Rennie Scaysbrook | March 6, 2022
2022 Qatar MotoGP News—Sunday
A Bastia special
Enea Bastianini became MotoGP’s ninth first-time race winner in the past two seasons with a brilliantly judged ride in the 2022 curtain-raiser in Qatar. It was a performance that led Marc Marquez to claim he’s a possible title contender.
The 24-year old has graduated from a Ducati GP19 to the Gresini Ducati GP21 this year, the machine that won three of the final five races of 2021. But more than that, the Italian has ironed out weaknesses from the past, principally a lousy qualifying record.
“He made a step in the winter,” said Bastianini’s personal manager Carlo Pernat. “We spoke a lot. He worked a lot mentally and knew he had to work on this. He’s the kind of guy that when he wants something, he won’t stop working until he gets it. If you watch him, he’s always alone – no slipstream. He’s made a big step forward.”
Binder and KTM real challengers
Leaving the Sepang test, KTM appeared to be in a spin with its riders 15th and 18th fastest. But engineers pored over the data and worked on a range of set-up improvements that had Brad Binder immediately competitive at the following test. “Once the guys had time to really study the data and everything with our new package, they understood exactly what we needed to fix our issues,” said the South African.
Binder was reborn in Qatar. Having qualified seventh, he was forever fighting for the podium. Such was his speed toward the end of the race, he came within 0.3s of catching Bastianini at the end.
Asked where this RC16 is better than its predecessor, he responded, “The bike turns! Normally especially last year unless we were braking really hard, we really struggled to get the front to start coming around on lean angle. Whereas now I can release the front brake and just roll with a lot more corner speed. It gives me so much more confidence because you don’t have to be completely on the limit of the brakes every corner.”
Pecco pissed
Sunday was bittersweet for Ducati. Bastianini’s win was a triumph for its 2021 machine. But the men on the new GP22 had a desperate evening. Jack Miller retired with an electronics issue, while Pecco Bagnaia wiped out Jorge Martin at turn one.
None of the three were ever in the running for the podium. And after the usually phlegmatic Bagnaia railed at Ducati’s preseason strategy. “From his first day of test Enea just put fuel in the bike and rode. We were too concentrated on developing. From my point we will never touch the bike again – we’ll just ride,” he said.
“From the first day of testing, I never rode the same bike for two days in a row. I was discovering things during the race. This is something unacceptable. I need to focus more on my riding style, to adapt better and work for the track. From the first day of testing to FP3 we never worked to adapt my riding style to the bike or the track. You will arrive to the race not ready and this was the situation.”
Sunday
MotoGP
Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Ducati) had the finest day of his young MotoGP career in Qatar, taking a maiden class victory in tribute to former team owner, Fausto Gresini, who passed away in 2021 due to Covid-19.
Bastianini was sublime under the desert floodlights, starting from second on the grid and slowly working his way past Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and long-time race leader Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) to seal an emotional victory, the first for the Gresini team since Toni Elias took the 2006 Portuguese MotoGP at Estoril.
Binder was another star of the race as the South African rocketed off the third row of the grid to be fourth by turn one as the Repsol Hondas made the early running. Binder came on strong on the last lap and very nearly got Bastianini on the line, but his second place was just reward after a difficult preseason where KTM’s pace wasn’t evident in relation to the competition. It was KTM’s first top-six result in Qatar.
Third went to Pol Espargaro who used the double soft/soft tire combination to lead for three-quarters of the race until Bastianini roared past at turn one. Espargaro immediately ran off track after out-braking himself and slotted back behind Binder in third, a position he held to the flag despite increasing pressure from his brother Aleix on the factory Aprilia. It was an excellent race from Espargaro, who confirmed the progress made by the Honda factory over the winter.
Fourth went to Aleix Espargaro who created his own piece of history by finishing 2.2 seconds off the win, the closest margin to first place in the history of the Aprilia factory.
Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez came home fifth for Repsol Honda after failing to run the hot pace set first by Espargaro and finally by Bastianini. Marquez finished 0.8 seconds up on Suzuki’s Joan Mir, with his teammate Alex Rins in seventh. Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) pipped World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) on the line for eighth, the latter a sitting duck on his Yamaha that was down some 9 mph on top speed compared to the Ducati of Zarco. Rounding out the top 10 was LC Idemitsu Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami.
In the battle of the 2022 rookies, current Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM) took 15th, just ahead of Darren Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team), with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing Ducati) 17th and Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM) 18th.
