2024 MotoGP Qatar Test: Ducati's Pecco Bagnaia Dominant Day 1, Martin Close Behind

Building on Ducati's impressive performance with its new bike at the Sepang test, Bagnaia finished 51 laps to lead Pramac's Martin in a GP24 1-2.

By Divyam Dubey | on February 20, 2024 Follow us on Autox Google News

On the first day of the last 2024 pre-season test in Qatar, incumbent MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia beat out Jorge Martin, his title contender from 2023, to become the fastest rider. Most riders started the day slowly because the track wasn't in the best shape. The Losail International Circuit, however, saw more representative action as the sun dipped below the horizon. Aprilia riders showed off their skills all day long, but the Aprilia RS-GP really shined on the dusty Lusail circuit's low-grip surfaces. During the latter, cooler hours, the Ducatis emerged on top thanks to the track's improved traction.

The day's best time was 1 minute and 52.04 seconds, set by Francesco Bagnaia aboard his GP24 Ducati. he is just four-tenths of a second off the lap record. Following up on Ducati's good performance with its new bike in the earlier Sepang test, Bagnaia led a Ducati 1-2 with Jorge Martin of Pramac as the race reached the end of 51 laps.

MotoGP: Day 1 Qatar Test Result 

Aleix Espargaro spearheaded the Aprilia attack and finished in fifth place. Three Aprilia RS-GPs occupied the top three positions for a while. Trackhouse Racing's Raul Fernandez, who started the day in 12th place, finished the day in an outstanding sixth place, right behind his factory teammates. As the Noale plant adjusted its 2024 preparations, Miguel Oliveira, concentrated on development and finished lower in the order.

At the six-hour mark, Francesco Bagnaia continued to show his dominance with a strong lap of 1 minute and 52.04 seconds, which he maintained until the session ended at 9 o'clock in the evening local time. Aleix Espargaro continued to demonstrate the skills of the new Aprilia, securing third position, while Jorge Martin finished 0.220 seconds behind in second after completing 58 laps.

MotoGP Johann Zarco LCR Honda

In fourth place, down by just 0.296 seconds, was Brad Binder of KTM. Fabio Di Giannantonio, riding the 2023-spec Ducati VR46, took fifth position. Sixth place went to Maverick Vinales, while third place went to Alex Marquez of Gresini, who was involved in an accident on Monday. The top ten was completed by Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, Johann Zarco of LCR Honda, and Ducati's Enea Bastianini.

Pos Rider Team Time
1 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (GP24) 1m 52.04s
2 Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (GP24) +0.220s
3 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) +0.292s
4 Brad Binder Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.296s
5 Fabio Di Giannantonio VR46 Ducati (GP23) +0.427s
6 Maverick Viñales Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) +0.455s
7 Alex Marquez Gresini Ducati (GP23) +0.516s
8 Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (GP24) +0.549s
9 Johann Zarco LCR Honda (RC213V) +0.592s
10 Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +0.597s
11 Marco Bezzecchi VR46 Ducati (GP23) +0.759s
12 Raul Fernandez Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP23) +0.774s
13 Joan Mir Repsol Honda (RC213V) +0.783s
14 Jack Miller Red Bull KTM (RC16) +0.856s
15 Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) +0.898s
16 Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (GP23) +0.919s
17 Takaaki Nakagami LCR Honda (RC213V) +1.168s
18 Luca Marini Repsol Honda (RC213V) +1.393s
19 Alex Rins Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) +1.602s
20 Augusto Fernandez Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) +1.715s
21 Miguel Oliveira Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24) +1.903s
22 Michele Pirro Pramac Ducati (GP24) +2.469s
23 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) +2.471s

The factory Honda team was headed by Joan Mir in thirteenth place, with KTM's Jack Miller following in second place after a late-race collision. The fifteenth position was won by rookie Pedro Acosta. On the sibling Gresini Ducati, Marc Marquez got off to a quiet start and finished sixteenth, 0.919 seconds behind the leaders after fifty-eight laps.

Factory Yamaha rider Alex Rins finished 19th, and Tech3 rider Augusto Fernandez crashed on Monday, putting him in 20th place. After a test training crash before Sepang, Franco Morbidelli was unable to return for the Qatar test, therefore Ducati test rider Michele Pirro filled in for him.

Tags: MotoGP 2024 MotoGP Qatar Test Qatar Test Qatar Test Result

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