#QatarTest: the ultimate countdown to competitors is on!
Two extra days of testing present the category of 2024 their ultimate probability to prep for a record-breaking season
Friday, 16 February 2024
We already bought an unbelievable first style of the season forward because of a star-studded Shakedown and the headline-making Sepang Take a look at, and now there are simply two extra days of monitor motion earlier than we go racing. Right here’s the place we left off and what to search for in Qatar – in addition to keep updated throughout the ultimate pre-season prep!
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
On motogp.com, Reside Timing, minute-by-minute studies and a ultimate round-up on the finish of the motion present a 360 of all the things that’s occurring – and there’s additionally loads of stay content material!
On social media, a noon stay broadcast from pitlane reporter Simon Crafar and tech guru Jack Gorst takes you to the guts of the motion, and After The Flag will then hyperlink up stay to Lusail with interviews and extra on the finish of every day. As with Sepang, the stay present begins half an hour earlier than the monitor motion ends, and the printed will probably be anchored in Barcelona by Louis Suddaby and Elliott York.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Ducati Lenovo, Prima Pramac, Pertamina Enduro VR46 & Gresini
After domination proper on the high because of a brand new quickest ever lap from reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group), backed up by a quick exhibiting from Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) on the chase and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Group) in third, indicators are very constructive for the most recent Borgo Panigale machine. We received’t have Franco Morbidelli again in motion simply but at Prima Pramac Racing, however he’ll be wanting positively on the efficiency of the machine he’ll be racing this season.
In the meantime at Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Group, new arrival Fabio Di Giannantonio hit the bottom working in Sepang, placing in a severely spectacular Tissot Dash simulation, whereas Marco Bezzecchi will probably be on the lookout for somewhat extra. He’ll additionally probably have a watch on the Rins Cup – the casual however much-feted competitors to beat Alex Rins (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) to the honour of first on monitor on daily basis. At Gresini Racing MotoGP™ it’s an fascinating dynamic too: Alex Marquez was quick from the off, fourth general and solely simply behind Bastianini, whereas Marc Marquez’ focus was “laps, laps, laps” as he appears to seek out each restrict of each a part of his new machine. The quantity 93, whether or not nineteenth or 1st on the timesheets, is certain to make extra headlines at Lusail. He additionally reminded everybody in Malaysia that the testing venues since Valencia are each tracks he’s all the time discovered harder…
Aprilia & Trackhouse Racing
It was a check of two halves in Sepang, or a check of two opinions. In a single camp, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) mentioned it was their finest pre-season but and he was fifth general. However teammate Maverick Viñales and Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira discovered it a tougher check, and so they’ll be on the lookout for far more in Qatar – both when it comes to changes to get the identical out of the package deal as Espargaro managed to do, or in {hardware}. The Noale Manufacturing unit additionally haven’t run their new engine by its paces to outline their ultimate spec but, one thing they mentioned we’ll see in Qatar, and we’ll additionally see Raul Fernandez again on Trackhouse obligation after his crash noticed him sit a lot of Sepang out.
Pink Bull KTM & Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3
The quickest Austrian machine general was Brad Binder (Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) because the outfit look to go from frontrunners to the manufacturing facility to beat, and he and teammate Jack Miller will undoubtedly proceed with their pre-season modus operandi: placing all the things by its paces and becoming all the things collectively earlier than worrying with a severe assault on the timesheets.
But it surely was rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3) who stole lots of the headlines, quickest on the Shakedown, quick within the Sepang Take a look at and with a really spectacular Tissot Dash simulation that was the very best of the RC16s over 9 laps. Based mostly on his performances within the World Championship paddock to date, it’s each very Acosta and but genuinely nonetheless exceptional on the similar time. Will he maintain that run going at Lusail? On the opposite facet of Acosta’s field, in the meantime, Augusto Fernandez will probably be on the lookout for extra. A troublesome Sepang Take a look at leaves him looking for some massive steps ahead earlier than the lights each come on and exit within the desert for racing.
Repsol Honda & Castrol/Idemitsu Honda LCR
After we’ve seen the genuinely fairly completely different liveries from Repsol Honda and Castrol Honda LCR revealed this week, the Japanese giants will now be again on monitor and again to work as they push to return to the highest. There have been constructive indicators on the Sepang check that steps ahead have already been made, and an entire lot of constructive vibes. Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Group) led the cost on the timesheets, Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda LCR) was subsequent, then Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) earlier than fellow new arrival Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Group), however Marini additionally hinted at extra {hardware} to return in Qatar as they methodically work their approach by their updates for 2024.
Monster Vitality Yamaha
There have been constructive indicators from Yamaha in Sepang too, with just one slight cloud hanging over the camp: one-lap tempo. It’s one thing Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) mentioned they’ll proceed specializing in till they make inroads, so over two extra days in Qatar that will probably be one to observe. However these positives elsewhere have been actual, and there was a number of latest stuff popping out the field in Sepang too, from the engine to the tail unit. So Quartararo and new teammate Alex Rins may have loads to work with within the ultimate two check days. And keep in mind, the brand new concession guidelines imply each Yamaha and Honda don’t should homologate a ultimate engine spec and may maintain testing all through the season, so the top of Tuesday’s monitor motion is way from their final probability to enhance earlier than the post-Jerez one-day check.
For now although, Monday and Tuesday sees MotoGP™ again on monitor in Qatar, with monitor motion from 14:00 to 21:00 (UTC + 3) on every day – adopted by a 15-minute follow begin session. So be a part of us on motogp.com, throughout social media after which stay from Lusail as the ultimate items of the puzzle slot into place earlier than the primary race!
