The Ducati Lenovo Team is ready to take to the track at the Losail International Circuit in Doha from 4 to 6 March to face the GP of Qatar, the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship which, as usual, will be held at night.
On the track, which this year will host the World Championship for the nineteenth time since its introduction to the calendar in 2004, Ducati has so far obtained 15 podiums including 5 victories, the most recent dating back to 2019 with Andrea Dovizioso.
Last year, in the first GP of the year held in Qatar, Francesco Bagnaia, making his debut with the factory team from Borgo Panigale, set the new circuit record in 1: 52.772, obtaining his first pole position in the class Queen. Pecco then secured his first podium of the season by finishing the race in third position. After an exciting 2021 season finale, the Italian driver is confident that he can also start the new Championship in a very competitive way.
Even Jack Miller, who had closed the last edition of the Qatar GP in ninth position, is convinced that he can immediately be among the main protagonists of the Championship, returning immediately to the podium after the good progression that had seen him obtain two consecutive third places in the last two events of 2021.
Francesco Bagnaia is one of the big favorites this season. Losail has often been a favorable track for the Desmosedici and the Piedmontese is aware of this. The goal is to try to win right away.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: MotoGP
“The first Grand Prix of the year is always a special moment and playing it at night in Qatar makes the atmosphere even more suggestive. After the winter break, we only had five days of testing in Sepang and Mandalika to be able to prepare for the start of the Championship, so it will be really important to be able to make good use of the days of Friday and Saturday to finish the last setup tests in view of the competition. The Losail International Circuit is a track that lends itself a lot to the characteristics of our Desmosedici GP, so I am confident and, as always, I will aim to get the maximum result! ”.
Jack Miller, after his first season as a Ducati starter, will have to try to be more continuous and deserve the renewal of his contract, considering that behind him – at Ducati – there are young riders ready to take his place.
“I am ready to compete in the first GP of the season in Qatar! This year like never before, I feel determined and strong, not only physically, but mentally as well. In 2021, here in Losail we had been fast both in testing and in practice, but then in the race we were unable to achieve the desired results. I hope it goes differently this year and to be able to start the season immediately as a protagonist! “
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