LIVE MotoGP Qatar 1 Race: Viñales as boss, Zarco heroic!

Article updated continuously until the end of the session.

MotoGP is launching its 2021 season with this Qatar Grand Prix which promises to be completely open, and especially since Marc Marquez is still out. The latter is hoped for for the third round in Portugal and in the meantime it is the Losail route which will serve as an element of collection for a paddock attentive to the health crisis, to the point of offering the opportunity to its flock to get vaccinated. In view of the free practices and qualifying, it is a duel between Ducati and Yamaha that we expect for this start of the campaign. But the referees are numerous and of good quality...

Before launching into the fray, let's take stock of some statistics which always shed light on the appearance of the field. So, Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) won its very first pole on Saturday in MotoGP, having shattered the record at the Losail International Circuit.

The last six qualifications have each time been dominated by a different driver: fabio quartararo (Aragon), Takaaki Nakagami (Teruel), Pol Espargaro (Europe), Franco Morbidelli (Valence), Miguel Oliveira (Portugal) and now Francis Bagnaia in Losail. The last time such a series occurred was in 2018, between the Termas and Montmeló 1 events.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), credited with the second time in Q2, had not reached the front row since his pole in Aragón.

Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) set the fourth fastest time this Saturday evening. You have to go back to 2010 to see him so well placed on the grid for the Qatar GP. Starting second that year, the Italian would immediately win. It is also his best qualifying result since the Catalan GP.

Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), which is preparing to compete in its 100e race in MotoGP, will start from fifth place. His goal ? Pocket his third podium in a row, which would be a great first for him in the category.

Regardless of having reached the 362.4 km/h in FP4, a new top speed record, Johann zarco (Pramac Racing) inherits sixth position on the grid. In four Grands Prix contested at Losail, the Frenchman will have climbed onto one of the first two rows three times.

Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) will start eighth in this Qatar GP. Never has an Aprilia done so well in this event. The Catalan and the manufacturer now intend to bag their very first Top 5 in MotoGP.

alex rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) will be ninth. These are his best qualifications since the European GP. The No. 42 now intends to score Suzuki's first podium at Losail. His teammate. Joan mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was entitled to his 12th repechage and this is the third time that he has managed to escape after the rounds of Montmeló and Misano 2019. This 10th place also constitutes his best result in Q2 since the European Grand Prix, his only MotoGP victory to date.

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), ranked 11th, serves as the first Honda representative. Until now, there had always been at least one RCV in the Top 10 on the grid at Losail. What will this 2021 edition in Doha give us? Before answering this question, 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 Márquez (See here)	1'53.387 Jack Miller (See here)
FP3	1'54.677 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'54.676 Franco Morbidelli (See here)
FP4	1'54.854 Danilo Petrucci (See here)	1'54.106 Maverick Viñales (See here)
Q1	1'54.270 Cal Crutchlow (See here)	1'53.577 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)
Q2	1'53.546 Maverick Viñales (See here)	1'52.772 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)
warm up	1'54.807 Danilo Petrucci (See here)	1'55.147 Fabio Quartararo (See here)
Course	Dovizioso, Marquez, Crutchlow (See here)	Vinales, Zarco, Bagnaia
All time lap record	1'53.380 Marc Márquez 2019 (1'53.183 Jack Miller in the 2021 test)	1'52.772 Francesco Bagnaia (See here)

We take note that 1 500 spectators are listed in the stands. According to Piero Taramasso, the man of Michelin all drivers should be full software. It's in the air and on the track, always with a strong wind. But the track is passable.

It's 20,5° in the air and 22,5° on the track on this track where night has now set in.

Little by little the drivers settle on the grid…the tension is at its maximum!

That's it, we're in the starting blocks for a sizzling hot season! there will be sport, on track now for the 2021 MotoGP season!

The drivers will have 22 laps to complete with the wind still there, at more than 300km/h, we can imagine what that can be like, the cards will thus be redistributed in these particular conditions.

Choice of soft front and rear tires for everyone…

It's off and it's Bagnaia who comes out in the lead at the first corner in front of Miller and Zarco.

Martin 4th passes Zarco but the latter responds. Fall of Petrucci. Quaratararo is 5th, Vinales and Rossi 7th and 8th.

Zarco, very offensive, passes Miller, the Frenchman is 2nd while Bagnaia holds on at the head of the troops.

The Suzukis are in 8th and 9th place: in order Rins and Mir

Fabio keeps the rope and passes Martin without problem, the Yamaha official is 4th, Vinales imitates him and takes 5th position.

After 3 laps, the Ducati are in control with Bagnaia, Zarco, Miller. Quartararo, Vinales bring up the rear of the top5.

Rins in turn passes Martin, the Suzuki rider is 6th, his teammate and world champion, Mir is 8th.

The first of the KTMs is Oliveira who is in rank 11.

Zarco gets closer to Bagnaia and Quartararo gets rid of Miller and thus takes 3rd position.

Nakagami Falls

Zarco is 165 thousandths behind Bagnaia...he is holding on to our Frenchman! determined that it is…

Vinales makes the effort and attacks Miller who he passes, Fabio's teammate now occupies 4th position.

The top 10 is next with 13 laps to go: Bagnaia, Zarco, Quartararo, Vinales, Miller, Rins, Mir, Aleix Espargaro, Martin and Oliveira. 

Very offensive Vinales passes Quartararo, the Spaniard is 3rd. Miller does not give up and delivers a blow to Quartararo, he takes 4th position. Fabio is now battling a very fast Rins who has come up like a cannonball.

Vinales attacks and Zarco is now 2nd, the Yamaha official. Rins whips hard and passes Quartararo. The Suzuki driver is 5th.

With 10 laps to go, the top 5 is as follows: Bagnaia, Vinales, Zarco, Miller and Rins 

Make your predictions…

Marquez crashes in turn 4

Rins ends up getting rid of Miller and is thus in 4th place, Vinales goes there and takes the lead in front of Bagnaia, new leader!

The reigning world champion attacks Quartararo and takes 6th position. In front of Vinales escapes, 1/2 ahead of his pursuer, he wants this first victory!

Zarco also passes Bagnaia, potentially 2nd on the podium for our tricolor!

There are 5 laps remaining and Vinales in front maintains his gap on Zarco: 0.678s. Bagnaia, Rins, Mir, Quartararo, Miller, Aleix Espargaro, Pol Espargaro and Bastianini make up the rest of this top10

Mir, a long-time starter, arrives in force and overtakes his teammate Rins. He has the fire in his sails and the Italian Bagnaia is in his sights. Quartararo passes Rins and now enters the top5. Mir immediately manages to get rid of Bagnaia. He is 3rd in this ranking.

Zarco is now under threat from Mir for the benefit of 2nd position…It's hot!

Last round!

Vinales ahead unfolds…Zarco, Mir, this podium??

Victory for Vinales ahead of Zarco and Bagnaia! Mir was dropped by the 2 Ducatis on the straight...hate for the world champion!

Top10: Vinales, Zarco, Bagnaia, Mir, Quartararo, Rins, Aleix Espargaro, Pol Espargaro, Miller and Bastianini. Rossi finished 12th.

Ranking : 

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com