Despite taking the win, Ducati will have mixed feelings about the opening round of the season as Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) retired early with electronic issues on his factory Ducati, and Francesco Bagnaia crashed into the side of pole sitter Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) at turn one on the 11th lap, taking both out of the race.
In the World Championship standings, Bastianini leads for the first time in his MotoGP career on 25 points from Brad Binder’s 20 and Pol Espargaro third on 16 points.
The next round of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship will be held at the new Mandalika circuit in Indonesia on March 20.
2022 Qatar MotoGP Results—Race
1 |
Enea Bastianini |
Duc |
|
2 |
Brad Binder |
KTM |
+0.346 |
3 |
Pol Espargaro |
Hon |
+1.351 |
4 |
Aleix Espargaro |
Apr |
+2.242 |
5 |
Marc Marquez |
Hon |
+4.099 |
6 |
Joan Mir |
Suz |
+4.843 |
7 |
Alex Rins |
Suz |
+8.81 |
8 |
Johann Zarco |
Duc |
+10.543 |
9 |
Fabio Quartararo |
Yam |
+10.536 |
10 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
Hon |
+14.967 |
Moto2
Leading from start to finish, Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) converted pole position into a dominant victory at the Grand Prix of Qatar to kick start his season in perfect fashion. The Italian beat second-place Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) by 6.154s on Sunday evening in the desert, the duo finishing comfortably up the road from third place Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who profited from late drama between Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia).
2022 Qatar Moto2 Results—Race
1 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
|
2 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 6.154 |
3 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 10.181 |
4 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 10.259 |
5 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 11.421 |
6 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 12.331 |
7 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Kal) |
+ 14.866 |
8 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 15.371 |
9 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 17.368 |
10 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 18.908 |
25 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
+56.336 |
Moto3
For the first time since the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) will stand on the top step of the podium after winning the Moto3 race at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The Italian beat Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) by just 0.037s after runaway race leader Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) suffered an issue with his fairing on Lap 11, with Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) fending off Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) for the final rostrum spot.
2022 Qatar Moto3 Results—Race
1 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
|
2 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.037 |
3 |
Kaito Toba |
(KTM) |
+ 0.573 |
4 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.594 |
5 |
John McPhee |
(Hus) |
+ 1.064 |
6 |
Diogo Moreira |
(KTM) |
+ 1.481 |
7 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 1.951 |
8 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
+ 2.545 |
9 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(KTM) |
+ 2.742 |
10 |
Xavier Artigas |
(CFMoto) |
+ 6.055 |
2022 Qatar MotoGP News—Saturday
Five manufacturers against ride height devices
Yet another Ducati innovation has caused a stir. The front ride height device, viewed in preseason testing on all Ducati GP22s, could well be banned from competition in 2023 or 2024. It’s believed the class’ other five manufacturers are in favour of the move.
The five manufacturers – Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia, KTM – in the MSMA have put forward a proposal to be discussed in the next GP Commission, which could lead to a ban next year.
Marc Marquez was the most outspoken rider on the ride height devices. “It’s something that in the future they must remove,” he said. “For the show, we don’t gain anything. OK, it’s a prototype bike, but for street bikes, it’s not necessary. Run off areas we are always trying to increase, now we are arriving faster on the brake point, now we are braking later. For the future, it makes no sense.”
FIM Gets Tough on Russia
The first GP of 2022 was a welcome distraction from the gloomy events in Ukraine. Fears the series wouldn’t react with suitable condemnation were initially confirmed on Thursday when the MotoGP field posed in front of the vapid slogan ‘United For Peace’. Support for Ukraine wasn’t expressed. Nor was there condemnation of Russia.
However, on Saturday an FIM announced a series of tough sanctions in relation to Russia’s invasion, including the suspension of FIM licences to the Motorcycle Federation of Russia and Belarusian Federation of Motorcycle Sport, and to suspend the functions of persons from MFR and BFMS acting as FIM Officials and as Commissions members/experts/agents of the FIM. As a result, no Russian and Belarusian riders, teams, and officials can take part in any FIM Events and activities.”
FIM President Jorge Viegas said, “The decisions announced today are in line with the recommendations and statements made by the International Olympic Committee, adapted to suit our sport.”
Yamaha blunted
If alarm bells weren’t ringing in Yamaha HQ after Fabio Quartararo’s preseason comments, then the year’s first qualifying session offered up a reality check. The Frenchman was the best of the M1s on Saturday, managing only eleventh place on the grid after fighting through Q1 for just the fourth time in his MotoGP career.
