After the incredible 2015 MotoGP finale, all eyes were once again on Valencia as the riders participated in a two-day test on November 10 and 11. With new bikes, new tires, new electronics, new and old riders on new and old bikes, it felt like MotoGP had a future again. Tito Rabat joined the MotoGP paddock, and there have been a few team line-up changes, such as Scott Redding switching to Pramac Ducati, Loris Baz to Avintia (Ducati), and Jack Miller to Marc VDS (Honda) alongside Rabat. But there also are important technical changes. Foremost is the introduction of a spec ECU that all teams must use, plus Michelin taking over as the sole tire supplier. What’s more, there’s a fuel limit of 22 liters for all, and there’s a seven engines per year rule for Honda, Yamaha and Ducati (9 for the others). Additionally, the race bikes have a new maximum weight of 157 kg (346 lb.) instead of 158 kg (348 lb.) as in 2015. The wheel diameter has also been increased by half an inch to 17 inches by Michelin, as the French tire manufacturer looks to bring the race tires more inline with road bikes. 
With the new tires and electronics, Ducati has postponed the debut of its new GP16 racebike until Sepang in February. Honda and Yamaha, however, tested some new hardware. HRC brought a 2016 bike, complete with a new engine. Yamaha had an intermediate 2016 machine with a new engine spec, different chassis spec, larger rims and a fuel tank enlarged rearward to hold an extra 2 extra liters. Suzuki spent the day adapting to the new tires and gathering more data for the 2016 bike, which will feature more horsepower and a fully seamless gearbox. Like Ducati, Aprilia will debut a new bike at Sepang in February. In the two-day test at Valencia, there were 11 crashes on the first day and a similar amount on the second. The main issue, apparently, was the spec ECU provided by Magneti Marelli. The Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedroa was fast both days, with Marquez topping the timesheets and Pedrosa third. The Suzukis of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro were second and fourth, respectively, while Jorge Lorenzo was fifth and Valentino Rossi was seventh. 
RIDER COMMENTS: “The tires are working differently and I crashed yesterday in my first exit (on lap 4) and again today as the front gives no warning” said Marc Marquez. “The tires’ behavior changes a lot from circuit to circuit and also during the day according to temperature of the asphalt, so it takes a while to understand them and understand the limit. For sure we need to stress the front tires less, but then you need to find the correct compromise. It’s easier to go fast on a single lap while we struggle to be consistent on the race pace. We started assessing the 2015 machine with the new tires, before swapping to the 2016 RC213V. We also tested the new engine, but it’s difficult to judge it with the new electronics. It’s still too aggressive and the situation seems worst with the Magneti Marelli electronics. But I repeat, it’s too early because the engineers need to understand how the new software works. At the moment, it’s quite slow. We need to improve the torque delivery and all the other controls, the middle and the exit of the corner. It’s a big step back and it will be difficult to return where we were. Anyway, I’m confident. We will work more at the next test on November 25-27 at Jerez.” Dani Pedrosa provided similar feedback: “The priority now for us as riders and for the technicians is to understand the new electronics. The controls are not behaving in the right way and in the correct time. It’s a step back of many years. We also tested the new engine but we cannot assess it with this electronics. Anyway, I’m very confident and I like to look forward, not back. We had a strong final part of the championship and this is the best way to start the 2016 season.” While Honda and Ducati tested a lot with Michelin throughout the 2015 season, Yamaha did not, so it focused on understanding the new tires and the Magneti Marelli software. 
