And just like that, 2021 pre-season testing for the MotoGP riders and teams is over. Five mostly hectic days at the Losail International Circuit for the Official Qatar Test eventually saw Jack Miller and Ducati head into opening Grand Prix as the combination to beat, with Miller’s 1:53.183 seconds being the fastest ever two-wheel lap set in Qatar.
The Bologna factory are chased by a trio of Yamahas who are all within a tenth and a half, as Maverick Vinales (Yamaha MotoGP), teammate Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha SRT) enjoyed a successful pre-season.
Unfortunately, the final day of the Qatar Test flattered to deceive. High winds caused dust to scatter across the Losail International Circuit, which in turn meant barely anyone ventured out for some laps. Track conditions were very dangerous yesterday, which is why with just over two hours of the first and only pre-season test remaining, Pol Espargaro (Honda) and Danilo Petrucci (KTM Factory Racing) were the only two riders to have set a lap time – eight seconds slower than Miller.
The red flags were out as cleaning machines ventured out to try and make it safe, but the majority of the work was already done and dusted for the teams. An early finish for many, as the bulk of personnel head home briefly before returning to Qatar for the first round of 2021 in two weeks’ time.
But despite a wasted session yesterday, plenty of laps were laid down across the other four days of official test action, as well as the shakedown for test riders and rookies last Friday. This means we’ve been able to learn a few things about every factory, so let’s have a little gander at how the premier class riders faired.
In the hands of a charismatic Australian, Ducati will head into Round 1 as the fastest. Miller’s blistering time attack lap on Wednesday evening was proof that he and the new GP21 are looking like a formidable partnership this season, with the innovation kings of MotoGP – of course – bringing plenty of new parts to test in Qatar. The most notable was some new front aero, a significant change and something we’ve not seen before. It’s difficult to know for sure, but Ducati could be looking at tidying up the airflow to increase top speed, as well as creating more grip in the corners.
Thanks to Johann Zarco’s (Pramac Racing) 1:53.899, Ducati have all their non-rookie riders inside the top 10 ahead of Round 1. Consistently the quickest rider through the speed trap – Thursday seeing him reach a new unofficial record of 357.69km/h down the start/finish straight – Zarco was another rider who seemed happy with his performance overall. The Frenchman commented on Thursday that he had worked a lot on race pace and had plenty of things to try, not all of which were good. But it feels like Zarco is going to be a contender in a couple of weeks’ time.
Zarco’s Pramac Racing teammate Jorge Martin ended the Qatar Test as the fastest rookie. The Spaniard sits P14 thanks to his 1:54.483, an incredibly respectable time from the Moto2™ graduate who is just 1.3s away from Miller’s all-time – unofficial – lap record. Reigning Moto2 World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) finished a slender 0.022s behind Martin in P15, with Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) claiming P21 – 1.839s shy of Miller.
Yamaha once again proved that they’re one-lap pace is meteoric. The Vinales, Quartararo and Morbidelli all pushed for a fast lap time when they set their best times of the test, and even though they lost out to Miller, things are still looking good for Yamaha in that department. However, it’s race pace and lots of other intricate details that all four of their full-time riders have been working on in Qatar.
Qatar Test results – Top 10
1. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:53.183
2. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.061
3. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.080
4. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.140
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.261
6. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 0.457
7. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.644
8. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.677
9. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.716
10. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.716
Unfortunately, the final day of the Qatar Test flattered to deceive. High winds caused dust to scatter across the Losail International Circuit, which in turn meant barely anyone ventured out for some laps. Track conditions were very dangerous yesterday, which is why with just over two hours of the first and only pre-season test remaining, Pol Espargaro (Honda) and Danilo Petrucci (KTM Factory Racing) were the only two riders to have set a lap time – eight seconds slower than Miller.
The red flags were out as cleaning machines ventured out to try and make it safe, but the majority of the work was already done and dusted for the teams. An early finish for many, as the bulk of personnel head home briefly before returning to Qatar for the first round of 2021 in two weeks’ time.
But despite a wasted session yesterday, plenty of laps were laid down across the other four days of official test action, as well as the shakedown for test riders and rookies last Friday. This means we’ve been able to learn a few things about every factory, so let’s have a little gander at how the premier class riders faired.
In the hands of a charismatic Australian, Ducati will head into Round 1 as the fastest. Miller’s blistering time attack lap on Wednesday evening was proof that he and the new GP21 are looking like a formidable partnership this season, with the innovation kings of MotoGP – of course – bringing plenty of new parts to test in Qatar. The most notable was some new front aero, a significant change and something we’ve not seen before. It’s difficult to know for sure, but Ducati could be looking at tidying up the airflow to increase top speed, as well as creating more grip in the corners.
Thanks to Johann Zarco’s (Pramac Racing) 1:53.899, Ducati have all their non-rookie riders inside the top 10 ahead of Round 1. Consistently the quickest rider through the speed trap – Thursday seeing him reach a new unofficial record of 357.69km/h down the start/finish straight – Zarco was another rider who seemed happy with his performance overall. The Frenchman commented on Thursday that he had worked a lot on race pace and had plenty of things to try, not all of which were good. But it feels like Zarco is going to be a contender in a couple of weeks’ time.
Zarco’s Pramac Racing teammate Jorge Martin ended the Qatar Test as the fastest rookie. The Spaniard sits P14 thanks to his 1:54.483, an incredibly respectable time from the Moto2™ graduate who is just 1.3s away from Miller’s all-time – unofficial – lap record. Reigning Moto2 World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) finished a slender 0.022s behind Martin in P15, with Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) claiming P21 – 1.839s shy of Miller.
Yamaha once again proved that they’re one-lap pace is meteoric. The Vinales, Quartararo and Morbidelli all pushed for a fast lap time when they set their best times of the test, and even though they lost out to Miller, things are still looking good for Yamaha in that department. However, it’s race pace and lots of other intricate details that all four of their full-time riders have been working on in Qatar.
Qatar Test results – Top 10
1. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:53.183
2. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.061
3. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.080
4. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.140
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.261
6. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 0.457
7. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.644
8. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.677
9. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.716
10. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.716
