Qatar MotoGP test: Bagnaia tops the timesheets ahead of Martin on day 1

The first day of MotoGP testing in Qatar brought the sun, a sunset and the Lusail floodlights. After closing the recent Sepang test out front, Pecco Bagnaia powers the number 1 Ducati Desmosedici GP24 to the front of the pack again in Doha.

Bagnaia Vs Martin: are we in for a repeat of 2023?

Having battled it out all the way to Valencia last season, Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin are, understandably, the favourites for the 2024 season but the real question is, which of the two Borgo Panigale representatives will come out on top?

Although the 1'52"040 and 1'52"260 are to be considered in terms of the work completed in the Lenovo and Prima Pramac garages, the Time Attack result is nevertheless significant, because it reveals the potential of the rider-bike-team package.

Espargarò and Binder: Aprilia and KTM half a step behind the Ducatis

In this important classification, the current world champion and runner-up have a little more compared to the rest of the pack, though Aprilia and KTM are not far off. Aleix Espargarò and Brad Binder position the RS-GP and RC16 Factory third and fourth.

A hot top ten at Lusail

Six bikes place between Fabio Di Giannantonio and Fabio Quartararo, from Ducati to Aprilia and from Honda to Yamaha. This shows just how balances the championship now is as, while the Desmosedici continues to dominate, several manufacturers are able to make an impression over the flying lap.

Less than six tenths of a second separate Pecco Bagnaia from El Diablo in tenth. Like the RC213 V, the M1 benefits from concessions in accordance with the updated technical regulation and, for those who like variety, there’s a lot going on. Even outside the top ten.

Marquez and Acosta close, Pirro in place of Morbidelli

Marco Bezzecchi places eleventh with the Desmosedici GP23, while Raul Fernandez even found himself leading the way at one point – not at all bad considering that the Spaniard sustained injury during the Malaysian test.

Franco Morbidelli was forced to sit out the sessions, having already missed Sepang after suffering a training accident in Portimao. The Prima Pramac rider is nevertheless on site in Doha, as he waits to find out whether he’ll be passed fit to race. In the meantime, Michele Pirro continues with the development work aboard the Italo-Brazilian’s bike.

Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta lie fifteenth and sixteenth at the end of day one, and were far from slow, which tells us just how high the level is right now.

Test Qatar MotoGP, Day One