2021 Qatar MotoGP test times, Losail - Sunday (8pm)
The second and final day of the opening 2021 Qatar MotoGP test is underway at Losail.
Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia were the surprise leaders on day one, but can they hold their advantage?
With the Sepang test cancelled, Qatar is the first time most riders have been on a MotoGP bike since the chequered flag waved at Portimao last November.
The MotoGP regulars are joined by Factory test riders, including Shakedown pace setter Stefan Bradl (Honda) - also substituting for the injured Marc Marquez - new Yamaha signing Cal Crutchlow, 31-time MotoGP race winner Dani Pedrosa (KTM) and former World Superbike champion Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki).
Crutchlow will be sharing M1s with Yamaha's Japanese test riders Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane. The three bikes, which appear to include both the 2019 (A-Spec) and 2020 (Factory-Spec) models, are labelled '#T1', '#T2' and '#T3'. Official timing only lists the bike, not the rider.
Testing takes place from 2pm to 9pm each day, followed by ten minutes reserved for practice starts.
The second and final pre-season test will then be held at the same circuit on March 10-12, venue for the season-opening race on March 28, then round two on April 4.
CLICK HERE for live updates during the 2021 Qatar MotoGP Tests...
| 2021 Qatar MotoGP test times - Sunday (8pm) | ||||||
| Rider | Nat | Team | Time | Lap | ||
| 1 | ^1 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | 1m 54.152s | 42/50 |
| 2 | ^1 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.001s | 50/50 |
| 3 | ^2 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.058s | 44/47 |
| 4 | ˅3 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.215s | 33/48 |
| 5 | ^3 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.243s | 55/60 |
| 6 | ^4 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.268s | 45/46 |
| 7 | = | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.363s | 45/48 |
| 8 | ˅4 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.506s | 25/42 |
| 9 | ^3 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.514s | 35/38 |
| 10 | ˅4 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.521s | 25/52 |
| 11 | ^3 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.665s | 40/47 |
| 12 | ˅3 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.705s | 25/41 |
| 13 | ˅2 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.800s | 32/46 |
| 14 | ˅1 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.028s | 28/46 |
| 15 | = | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Esponsorama (GP19)* | +1.334s | 35/41 |
| 16 | ^6 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.480s | 29/36 |
| 17 | ^10 | Yamaha Test1 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +61.490s | 19/19 |
| 18 | ^3 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.556s | 35/37 |
| 19 | ˅3 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.643s | 39/46 |
| 20 | ˅3 | Yamaha Test2 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +1.715s | 20/20 |
| 21 | ˅3 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.721s | 22/33 |
| 22 | ˅3 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia (GP19)* | +1.773s | 23/42 |
| 23 | ˅3 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.792s | 23/38 |
| 24 | ^1 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +2.200s | 31/32 |
| 25 | ˅2 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | KTM Test Rider (RC16) | +2.300s | 32/53 |
| 26 | ˅2 | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +2.610s | 26/40 |
| 27 | ˅1 | Michele Pirro | ITA | Ducati Test Rider (GP21) | +3.743s | 19/20 |
| 28 | = | Takuya Tsuda | JPN | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +4.758s | 16/25 |
* Rookie
Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than previous hour.
= Rider is same position as previous hour.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than previous hour.
Fastest Day 1 Time:
Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia 1m 54.687s
Official Qatar MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 53.380s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 54.927s (2016)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
