Runner-up in the last two races of 2018, then a fierce pace during pre-season tests at Sepang and Qatar means Alex Rins and Suzuki have their sights set on MotoGP race wins in 2019.

One of the few MotoGP riders not to compete in the smaller grand prix classes, Danilo Petrucci began his premier-class career on the very slowest of the 'CRT' bikes in 2012.

MotoGP title runner-up for the past two seasons, could it be a case of third time lucky for Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati in 2019? The winner of last year's Qatar season-opener may not have set headline grabbing lap times during testing, but that's never really been Dovizioso's style.

Yamaha might just have finally turned a corner. After a winter of internal reorganisation and development, Maverick Viñales has been the star of the 2019 MotoGP preseason, while Valentino Rossi has never been too far away.

Jorge Lorenzo starts a new chapter in his illustrious racing career, in Qatar this weekend, when he will race in Repsol Honda colours for the first time.

Among those hoping that Jake Dixon can make a strong impression in Moto2 this season is former British Superbike rival Bradley Ray. Both riders won BSB races last season, Dixon finishing as main title rival for fellow Kawasaki rider Leon Haslam, with Ray sixth overall for Suzuki.

The new Petronas Yamaha Sepang team heads to its first MotoGP event, in Qatar this weekend, with riders Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo buoyed by recent testing results at the same Losail circuit.