Submitted by David Emmett on
Alex Rins has topped the first day of practice at Qatar, topping the timesheets in FP2. The Suzuki Ecstar rider deposed Marc Marquez on his final lap, beating the Repsol Honda rider by just over three hundredths of a second. Joan Mir finished off a good day for Suzuki, taking third spot and putting both bikes through to Q2, and showing a strong turn of speed along Qatar's kilometer-long straight.
Jorge Martin was the first of the Ducatis, the Pramac rider putting his GP22 into fourth, ahead of an impressive Franco Morbidelli on the Monster Energy Yamaha. Jack Miller jumped up to sixth spot, after a frustrating tangle with tangle with Remy Gardner, while Aleix Espargaro put the Aprilia RS-GP into seventh. A frustrated Fabio Quartararo took eighth, after an incident in which it looked like his rear ride-height device got stuck. Pol Espargaro was ninth fastest on the second Repsol Honda, while Pecco Bagnaia put the other factory Ducati into tenth.
With temperatures much higher in FP3, the chances of any changes in the order are practically zero. The current top ten look certain to proceed directly to Q2 tomorrow.
Results:
| Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Prev |
| 1 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 1'53.432 | ||
| 2 | 93 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 1'53.467 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| 3 | 36 | Joan Mir | Suzuki | 1'53.579 | 0.147 | 0.112 |
| 4 | 89 | Jorge Martin | Ducati | 1'53.652 | 0.220 | 0.073 |
| 5 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha | 1'53.845 | 0.413 | 0.193 |
| 6 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | 1'53.870 | 0.438 | 0.025 |
| 7 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1'53.886 | 0.454 | 0.016 |
| 8 | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | 1'53.906 | 0.474 | 0.020 |
| 9 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | Honda | 1'53.963 | 0.531 | 0.057 |
| 10 | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 1'53.971 | 0.539 | 0.008 |
| 11 | 23 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati | 1'54.013 | 0.581 | 0.042 |
| 12 | 30 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda | 1'54.038 | 0.606 | 0.025 |
| 13 | 88 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM | 1'54.053 | 0.621 | 0.015 |
| 14 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Yamaha | 1'54.153 | 0.721 | 0.100 |
| 15 | 33 | Brad Binder | KTM | 1'54.247 | 0.815 | 0.094 |
| 16 | 73 | Alex Marquez | Honda | 1'54.475 | 1.043 | 0.228 |
| 17 | 12 | Maverick Viñales | Aprilia | 1'54.524 | 1.092 | 0.049 |
| 18 | 5 | Johann Zarco | Ducati | 1'54.565 | 1.133 | 0.041 |
| 19 | 25 | Raul Fernandez | KTM | 1'54.884 | 1.452 | 0.319 |
| 20 | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 1'54.900 | 1.468 | 0.016 |
| 21 | 87 | Remy Gardner | KTM | 1'54.929 | 1.497 | 0.029 |
| 22 | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | 1'55.371 | 1.939 | 0.442 |
| 23 | 10 | Luca Marini | Ducati | 1'55.775 | 2.343 | 0.404 |
| 24 | 40 | Darryn Binder | Yamaha | 1'55.915 | 2.483 | 0.140 |
Comments
Rookies
Trying to imagine being on a bike like this in practice for the first time and you're only 1.5 sec behind the fastest guy. That's unbelievable. And then you're in 19th, it's just mind boggling.
2022 Suzuki
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Suzuki pull out of a Ducati’s slipstream and pass so easily. What a compliment to the guys back at Hamamatsu and Sylvain!
Agreed.
That's one fast suzuki.
Wow
I had my ears pricked after Mir said he was looking to extend his stay at Suzuki. I thought then that they had the full package. Thought I did not expect to me this good at Qatar! Not usual to see Mir so up the timesheets in practice as well! Maybe they have also sorted out their qualifying issues!
Prognostications after just
Prognostications after just the first Friday (not really). Terse response from Tardozzi. Sober media debrief by Martin. Mr. Smooth Zarco off the pace. Maybe a savvy move by Bagnaia and Miller. Ducati will figure out the engine business. Crikey, they are based in Motor Valley, Italy. But the "how" and more importantly "when" will be interesting to watch unfold.
