MotoGP, Doha: Ducati and Suzuki, a two-pronged attack on Viñales

MotoGP, Doha: Ducati and Suzuki, a two-pronged attack on Viñales

MotoGP is back out at Losail this weekend. Is Viñales in for an attack from Ducati and Suzuki or will another rider come to the fore? Here are our predictions ahead of the Doha GP

31.03.2021 ( Aggiornata il 31.03.2021 11:01 )

It’s all go for the MotoGP teams, straight back to work and ready for another exciting round after last weekend’s race. Riders in the reigning class will be back on track in Qatar later this week for the Doha GP.

The goals? To do it again and/or improve. The season has only just begun but anything can happen during a season and the only strategy is to give it your all. Will Viñales take centre stage once again, or will Ducati be able to get the better of him?

The fight resumes with the Ducatis


The battle between Yamaha and Ducati will undoubtedly continue. The speed of the Desmosedici around the Losail track is truly impressive, but the smoothness of the M1 helped in terms of the tyres.

So will Francesco Bagnaia, Jack Miller and Johann Zarco, or rather the stars of the previous race, need to review their strategies? The lightning fast start wasn’t very productive for Bagnaia and Miller in the end, and even if the strong wind was a hindrance last Sunday, they’ll need to make some changes this time around. Maverick Viñales proved to be in top shape and is clearly one of the favourites for the win this Sunday too.

Many riders seeking redemption


Then we’ll need to see what Maverick’s Yamaha colleagues do. Fabio Quartararo continues to be quick over the flying lap, but less competitive over race distance. And let’s not forget Petronas riders Franco Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi who will be seeking redemption, bikes permitting.

Also Jack Miller with the Ducati. He started last weekend as favourite but then got into difficulty come race day. The determined Aussie will be looking to make up for that, also because, at a Ducati-friendly track like Losail, he needs to score as many points as possible before getting to more challenging circuits.

The Suzukis are consistent


Keep an eye on the Suzukis too. They’ve started 2021 more or less as they finished 2020, world champion Joan Mir starting further back but making up for lost time in the final stages. He made a mistake through the final turns and was passed by both Zarco and Bagnaia. We’re sure he won’t let that happen again this weekend, and so we can expect to see him in the mix for the podium, together with team-mate Alex Rins.

No shortage of surprises


The first race of the year also showed us that we shouldn’t underestimate Aleix Espargaró on the Aprilia, brother Pol on the Honda or, why not, even rookie Enea Bastianini who finished tenth in his first ever MotoGP race. Rest assured that we’re in for another exciting race! So let’s get ready for Friday when the riders head out for free practice.

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, Viñales: “The harmony is different with Crutchlow in Yamaha”

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