2021 Qatar MotoGP - Full Qualifying Results & Zarco sets new top speed record!
The full Qatar MotoGP race grid order, with Johann Zarco setting a simply unreal top speed record on the Ducati Desmosedici GP.
QATAR MotoGP qualifying results are in, and we now know how the riders will line-up on the grid for the first race of the 2021 season. Plus, Johann Zarco sets a mind-blowing speed record atop the Desmosedici GP.
Francesco Bagnaia will sit at the front of the grid, taking pole position and setting a blisteringly quick time of 1’52.772s. The Monster Yamaha team were close behind, with Fabio Quartararo (+0.266s) and Maverick Viñales (+0.316s) taking the 2nd and 3rd spot, and completing the front row of the starting grid.
Valentino Rossi (+0.342s) will be reasonably happy with his 4th spot, although he was briefly on the front row before Viñales fought back to take 3rd by only 3-one-hundredths of a second.
New top speed record for MotoGP
Meanwhile, Johann Zarco on the Pramac Ducati was setting an unreal top speed record in FP4 - managing 362.4 km/h (!) at Losail, 225.185 mph. I wonder how many times that speed conversion has been entered into Google..!
He becomes the first premier class rider to go over 360 km/h and breaks the previous record held by Andrea Dovizioso by 5.7 km/h.
Not to say he was alone, mind. Jorge Martin set 358.8 km/h in Q1, and Jack Miller set 357.6 km/h in Q2 - both also breaking the Dovi record from 2019, and it’s only the first race weekend!
Incredible stuff, the Desmosedici engine is incredible, and to think that same tech is available on Ducati road bikes! Plus, it’s a lot of Ducati in the Top 10. These MotoGP bikes are just becoming faster and faster, let’s just hope they can stop quicker as well… the tracks aren’t getting any bigger (with any longer run-offs).
Where to watch the 2021 Qatar MotoGP | MotoGP
The first race of the season starts at 6 pm in the UK, and you can watch it on BT Sport on your TV. Moto2 race at 4.30pm, whilst Moto3 is at 3pm.
If you fancy a live commentary, check out crash.net.
Full 2021 Qatar Qualifying Results
| POS | Rider | Team | Time (Diff) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Team (GP21) | 1'52.772s |
2 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.266s |
3 | Maverick Viñales | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.316s |
4 | Valentino Rossi | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.342s |
5 | Jack Miller | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.443s |
6 | Johann Zarco | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.514s |
7 | Franco Morbidelli | Petronas Yamaa (YZR-M1) | +0.541s |
8 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.543s |
9 | Alex Rins | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.718s |
10 | Joan Mir | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.910s |
11 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.949s |
12 | Pol Espargaro | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.158s |
13 | Enea Bastianini | Avintia Ducati (GP19) | 1'53.733s |
14 | Jorge Martin | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | 1'53.84s |
15 | Miguel Oliveira | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | 1'53.915s |
16 | Alex Marquez | LCR Honda (RC213V) | 1'53.958s |
17 | Stefan Bradl | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | 1'53.995s |
18 | Luca Marini | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19) | 1'54.122s |
19 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | 1'54.24s |
20 | Danilo Petrucci | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | 1'54.443s |
21 | Iker Lecuona | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | 1'54.627s |
22 | Lorenzo Savadori | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | 1'55.183s |