Top Speeds
-Suzuki : 354.6 -Aprilia 352.9 -Honda : 352.3 -Ducati : 351.5 -KTM : 347.2 -Yamaha : 345.8
Top speeds!
At a rough guess that gains
At a rough guess that gains Suzuki a bit over 1 tenth compared to the Yamaha on the main straight...if they exit at same speed.
Friday rundown video
Video 4 mins Friday rundown
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6WTc8EhA7js
Dovi .7 off fastest
and only .274 off Fabio. Just sayin'
;-)
I hope you are right about
I hope you are right about Yamaha! (So little change has lots of us good and worried, and racing against a Duc is different than running a lap on your own of course. There could be worry that Quarty can't keep overriding like he has been and escape a big injury...dice rolls!). And that we have all been wrong about the Suzuki and Mir not being so strong. They haven't been tipped highly before today anyway, eh? Suppo! Cool addition. Much more blunt and assertive than gentle family guy Brivio. Suzuki may hear more from him about things like adding a Jr Team.
Morbidelli looks good. I love what he did w his helmet btw, great statement. What a good guy!
Anyone anticipating that some more is to come from a few bikes? The wick could be down just a bit for the first FP Friday of the year.
Very last minute switch to the 2021 motor for Duc, they must have some sorting to do integrating it into the other changes.
The brand new Honda just had the umbilical cord cut, must be teething. Coming good really fast and easily though! Pol, yes he often smiles, but today he was BEAMING. Very pleased with the bike they've brought.
Conversely, not optimistic at all about Rins staying up here where his Friday performance is. His first few Rounds even might look good, but his right hand slams the hot tap off in favor of a chill. Hitting a parked track vehicle on his bicycle was poetic. Heaps of talent and skill. To late for him to change his ways, looks his nature. He can cook! Always with pressure, that blows his lid off leaving a mess to mop up. Great rider, but preferring to see Mir get joined by (Raul? As little as I like him personally). Fernandez tippers are looking smart.
Marquez looks confident. He pushed at the limit deep in braking. Had a save in FP2 and kept at it unfazed.
Quartararo, nice blonde hair again, looks a bit sullen off the bike today.
Aprilia has a bit more powder in pocket, don't you think? They've just made many big changes to sort. Aleix is full gas. Maverick isn't yet.
Track is cleaner this visit. Nice that the nearby construction was finished. We won't hit the dew fall time mid race time either...promising conditions. High pressure system is being felt by most of the riders though - the whole paddock seems intense, doesn't it?
finally
i'm bouncing of the walls here. I think we're in for a lot of surprises this season.
Also, knew it was coming but strange not seeing Rossi on the sheets anymore.
Marc doing Marc things. Came
Marc doing Marc things. Came out behind Mir. Got his first time behind Bastia to which Pol seemed to be pointing at the screen and going a bit skitz over before stopping immediately once the director flicked over to him doing it.. The video delay working to perfection!
Then Marc follows Pol around to cap off a great session to go 2nd. This is why he's the big draw.. He's adored and hated in equal parts depending on who you get behind (snap!).
He knows how to get them riled up. In 2021 it was Mir. Vinales (so so good that one). Fabio. Pol. The only one immune to it seemed to be Jack who was flattered and joked around with him instead at their practice start immediately afterwards.
Yes, he's such a genius at
Yes, he's such a genius at the passive/aggressive tow. I noticed it acutely during his absence post-Jerez (and subsequent return). I think some other riders actively avoid doing it (because of their ego?), even though they'd probably benefit massively (*cough Fabio *cough). I can see how it doesn't feel entirely sporting... but do you want to be an 8-time world champion or not? Shark Marquez definitely sniffs blood this season!
Mind-game Master Marquez.
Mind-game Master Marquez. Probably why his and Rossi's relationship was destined to become so caustic. Both masters of multiple facets of The Game. If Marc can pull off a win mañana, on a track that historically is not his or Honda's best, teeny-weeny seeds of doubt might begin to sprout in the minds of 2022 motogp championship contenders.