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[mangocrazy]

If MM had a nickname it would be 'Collateral Damage'...

[mangocrazy]

MM gives Pedro Acosta a compliment for his save - “That was a good one! Believe me,” said Marquez.

[mangocrazy]

Jorge Martin takes pole.

To the surprise of no-one at all...

Qatar_2024_MotoGP_Pole_Q2.JPG (91.77 KiB) Viewed 277 times

Qatar_2024_MotoGP_Pole_Q1.JPG (72.94 KiB) Viewed 277 times

[Supermofo]

Top 9 separated by less than half a second. Crazy competitive

[mangocrazy]

Top 9 separated by less than half a second. Crazy competitive

Yeah, top 7 less than a quarter of a second. Could well be a 6 or 7 way dogfight...

[weeksy]

Sprint race results

Pos Rider Nat Team
1 Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP24)
2 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16)
3 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Factory (RS-GP24)
4 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo (GP24)
5 Marc Marquez SPA Gresini Ducati (GP23)
6 Enea Bastianini ITA Ducati Lenovo (GP24)
7 Alex Marquez SPA Gresini Ducati (GP23)
8 Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)
9 Maverick Viñales SPA Aprilia Factory (RS-GP24)
10 Jack Miller AUS Red Bull KTM (RC16)
11 Marco Bezzecchi ITA VR46 Ducati (GP23)
12 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
13 Miguel Oliveira POR Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24)
14 Raul Fernandez SPA Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP23)
15 Joan Mir SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V)
16 Johann Zarco FRA LCR Honda (RC213V)
17 Alex Rins SPA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)
18 Augusto Fernandez SPA Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)
19 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V)
20 Franco Morbidelli ITA Pramac Ducati (GP24)
21 Luca Marini ITA Repsol Honda (RC213V)
Fabio Di Giannantonio ITA VR46 Ducati

[Supermofo]

Enjoyed that, some good rides. Could be interesting in the race proper as looked like grip was dropping near the end. Aleix had a great ride. Jorge is still king of the sprints but he needs to translate that to the long uns.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I thought it was a bit dull, but I am quite tired so it's probably me.

[mangocrazy]

Enjoyed that, some good rides. Could be interesting in the race proper as looked like grip was dropping near the end. Aleix had a great ride. Jorge is still king of the sprints but he needs to translate that to the long uns.

Yes, Aleix seemed to be picking up pace towards the end, comparatively of course. It was probably more a case of the other's pace dropping while his stayed relatively constant. Should make for an interesting full race tomorrow. 5th in his first race on a Ducati for MM wasn't too shabby, either...

[ChrisW]

Enjoyed that, some good rides. Could be interesting in the race proper as looked like grip was dropping near the end. Aleix had a great ride. Jorge is still king of the sprints but he needs to translate that to the long uns.

Yes, Aleix seemed to be picking up pace towards the end, comparatively of course. It was probably more a case of the other's pace dropping while his stayed relatively constant. Should make for an interesting full race tomorrow. 5th in his first race on a Ducati for MM wasn't too shabby, either...

Yep - a full race cut short whilst it was starting to get interesting.

[Yorick]

I want to see MM back fully, to make the races legit.

Previous winners may have been diluted by not racing everyone.

If they beat a fully equal MM they may feel a bit more fulfilled

[mangocrazy]

You can only race the opposition that's in front of you. I don't think for a moment that Pecco feels his titles were diluted because MM wasn't on equal machinery or was absent due to injury. He still had to beat the world's best, many of whom were on the same machinery.

[westers151]

I want to see MM back fully, to make the races legit.

Previous winners may have been diluted by not racing everyone.

If they beat a fully equal MM they may feel a bit more fulfilled

Let's bring back Hailwwod, Agostini, Sheene, Roberts, Spencer, Lawson, Rainey, Rossi. Maybe they will feel even more fulfilled if they can beat them.


I suspect they're more concerned about beating Bagnia. Marquez's era of invincibility is over.

Yes he'll be quick, but he doesn't put the shits up everyone like he used too. Bagnia will be more worried about Martin.

[Skub]

The actual race wasn't much of a spectacle,but I enjoyed it from the perspective of getting a taster of how things will shape up this season with new riders and riders on different machinery.

An amazing first race from Pedro Acosta,I don't think it can be overstated what he did in the sprint race. Good to see flickers of the old Marc Marquez too,despite all the haters saying he will be a wrecking ball,blah,blah...He's feeling his way and finding out what he can do with the Ducati. He'll be a force this year.

There are loads of riders now in Motogp,folk like Miller,Vinales,Morbidelli and Nakagami who are never going to improve and the hungry young guns coming up will be having their seats next year. How many chances have that lot had? If they'd been British,it would be a different story.

[weeksy]

Vinales being Vinales in warm up

Pos Rider Nat Team Time/Diff Lap Max
1 Maverick Viñales SPA Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) 1'52.66s 6/6 348k
2 Marco Bezzecchi ITA VR46 Ducati (GP23) +0.071s 6/6 355k
3 Raul Fernandez SPA Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP23) +0.089s 5/5 347k
4 Alex Marquez SPA Gresini Ducati (GP23) +0.093s 5/6 348k
5 Pedro Acosta SPA Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)* +0.182s 3/5 355k
6 Fabio Di Giannantonio ITA VR46 Ducati (GP23) +0.213s 5/6 346k
7 Marc Marquez SPA Gresini Ducati (GP23) +0.263s 5/5 353k
8 Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati Lenovo (GP24) +0.351s 5/5 356k
9 Enea Bastianini ITA Ducati Lenovo (GP24) +0.580s 5/5 355k
10 Fabio Quartararo FRA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.636s 6/6 355k
11 Brad Binder RSA Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.861s 3/5 359k
12 Alex Rins SPA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.884s 3/6 355k
13 Franco Morbidelli ITA Pramac Ducati (GP24) +0.910s 4/5 351k
14 Jack Miller AUS Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.912s 6/6 354k
15 Augusto Fernandez SPA Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) +1.027s 5/5 354k
16 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) +1.142s 4/5 347k
17 Jorge Martin SPA Pramac Ducati (GP24) +1.178s 5/5 353k
18 Joan Mir SPA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +1.240s 5/5 351k
19 Johann Zarco FRA LCR Honda (RC213V) +1.342s 4/6 351k
20 Takaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) +1.659s 4/5 345k
21 Luca Marini ITA Repsol Honda (RC213V) +1.783s 6/6 354k
22 Miguel Oliveira POR Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24)

[Yorick]

Wow. 6th to first on last lap

[mangocrazy]

Brilliant Moto3 race. I say it again - David Alonso is special. Amazing situational and tactical awareness.

[mangocrazy]

Lovely touch for Alonso to give Jake Dixon a shout out and 'GWS mate!' He's a bit of a class act...

[Sadlonelygit]

I think we'll have to get used to hearing that national anthem a lot this year!

[Yorick]

I think we'll have to get used to hearing that national anthem a lot this year!

And him singing along joyfully