After 4 months of waiting, the Moto GP championship starts a new journey as the lights iluminate the “Losali International Circuit” for this year´s Qatar Grand Prix. As numerous changes are seen on the grid, among new debutant riders, all of them on the hunt for the golden prize. On exciting 19 rounds that are ahead to come over the next months.

The first Qualy session saw the defending champion, Joan Mir, having to do some extra work, with other notable to mention as Binder, Petrucci, Nakagami, Alex Marquez, Oliveira, Lecuona and some debutant riders as Enea Bastianini, Luca Mariri and Jorge Martin. Another thing to comment, is that Marc Marquez still couldn´t fully recover from last year´s injury and would miss the first 2 races of the calendar.

First minutes passed by with Joan Mir setting the fastest time of the session, with Pramac rookie, Jorge Martin was P2 at that moment, showing good sectors on track, Nakagami, Alex Marquez and Bastianini completed the top 5 on the first stint. Last attempts to improve the lap times and riders went red on the sectors. As the riders finished the session, only Nakagami and Martin could enter on their respective last attempt, meanwhile Mir and Bastianini wait for the results. Martin hit the first two sectors on red by suffered a long run at a turn and went to the gravel; Meanwhile the Japanesse rider Takaaki Nakagami went the fastest on track with a great last lap, demoting Bastianini out of Q2. Joan Mir joined him at Q2 as the Spaniard ended 2nd place on the session.

Q1 Results:

13. Enea Bastianini /// 14. Jorge Martín /// 15. Miguel Oliveira
16. Álex Márquez /// 17. Stefan Bradl /// 18. Luca Marini
19. Brad Binder /// 20. Danilo Petrucci ///21. Iker Lecuona
22. Lorenzo Savadori

A lot of expectations on the next Q2, as both Yamahas and Ducatis were setting the fastest times all weekend long, it was hard to tell who could take the first pole of the year. It started strong for Fabio Quartararo, as the new Monster Yamaha rider set the best time on the first stint, followed by a Ducati-Yamaha-Ducati-Yamaha train, as Miller, Viñales Bagnaia and Morbidelli completed the first 5 spots of the provisional grid.

Tension was rising up, as rider developed their final lap on the track. A strong statement was made by Francesco Bagnaia, as the Italian rider went flying on track with a massive lap that gave him his maiden pole position and smashed the track record by almos half a second. Monster Yamaha riders closed the first row with Quartararo and Viñales respectively. Rossi took an ace from his sleeve as the veteran rider ended with a strong 4th place on the grid, as Jack Miller closed the top 5 on the first Qualy session of the season.

Tension was rising up, as rider developed their final lap on the track. A strong statement was made by Francesco Bagnaia, as the Italian rider went flying on track with a massive lap that gave him his maiden pole position and smashed the track record by almos half a second. Monster Yamaha riders closed the first row with Quartararo and Viñales respectively. Rossi took an ace from his sleeve as the veteran rider ended with a strong 4th place on the grid, as Jack Miller closed the top 5 on the first Qualy session of the season.

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Q2 Results:

1. Francesco Bagnaia /// 2. Fabio Quartararo /// 3. Maverick Viñales
4. Valentino Rossi /// 5. Jack Miller /// 6. Johann Zarco
7. Franco Morbidelli /// 8. Aleix Espargaró /// 9. Álex Rins
10. Joan Mir /// 11. Takaaki Nakagami /// 12. Pol Espargaró

Hard to tell who could take the first race of the season; As many riders look competitive on track, it can only be said that some strong battles and unexpected surprises could happen on tomorrow´s race.