Marc Marquez P1 in Lusail FP1 as Martin returns to track action

The first day of track action in the desert is underway as the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar kicks off at the Lusail International Circuit. It offered our first chance to see reigning World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) on track as he returned from injury, bagging a handful laps whilst at the front, Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) bounced back from his COTA blunder to top the opening action in Qatar.

The #93 had a commanding advantage over his brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) for the majority of the session before a late lap from Fabio Di Giannantonio fired the COTA podium-finisher into P2. COTA winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was a late improver too and went P3 ahead of Championship leader Alex Marquez, whilst it was a very positive opening session for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), the top KTM in P5.

Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) came home in P6, with the team’s owner Valentino Rossi in attendance this weekend. Morbidelli was involved in a small on-track skirmish with 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in the early stages, leaving the Frenchman angry as the #21 rode off the pace on the racing line before pitting. Quartararo was P11 by the end of the session. There was also drama for another Yamaha as Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) fell at Turn 4 with less than two minutes to go in the session; he was able to walk away unscathed. In addition to Miller, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) suffered drama on his opening lap with a technical issue at Turn 1 but did manage to get back out on track later.

Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was top rookie in P7 ahead of 2020 World Champion Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) in eighth. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was top Aprilia in ninth whilst Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) returned to the venue of his spectacular debut a year ago and completed the top ten. Martin’s first session of the racing year saw him take P20, as he gets used to the RS-GP Aprilia and to track action once again.

Full results to FP1!