Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) – apart from us, hardly anyone would have guessed before the season opener that he would finish ahead of his compatriot Fabio Quartararo. But it was actually enough to look back at his first year at Yamaha and how well he had done in Losail at his first GP of his career, even if he hadn’t seen the checkered flag at the time. After the first of 2 races in the desert state, we don’t need to explain to anyone why a podium would not be a surprise for him.

The opinions of the top 6 from 1st race before the 2nd Qatar Grand Prix

Maverick Viñales (Yamaha) – Losail GP 1 winner:  „It wasn’t perfect, but it was very good. There are still always things to optimize. I think the first 10 will be faster than the first weekend. We have to be very careful with the tires again in order to have the tire management under control right through to the finish. In any case, it is far too early to assess our potential for the rest of the season. But for me, it is clear that our bike is very strong. We have a lot of strong points, but we need to improve the less good ones. Also, with regard to Portugal, where we weren’t particularly strong. We have to approach this 2nd weekend like a new race. It is important to only change things that make us faster. We have no doubts about the performance for longer distances, but it’s about being able to push more on the following courses. It’s all about staying focused and not leaning back after a successful start to the new season. Actually, I didn’t have a bad start, but some of my colleagues ”(he laughed and looked over at Ducati colleagues Pecco and Zarco)“ unfortunately had a much better one, but I definitely want to do better in the next race. It is important to have a good feeling for the front, and hopefully we will keep this on the other tracks as well.“.

The food stand in Qatar was common for the few spectators on the first weekend, even during the breaks, without the crowds, as is usual at MotoGP events. We never had to be patient at the Losail International Circuit when we were there for a visit.

Johann Zarco (Ducati) – second in Losail GP 1:  „It has helped me a lot to be able to follow Maverick and Pecco to learn from them. The key to success will be to have the tires under control. Of course, my goal is to be able to follow Maverick to the finish so that I can attack at the end. Even if we don’t win any races here at Losail, we don’t need to worry. There are still many races to come and it is important to be among the fastest. From Wednesday I started to prepare for the next race again. The first two days I had to slow down a bit, the adrenaline was still quite high even on the Monday after the race. I haven’t won a MotoGP race yet, but of course I would be happy to fight for victory in the next Grand Prix.“

Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) hugging his brand colleague Valentino Rossi and his new teammate Fabio Quartararo in Losail – the Monster Energy Team was the most successful on the supposed Ducati track. We had already refuted this often rumored nonsense before the 1st GP in Qatar and now Yamaha is already leading with 9 wins ahead of Ducati (5) and Honda (3).

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) – third in Losail GP 1:  „If I get the chance to pull away from the front again, I’ll try again. We take a close look at the data and analyze what we can improve further. As Maverick said, it will probably be faster, just like last year in the 2nd races of double events. We lost time in some areas and also in part in acceleration. We have the chance to win here and on many of the routes that are still to come. The most important thing will be to always be constant and as far ahead as possible.”.

Sunset behind the main grandstand – photographed by us in Losail shortly before the start of the MotoGP race. We have never seen camels in the spectator area in any other country.

Joan Mir (Suzuki) – World Champion 2020 and P4 in Losail GP 1:  „Hopefully we’ll find out what I’ve already found in the warm-up. I felt a few things that might bring us further for the second race here. I tried to attack as well as possible in the finish, but in the end I was too optimistic on the last corner. This didn’t help me to finish second up to the checkered flag and the two Ducati’s caught up with me. It will be important to be with the first group. After that, the race can be divided up well until the end. I see this as a recipe for success. We certainly have a lot of potential, but we have to try to achieve the optimum. Sometimes you try almost too much and that can cause confusion, but the most important thing is that we found a pretty good setup. We’ll try it with that.“.

Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) – you can’t lose a podium much closer than the Catalan in the 1st race in Losail. The reigning world champion turned into the last corner as second and was still only fourth behind Zarco and Pecco in the end.

Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) – fifth in Losail GP 1:  „In the beginning everything went great, but when I overtook Jack I had problems with the rear tire. It was tough, for example, to have the exit from Turn 6 under control. I was very aggressive, maybe a little too much and should drive a little smother, i.e. softer and more gentle on the tires. There are many corners here where there are only short acceleration parts. But I feel comfortable with the front and I also have a good feeling for the further stretches. But first we have to be more competitive over the distance in order to do even better in the next race. Last week we might have made a few changes too many. This has to be done better from tomorrow.“.

Our recording in the Losail Paddock – there is a unique atmosphere at the only night race on the MotoGP calendar. Just please, dear fans, don’t ask for a cold beer anywhere! Even in the evening we often had to endure just under 30 degrees Celsius, not so easy to endure for “Westerners”, especially because short trousers or other airy, pleasant underwear is very frowned upon in this country and is not welcomed. For me as a woman to only be here with a long skirt so as not to attract attention, an absolute imposition!

Alex Rins (Suzuki) – sixth in Losail GP 1:  „We had a good race, but 6th place wasn’t enough for us. We have good pace and should be better at the start. So there are still a few points to improve and that is what we intend to do. Pecco has already won a race, and he knows what to do for it. But we’re fighting to be at the forefront as well. I was still too far away from an optimal start to the new season. We just have a lot to work to improve. At the moment I am even enjoying the warm weather and the sun during the break because it is much shorter at home in Andorra. But on Friday it will be concentrated again.“.

The schedule for the second Grand Prix weekend of the year

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