Qualifying:
For those of you who do not watch Moto3 and Moto2, and we recommend you do, this race was the first for many after months of frustration without our favourite sport.
Quali turned out with an interesting twist, the Red Team on top with Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo Team P1. Fabio Quartararo, strong as ever was P2 and his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team mate Maverick Vinales P3. Valentino Rossi, now in the Petronas Yamaha SRT box, was P4. Notable of course was the riders we miss, Marc Marquez still not fit enough to ride after a winter of rehab, and Andrea Dovizioso, retired, or waiting to see what Aprilia might bring to the table?
The Race
What! Off the start line, the Ducatis just screamed past everyone, and I mean four of the red machines trouncing the opposition. The other teams need to look at this, as although the start is not the race, at certain tracks this advantage could be critical.
So it was Bagnaia, Miller, Zarco and Jorge Martin in the first four slots on lap one. Crash!, Petrucci off. Oh, Danilo what did you do, maybe he was wishing he was on a red machine and not an orange, blue and red one as he hit the deck.
Fabio, Maverick and Vale may have been shocked at the start, but they kept their cool and set about working towards the boys in red. First to go was Jorge Martin, as Fabio Quartararo undercut him and then Maverick picked Jorge off, so now it was Pecco Bagnaia P1, Johann Zarco P2, Miller P3 and the Yamaha boys. Suzuki was there, but not quite on the rest at this early stage in the race.
Fifteen laps to go and Fabio slotted into third with teammate Maverick fourth, just two Ducatis ahead of them now, the Yamahas looking steady and calm, more planted than the red machines, just lacking the horses for the straight which has for some time been the Ducati advantage. With 11 laps to go it was Pecco P1, Maverick strong and now P2, Zarco P3 Miller P4 and Fabio dropping to P5.
Eight laps to go and Maverick Vinales, using the Yamaha corner speed to his advantage, took Bagnaia for the lead, the Duke’s power not helping now. Depending on which Maverick you get on the day, he can be brilliant, and this day he was top gun, for sure. Pecco second and Johann Zarco third meant the Ducatis were still a danger, and up to fourth, Joan Mir was lurking, and you dismiss the world champion at your peril, as everyone found out in 2020.
Two laps to go and Joan Mir took Bagnaia, class riding from the world champion with Maverick in the lead and looking like the race was his to lose. Zarco looked too far for Mir, but nobody told Joan as he sliced under the Ducati rider to take second in the final sector of the final lap.
The Result
Last corner and Mir went too wide, losing the advantage of corner speed, not good when the red machines are close and powerful, and over the line, it was Maverick the winner, Johann Zarco second, Bagnaia third and a gutted Joan Mir fourth. Fabio fifth on the second Factory Yamaha.
Edge of the seat stuff, this race, and more to come as the riders use their different skill sets and bike setups to create these exciting spectacles of motorsport excellence.
Next week the MotoGP grids will be back at the Losail circuit in Qatar, see you there for more sparked
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Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
