Results of the first day of the Qatar Test 2024

The final preseason test started on Monday at the Losail International Circuit. After the first runout at the Sepang Test just a few weeks ago, the MotoGP riders continued preparing their setups for the first round of the season.

Pecco Bagnaia started the Qatar test as he left off at the Sepang test, placing first on the timesheets. The Ducati rider closed the day with a time of 1:52.040.

With darkness falling and the improvement in track conditions, many riders managed to improve their times, as did the reigning World Champion. The Top 3 was rounded out by Jorge Martín (Ducati) and Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia).

The rest of the riders in the Top 10 were Brad Binder (KTM), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia), Álex Márquez (Ducati), Enea Bastianini (Ducati), Johann Zarco (Honda) and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha).

First day of testing in Qatar for Repsol Honda Team

The Repsol Honda team riders kicked things off in Qatar with the same mentality as in Malaysia, trying new parts and fine-tuning the Honda RC213V.

Joan Mir clocked his best lap on his 50th lap of 52. The Spaniard snuck into the Top 10 on several occasions, but finally finished thirteenth, less than 8 tenths off the pacesetter.

Luca Marini continued his adaptation to a new bike. The Repsol Honda Team rider finished the day with a total of 51 laps to his name, the best being a time of 1:53.433. Marini was 18th on the timesheets and will keep working hard on the second day of testing in Qatar, the last preseason event of 2024.

Results of the first day of the Qatar Test

Statements

Joan Mir

“Overall it was a good first day of the test and we were able to confirm the findings already from Sepang. We tried a few more things on the aero side and found another step, which makes me happy. I was able to ride comfortably, and we spent almost all of today on a used tyre. With a used medium we could do some good times and I was able to be in the mid 53s, steadily improving even on the used tyres. It’s a positive point and we are already faster than we were here last year. After changing the aerodynamics, we focused some more on electronics and I think this is where we still have some margin.”

Luca Marini

“Today unfortunately I am not feeling 100% fit, which is a shame but still we were able to do what we needed today. The first day today was much better than the first day in Sepang, so this shows that we have started well in Sepang and carrying it here. It’s clear there’s still work to do but me and the team have some ideas and we are looking to make progress tomorrow, then at the race and the next race. Honda is bringing things for us to try and we are working well together already, this is important with where we are in the journey.”