![Prost International [PINT]](https://prostinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PINTtFontLogoRoboto1536x78.jpg)
MotoGP returned to Qatar for the Championship curtain-raiser for what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons to date.
We have seen some spectacular races under the lights, including the previous race at the Qatar International Circuit in 2019 where the duel in the desert between Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez went right to the wire.
Starting Grid
Italian Francesco Bagnaia lined up on pole position after a blistering 1.52.772 time in qualifying, which was a new all-time MotoGP lap record around the Qatari circuit.
The Factory Yamaha bikes rounded off the front row as Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Vinales set impressive lap times and were split by five-hundredths of a second.
A new speed-trap record was set on Saturday as Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco hit an astounding 362.4km/h (255mph) during FP4, which showed how crucial straight-line speed is down the kilometre-long main straight, which suited the Ducati machinery to a tee.
Nine-time champion Valentino Rossi scored his best qualifying around the Losail Circuit since 2010, as he qualified fourth, only three-tenths behind his compatriot’s pole time.
Reigning Champion Joan Mir was forced to go through the Q1 session which he topped but could only find the pace for 10th on the grid, nearly a second behind pole and just under two tenths behind his teammate Alex Rins.
As It Happened
As the lights went out the Factory and Pramac Ducati bikes blasted off the line leaving the rest of the field eating their desert dust.
Rookie Jorge Martin had an excellent start as he made up 11 places through the first three corners as the Italian manufacturer locked out the first four positions.
Throughout the opening laps, Bagnaia, Zarco and Jack Miller started to pull away as Martin fell back down the field.
Mir was unable to latch onto the leading pack from the start, however as the continuous jostling for the positions went on throughout the middle stages of the race, this put the Spaniard in a great position to catch up.
The reigning champion caught up a few laps later, he followed his Suzuki ECSTAR teammate Alex Rins through the pack, making up several positions and eventually got ahead of Rins on lap 18 as he started setting his sights on a podium.
As the race went on Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales started to come into his own as he made a charge for the lead. He was all over Francesco Bagnaia’s tail for several laps before he dived up the inside of the Italian at the tight turn 10 with seven laps to go.
With time running out for Joan Mir to get himself into the podium places, he managed to overtake Bagnaia which promoted him up to third on lap 20.
On the final lap, Mir was all over Johann Zarco’s rear tyre. The 2020 Champion placed his Suzuki up the inside of Zarco’s Pramac Ducati at turn 15, which was a move he’d executed identically throughout the race and got a brilliant run into the final corner.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he ran deep into turn 16 giving an opportunity to Zarco and Bagnaia who were hot on his heels to retake the position.
The Ducati’s have had incredible straight-line speed throughout the weekend and gained many positions during the race on the main straight, which they would’ve hoped will happen once again on the last dash to the flag.
Zarco and Bagnaia were quick on the power and utilised the slipstream that Mir punched in the desert air and the Ducati duo pipped Mir on the line demoting the Spaniard to fourth.
Maverick Vinales crossed the line in first taking the first victory of the season. The Factory Yamaha rider executed his strategy perfectly as he claims his first Qatari Grand Prix win since 2017 which was his first race with the Yamaha outfit.
Johann Zarco finished second just a few inches ahead of Factory Ducati debutant and race pole sitter Francesco Bagnaia.
What’s Next?
The MotoGP paddock stays put in Qatar, as the Losail Circuit plays host to next week’s Doha Grand Prix where Maverick Vinales and Francesco Bagnaia will be hoping to build on their strong showing this weekend.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
