Qatar Moto2 FP1 Grand Prix: Schrötter sets the tone ahead of Virginie but also Bendsneyder!

The category Moto2 begins the tenth part of its history on a Losail track which has previously been dominated by nine different drivers: Shoya Tomizawa (2010), Stefan Bradl (2011), Marc Márquez (2012), Pol Espargaró (2013), Tito Rabat (2014 ), Jonas Folger (2015), Tom Lüthi (2016), Franco Morbidelli (2017) and Francesco Bagnaia (2018) are on this list. Four of them won their first Moto2 race on this circuit: Tomizawa, Folger, Morbidelli and Bagnaia. It was with Honda engines which gave way this season to a Triumph. History must therefore be rewritten.

With 16 victories to his credit, Tom Luthi (Kalex, Dynavolt Intact GP) is the most successful rider on the 2 Moto2019 entry list. His closest rival is Brad Binder (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo) with 10, including three in Moto2. The same Tom Luthi is the only rider in the sector to have won Qatar in Moto2.

Last year there was no Spanish winner in the Moto2 category. This is the first time this has happened in the intermediate category since 2001. The last Spanish winner in Qatar in Moto2 is Tito Rabat in 2014.

We will also note that in 2019, MV Agusta is back as a chassis manufacturer for the first time since its last victory in 1976. Stefano manzi et Dominique Aegerter are the two riders for the Forward Racing team.

The foundations laid, it is time to launch the debates. Before that, here is the table thanks to which we do not forget.

 

Moto2™ Losail Qatar	2018 (600cc)	2019 (765cc)
FP1	2'01.601 Lorenzo Baldassarri
FP2	2'00.932 Alex Marquez
FP3	2'01.928 Alex Marquez
QP1	XXX
QP2	2'00.299 Alex Marquez
Warm Up	2'01.287 Alex Marquez
Course	Bagnaia, Baldassarri, Marquez
Records	1'59.052 Jonas Folger 2016	1'58.439 Sam Lowes

28° in the air and 40° on the track welcome the protagonists of the revised and corrected intermediate class.

Jake dixon (KTM, Angel Nieto team) falls heavily at turn 1. And Lüthi signs the first reference of choice in 1'59.933. Marcel Schrötter (Kalex, Dynavolt Intact GP) and Luca Marini (Kalex, SKY Racing Team VR46) follow.

Sam Lowes (Kalex, Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), the test man is only twenty-fifth. At turn 3, Iker Lecuona (KTM, American Racing KTM) offers itself an impressive somersault. He was fourteenth, just behind George Martin (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Jorge Navarro (Speed ​​Up, +Ego Speed ​​Up) falls at turn 6. Clearly, we are not sparing our entry into Moto2! Halfway through the session, Lüthi dominates his world under two minutes per turn which is the sphere of influence of his opponents who are Schrötter, Alex Marquez (Kalex, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS), Marini et Xavi Verge (Kalex, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS). At turn 3, a slippery track is reported which encourages the protagonists to take a pit break…

Binder is eighth and first KTM, Lowes is eleventh, behind Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex, Flex-Box Pons HP 40). Marco Bezzecchi (KTM, Red Bull KTM Tech3) is twenty fourth with the KTM Tech3.

The last quarter of an hour has started and everyone returns to the track. George Martin, beginner and title holder in Moto3, caused a small sensation by taking seventh place and leader at KTM… He even finished second for a moment before his teammate Brad Binder take this dolphin position Lüthi…Who holds the lead with a three-tenths lead.

Virgin takes the blow and gets closer to the Swiss who sees his lead dwindle to 186 thousandths. Sam Lowes stops there, but it's because his motorcycle refuses to go any further. He is eleventh. And seventeen pilots are in the same second. Tetsuta nagashima (Kalex, Onebox TKKR SAG Team) enters the top 5 that are lost sight of Schrötter, Alex Marquez et Marini. Remy gardner (Kalex, Onebox TKKR SAG Team) and NAVARRO close the top 10.

Somkiat Chantra (Kalex, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) fell at turn 4. He was twenty-first. Andrea Locatelli (Kalex, Italtrans Racing Team) passes the two-minute mark in 1'59.961 which puts him 28 thousandths behind a Lüthi wavering. Schrötter, Virgin et Alex Marquez re-enter the top 5. Not for long: NAVARRO and his Speed-Up take third place as the checkered flag is about to be presented.

This is when Schrötter, Virgin and an improbable Bo Bendsneyder (NTS, NTS RW Racing GP) on the NTS pin. The first city signs a 1'59.591 which will be undefeated. The best beginner is Enea Bastianini (Kalex, Italtrans Racing Team), ninth. The first KTM is twelfth with Binder. The Tech3 drivers are twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh. 19 drivers are in the same second.

Qatar Grand Prix Moto2 FP1: times

Classification credit: MotoGP.com