Doha Grand Prix - Losail International Circuit

[René]

The second race on the Losail Circuit in Qatar in a week and it’s very possible we’ll see another thriller.

Viñales won convincingly for Yamaha but the Ducatis and the Suzukis were never far off. Can Zarco finally win or will Joan Mir put things in order as the reigning champion? But maybe Maverick will have non of that and win again… The Ducatis however look very fast in FP2. All to play for...

[chrisb]

what an incredible race last week, this is followed by a brilliantly exciting qualifying, with a rookie Jorge Martin on pole, and it wasn't a fluke, it was good, what with Zarco 2nd, maybe the factory boys have got the wrong two in their team? the Yamaha's look good, save for Rossi, who looked dreadful and completely out of sorts on this years bike/ tyres, but 21st? that does not bode well and looks like it will be a very long race, the Suzuki's will be in there and the Aprilla is the best it has ever been, so has all the indications of a tight race, with the Ducati's making their usual starts and then seeing what happens, it would be a wonderful sight if Maverick does it again, his qualifying lap was class - they loose so much time on the straight but are still incredible, 

In Moto2, it is even more exciting - the 765cc Triumphs, no hint of bias here, well maybe, sounds gorgeous, and Sam is driving better than ever, in saying that there is a young talent who is really shining, aside from Gardner that is, but the young Spanish rider Raul Fernandez, he looks speacial, very special, on top of that brilliant rides by Jake Dixon and Marco Bezzecchi - building up to a great race and with Portugal in two weeks time and shaping up to a memorable season, interestingly a number of riders are intimating that they will be in MotoGP next year, but with whom? Remy for one, and I can see Raul there as well.

Moto3, was a bit farcial, then a bit exciting and finished up a bit frustrating, but will be exciting

[charleselan]

Another great MotoGP race and what a result with two French riders one and two. It was great to see Fabio back in the groove and with all his confidence back, but i am disappointed that Johann Zarco did not win as he rode a measured and clever race. However second once more now means he leads the championship with 40 points and that is the beginning of some excellent consistency, plus the guy knows how to win championships.

I bet the factory Ducati squad are scratching their heads and some have suggested that maybe they signed the wrong guys, but I feel that Zarco fits well with the Pramac Team who are known for their excellent skills in making a rider feel wanted. For me I have never been a big fan of Jorge Martin, yet another of the huge "Spanish Pool", but as a rookie in MotoGP he rode exceptionally well and it was interesting to hear him comment after the race that he knows Johann is the main man this season.

The Mir and Miller fracas was a bit leery in the end but Joan had that coming after his very rude pass on Jack earlier, no way in this world was Miller going to let that pass and he certainly made his point very well. But ninth place for what is ostensibly the factory number one rider is not good enough.

Also pleasing to see that finally Aprilia are finally making a motorcycle that actually looks like a MotoGP bike, Espargaro's machine was strong all race especially in the early laps, but good progress now. Maybe they would benefit from a real top line rider aboard, Aleix is fast and especially over one lap but no matter how one looks at his career he is not one of the very best, Maverick destroyed him when they were teamed at Suzuki.

[chrisb]

all three races were outstanding, maybe I should review my earlier comments about the circuit, but Moto3, what on earth was happening, poor John McP is just so so unfortunate, and no wonder his frustrations got the better of him and he lashed out, but of course, whilst it seems to be ok to ride like an idiot, like the two guys in consecutive weeks did and take him out and as so many riders did but you can't lash out as for the next race you have to start from the pit lane + 10 seconds, someone will get hurt unless there is a rapid improvement in riding manners, but what an astonishing race by the winner Acosta, from pit lane to victory, and rode so well, really did, another exceptional talent to emerge. Then there was Moto2, Sam and Remy, were just out of this world, I do so hope this continues all season, and there is another rookie doing exceptional things, Raul Fernandez, brilliant, clever and fast, but Sam and Remy what a race, what brilliant talents and how fair the fight was, a brilliant race

MotoGP, Vive La France!! Got really frustarted with some of the riding, thought both the Suzuki riders 'tried to hard' jean especially seemed desparate to win, whereas his successes are mainly based on his patience and the 'incidents' with Jack, oh by the way 'were just racing incidents' what?? a great message to the inexperienced and the foolish, but mess with Jack at your peril, Rins I thought was just so defensive, it was as if he was saying to Maverick - you shall not pass- anyone else can, just not you, pleased to see that hadn't ended in tears, as for the Ducati's, Johan is a real star, Jorge was extremely good, my thing with Jorge is in lower formulee he was forever either really quick or in the kitty litter, so hopefully he has learned something from these injuries, he looked very good in front but I would totally agree JC, Pramac's man management skills are very good and the opposite to the Ducati works team, I think they will struggle this year and wonder what will happen thereafter. But Fabio, how good was that? both Yamaha riders in consecutive weeks really have ridden so exceptionally, whereas Rossi, the less said

Great to see Aprilla going well, in a way I know you are correct JC about Aleix but do feel for him as I can see him being dropped and replaced by 'top' riders next year, after all those years of struggling, another one I feel would be better off in WSB, but with Dovi testing the bike next week I do wonder how that will go

[charleselan]

I will attempt to find some recordings of the Moto2 & 3 races Chris, especially the Moto2. It is very concerning what is happening in Moto3 at present, riding standards are appalling and the stewards have not got on top of the utter lunacy of qualifying. I have also noticed that this stupidity is creeping into the other classes as well with riders looking for a "tow" from a quicker guy.

Unfortunately this is what you get when the machines are too closely matched and in Moto3 combine this with the fact that they are relatively underpowered and the circuits more or less as safe as they can be. Maybe they would be less keen on doing this sort of thing were the tracks more like the great circuits around the world that are no longer classed as suitable for the precious MotoGP fixture.

