LIVE MotoGP Qatar 2 FP3: the wind blocks the session!

Article updated continuously until the end of the session.

By placing its four leading Ducatis in the top 5 at the end of the first day of the Doha Grand Prix in Qatar, Borgo Panigale sent a clear message to Iwata: the lesson of the last Grand Prix has been learned, in particular by Jack Miller, and it will not be easy for the delicate and fluid Yamaha M1s to make their way through the monstrous GP 21s!

For the moment, despite stated dissatisfaction, only fabio quartararo managed, as much as possible, to stem the red wave which swept over the Losail circuit yesterday.

During the only session where the temperatures make the track fast, Jack Miller, Francesco Bagnaia, Johann zarco, fabio quartararo, Jorge Martin, Aleix Espargaro, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Rins, Maverick Vinales and Stefan Bradl have pre-qualified for Q2, making this task almost impossible for their opponents this afternoon during a session far too hot to be effective, so much so that some are even considering not racing!

We will see this during the 45 minutes ahead, with as expected temperatures of 29 degrees in the air and 37 degrees on the ground, but also a strong wind which has awakened and brought its share of dust to the asphalt before the Moto2 session.

In the meantime, enjoy a few minutes of live broadcast thanks to the official website MotoGP.com :

Qatar MotoGP™	2019	2021-GP1	2021-GP2
FP1	1'55.048 Valentino Rossi (See here)	1'54.921 Franco Morbidelli (See here)	1'54.779 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
FP2	1'53.380 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'53.387 Jack Miller (See here)	1'53.145 Jack Miller (See here)
FP3	1'54.677 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'54.676 Franco Morbidelli (See here)	1'56.064 Fabio Quartararo (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)

When the red lights go out…is it useful to specify that Franco Morbidelli is the first to set off on the track? The Yamaha rider, like his famous teammate, tests hard tires both front and rear.

Conversely, at Suzuki, we chose to distribute the tasks…

We also notice that several drivers seem to have chosen not to take to the track immediately, like Johann zarco still not helmeted and present in the pitlane.

At the end of the first round, Iker Lecuona set the first benchmark in 1'58.979, 6 seconds off the expected pace.

While Johann Zarco, Danilo Petrucci, Luca Marini, Maverick Vinales, Aleix Espargaro, Jack Miller, Alex Marquez and Jorge Martin stay in their box, Fabio Quartararo took the lead in 1'57.296 on the next pass, before improving to 1'56.912 a lap later.

10 minutes after the opening of the track, Alex Espargaro gets on his Aprilia, at which point most of the riders are already entering their box in a very dusty atmosphere...

Far from the times which could allow a passage to Q2, the hierarchy is then made up of Fabio Quartararo, Iker Lecuona, Enea Bastianini, Alex Rins, Joan Mir, Stefan Bradl, Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira, Lorenzo Savadori, Franco Morbidelli, Valentino Rossi, Pol Espargaro, Francesco Bagnaia and Takaaki Nakagami.

The leader of the day does not stop, and improves to 1'56.723 under the watchful eye of Jack Miller, still sitting in his box.

Midway through the session, Joan mir brings his Suzuki to third position with only eight riders remaining on the track.

The time of Takaaki Nakagami is immobilized in the fourth sector, which leads us to assume a fall or a mechanical problem…

Joan mir continues its effort and lowers the day's reference to 1'56.450. The Suzuki rider's GSX-RR is equipped with soft/soft.

A quarter of an hour from the checkered flag, there are only 3 left to ride, when Alex Marquez decides to hit the trail.

Maverick Vinales, who complained yesterday about his “warmed” rear tire, takes to the track straight away. We will come back in detail to this Michelin practice that everyone seems to be discovering today even though it has existed for years...

The track regains some activity less than 10 minutes from its closure, and even Danilo Petrucci et Luca Marini mingle in what is usually the final rush.

Alex Marquez took the opportunity to stand out, first in fifth position then in second.

alex rins then achieved the best time in 1'56.347, giving Suzuki a temporary double.

Franco Morbidelli, who inaugurated a new engine after yesterday's smoke, is making his effort, but it is fabio quartararo who carries Iwata's torch high by winning at the last minute in 1'56.064, while Danilo Petrucci finishes fourth, with a view to Q1.

The wind will even bother the pilots until their test start...

MotoGP Doha Grand Prix FP3 standings: 

MotoGP Doha Grand Prix FP1/FP2/FP3 standings: 

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com