MotoGP: 2024 Round 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar

Bagnaia's practice start was awful too.

Pramac riders making like book ends, the team will like one but not t’other!

#22 said:

Agreed, I'm hoping his confidence isn't snapped down though like Lorenzo in China 2008.

Click to expand...

I like Pedros approach. He has no expectations. He is out there just worrying about himself.

#22 said:

Bagnaia's practice start was awful too.

View attachment 14667

Click to expand...

Last time he made a skid like that was with a car into a ditch.

So its pissing down at Qatar, what are the odds lol.

FP1 times count for qualy right? Smart to go hard then just in case stuff like this happens over the weekend.

No, it used to be FP2 but they already said these times wont count, there will be a practice session tomorrow that will determine Quali (Q1 or Q2)

320Dave said:

So its pissing down at Qatar, what are the odds lol.

FP1 times count for qualy right? Smart to go hard then just in case stuff like this happens over the weekend.

Click to expand...

They don't race in the rain Qatar. So this is basically a waste of time.

Marc Marcquez currently quickest. Probably good for him to get some wet weather laps on the Ducati.

#22 said:

Marc Marcquez currently quickest. Probably good for him to get some wet weather laps on the Ducati.

Click to expand...

Baby goat out there running laps too. 3rd in the wet. I am ready to say this kid is going to be special.

He's impressing for sure! The question is, if he continues at this level, will KTM promote him to factory mid season?

FP2 results (wet)

#22 said:

No, it used to be FP2 but they already said these times wont count, there will be a practice session tomorrow that will determine Quali (Q1 or Q2)

Click to expand...

Ok thanks, shame on me for not remembering lol

If you're a hotshot rookie looking to build rapport, running Aleix off the track is a good way to start

Pramac Ducati had a shocking FP1. Bookending the time sheets? When is the last time a team had a rider on top and on bottom of the same free practice without an injury occurring? I guess we'll see what happens with the weather. Qatar has been rescheduled for Monday at least once before.

Zarco #1 Honda? Marini and Mir nowhere, particularly in the dry. Quartararo languishing in the doldrums along with Rins. Vinales nowhere. Bagnaia struggling. Bastianini picking up where he left off last year--midpack. Morbidelli is watching his career end one lap at a time. Strange days in MotoGP. Very competitive rider field. Temperamental machines and tires. Will we see more than 8 different winners this year? or is fate teasing us?

Bagnaia looked frustrated, while Marquez looked comfortable. FP1 was close on times, tomorrow will be very interesting.

MdubSTYLIE said:

That save Pedro had was so Marc like. I am so impressed by what Pedro is doing.

Click to expand...

P1 the save? If it was Marquez like I need to hunt it down and have a look.8)

mylexicon said:

Zarco #1 Honda? Marini and Mir nowhere, particularly in the dry. Quartararo languishing in the doldrums along with Rins. Vinales nowhere. Bagnaia struggling. Bastianini picking up where he left off last year--midpack. Morbidelli is watching his career end one lap at a time. Strange days in MotoGP. Very competitive rider field. Temperamental machines and tires. Will we see more than 8 different winners this year? or is fate teasing us?

Click to expand...

I am not coming to any conclusions this early in the game, let's see how she rolls at least for the first race or two in the dry !

#22 said:

He's impressing for sure! The question is, if he continues at this level, will KTM promote him to factory mid season?

Click to expand...

There’s no point in doing that. He is 19 yo in his first season. He’s got a whole career ahead of him!

You can clearly see he is loving it out there though, which is cool to see. I’m already a fan.

I just got done watching both the FP sessions from today.

Pedro Acosta looked fantastic in the dry. He carries a .... load of corner speed for a V4 bike, it's incredible to watch him going through the corners. He also brakes extremely late but manages to get the bike tipped over extremely quickly. I love his body positioning on the bike and I think that's something that none of the other KTM riders have at all. Kid is definitely going places.

Marc, I still don't know what to think. He's fast and it doesn't look like when he was riding the Honda where it was bucking and weaving all over the track. I'm still not sure that he's pushing the bike to the limit yet. Whether that is intentional or not is anyone's guess really. He looked outstanding in the wet FP2 session for a guy who never rode that bike in the wet. It's obvious IMO that his talent is all still there. We'll see how he handles qualifying and the races. But I think he's adapted to the Ducati far better than I ever would have imagined.

Those Trackhouse Aprilia liveries look fantastic as a side note.

I don't think Pecco is going to repeat as champion this year. I know it's extremely early but it's obvious the field has stepped up from last season. He can't afford to lose time trying to figure out the GP24.

Good summary of Acosta's first day

mylexicon said:

If you're a hotshot rookie looking to build rapport, running Aleix off the track is a good way to start

Click to expand...

Did Aleix start whining and moaning about how unsafe that was and the rookie needs to calm down?