Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix, The race live: A twist of fate for Quartararo. Dovizioso as an old monkey!

After a first day where the Repsol Honda team truly impressed its opponents, both by the new absolute record of Marc Márquez but also by the rapid adaptation of Jorge Lorenzo to his new mount, the smiles turned into grimaces when each of the 2 pilots suffered two big falls on Saturday.

In extremis, Marc Marquez was able to save the furniture (with the unwitting help of Danilo Petrucci) while his unfortunate teammate had to settle for 15th position on the starting grid at the end of qualifying. Revealing fact or mimicry, the 2 drivers of the Tokyo firm use the same catchword « survival » in their statements...

Contrast is also required at Yamaha where Valentino Rossi appeared inexplicably underperforming in comparison with the 3 other drivers of the brand, and in particular Maverick Vinales author of pole position, But also Fabio Quartararo, rookie participating in his first Grand Prix in the premier category.

Paradoxically, and although it has rarely seized leadership, it is perhaps at Ducati where we display the greatest serenity, both on the side ofAndrea Dovizioso that of Danilo Petrucci.

It is in this context, to which we can add the relative poor performance of the Suzukis and a war of daggers drawn between the 3 main KTM riders, that this Qatar Grand Prix which we will follow in this article updated live.

Despite the numerous requests from the pilots and a number of significant falls yesterday at the end of the day, the officials maintained the schedule for a race which will take place with rather good weather conditions, with temperatures of 20° in the air and 20° on the ground, but above all humidity went from 19% during the Moto2 race to only 26% currently.

Here are the main references available when the 23 drivers line up on the starting grid for this Qatar Grand Prix which will take place from 18:00 p.m. over 22 laps:

MotoGP™ Losail Qatar	2018	2019
FP1	1'55.366 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)	1'55.048 Valentino Rossi (see here)
FP2	1'54.361 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)	1'53.380 Marc Marquez (see here)
FP3	1'54.966 Johann Zarco (see here)	1'54.677 Marc Marquez (see here)
FP4	1'55.248 Andrea Dovizioso (see here)	1'54.854 Danilo Petrucci (see here)
QP1	1'54.634 Jack Miller (see here)	1'54.270 Cal Crutchlow (see here)
QP2	1'53.680 Johann Zarco (see here)	1'53.546 Maverick Viñales (see here)
Warm-up	1'55.201 Marc Márquez (see here)	1'54.807 Danilo Petrucci (see here)
Course	Dovizioso, Marquez, Rossi (see here)
Records	1'53.680 Johann Zarco	1'54.208 Maverick Vinales (Test) 1'53.380 Marc Márquez

Unfortunately, during the training round, Fabio Quartararo experiences a technical problem with his motorcycle. The French rider will therefore have to start from the pit lane, possibly with his second motorcycle.

When the red lights go out, Andrea Dovizioso et Jack Miller made an excellent start while, a bit as usual, Maverick Vinales misses his. Marc Marquez positions himself 3rd in front Cal Crutchlow and Takaaki Nakagami.

At the back of the peloton, Valentino Rossi et Miguel Oliveira are off to a good start and occupy the twelfth and fifteenth positions respectively.

At the end of the first round Marc Márquez attack Jack Miller but it comes back immediately.

However, a few hundred meters further on, the Pramac rider experienced a problem with his machine and lost around ten places before tearing off a piece of his saddle.

https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1104793399574609922

The best lap in the race is then achieved by Fabio Quartararo in 1'55.0 while John Zarco rose to 16th position.

On your mind, Andrea Dovizioso is 2/10 ahead of the peloton led by Marc Márquez, Cal Crutchlow, Álex Rins, Joan Mir, Danilo Petrucci, Maverick Viñales, Takaaki Nakagami, Valentino Rossi and Franco Morbidelli.

Valentino Rossi then recovers 8th place, after 4 laps, just beforeAlex Rins took 2nd position and then the lead in the race.

The Ducati rider seems to be on a false rhythm but nevertheless regains leadership. Marc Márquez also overtakes the Suzuki driver in the straight after the 6th lap but the peloton remains grouped.

We then notice that Andrea Dovizioso has aerodynamic appendages fixed under his Ducati…

New victorious attackAlex Rins 15 laps from the checkered flag but the Ducati returns to the following straight.

The top 10 is then made up ofAndrea Dovizioso before Alex Rins, Marc Marquez, Joan Mir, Danilo Petrucci, Cal Crutchlow, Maverick Vinales, Valentino Rossi, Franco Morbidelli and Jack Miller.

Miguel Oliveira is 13th, Pol Espargaro 14th, Johann zarco 15th, Jorge Lorenzo 17th and Fabio Quartararo 19e.

On your mind, Alex Rins and Andrea Dovizioso, happen and go back and forth while Danilo Petrucci, also equipped with lower aerodynamic appendages, temporarily double Marc Márquez for 3rd position.

We still really have the impression thatAndrea Dovizioso try to slow down the race...

A little before halfway, Marc Márquez exceeds Alex Rins for 2nd place, which also benefits Danilo Petrucci before returning his place to the Suzuki driver.

Jack Miller abandoned.

10 laps from the checkered flag, Fabio Quartararo double Jorge Lorenzo for the gain of 17th place. He now has John Zarco targeted.

A lap later, the pace accelerates at the front of the race but is absolutely not constant. As a result, the tight group is yo-yoing a bit behind the number 4 Ducati whose rider seems to have his strategy... As a result, the 2 official Yamahas have closed in on the 6 men in front of them.

6 laps from the checkered flag, Valentino Rossi overtakes his teammate to gain 7th place, then does the same with Joan mir for the 6th. Who would have believed it given the qualification?

Gradually, Joan mir et Maverick Vinales lose contact with the 6 leading men.

4 laps from the checkered flag, the soft rear tire of Danilo Petrucci seems to be suffering and the 4 leading men, equipped as mediums, begin to break away: Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez, Alex Rins and Cal Crutchlow.

Alex Rins fails when braking and Cal Crutchlow benefit immediately.

Like he usually does, Valentino Rossi runs a very strong race and now passes Danilo Petrucci for 5th place.

There are 2 rounds left… When Andrea Dovizioso makes a small mistake which Marc Márquez take the opportunity to take the lead.

Bradley Smith will not finish the race and falls at turn number 1.

Thanks to the power of his Ducati, Andrea Dovizioso regains the lead in the straight at the start of the last lap. The Spanish driver takes all the risks with an attack on a very fast left. It takes more to impress Andrea Dovizioso who probably expected it and regains the advantage. As per usual, Marc Marquez still tries a somewhat daring attack in the last corner but Andrea Dovizioso crossed the finish line in the lead with a 0,023 second lead.

The podium is completed by Cal Crutchlow.

At the arrival, fabio quartararo, 16th, is very disappointed and breaks down in tears.

Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix: standings

Credit ranking: MotoGP.com