Jorge Lorenzo: “Michelin’s rear grip is impressive but we have some stability issues entering the corner and at the maximum lean with the throttle at 20 to 30 percent. It’s easy to lose the front. It doesn’t give you have any warning, so we need to be more cautious, at least at the beginning. But the biggest surprise was the electronics. Engine brake, anti-wheelie, traction control, we need to work on all these controls. The first day we started with the 2015 machine and then we switched to the “new” version. Nothing revolutionary, only a few changes. This is the first test but it’s clear that we need to work on tires and electronics.” “Electronics is the main issue,” said Valentino Rossi. “Last year, we had reached such a level of precision that it was easy to ride fast and consistent. It’s a big step back to the years 2008-2009. Now we will need to adapt and keep on working. Regarding the tires, the feeling with the Michelin changes a lot. We are still working on the setup as the front works differently and needs a different weight balance and riding style. The rear grip is very good while the front doesn’t warn you, so we need to be a bit careful. On the second day we improved the feel a lot, so I’m quite optimistic.” Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, who crashed twice in Turn 3, had the positive attitude. He and teammate Andrea Dovizioso focused on adapting the GP15 to the Michelin tires, while the satellite riders Danilo Petrucci and Scott Redding tested the GP15 with the new electronics. Andrea Iannone: “This is my second test with Michelin tire after Misano, and I’m really happy. It’s more fun to ride with these new tires. The bike spins and the rider needs to be always alert. It’s true that you cannot [push hard] under braking, but the Michelin has good potential. We need to adapt our riding style. I feel that the Michelins suit me and I think we can be fast. We didn’t do any big changes on the bike. The priority now is to understand the Michelin and to work on the best set up.” 
Andrea Dovizioso: “I’m confident, because we can also be fast with Michelin. The lap times are good. Now it’s important to understand the movements. You cannot [brake too aggressively with the front]. There have been some fast crashes.” At Suzuki, Maverick Vinales was satisfied: “I feel happy. Our bike seems to adapt well to the new tires. I am also more comfortable to push, as I feel a lot of support from the rear. These two days we focused on the tires, using the 2015 machine. I think we will test the new electronics at Sepang on November 23 and 24.” At Aprilia, Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl focused on the new tires as they will have to wait for the February Sepang test to get their hands on the 2016 prototype. Bradl, also among the riders who crashed, said: “The rear Michelin works incredibly well, while it’s easy to lose the front especially entering the corner. This is how I crashed on day 1—losing grip without any warning. But this is only my second test with Michelin after Aragon, so we need to understand the correct setup.” RESULTS: MOTOGP VALENCIA TEST NOVEMBER 10-11, 2015
| Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Time/Gap |
| 1 | MARQUEZ Marc | 93 | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | 1'31.060 |
| 2 | VINALES Maverick | 25 | SPA | Team Suzuki Ecstar | 1'31.163 |
| 3 | PEDROSA Dani | 26 | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | 1'31.180 |
| 4 | ESPARGARO Aleix | 41 | SPA | Team Suzuki Ecstar | 1'31.212 |
| 5 | LORENZO Jorge | 99 | SPA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 1'31.282 |
| 6 | CRUTCHLOW Cal | 35 | GBR | LCR Honda | 1'31.494 |
| 7 | ROSSI Valentino | 46 | ITA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 1'31.498 |
| 8 | ESPARGARO Pol | 44 | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 1'31.619 |
| 9 | IANNONE Andrea | 29 | ITA | Ducati Team | 1'31.619 |
| 10 | SMITH Bradley | 38 | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 1'31.694 |
| 11 | PETRUCCI Danilo | 9 | ITA | Octo Pramac Racing | 1'31.717 |
| 12 | BAZ Loris | 76 | FRA | Avintia Racing | 1'31.796 |
| 13 | REDDING Scott | 45 | GBR | Octo Pramac Racing | 1'31.901 |
| 14 | BARBERA Hector | 8 | SPA | Avintia Racing | 1'31.937 |
| 15 | DOVIZIOSO Andrea | 4 | ITA | Ducati Team | 1'31.967 |
| 16 | MILLER Jack | 43 | AUS | Marc VDS Racing Team | 1'32.100 |
| 17 | LAVERTY Eugene | 50 | IRE | Aspar MotoGP Team | 1'32.377 |
| 18 | RABAT Tito | 53 | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | 1'32.402 |
| 19 | BRADL Stefan | 6 | GER | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 1'32.492 |
| 20 | HERNANDEZ Yonny | 68 | COL | Aspar MotoGP Team | 1'32.510 |
| 21 | BAUTISTA Alvaro | 19 | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 1'32.847 |
| 22 | PIRRO Michele | 51 | ITA | Ducati Team | 1'33.568 |
| 23 | TSUDA Takuya | 22 | JPN | Suzuki Test Team |
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