MotoGP Test Qatar 2 J2: Thursday LIVE is here! Viñales responds!

Qatar and its Losail track begin the penultimate day of testing for the 11 MotoGP off-season this Thursday, March 2021. Things are definitely still moving very quickly in the Grand Prix and given the three days already spent near Doha, what awaits us today will be put in a corner of our memory when hostilities really begin on March 28. Between a possible new track record, revealing race simulations and those who want to reassure themselves like others to confirm, there will be food for thought... It can be followed live on Paddock-GP.com!

At Ducati we will be able to further tickle the clock and the radar at the end of the straight while at Yamaha , we will reassure ourselves about a timed lap alone on the track while wondering about what will happen when we find ourselves in the fray. At the house of Suzuki we optimize well-known strengths and we want to mitigate our weaknesses.

Meanwhile, we are waiting for a positive sign from KTM on the timesheet. Finally, at Honda, we would like to stop the hemorrhage of falls which affects experienced pilots on the RC213V, a phenomenon which does not concern the beginner Pol Espargaro which only offers satisfaction. Finally, at Aprilia, we want to continue dreaming with the only one Aleix Espargaró who never ceases to surprise aboard the new RS-GP.

This is the scene set. It's time to raise the curtain!

And it begins with this remark of Jack Miller on Pol Espargaro, but it seems that the message is also addressed to another person with whom a controversy on social networks broke out… “ Pol was the best in the test on Wednesday, as he had the most work ahead of him. He does good fast laps and he has the pace too. I'm pleasantly surprised by this, because in the past not everyone was able to go fast on the Honda. "

By the way, we do not shy away from our pleasure of seeing the Yamaha well decorated de Cal Crutchlow ...

The Suzuki test rider Takuya Tsuda will kick off the session. Like the day before, he is followed by his counterpart from Ducati, Michele Pirro.

We will recall that Brembo brought to the track a new generation of front discs available for all teams. Five drivers set a time after 30 minutes. Aleix Espargaro set the benchmark in 1'55.106 ahead of the test drivers Pirro, Pedrosa, Tsuda and the Yamaha Test2.

After an hour on the track, the top 10 is as follows: A. Espargaro, Petrucci, Lecuona, Tester Yamaha, Pirro, Binder, Pedrosa, Miller, Bagnaia and Tsuda. At the house of Tech3, we give an instruction...

Maverick Casa Particular in Viñales made this comment, thus supporting the analysis of Franco Morbidelli on the Yamaha situation: “ we have to come out of the first corner first or second here, otherwise we have no chance“said the Yamaha official, referring to the opening race.

At MOW, we point out that between Alpinestars et Dainese, it's tense at Petronas Yamaha since the installation of Valentino Rossi...

 

14 pilots are now on the ground. The opportunity to launch the first ranking:

 

Petronas Yamaha jumps into the fray...

… And Pol I will espargaro experiences his first fall with the Honda: The driver is unhurt. He was able to get back on his Honda and return to the pits himself.

Johann zarco takes the track and settles directly into third with a time of 1'55.391 which is just waiting to evolve... We will remind you that some are thinking of a record of 1'52 possible at the end of the session.

Sky Italia's television colleagues have published a new technology snapshot: Yamaha has a new mudguard in use, the photo is of the bike from Valentino Rossi. The construction was also carried out by Vinales et Quarterly. But it's Morbidely which signs the reference in 1'54.588.

At KTM we also test a lot with a new swingarm and an integrated exhaust.

 

The conditions on the track are estimated to be ideal: little wind and higher temperatures, the asphalt is clean, the track is starting to be rubberized and the tires are working in the best possible conditions.

A 15h00 here is the ranking:

 

Pol Espargaro resumed his work after his fall at the start of the session:

Stefan bradl had to interrupt his day yesterday after a fall which caused him neck pain. We didn't see him on the track for the first three hours, but now he's finally coming out. So it's clear that he's doing reasonably well again. He is also ninth.

