Tag: MotoGP

10 Mar 2024

Marquez “gave up” maiden Ducati MotoGP podium shot in Qatar GP

The eight-time grand prix world champion enjoyed a strong debut on the 2023-spec Ducati in Qatar, finishing fifth in the sprint before going one better in the grand prix. Marquez put Pramac’s Jorge Martin under pressure for third in the second half of the grand prix and got to within four tenths of the Spaniard […]

Continue Reading
10 Mar 2024

2024 Aprilia MotoGP bike like an F1 car in Qatar corners

Aprilia overhauled its V4-powered RS-GP over the winter, with its new aerodynamic concept turning heads when it was seen for the first time at the Sepang test last month. The updated bike appears to be a clear step forward over 2023, with Espargaro enjoying a strong run to third in the half-distance race in Qatar […]

Continue Reading
10 Mar 2024

‘The question is, can we finish the race?’

Quartararo could only muster a 12th-place finish in the best of the two factory Yamahas in Saturday’s half-distance race at the Losail International Circuit, finishing almost 13 seconds off the lead in what was only an 11-lap contest. Having already suffered all weekend with a lack of pace in low-grip conditions, the Frenchman also reported […]

Continue Reading
10 Mar 2024

Martin fears chatter woe will make Qatar MotoGP sprint repeat “impossible”

Polesitter Martin led Saturday’s first sprint of the 2024 season from start to finish to score his 10th half-distance race win since the format was introduced last year. But the Spaniard admitted that rear chatter problems on used tyres that plagued him throughout pre-season testing reared their head in Saturday’s sprint. As such, he felt he […]

Continue Reading
09 Mar 2024

Qatar MotoGP track no longer a ‘nightmare’ on Ducati

The six-time MotoGP world champion made his Ducati race debut on Saturday in Qatar in the first sprint of the year, finishing fifth after qualifying sixth for Gresini Racing. Marquez was a factor in the podium battle before a late mistake cut him adrift, but he still said he achieved the goal he set out […]

Continue Reading
09 Mar 2024

Martin controls sprint, Marquez fifth on Ducati debut

Just over 100 days after the 2023 championship – in which Martin finished runner-up – concluded, the 2024 campaign began under the Losail lights on Saturday with the 11-lap sprint. Starting from pole, Martin – last year’s most successful rider in the sprints – led all 11 laps of the half-distance race to win from […]

Continue Reading
09 Mar 2024

Martin snatches pole, Marquez sixth for Ducati debut

Pramac rider Martin posted a sensational 1m50.789s flying lap on his first run in Saturday’s afternoon qualifying session to take the spot by 0.083 seconds over the Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro. The Spanish rider, runner-up in the championship to Francesco Bagnaia last year, was on course to better his time on his final effort but […]

Continue Reading
09 Mar 2024

Marc Marquez fastest in wet second practice

Rain hit the track at around 7pm local time in Losail, an hour before the scheduled start of the session and while the final Moto3 practice session of the day was running. Although the rain lasted for a brief period, it left the circuit too wet to allow any MotoGP running on slick tyres, prompting […]

Continue Reading