Pecco Bagnaia, the current titleholder, broke the previous track record at Qatar’s Lusail circuit as the pre-season testing for MotoGP 2024 came to an end. Bagnaia, representing Ducati, took the lead in both first and second place. Ducati and Aprilia dominated the top 10 positions. Meanwhile, Marquez showed improvement but also had his first crash.
Bagnaia achieved a clean sweep by being the fastest in the previous test at Sepang as well. With two hours left in the seven-hour session, he set a time of 1m50.952s, surpassing Luca Marini’s pole record from the previous year by eight-tenths of a second.
The track conditions were perfect, as evidenced by 10 other riders surpassing the previous lap record. However, only one rider came close to challenging Bagnaia’s time. His Ducati teammate, Enea Bastianini, finished just a tenth of a second behind. This performance marks a significant improvement for Bastianini compared to his struggles in 2023.
At Aprilia, Aleix Espargaro once again led the way in third place, despite a crash that briefly halted the session. His teammates, Raul Fernandez and Maverick Vinales, closely followed in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Fernandez, who missed most of the Sepang test due to injuries from an early crash, initially rode a 2023-spec Aprilia for the new satellite team Trackhouse. However, he may receive an upgrade later in the season.
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez made notable progress in terms of single-lap pace. He set the fastest lap on a 2023-spec Ducati and finished fourth overall, sandwiched between Espargaro and his Aprilia colleagues. Although he was 0.383s behind the leader, Marquez had a fall at Turn 4, resulting in scuffed leathers on the right side. Nevertheless, he remained positive upon returning to the pit box.
Three more Ducatis, Jorge Martin (Pramac), Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Marco Bezzecchi (both VR46), secured positions in the top 10. This meant that the top 10 positions were dominated by Italian bikes, with the exception of Brad Binder, who made a late improvement to finish ninth for KTM.
Fabio Quartararo represented Yamaha as the fastest rider, with a time one-tenth quicker than his teammate Alex Rins. However, Quartararo only managed to secure 14th place overall, over a second slower than Bagnaia. This performance strongly suggests that Yamaha continues to struggle with single-lap pace.
The Yamaha M1s were faster than any of the Honda RC213Vs, but Honda’s program was hindered by illness affecting factory riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini. Mir’s mileage was limited as a result, and he crashed late in the session while on a potentially fast lap. The same fate befell LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco, who nonetheless finished as the top representative for Honda.
The MotoGP season will begin at the Lusail circuit in early March, with a sprint race scheduled for March 9th and the grand prix race taking place on March 10th.
2024
In a surprising turn of events, a major upset occurred in the world of sports yesterday. The underdog team, who were considered to have little chance of winning, managed to pull off a stunning victory against the reigning champions. This unexpected outcome has left fans and experts alike in shock.
The match started off with the favored team taking an early lead. They dominated the game for the first half, leaving their opponents struggling to keep up. However, everything changed in the second half when the underdogs made a remarkable comeback. They displayed incredible skill and determination, turning the tide of the game in their favor.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the underdog team continued to defy the odds. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as they witnessed what could only be described as a sporting miracle. It was a moment that will go down in history and be remembered for years to come.
The victory has not only boosted the underdog team’s confidence but has also sent shockwaves through the sports world. Many are now questioning the abilities of the reigning champions and wondering if their era of dominance is coming to an end. The underdogs, on the other hand, have proven that anything is possible in sports and that hard work and determination can lead to extraordinary results.
This unexpected outcome serves as a reminder to never underestimate the underdogs. It is a testament to the power of perseverance and the thrill of unpredictability in sports. As fans, we can only wait and see what other surprises the world of sports has in store for us.
