it must be said that this GP will be broadcast live exclusively, below are all the news of the season.

Rossi-Lorenzo, the storm inside – The comparison between teammates has always been the most significant one because "there are no excuses". It is the 7th year that Rossi and Lorenzo have faced each other on the same bike: three times (2008, 2009, 2014) Rossi finished in front at the end of the championship, in the other three (2010, 2013 and 2015) Lorenzo managed to do so. 2016 could be the year of the final playoff.

Is the Honda good? – Winter tests in chiaroscuro, abrupt engine and electronics still to be interpreted, old chassis better than new ones. The pre-season said that Marquez still makes the difference compared to Pedrosa. The rider from Cervera will also have to address the Rossi issue again: what will happen on the track?

Ducati: fundamental year – Ducati is also there, with the two official riders Iannone and Dovizioso and the satellite teams who (with Petrucci, Barberà and Redding) did well in the tests. Last year Ducati achieved 9 podiums, including 5 second places. The success that eluded us last year is one of the objectives for 2016. With the ghost of Stoner always present.

And Suzuki is there – To Yamaha and Honda and the two official Ducatisti, we could add Maverick Viñales, the emerging talent of MotoGP. Twenty-one years old and a world title in 2013 in Moto3, after just one year of apprenticeship in MotoGP he is ready for definitive consecration.

Young Italy – The work of the VR46 Riders Academy and the Sky Racing Team VR46 begins to bear fruit: Fenati, Bastianini and Antonelli, with the new entry of Bulega, represent a line-up that few Nations have in Moto3, while Lorenzo Baldassarri can be the protagonist in Moto2. All ready for the definitive consecration.

The press conference will feature Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Iannone, Dani Pedrosa and Maverick Viñales.

News for the comment booths: Guido Meda on the MotoGP microphone together with top class newcomer Mauro Sanchini; Zoran Filicic commentating on Moto2 with Roberto Locatelli (and Moto3 with Sanchini); Irene Saderini hosted from the Paddock with speeches and analyzes by Loris Capirossi; the pit correspondents Sandro Donato Grosso and Marco Selvetti for all the interviews and behind the scenes; Antonio Boselli for the live connections on Sky Sport24 HD. The "Ghost" returns in its ultra-modern version, with Sky cameras at turns 10/11 and 13/14 of the Losail circuit to analyze and compare trajectories and dynamics together with Sanchini in the "Paddock Live".
Paolo Beltramo's new column, "I remember", makes its debut. Stories and anecdotes told by those who experienced them firsthand in 30 years of MotoGP. First episode dedicated to Qatar and the world champion Manuel Poggiali. And with the interactive mosaic in HD, 5 dedicated channels to personalize your viewing and get on the motorbike with the riders.

The Qatar Grand Prix on Sky

WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH
15pm: Drivers' press conference
16pm: Paddock Live Show

THURSDAY 17 MARCH
13.45pm: “Paddock Pass”
15.50pm: Paddock Live
16pm: First Moto3 free practice session
16.40pm: Paddock Live
16.55pm: first Moto2 free practice session
17.40pm: Paddock Live
17.55pm: first MotoGP free practice session
18.40pm: Paddock Live
18.55pm: second Moto3 free practice session
19.35pm: Paddock Live
19.50pm: second Moto2 free practice session
20.35pm: Paddock Live
21.15pm: Paddock Live Show

FRIDAY 18 MARCH
15.50pm: Paddock Live
16pm: second MotoGP free practice session
16.45pm: Paddock Live
17pm: third Moto3 free practice session
17.40pm: Paddock Live
17.55pm: third Moto2 free practice session
18.40pm: Paddock Live
18.55pm: third MotoGP free practice session
19.40pm: Paddock Live
21.15pm: Paddock Live Show

Saturday March 19
15.30pm: Paddock Live
16pm: Moto3 qualifying
16.40pm: Paddock Live
16.55pm: Moto2 qualifying
17.40pm: Paddock Live
17.55 am: free practice 4 MotoGP
18.25pm: Paddock Live
18.35pm: MotoGP qualifying (repeat at 23pm)
19.15pm: Paddock Live
20.30pm: qualifying press conference
21pm: Paddock Live Show

Sunday March 20
13.40pm: Paddock Live
13.50 pm: Warm Up Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP
15.30pm: Paddock Live
16: Moto3 race
17pm: Paddock Live
17.20: Moto2 race
18.15pm: Paddock Live
19pm: MotoGP race (repeat at 21.15pm)
20pm: Paddock Live
20.45pm: Paddock Live – Last Lap
22.30pm: “Race Anatomy MotoGP”

TV programming on TV8 (free to air, Channel 8 of digital terrestrial)

Saturday March 19

20.45: MotoGP study
21.15pm: Deferred MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 Qualifying
22.30: MotoGP study

Sunday March 20

17.45: MotoGP study
18.00pm: Special Challenge to the last corner
18.30: MotoGP study
19.00pm: Delayed Moto3 Race
19.55: MotoGP study
20.20pm: Delayed Moto2 Race
21.15: MotoGP study
22.00pm: Delayed MotoGP Race
23.15: MotoGP study

Photos: Alex Farinelli