Maverick looks like a winner

JUST to make myself look like the massive idiot I genuinely am, I’m going to make a prediction for today’s opening MotoGP race under the floodlights in Qatar.

Only genuine idiots attempt to predict unpredictable motorcycle racing outcomes in public. But at least it’s not costing me any money.

So here we go: if he’s not taken out in Turn 1, Maverick Vinales is going to win the race. There, I’ve said it. Vinales has been super fast in testing on his Yamaha M1 – and not just for a few laps, but for entire race distances.

Jorge Lorenzo will finish second on his first time out on the hammerhead Ducati, because the track suits the Bolognese bikes. And I’m going to have Honda’s Dani Pedrosa third as he seems to be getting on with the new big-bang engine better than team-mate Marc Marquez who will finish fourth after being barged on the first lap.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow will be fifth with Alvaro Bautista a close sixth.

What could possibly go wrong with predictions like that?