MotoGP | Here are the Sky and TV8 TV times of the Qatar GP

The wait is over. After Formula 1, MotoGP also gets serious again this weekend, with the Lusail circuit hosting the opening round of the 2024 season, the Qatar Grand Prix. All the teams already have important references on this track, given that it was on the Qatari track that the last pre-season tests took place. In light of what we saw in those two days, one might say that there is a risk of restarting exactly where we left off.

The 2023 season ended with Pecco Bagnaia's second world title, who also won the final race in Valencia. And the Ducati rider was also the star of the winter, setting the best time in both Malaysia and Qatar and in both cases shattering the track record by a full eight tenths.

Ducati seems to have made an important leap with the GP24, because Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin were also very competitive, but they will also have to confirm this in a real weekend. Without underestimating the new internal threat that bears the name of Marc Marquez, who after 11 seasons “betrayed” Honda to get on Gresini Racing's GP23. The eight-time world champion may have struggled more than expected to get to grips with the Desmosedici, but it's a safe bet that he will immediately try to leave his mark on the Red.

The tests have shown that the Ducati's first pursuers could be Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia, with the Noale manufacturer appearing to have made an important step forward, especially thanks to the many innovations introduced at an aerodynamic level. But be careful not to underestimate KTM, which in turn wants to do battle with Brad Binder, but also with the highly anticipated rookie Pedro Acosta, who has already demonstrated that he can be very fast aboard the RC16.

The race weekend will also give us the opportunity to weigh the progress made by Honda and Yamaha. It is undeniable that the two Japanese brands worked hard during the winter break to improve their bikes, but the road to returning to the top still seems long. He will begin to tell us how much this weekend.

While waiting to get to the heart of things, below you will find the complete program of the weekend, as well as the television and LIVE programming on Motorsport.com.

MotoGP 2024: Qatar Grand Prix times

The Lusail circuit returns to host the inaugural race of the MotoGP World Championship and the format that became traditional last year awaits the MotoGP riders. As per tradition, however, in Qatar we race at night and, also thanks to the time difference, the Sprint will start on Saturday when it will be 5pm in Italy and the long race at 6pm on Sunday.

Friday 8 March

FP1 Moto3: 12:00-12:35
FP1 Moto2: 12.50-13.30
FP1 MotoGP: 1.45pm-2.30pm
FP2 Moto3: 4.15pm-4.50pm
FP2 Moto2: 5.05pm-5.45pm
P MotoGP: 18:00-19:00

Saturday 9 March

FP3 Moto3: 10.30-11.00
FP3 Moto2: 11.15am-11.45am
FP2 MotoGP: 12:00-12:30
MotoGP Qualifying: 12.40-13.20
Moto3 Qualifying: 2.50pm-3.30pm
Moto2 Qualifying: 3.45pm-4.25pm
Sprint MotoGP: 5pm

Sunday 10 March

MotoGP Warm-Up: 1.40pm-1.50pm
Moto3 race: 3pm
Moto2 race: 4.15pm
MotoGP race: 6pm

MotoGP 2024: how can I watch the Qatar Grand Prix

Sky Sport MotoGP HD (Sky channel 208) and Now: complete live broadcast of all the weekend sessions and MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 races.

TV8 HD (channel 8 of digital terrestrial): live coverage of qualifying and the MotoGP Sprint on Saturday. The races of the three classes have been postponed to Sunday (Moto3 at 5.05pm; Moto2 at 6.20pm; MotoGP at 8.05pm).

MotoGP 2024: Motorsport.com's LIVE coverage of the Qatar Grand Prix

Saturday 9 March

MotoGP Qualifying: from 12.10pm
Sprint MotoGP: from 4.30pm

Sunday 10 March

MotoGP race: from 5.30pm

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

MotoGP 2024: let's discover the Lusail circuit

The Lusail International Circuit is a track much loved by MotoGP riders and teams. Indeed, the final days of pre-season testing for 2024 took place there. After being moved to the back end of the calendar in 2023 to allow for track work, Lusail is once again the season-opening venue. This weekend will also mark the 20th anniversary of its inclusion in the World Championship.