The Suzukis made a big splash in the second free practice session of the Qatar Grand Prix, probably the most important of the season’s opening weekend in terms of qualifying. With tomorrow morning’s FP3 that will be held under the light of the sun, in fact, it is really difficult for anyone to improve tonight’s performance, changing the balance with a view to direct access to Q2.
The GSX-RR confirmed the great growth that both riders talked about during the pre-season (especially in terms of top speed), going to occupy the first and third position. The fastest was a revived Alex Rins, called to redeem a disappointing 2021, who stopped the clock with a time of 1’43 “432. The 2020 champion Joan Mir, on the other hand, is third, 147 thousandths of a second behind his boxmate, but both seem to be credited with a big step too.
Between the two bikes of Hamamatsu a Marc Marquez went and sent a double signal, confirming in one fell swoop that he was physically fit, but also the good potential of the new Honda RC213V. The eight-time world champion finished just 35 thousandths from the top, but his box neighbor Pol Espargaro would also be in Q2 at the moment with the ninth fastest time at 531 thousandths.
Compared to the first session, the step forward shown by the Ducatis was important, with Jorge Martin climbing up to fourth position with the Pramac Racing one. Despite a misunderstanding with Remy Gardner, who had bothered him a lot in the first time attack, Jack Miller also closed with the sixth time.
For the moment the vice-world champion Pecco Bagnaia is a bit more fogged up, who if this session were to prove decisive would be in Q2 really by a whisker: the Piedmontese complained of having little grip and finished tenth at 539 thousandths. , mocking the other Ducatista Enea Bastianini for just 42 thousandths, who instead would be forced to face Q1 at the moment.
The best of the guys in our house was therefore Franco Morbidelli. The Yamaha rider remained in the supporting positions until a few moments from the end, but then he placed his paw in 1’53 “845. Time that led him to do better even than the reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo, who with the same bike he is eighth in 1’53 “906. Top speed, however, remains an all too obvious problem for the M1 at the moment, which pays a lot in the last sector.
The last provisional slot for Q2 was taken by Aleix Espargaro, seventh at 454 thousandths and probably with the possibility of setting a better time in his strings. The Aprilia rider was in fact hampered during his attempt by team mate Maverick Vinales, only 17th. After the best time of FP1, with the falling of darkness and temperature, the KTMs took a decisive step back, which at the moment would be relegated to Q1 with the 13th time of Miguel Oliveira and even the 15th of Brad Binder.
Unfortunately, all the other Italian riders also seem destined for the same fate, with Andrea Dovizioso who is riding the two RC16s with his Yamaha RNF and Luca Marini who was unable to take advantage of the last time attack, due to a crash at the corner. 1 which relegated him to 23rd place.
The other two Ducati riders Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio did little better, respectively 20th and 22nd, even if the palm of best rookie went to Raul Fernandez’s KTM, who preceded the Mooney VR46 Racing driver by just 16 thousandths. Team.
Also noteworthy is the not particularly lucky session of Alex Marquez: the Honda LCR rider crashed twice in the same run, first at turn 6 and then at turn 10, and in the end therefore he was unable to do better than 16th time.
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