John McPhee's frustration must have been off the scale and I can understand him having a go at the idiot who took him out yesterday. I did read that it was the same guy who took him out last weekend as well, but maybe that as incorrect. OK it is not good to have a go at someone in a professional sport, but if these things get dumbed down and a rider isn't allowed to "express" themselves I am not in favour. So John gets a pit lane start next week along with a 10 second delay which basically destroys his next race, what happens to Alcoba, a grid drop!!

Same applies to Mir in MotoGP, he is sounding off about Miller's antics, but everyone is blind to the fact that as someone elsewhere points out he was hitting other riders left right and centre during the race. A reason why Suzuki did not post a complaint about Jack after the race as they knew what Mir had been doing.

As ever I watched via a BTSport transmission and the commentary was like some kind of publicity shot for certain riders, almost as if they were towing the party line as determined by DORNA, it is sickening. At the end of the race you would have thought that Zarco's second place was an afterthought. but hey lets throw in "he is such a character". Maybe a more balanced and mature comment would have been "he has found the right home to express his considerable skills".

I hope Fabio & Johan do the job this year, Vive la France .

[chrisb]

I think why I am perhaps 'over-sensitive' about Moto3 is remembering what happened in four wheel racing for a time when it was acceptable to 'win at any cost' and how that blighted motor racing and probably still does in some series, which for me cost motor sport so much for so many me included.

John has since apologised, it wasn't the same guy as last week but this week's guy was also caught up in last week's crash, both innocent victims of someone else's ambitions, this time I am sure John was watching the whole thing unfold before his eyes and knew he could do nothing, yet the bosses have started to punish poor riding and more needs to be done, much more

Moto2 was sensational, just brilliant and such class

Mat Ox has written as usual another good piece and is interesting in his take on Jack/Jean, not sure, maybe I need to read it again, but so overjoyed as for countless years we have watched Italy and Spain dominate and now - Vive la France - tres bien - so pleased by this

[charleselan]

Yes Chris quite correct Alcoba wasn't responsible for the crash last weekend but some over ambitious new guy. However from what I have read today Alcoba actually took John off on at least four occasions last year, so hence McPhee's frustration.

Just like with motor racing one person began the dubious tactics and got away with it because of "star status" and the authorities did nothing about it. The result the sport polluted for ever more, and then you get overreactions in later years. The same has happened in bike racing, mentioning no names but a certain individual, who now complains of others being too aggressive, brought the same to motorcycle racing.

Commentators are as much to blame especially when you get someone like Steve Parrish back in the day exonerating certain individuals moves by saying "it isn't tiddlywinks" or "rubbing is racing", when it was no such thing.

[Carl]

That was a fantastic race although tape-delayed so I knew the ultimate winner.

I was very happy to see perhaps today's most talented American, Cameron Beaubier, finally into MotoGP2 alongside Joe Roberts. If allowed time to settle down and gain comfort, Beaubier will do well.

[chrisb]

Apologies JC, had forgotten all about last year's shenanigans - no wonder John lashed out, but again, what are the authorities doing about this dangerous riding? and yes absolutely a certain person did start all this and is now complaining about it all, picking on Brad is probably not his greatest idea, I do genuinely worry about M3

Carl, so glad you enjoyed it, the motor racing world is a far better place when the Americans are involved, miss their drivers/ riders in both F1 and MotoGP, and Beaubier looks the real deal, not sure why Joe left last years team but wish him well

[charleselan]

Chris,

I had no idea that Alcoba was involved in so many "comings together" with John last year until it was brought too my attention on other sites. The fact that Alcoba hit the rear of Darren Binder's motorcycle and then it reared up and hit John  McPhee on the head was positively frightening, yet these clowns in Race Control just let it pass with a slightly less reprimand than the one handed to McPhee.

Any organisation with an ounce of sense would have looked at last season and Alcoba's antics there and given him at least a one race suspension, but no, it is more politically expedient to put more emphasis on John's reactions.

On another footing the dire performance of the Petronas Yamaha's in MotoGP so far this season is not good, I wonder if they have been framed out with last years factory bikes that were so bad in 2020. There is no fathomable reason why they should be so much off compared with this years factory bikes, especially Morbidelli.

Carl,

As Chris says it is great to see some riders from the USA making a mark in Moto2. I have rated Joe Roberts for some time but his change of team this year seems to have hampered his progress in the first two races. Maybe he should have stayed with his old team and continued with the mentorship of John Hopkins which appeared to bring about great dividends.

Cameron Beaubier has also shown excellent form in what must be a very strange new setting for him and to be this quick so soon in a class that many find hard to adapt to from other classes is promising.

Also in WSBK there is the hugely impressive Garrett Gerloff who was flying in the recent tests, so much to look forward to in the future. Like Chris I am looking to see the Spanish and Italian domination of MotoGP & 2 end, and a more balanced nationality in all classes.

[chrisb]

Totally agree JC, it is as if the powers to be are trying to 'spice' things up by having no racing rules but you are no allowed  punching, so, you can do as you please, and qualifying is getting so irritating these days, I am actually starting to turn off Moto3 practice as it is a farce, I do so hope John Mc bounces back next weekend at Portugal, and justice prevails,

Motorbike racing is so much better when there is a mixture of cultures, I do think WSB lost a lot of appeal when we Brits dominated in recent years, obviously not when King Carl reigned supreme but he was always good news for the media, and to finaly get some Americans back in Europe for MGP is a real bonus and WSB, all we need now is a few in F1, but in MotoGP, 2 French, Aussie, South African's all good and in Moto2 Brits, Aussies all even better