The first Grand Prix of the new Moto GP season has kept all its promises in Qatar. Second on the starting line, Enea Bastianini waited for the final laps to take control of the race and thus win the very first MotoGP Grand Prix of his career. The young rider from the Gresini team (Ducati) quickly found himself in a favorable position due to the completely failed start of Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) who started from pole position but was immediately ejected from the top 5. Halfway through the race, the Spaniard fell following a failed overtaking attempt by Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati).
However, it was Pol Espargaro who took advantage of this bad start for “Martinator” for a long time. Five laps from the finish line, the Honda rider was still first and was managing his lead over his South African runner-up, Brad Binder. It was then that Enea Bastianini caught up with him by setting the fastest lap in 1′54′’338 and forcing Pol Espargaro off the track which finally allowed Binder to regain his second place at the arrival. The Iberian driver therefore completes the podium followed by… his brother Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), author of a fine comeback.
The French in trouble
Arriving only 11th in the first qualifying of the MotoGP season the day before, Fabio Quartararo was not among the favorites for this Grand Prix of Qatar despite his status as title holder. The fault of a less efficient and unstable machine due to a lack of rear tire grip. During qualifying, his Yamaha reached 336.4 km/h, the lowest peak on the grid, far from the 349.5 km/h recorded by Enea Bastianini. The Frenchman first made an excellent start then took advantage of the double fall of Martin and Bagnaia to glean two places. Not enough for the French rider who finished in ninth position after being overtaken by his compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) on the line.
“What’s frustrating is that I really give my all. I’m really here to get a good result and finish ninth on a circuit where I won last year,” said Fabio Quartararo at the end of the race. It hurts but you have to stay strong. The most important thing is to keep in mind that, regardless of the position, you give your all and today, honestly, I couldn’t do better. So we will have to find a solution. The reigning world champion will have the opportunity to move up the rankings in two weeks at the Indonesian Grand Prix.
