Jack Miller lines up everyone on the first day of free practice of the MotoGP and confirms that in Qatar the Ducatis are able to make a difference. On Friday in Losail, home to the inaugural appointment of the 2021 World Championship, the Ducati of the Australian (Lenovo Team) stands out at the end of the second session with a time of 1’53.387. Miller, who had already achieved the best time in tests on this circuit, opens his season as an official driver ahead of his teammate Francesco Bagnaia by just 35 thousandths. Third time for the Yamaha of the French Fabio Quartararo, whose delay is in any case under two cents (+0.188), ahead of another Ducati, that of his compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing, +0.199) and the Suzuki of Alex Rins ( +0.236). The other official Yamaha of Maverick Vinales sixth, seventh Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha), who had dominated the first session with a best time of 1’54.921. The top ten was closed by Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), driving a V4 that continues to surprise, Valentino Rossi, at the first official weekend in Petronas Yamaha, 487 thousandths behind and finally Pol Espargaro (Honda), protagonist of two falls, one for turn.
World champion Joan Mir (Suzuki) is out of the top ten, with a disappointing eleventh time. Enea Bastianini finished with the 15th time trial, with the 17th Luca Marini, with the 20th Danilo Petrucci. On Saturday, at 1.15 pm Italian time, the hour of truth strikes with qualifying. Marc Marquez is still absent, and the Honda Puig team manager gave an update to Sky’s microphones: «The doctors explained that it was better to wait, we must respect their instructions. A new control visit is planned for the beginning of April. Marc in Portimao? Let’s hope”. Marquez will be in Qatar next week to have his second vaccine booster, but he is not expected to hit the track.