Bagnaia Fastest as Final 2024 MotoGP Test Commences

The Qatar MotoGP Test is essentially a pre-event test for the opening race of the season: the Qatar Grand Prix. In that sense, Francesco Bagnaia has begun his race weekend in the best way, by ending day one of the test as the fastest rider.

2024 MotoGP Qatar Test, Day 1

Much of the first day of the 2024 MotoGP Qatar Test was led by Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales. But the time for which Vinales led was through the portion of the day that is of little interest, because the track is covered in sand, having not been used since last November, and the Qatari sun is beating down on it during the afternoon.

These conditions mean that testing in Qatar is of little use in regards to the season as a whole, but the final two or three hours of each day are useful to prepare for the Qatar Grand Prix, which will open the season in just under three weeks. (Normally the gap between the final preseason test and the first race is only two weeks, but the FIA World Endurance Championship is racing at Lusail the week before MotoGP heads there for its own season opener, meaning availability is limited.)

When the sun fell, the Ducatis rose, and above them all was Francesco Bagnaia, who missed out on a personal best lap of the Lusail International Circuit by 0.004 seconds with his 1:52.040. Luca Marini’s record from Q2 at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix is in tact for now.

Bagnaia was 0.220 seconds ahead of Jorge Martin, while Fabio Di Giannantonio, Enea Bastianini, and Alex Marquez meant Ducati filled 50 per cent of the top 10 positions.

But other manufacturers showed strongly, too: Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales were third and sixth, respectively, for Aprilia; Brad Binder was fourth for KTM; Johann Zarco was the top Honda in ninth; and Fabio Quartararo completed the top 10 as the best Yamaha rider of the day.

Raul Fernandez had broken his pelvis and hip at the Sepang Test on his fourth lap, but he was able to top day one in Qatar at one point, ending the day in 12th on the newly starred-and-striped RS-GP for Trackhouse Racing.

Marc Marquez’ adaptation to the Ducati Desmosedici GP23 continues at this test – he finished the first day in Qatar in 16th.

The second day of the Qatar test will also be the final one – after tomorrow, the next MotoGP action will be on 8 March when FP1 for the Qatar Grand Prix kicks off the 2024 season.

Full results from the first day of the 2024 MotoGP Qatar Test are below.

2024 Qatar MotoGP Test Results, Day 1