LIVE MotoGP Qatar 1 Q1: Nakagami surprises, Mir defends

Qatar opens the ball for the first repechages of the 2021 MotoGP season in the form of a decisive Q1. It will be remembered that only two drivers will emerge to continue the adventure in Q2. The exercise starts strong since the reigning World Champion Joan Mir is among the squad. But it's not just him who gives character to this peloton...

We also include the two LCR-Honda drivers who are Alex Marquez et Takaaki Nakagami. A third Honda is also pointed out with Stefan bradl. We finally list the whole family there KTM who knows his crossing of the desert on the Losail route. What to worry about when we know that, starting next weekend, we will be doing it again in the same place.

Who will shower earlier and who will keep their leather on until the end of the day MotoGP ? Before answering this question with the ranking of Q1, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far...

Qatar 1 MotoGP™	2019	2021
FP1	1'55.048 Valentino Rossi (See here)	1'54.921 Franco Morbidelli (See here)
FP2	1'53.380 Marc Marquez (See here)	1'53.387 Jack Miller (See here)
FP3	1'54.677 Marc Marquez (See here)	1'54.676 Franco Morbidelli (See here)
FP4	1'54.854 Danilo Petrucci (See here)	1'54.106 Maverick Vinales (See here)
Q1	1'54.270 Cal Crutchlow (See here)	1'53.577 Takaaki Nakagami
Q2	1'53.546 Maverick Vinales (See here)
Warm Up	1'54.807 Danilo Petrucci (See here)
Course	Dovizioso, Marquez, Crutchlow (See here)
All time lap record	1'53.380 Marc Marquez 2019 (1'53.183 Jack Miller in the 2021 test)

28.2° in the air and 30.2° on the track are the conditions offered to this group that the three rookies in Ducati brighten up with their freshness. The fight is on for 15 minutes.

The first reference of choice is signed by Jorge Martin in 1'53.840. But these are just appetizers. Indeed, Joan mir takes control in 1'53.765. Martin holds up so well thatAlex Marquez is for the moment the first eliminated…

Nakagami goes third in 1'53.901. bastianini is in the top 5 showing that the rookies ride without complexes. The first salvo has passed. We use new balls for the last five minutes.

Joan mir fails at first before restarting. bastianini took the opportunity to sign a 1'53.733. Mir nevertheless improves by 5 thousandths. In the finale, Nakagami everyone agrees in 1'53.577. Mir barely saves his skin against the rookie bastianini which was not far from an exploit... George Martin ends with a fall. He is fourth in the session. Olive tree will start 15th and first KTM, ahead of Alex Marquez et Bradl.

LIVE MotoGP Qatar 1 Q1: times

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com