The 2022 MotoGP season opened immediately with a surprise, because at the end of the first free practice session of the Qatar Grand Prix, Darryn Binder’s KTM is in front of everyone, despite that of Lusail (this year it changed its name ) was never particularly friends with the RC16.
The South African rider lapped in 1’54 “851, a time that is not at all to be thrown away considering that it was obtained in daytime conditions, but also with a new medium tire on the rear. The same goes for Takaaki Nakagami, second with the Honda of the LCR Team at only 56 thousandths.
Alex Rins even mounted a pair of soft tires, author of the third time with Suzuki and last to have broken the 1’55 “barrier in this inaugural session. In general, however, the new Hondas seem to be really scary. because there are three RC213Vs in the top 5, with the two factory bikes of Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez in fourth and fifth position .. Among other things, “Polyccio” is the best among those with hard rear tires.
Sixth time for the best of the Yamahas, which was that of Franco Morbidelli: the Italian rider, also equipped with a hard rear, paid 443 thousandths. World champion Fabio Quartararo, on the other hand, had to settle for 11th time, about three tenths slower than his teammate.
Seventh time for the 2020 champion Joan Mir and his Suzuki, trailed at a distance of a few thousandths by Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia, who pays just over half a second after leading the standings for most of the session. The top 10 is then completed with Alex Marquez’s Honda and Miguel Oliveira’s second official KTM.
For the moment, therefore, the Ducatis are completely missing, which were the great disappointment of this session. The first of the Desmosedici GPs, that of Jorge Martin, is even in 12th position, trailing 837 thousandths. In his wake then Jack Miller and Enea Bastianini complete the patrol of those detached less than a second, which also includes Maverick Vinales’ Aprilia.
It went much worse for Pecco Bagnaia, because the vice-world champion lost the final minutes of the session due to a crash at turn 6. The # 63 paid dearly for a closure of the front, which took place when he was probably pushing too hard on the hard tire at the front and in the end it is therefore only 18 °.
A little ahead of him, in 16th position, we find Andrea Dovizioso’s Yamaha RNF. You have to go down to 20th instead to find the Ducati of Luca Marini’s Mooney VR46 Racing Team, who finished behind even the best of rookies, who was Moto2 world champion Remy Gardner, 19th with his KTM.
Further back, Fabio Di Giannantonio, 22nd and slipped at turn 3 with his Gresini Racing Ducati, and Marco Bezzecchi, who closes the group with a delay of even 2 “5. Speaking of rookie, the black flag with orange stamp should be reported exposed to Darryn Binder, as his Yamaha RNF was losing the lower part of the fairing early in the shift.
However, it must be remembered that the most representative session of the day will be the one that will be staged in the afternoon, under artificial lights, which will be held in conditions more similar to those of the race.
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