After the MotoGP a few days ago, it is the turn of the Moto2 and Moto3 categories to do their first official tests of the 2021 season on the Losail circuit in Qatar.
Although most teams have already conducted private testing in Spain or Portugal, the three days planned by Dorna are the first and last opportunity to measure themselves against the competition before the Qatar Grand Prix which will take place on March 28 .
Each day is broken down into six sessions equally distributed between the two categories, the first lasting one hour and the following one hour and ten minutes. The track is open from 7:40 a.m. to 17:10 p.m. (French time).
Before even looking at the times, you will have to familiarize yourself with the 2021 grids that have been significantly modified, whether through changes in drivers, colors and team names.
For this, having the following list at hand is probably not superfluous…
In Moto3, the pillar of the category is called John McPhee (Honda, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #17). From the height of eight seasons already under his belt, he will observe the new arrivals called Lorenzo Fellon (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #20), Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #31), Izan Guevara (Husqvarna, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team, #31), Xavier Artigas (Honda, Leopard Racing, #43) and Pedro Acosta (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #37).
He will also note the drivers who changed teams: Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5), Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11), Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16), Niccolo Antonelli (KTM, Reale Avintia, #23) and Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40).
In terms of times, we remain on a record established in 2019 by Aron Canet (KTM, Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) in 2'04.561 while Filip Salač (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team) was the fastest in the winter tests in 2'04.892.
During the inaugural session, only 18 drivers took to the track, the fastest of them, Andrea Migno (Honda, Rivacold Snipers Team, #16) setting the first benchmark in 2'09.040 ahead Jaume Masia (KTM, Red Bull KTM Ajo, #5) and Dennis Foggia (Honda, Leopard Racing, #7). The others stayed in the box because the track was very “dirty” because of the sand. At the moment, temperatures are very high in Qatar, which provides unfavorable conditions for the times...
During the second session, the pace picked up significantly and we found the same trio in the lead, to which was added Sergio Garcia (GasGas, Aspar Team Moto3, #11). This time, everyone took to the track, except unfortunately Tatsuki suzuki (Honda, SIC58 Squadra Corse, #24) still in quarantine following Covid-19.
Logically, the third session of this first day turned out to be the fastest, Darryn binder (KTM, Petronas Sprinta Racing, #40) taking the lead with its new Petronas team colors: the adaptation to the Honda will not have taken much time...
5 drivers follow a tenth behind, which bodes well for good attempts to take the lead!
Tomorrow, it will be the Moto2s who will ride first in the morning, the Moto3s finishing the day at the end of their three sessions.
Rankings credit: MotoGP.com
