Qatar MotoGP, Losail Circuit - Free Practice (3) Results
Morbidelli returns to the top of the MotoGP timesheets during Free Practice 3 for the Qatar season-opener, but the scorching afternoon heat means the Friday night lap times remain unbeaten.
Miller thus stays fastest overall for Ducati (despite his second tumble of the weekend at the start of FP3) while Suzuki's reigning world champion Mir will be among those heading to Qualifying 1.
Aprilia's Espargaro fell from his Aprilia at the end of this afternoon, moments after moving into second place.
Due to the heat, most riders swapped soft tyres (favourite for the race) for hards, although rookie Marini jumped up the order on softs in the closing minutes.
Bradl is again replacing the injured Marc Marquez, who is missing both Qatar rounds.
Vinales and Marquez (Alex) are without their usual crew chiefs for most of this weekend, after both registered an unclear PCR test upon arrival in Qatar.
Esteban Garcia (Vinales) and Christophe 'Beefy' Bourguignon (Marquez) will remain isolated in their hotels until passing a PCR test on Saturday.
| Qatar MotoGP, Losail Circuit - Free Practice (3) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'54.676s | 14/17 | 344k |
| 2 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.165s | 9/9 | 347k |
| 3 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.179s | 16/16 | 348k |
| 4 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.238s | 16/16 | 347k |
| 5 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.394s | 8/15 | 348k |
| 6 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.401s | 13/14 | 344k |
| 7 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.409s | 14/15 | 348k |
| 8 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.427s | 14/19 | 345k |
| 9 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.531s | 18/18 | 348k |
| 10 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.585s | 17/17 | 345k |
| 11 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.690s | 13/14 | 345k |
| 12 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.841s | 9/18 | 350k |
| 13 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.028s | 6/14 | 355k |
| 14 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.108s | 10/13 | 353k |
| 15 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.115s | 6/6 | 356k |
| 16 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.158s | 15/16 | 347k |
| 17 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.240s | 10/12 | 351k |
| 18 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.247s | 12/14 | 347k |
| 19 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.302s | 10/16 | 350k |
| 20 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.320s | 11/13 | 343k |
| 21 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.490s | 9/11 | 351k |
| 22 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +1.977s | 5/8 | 354k |
| Riders directly to Qualifying 2 - Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) |
| 3 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 4 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) |
| 5 | Alex Rins | ESP | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 6 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 7 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 8 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
| 9 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 10 | Pol Espargaro | ESP | Repsol Honda (RC213V) |
* Rookie.
2021 Qatar MotoGP - Fastest Day 1 Time:
Jack Miller AUS Ducati 1m 53.387s
2021 Qatar Tests - Fastest Time:
Jack Miller AUS Ducati 1m 53.183s
Official Qatar MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 53.380s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 54.927s (2016)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