On the other hand, neither Joan mir no more thanalex rins have yet to take the handlebars of their Suzuki. Quarterly take control in 1'54.548. lecuona fall in the third sector and Savadori who took to the trail complains of shoulder pain.

Pol Espargaro takes the lead in 1'54.103. He is, by far, the best Honda rider... The Suzukis finally take to the track. George Martin Fortunately, the fall had no consequences for the new rider of the Pramac Ducati team. Miguel Oliveira brings KTM into the top 10 with a seventh time, behind Mir who didn't take long to warm up...

At snack time, the classification is as follows:

Espargaro Pol et Casa Particular in Viñales a battle for a better time remains the prerogative of the official Honda. The factory driver Yamaha is second but here comes an explosive bastianini in third place and best Ducati representative with its GP19!

A welcome from the Pramac team with Johann zarco currently eleventh behind Rossi et Jorge Martin 19th.

Aleix I will espargaro keeps the dream aliveAprilia taking third place from the rookie bastianini. He accelerates again and there he is in the lead with a 1'53.869 which makes him the first driver of the day to pass the milestone of 1'54 per lap... John Zarco was checked at 354 kph!

Some more news on innovations Yamaha seen this time at Petronas ...

La Suzuki can do a good timed lap. The proof with alex rins who ranks third behind the brothers I will espargaro and in front of the Yamaha of Casa Particular in Viñales which also has an inline four-cylinder.

Before the 17:00 p.m. point, Aleix Espargaró impresses by improving its brand. The reference is now 1'53.640. George Martin, sixth goes in front bastianini in the rookie ranking and is ahead of his teammate zarco tenth.

Chronos at 17:00 p.m.:

 

This does not work out for Alex Marquez which falls again. A red flag even came out furtively but the drivers were unhurt. This is his fifth visit to the gravel trap in four days of testing.

A little message from Tech3 before hostilities resume:

Restarting is beneficial for bagnaia who takes the second position and therefore inserts himself between the two brothers I will espargaro. The Ducati official then did better by taking the lead in 1'53.444. Has it been time to hunt down the clock? Mir tumbles third. We find both Suzuki in a top 5 for the moment deserted by Yamaha . Savadori falls with his Aprilia.

Alex Marquez injured? Following his high side and according to some reports, the younger Marquez was injured at the foot during his fifth accident during these off-season tests in Qatar. If confirmed, this could be the end of testing. The first Grand Prix at Losail is scheduled for the end of March.

Jorge Lorenzo tweet again. But as an analyst and not a polemicist… He congratulates Pol Espargaró: “ He was undoubtedly the biggest surprise of these tests so far. Honestly, I didn't think he would be the best Honda rider when he first met the bike. Well done!“, writes the three-time MotoGP champion. The youngest I will espargaro is currently fourth, less than 90 minutes from the checkered flag.

According to Sky Sport,  Marc Marquez underwent an important medical examination. Significant news on the Spanish world champion is expected in the coming hours.

Here is the ranking 18h00. There is only one hour left before the end of the festivities...

News fromAlex Marquez : LCR Honda announces a “small fracture on his fourth metatarsal of his right foot».

Valentino Rossi moves up to fourth in front Johann zarco who enters the top 5. Fall of Bradl…The pilot is unharmed.

We are nearing the end and we are waiting for a The Devil which would come out of its box as in previous days...

And that's the case ! Here he is in 1'53.398. Fabio Quartararo turns into the lead. Jack Miller , who set the lap record yesterday, has just completed the race simulation. A possible response to the French? Yes, but she just Casa Particular in Viñales, his teammate who slams a 1 ′ 53.244.

We will leave it there with this hat-trick from Yamaha marked by a Morbidely which was revealed late. Quarterly is third and  bagnaia follows and reassures himself at Ducati whileAleix Espargaró is still part of the party with an Aprilia that will have to be taken seriously. Mir et Kidneys follow for Suzuki. Rossi is eighth and satisfied with his day. zarco was studious with long runs. Espargaro Pol closes the top 10 which is held in one second...

The first KTM is 16th with Binder. The first rookie is George Martin which is 14th.

MotoGP Test Qatar 2 J2: final