2021 Doha MotoGP, Qatar - Free Practice (1) Results
Espargaro and Aprilia lead opening practice for the Doha MotoGP in baking hot afternoon conditions at Losail.
Rins and Vinales complete the top three with rookie Martin jumping to fourth after a late tow behind Quartararo.
Morbidelli, who battled a mystery rear suspension issue last Sunday, was black-flagged due to clouds of smoke coming out of his exhaust in the early part of the session, then returned to go fastest with 12mins to go.
But the Italian was then black-flagged again for exactly the same issue and exactly the same place; smoke on full lean at turn 1 and eventually dropped to fifth on the timesheets.
Last Sunday's runner-up Zarco fell at Turn 15.
FP2 will take place in cooler conditions under the floodlights and, if last week is repeated, will decide the top 10 places for Qualifying 2.
The Doha Grand Prix is the second of two back-to-back opening rounds held at Losail in Qatar.
Bradl is again replacing the injured Marc Marquez, who is missing both Qatar rounds.
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| Doha MotoGP, Qatar - Free Practice (1) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | 1'54.779s | 11/12 | 347k |
| 2 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.060s | 15/15 | 347k |
| 3 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.085s | 13/15 | 343k |
| 4 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +0.240s | 15/15 | 352k |
| 5 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.346s | 10/11 | 342k |
| 6 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.484s | 10/15 | 345k |
| 7 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.524s | 16/16 | 342k |
| 8 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.570s | 14/16 | 344k |
| 9 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.614s | 17/18 | 350k |
| 10 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.669s | 18/19 | 347k |
| 11 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.675s | 16/16 | 347k |
| 12 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.728s | 18/19 | 352k |
| 13 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.818s | 17/18 | 346k |
| 14 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.898s | 15/15 | 348k |
| 15 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.991s | 5/16 | 342k |
| 16 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.067s | 16/16 | 350k |
| 17 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.146s | 6/17 | 347k |
| 18 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.205s | 12/14 | 351k |
| 19 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.244s | 5/17 | 348k |
| 20 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.340s | 7/15 | 348k |
| 21 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.782s | 16/16 | 341k |
| 22 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +1.964s | 9/9 | 353k |
* Rookie.
Official Qatar MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati 1m 52.772s(2021)
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.
