A crash in the first free trial and a painful tenth time trial in the second. Pecco Bagnaia’s World Cup starts uphill. The ‘birth’ of the 2022 world championship which, for a perfect game of fate, coincides with that of Giulietta, the eldest daughter of Valentino Rossi who became a father on the day in which the circus is orphaned of its brightest icon, highlights a faded Ducati and far from the best. The first tests are never such reliable indicators, but the Ducati’s debut on the track is still a weak alarm signal.
The Suzukis are flying, placing Alex Rins and Joan Mir in first and third place, and the new Honda, revised and corrected, by Marc Marquez, which is placed between the two Suzuki and confirms his progress thanks to the engagement, shows signs of vitality. of the expert Livio Suppo at the helm, who arrived to strengthen the performance of the Hamamatsu house. Back Bagnaia author of a fall without consequences in the first free practice session, which could leave its mark. A warning under the artificial lights of Losail, a track suitable for Ducati but which often did not give the Piedmontese rider great satisfaction on Fridays, considered one of the main favorites for the title. The Ducatis seem to have started with more difficulties than expected, likely that they still have to put together all the innovations they have brought. While the factory bikes of Borgo Panigale are struggling (Miller sixth), the best on the Desmosedici is the former rookie Martin with the fourth fastest time.
Quartararo also suffers with a Yamaha still lacking in top speed while Morbidelli, fifth, is climbing with the Yamaha. Out of the top ten Enea Bastianini. The glare of the Suzuki for some appears unexpected but not for the Japanese team. «Nice work on this first day on the track. Speed ok, in the engine we have made progress, on the chassis we have not yet decided which one to use. I can only say that we had a nice Friday, let’s see what happens in the future. Speed and consistency go hand in hand, now we have improved the engine and they don’t overtake us on the straight as they did before », declared Rins, more than ever ready to speak out about him for the new season.
Satisfaction was also expressed by Marc Marquez, completely recovered after the problems in his arm and sight. «I’m trying to ride very clean, I can’t use the riding style before, and I need a different one with this Honda, so I’m trying to be very clean and effective. We are still a long way off in the pace, the two Suzuki and Quartararo are superior in this. But I’m happy to have started like this, on this track I usually struggle », explained the Iberian champion who does not hide his ambitions, although he warned that on Sunday it will not be easy to aim for victory. «When I try to go faster, I actually go slower, but for sure in Mandalika I understood how to ride this bike, I like it from a physical point of view too. But I can’t be more aggressive, in front it’s not how I like it. For now I can’t fight for the victory », added Cervera’s talent.