Quartararo was 8.1mph slower through the speed trap than Enea Bastianini’s Ducati GP21 and knows he has to ride on the absolute limit to compete. “The only strategy I have is to push at 100%,” he said, acknowledging a speed deficit isnt his only concern. “when we don’t have the rear grip, we are struggling so much and I think we have no margin to put more power in some acceleration. I would say the rear grip then the bike is totally shaking but this is because I put myself on the limit and when you put yourself on the limit in the end you arrive at a moment where the bike is not really stable anymore.”
Saturday
MotoGP
Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin slammed home his second consecutive pole position at the Losail International Circuit for the 2022 Qatar MotoGP, the Spaniard posting a 1:53.001 to edge fellow MotoGP sophomore Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) by 0.147s.
Third went to eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez, who set his time after following Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia. It looked for a time as if Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) would steal top spot or at least a position on the front row, but the Australia was bumped to row two and P4 after Bastianini’s flying lap right at the end of Q2, with Aleix Espargaro bagging a top five for Aprilia. Younger brother Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) lines up alongside him in sixth, with Brad Binder coming through Q1 to take seventh.
Joan Mir was disappointed with eighth but not as much as Bagnaia, who finished the session ninth on the factory Ducati. FP2 pacesetter Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had a quiet session in 10th, with both Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders struggling—Fabio Quartararo starts his title defense in 11th, one place ahead of teammate Franco Morbidelli.
2022 Qatar MotoGP Results—Saturday Q2
1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
1:53.011 |
2 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.147 |
3 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.272 |
4 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.287 |
5 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.308 |
6 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 0.335 |
7 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.339 |
8 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.396 |
9 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.400 |
10 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.470 |
Moto2
Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) benefitted from Sam Lowes’ (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) cancelled lap time to claim a maiden Moto2 pole position at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The Italian set a late 1:59.082 to lead Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) by just over a tenth, as Lowes slips to third after exceeding track limits.
2022 Qatar Moto2 Results—Saturday Q2
1 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
1:59.082 |
2 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.112 |
3 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.144 |
4 |
Filip Salac |
(Kal) |
+ 0.205 |
5 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 0.220 |
6 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.257 |
7 |
Jake Dixon |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.275 |
8 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Bos) |
+ 0.277 |
9 |
Aron Canet |
(Flexbox HP40) |
+ 0.398 |
10 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Kal) |
+ 0.446 |
11 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+0.469 |
14 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+0.589 |
28 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
+1.830 |
Moto3
For the first time in his World Championship career, Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) will start from pole position after leaving it late to set a session topping 2:04.811. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) came through Q1 to earn a fantastic P2, with Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) occupying the outside of the front row in P3 at the Grand Prix of Qatar.
2022 Qatar Moto3 Results—Saturday Q2
1 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
2:04.811 |
2 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Hus) |
+ 0.085 |
3 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.212 |
4 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.363 |
5 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.378 |
6 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(KTM) |
+ 0.725 |
7 |
John McPhee |
(Hus) |
+ 0.738 |
8 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.847 |
9 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.872 |
10 |
Ivan Ortola |
(KTM) |
+ 0.952 |
2022 Qatar MotoGP News–Friday
Suzuki fills a hole
After a winter’s worth of deliberation, Suzuki finally filled its team manager vacancy 14 months after Davide Brivio’s departure. The Hamamatsu factory opted for Livio Suppo, formerly of Ducati and Repsol Honda, to steer its ship and free up time for Project Leader Shinichi Sahara to focus on technical affairs.
Sahara recently revealed a number of names were in the running for the position. “Suddenly two weeks ago Sahara-san called me and said ‘so, we are ready to speak’. I said send me a proposal and the day after I replied saying ‘we have a deal’. It didn’t take too much to think about. I was excited,” said Suppo.
The Italian was asked whether extending the contracts of Joan Mir and Alex Rins – whose deals expire at the close of this year – was a priority, Suppo indicated he was in no rush. “Sahara-san said, when you have two strong riders like Joan and Alex the priority is to keep them on board, because it’s not easy to replace them. But on the other side, maybe this is because I’m getting older, if the MotoGP paddock could come back to what we did 15-20 years ago and wait until a little bit longer in the season to take any decisions this could be good for the sport.”
