Racing ahead in New Year

Many sports writers lambast the ‘odd’ calendar years that don’t contain any of the ‘main’ sports events such as an Olympics or FIFA World Cup.

However there is still plenty to keep even the occasional fan enthused, as evidenced by the pulsating tennis final in the Qatar Open last week that saw Novak Djokovic overcome Sir Andy Murray in more time over three sets than the four it took to win at Roland Garros in June.

Frimley Green will see the finale this week of the Darts World Championship while other events around the corner include the African Cup of Nations (football), Six Nations (rugby union) and women’s chess world championship in Tehran! 

The world championships for the modern pentathlon also visit the Middle East with a trip to Cairo in August. The first race of the new MotoGP season will be hosted by the Losail Circuit in Qatar in March.

Last season was one of the most unpredictable with a record number of race winners, thanks to new onboard software and a tyre manufacturer, Michellin, which frequently brought new compounds to each race producing different performance requirements.

Hopefully, they have now got to grips with their formula which generally encouraged a set-up for bikes powering up from midcorner to exit. While there are no major technical changes the anticipation emanates from the change of teams of so many riders with more than half of the 23 listed switching.

The last time Ducati tasted success was in 2007 with Casey Stoner while the barren period included a spell for Valentino Rossi in which he only managed three podium finishes in his 35 races.

Three-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo is now trying his luck with a machine that is consistently fastest along the straights yet notoriously difficult to handle through the corners. Ducati has looked promising with both Andrea Dovizioso and the departing Andrea Lannone both improving.

Reigning champion Marq Marquez will continue with Honda while the question is posed as to whether Rossi will thrive at Yamaha now that he has a teammate that he likes Maverick Vinales – although it remains to be seen how long the friendship lasts if the latter continues to top the time sheets as he has in pre-season testing! 

Keep an eye open for Bahrain-favourite Bradley Smith who joins KTM and four rookies who make the step up from Moto2, including Johann Zarco who makes the leap at the age of 26 as the only two-time winner in history.

Of greater general interest in Bahrain is F1 and the driver line-up is also being closely watched thanks to the retirement of World Champion Nico Rosberg.  With the major teams having signed their drivers to longterm contracts speculation continues that Mercedes are seeking to pay Williams for Valteri Bottas prompting further speculation that Felipe Massa will make a return.

Racing in the other Williams will be Canadian Lance Stroll who has walked into F1 on the back of the millions in sponsorship provided by his father while Stoffel Vandoorne has taken the more conventional route in rising to take his place alongside Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

Anticipation is the watchword as F1 fans await the release of the new cars for the season with technical changes that will make them more aesthetically pleasing while they are also expected to be louder (albeit artificially through a sound generator).

The 2017 model will be longer and wider with much larger rear tyres, while even the size of the front tyres has been increased. The aim has been to create greater downforce and traction which will see the teams racing an anticipated 3-5 seconds per lap faster.

Track records will be in jeopardy. In theory this will make the cars harder to drive while firmer tyres will enable drivers to push harder. However, the key to a good spectacle is overtaking and there are initial concerns that the various aerodynamic changes will add to the ‘dirty air’ behind the car that discourages an attack.

According to a number of the designers with greater emphasis being placed on generating down-force from the floor and rear diffuser more overtaking should be feasible, although at this stage such claims could be ‘smoke and mirrors’.

However, with engine regulations remaining in place until 2020 expect Mercedes to set the pace while Red Bull has a reputation for maximising the aerodynamic regulations to the full.  It will be intriguing to look for a revolutionary new part on one car that other teams then scramble to copy.

The ICC Champions Trophy will commence in London in June with the hosts playing Bangladesh who have qualified for the first time since 2006. They replace the West Indies in the top eight who will be the first major nation to miss out on a world final.

It is remarkable that this competition is taking place at all as the ICC announced its cancellation in 2013 with a view to it being replaced by a Test-based competition. However they have reversed their decision meaning that India will be able to defend their title.

They will do so with an intriguing first match, against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 4 with the final due to be played on June 15 at the Oval. The summer also marks the return of the British and Irish Lions with a tour to New Zealand.

The Lions team is a fascinating selection of the best players from the Six Nations (excluding the French) with some arguing that this makes them stronger while others arguing that it is impossible to optimise team performance with the limited time to bond a collection of individuals.

Nevertheless, the Lions were successful in Australia on their last outing and Warren Gatland will return as head coach. New Zealand will be a different proposition. It will be intriguing to see whether he again selects Sam Warburton as captain and which new caps he chooses for this demanding tour.

Another event that I am eagerly awaiting is the 35th America’s Cup.  Bermuda’s crystal blue water and pink sand beaches will provide the backdrop for the best sailors in the fastest boats competing for the oldest trophy in international sport.

Racing starts with the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers on May 26 and the top Challenger will meet defending Champions ORACLE TEAM USA at the renowned Great Sound.  Ben Ainslie’s British Land Rover BAR currently are favourites to qualify ahead of Glenn Ashby’s Emirates Team New Zealand although varied conditions and unpredictable winds will make it challenging.

Get comfy in the armchair and make sure you have a stead supply of batteries for the remote … or better still, go and watch in person!