The entry-level Moto3 class pits rival manufacturers against one another, under tight rules governing the mandatory single-cylinder 250cc engines.
A six-strong Honda entry is spearheaded by two top-level recruits, multiple race winner Alex Rins and team-mate Alex Marquez. Rins was a strong title contender last year, finishing a close second; while Marquez made an even stronger rookie debut than his older brother Marc, finishing fourth overall with a debut-season win.
They were riding rival KTM machines, but together with the Estrella Galicia 0,0 team have switched to Honda for 2014.
‰ÛÏGoing to Qatar with a new project ahead, with a new bike and with HRC supporting us makes me very keen to get started." Rins explained. "Qatar is a fast track, with some corners similar to Jerez and just the one slow corner.
"That‰Ûªs why I think that our bike will be well suited to the circuit. There are riders who go fast when following others, so it will be interesting to see what happens when we are halfway through the race and the tyres start to go off.‰Û