Factory Ducatis in late engine change
This wasn’t quite the start Ducati had envisioned to what was supposed to be a glorious 2022. Its men were outshone by Honda and Suzuki on the opening day. What was of greater interest was the fact factory riders Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller changed engine spec before the first race.
The switch to a different motor than the original ’22 spec – described by Bagnaia as “a mix of last year’s engine and this new year’s engine” tried in testing – was a decision made by factory management. What is puzzling is the other GP22s ridden by Jorge Martin, Johann Zarco and Luca Marini remain on the original 2022-spec engine used through testing.
Various Ducati riders had complained the original spec was too aggressive with the first touch of the throttle. The factory has duly acted. “This engine was for the riding style of Pecco and also Jack,” said Davide Tardozzi. “The other guys were happy with a different spec.”
MotoGP top speeds – Suzuki greatly improved
Top speeds from Friday’s FP2 underlined how Suzuki got more power out of the GSX-RR: Alex Rins was a surprise fastest, posting 220.7mph through the speed traps head of Johann Zarco’s Pramac Ducati, Enea Bastianini’s Gresini Ducati, and Joan Mir’s Suzuki, which all posted 219.2mph.
“For sure we improved from the last races of last year,” said Joan Mir. “This plus of the new engine which gives you a couple more tenths that is really important. It was not a revolution but it was a clear evolution, especially on the high rpms and we could see more top speed. Also we are using the ride height device that before we were not.”
Friday
MotoGP
Alex Rins completed a grand day for the factory Suzuki team by taking top spot in FP2 under the lights at Qatar for round one of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.
The Spaniard set a 1:53.432 lead Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) by 0.035s. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was 0.147 seconds behind his teammate to make it both Suzukis in the top three.
Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin was fourth and first Ducati home, ahead of the first Yamaha of Franco Morbidelli. Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) was a frustrated sixth, having had one of his fast laps thwarted by a coasting Remy Gardner as the rookie tried to get out of his compatriot’s way.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Factory Racing) was typically angry in seventh, his frustration this time aimed at teammate Maverick Vinales who inexplicably closed the throttle while on the racing line and nearly caused a collision with the fast closing Espargaro.
World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) was eighth from Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro and Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) was the last of the riders to get straight through to Q2 tomorrow with a 10th place finish in FP2.
2022 Qatar MotoGP Results—Friday
1 |
Alex Rins |
Suz |
1:53.432 |
2 |
Marc Marquez |
Hon |
+0.035 |
3 |
Joan Mir |
Suz |
+0.147 |
4 |
Jorge Martin |
Duc |
+0.220 |
5 |
Franco Morbidelli |
Yam |
+0.413 |
6 |
Jack Miller |
Duc |
+0.438 |
7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
Apr |
+0.454 |
8 |
Fabio Quartararo |
Yam |
+0.474 |
9 |
Pol Espargaro |
Hon |
+0.531 |
10 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
Duc |
+0.539 |
Moto2
FP1 pacesetter Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ended the Moto2 second Free Practice session at the top of the timesheets after the Spaniard set a 1:59.112, as the sun sets at the Grand Prix of Qatar. Rookie Pedro Acosta makes it a Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2 on day one, 0.160s off P1, with Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) – recovering from a broken hand – landing P3 late on.
Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team) led the charge for the Americans in ninth. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) was 17th, 1.159s off the pace, and Beaubier’s teammate Sean Dylan Kelly was 29th, 2.9 seconds down.
2022 Qatar Moto2 Results—Friday
1 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
1:59.112 |
2 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Kal) |
+ 0.160 |
3 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 0.164 |
4 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 0.437 |
5 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 0.444 |
6 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 0.547 |
7 |
Filip Salač |
(Kal) |
+ 0.554 |
8 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Kal) |
+ 0.590 |
9 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 0.593 |
10 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.650 |
Moto3
Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) claimed the first Friday Moto3 honors of the season thanks to a late 2:04.920 in FP2 at the Grand Prix of Qatar. John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) finished second, 0.424s off, with FP1 pacesetter Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) ending day one in third after failing to improve his time from earlier.
2022 Qatar Moto3 Results—Friday
1 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
2:04.920 |
2 |
John McPhee |
(Hus) |
+ 0.424 |
3 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.494 |
4 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.525 |
5 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.583 |
6 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.587 |
7 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.654 |
8 |
Carlos Tatay |
(CFMoto) |
+ 0.692 |
9 |
Xavier Artigas |
(CFMoto) |
+ 0.861 |
10 |
Riccardo Rossi |
(Hon) |
+ 0.910 |
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