Once the winter tests have been archived, the time has finally come to start getting serious for the protagonists of the MotoGP. As has become tradition, the season kicks off with the Qatar Grand Prix, set for the weekend of 5-6 March.
Compared to the past, however, there are at least a couple of substantial differences that deserve to be underlined. The first is that, after 26 years of career, 22 of those in the premier class, this time on the starting grid there will be Valentino Rossi, who has decided to hang up his helmet at the end of 2021.
The second is that for the first time in many years the drivers will experience Losail as a normal race weekend. In the recent past, in fact, the Qatari track had always hosted the last pre-season test, so the teams arrived very ready for the first round of the season. This time, however, they will have to settle for the tests available on Friday and Saturday to fine-tune their bikes.
MotoGP 2022: the favorites
If the “Doctor” is no longer there, the tests have confirmed that we are heading towards a very interesting season, with all the manufacturers who have given the feeling of having very competitive bikes in their hands, capable of trying to fit in at least in the battle for the podium.
Obviously, however, there will be some special observers and it could not be otherwise: after the great final of 2021, many point to Ducati and Pecco Bagnaia as the big favorites, with a further evolved Desmosedici GP, the first bike to also bring the possibility to the front. to lower the motorcycle in motion.
The reigning champion cannot be missing from the list of favorites, even if Fabio Quartararo has experienced a winter that we could define as troubled, in which he complained above all about the lack of developments on the part of Yamaha. Will it be pretactic or real concern?
Who seems to have finally put his problems behind him, be it those in his right arm or those of diplopia (double vision), is Marc Marquez. The eight-time world champion will also be able to count on a completely revamped Honda RC213V and therefore comes to the start with many eyes on him.
But also pay attention to possible outsiders, such as the 2020 champion Joan Mir, with a Suzuki that has given the feeling of having grown a lot over the winter. But also to the Aprilia riders, very brilliant in the pre-season, who could also take advantage of a track historically favorable to the RS-GP.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Honda Racing
MotoGP 2022: the times of the Qatar Grand Prix
The format of the first race of the season is historically different from the traditional one, given that the race is held at night, under the artificial lights of the Losail track.
The MotoGP, therefore, will take to the track after the Moto2 not only on Sunday, but also on Friday and Saturday. In addition, between the night and the two-hour time zone that separate us from Qatar, the race on Sunday will start when in Italy it will be 16. Below, you can find the complete weekend program.
Friday 4th March
FP1 Moto3: 9: 50-10: 30
FP1 Moto2: 10: 45-11: 25
FP1 MotoGP: 11: 40-12: 25
FP2 Moto3: 14: 10-14: 50
FP2 Moto2: 15: 05-15: 45
FP2 MotoGP: 16: 00-16: 45
Saturday 5th March
FP3 Moto3: 9: 25-10: 05
FP3 Moto2: 10: 20-11: 00
FP3 MotoGP: 11: 15-12: 00
Moto3 qualifications: 13: 30-14: 10
Moto2 qualifications: 14: 25-15: 05
FP4 MotoGP: 15: 20-15: 50
MotoGP qualifications: 16: 00-16: 40
Sunday 6 March
Moto3 Warm-Up: 11: 00-11: 10
Moto2 Warm-Up: 11: 20-11: 30
MotoGP Warm-Up: 11: 40-12: 00
Moto3 Race: 1:00 pm
Moto2 race: 14:20
MotoGP race: 4:00 pm
MotoGP 2022: how can I see the Qatar Grand Prix
Sky Sport MotoGP HD (Sky Channel 208): full live coverage of all the weekend sessions.
TV8 and TV8 HD (digital terrestrial channel 8): deferred qualifications and races.
Saturday 5th March: Qualifying summary at 6.45pm.
Sunday 6 March: times yet to be confirmed.
MotoGP 2022: the LIVE of Motorsport.com’s Qatar GP
Saturday 5th March
FP3 MotoGP: from 10:45 am
FP4 and MotoGP Qualifying: from 2:50 pm
Sunday 6 March
MotoGP race: from 15:30
Losail International Circuit
Photo by: Pramac Racing
MotoGP 2022: let’s discover the Losail circuit
The 5.4 km long Qatar circuit has a main straight of over 1 km in length (1068 meters) and a total of 16 curves. Its first appearance as the home of the World Championship was in 2004. In 2008 it became the first circuit to host a Grand Prix at night.
The fastest lap ever made on the Losail circuit belongs to Jack Miller. The Australian Ducati rider set a time of 1’53 “183 on March 10 last year. However, this time trial has no official validity, as it was recorded during pre-season tests.
Hence, Losail’s records are as follows:
Race record: 1’54 “927 by Jorge Lorenzo in 2016
Best pole: 1’53 “546 by Maverick Vinales in 2019
Best lap: 1’53 “380 by Marc Marquez in 2019 (FP2)
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