Photo of the day – Marc Marquez

We’ve had very limited running on the opening day of the Phillip Island due to on and off rain throughout the day. With so much for teams to get to grips with for 2016-new tyres and electronics in particular-losing a day of running is very costly.

No team is being hit harder by the lack of track time than Repsol Honda. At the Sepang test the issues with the RC213v were once again apparent and this test is crucial for Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa to evaluate the new engine further. With more rain expected through the week it’s clear that HRC’s future will remain as clouded as Phillip Island.

Photo of the day – Aleix Espargaro

The second MotoGP test of the pre-season starts tomorrow and after a difficult test at Sepang Aleix Espargaro will be keen to get back to business in Australia.

The Spaniard will have plenty to test with Suzuki planning on bringing their fully seamless gearbox to Phillip Island and still working on finding the best chassis for the coming season.

Photos are available to buy from last year’s MotoGP season with prices starting at €44.99 by clicking here.

Photo of the day – Eugene Laverty

The grid before a MotoGP race is an incredible blend of panic and activity. Teams are making sure that the bikes are ready for the start and the hustle and bustle of celebs, team personnel and hangers on is frightening at times.

In the midst of the chaos riders take the time to find an inner calm to be prepared for the race. In this picture we see Eugene Laverty stare down the camera as he finds his peace before going into battle.

Photos from the Phillip Island race are available to by here and are priced from €44.99.

Photo of the day – Jared Mees

The end of season Flat Track meet in Barcelona has quickly become one of the hottest tickets of the year. The Superprestigio started as a low key meeting where riders from various disciplines got together to try their hand at Flat Track racing.

The best of the US would come across the Atlantic to take on Marc Marquez and the best that MotoGP had to offer. Over the course of three years the event has become a real test of will between the top riders and provides a spectacle unlike anything else in Europe. In this picture Jared Mees waits to be called into the arena.

Photos from the Superprestigio are available to buy from €44.99 by clicking here!

Photo of the Day – Tom Sykes

This could be a pivotal year for Tom Sykes. The Englishman was squarely beaten by his Kawasaki teammate, Jonathan Rea, in 2015 but in winter testing he has been strong and consistent. Being able to take the fight to Rea over the course of a 28 race season will be a challenge but as a former World SBK champion Sykes looks motivated to prove his worth this season.

To see a full gallery of photos from Jerez click here

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 17 – A look at the Jerez World SBK Test

The winter is almost over and bikes will soon be lining up on the grid! Winter testing is in full flow for teams and riders and with just under two weeks until the opening practice session of the 2016 World Superbike championship the Paddock Pass Podcast is also in full flow!

In Episode 17 myself and Jensen Beeler from Asphalt & Rubber sit down to talk about the recent World SBK test at Jerez. With the majority of the grid taking part in the test we have plenty to talk about including the track debut of the SMR Milwaukee BMW and how Nicky Hayden is adapting to the class. Tom Sykes set the pace at the two day test but has he done enough over the winter to find the speed and consistency to challenge Jonathan Rea for the championship?

These questions and many more are discussed in the show!

With the MotoGP field having returned from Sepang we’ll have another show online soon looking at the major stories from Malaysia.

As ever make sure to follow The Paddock Pass Podcast on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to it on iTunes or Soundcloud. If you enjoy the show please leave a rating and it makes it much easier for other fans to find the podcast. Hope you enjoy the show and send us a message through the social media channels with any comments!

Photo of the Day – Josh Brookes

Josh Brookes moves to World Superbikes after a title winning campaign in British Superbikes and the Australian is keen to impress this year. The SMR run Milwaukee squad will switch from Yamaha to BMW this year and while the transition will take time for the team to get up to speed with Brookes is confident that it will work out in the long term.

For a full gallery of photos visit stephenenglishphotography.com