MotoGP Qatar test: Bagnaia destroys lap record as testing wraps up
Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia dominated the pre-season testing in Qatar, setting the pace on both days at the Losail International Circuit. Bagnaia clocked the first sub 1m51s lap of the venue, leading his teammate Enea Bastianini by 0.120 seconds. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro had a strong showing in third place, with Marc Marquez of Gresini in fourth after a late-session crash.
Conditions at the circuit on the second day were challenging, with Bagnaia showcasing his speed and setting a new lap record of 1m50.952s. Bagnaia’s Ducati remained at the top of the standings with impressive consistency, completing 52 laps and fine-tuning his race set-up. Espargaro was the closest challenger to the Ducati duo, with Marquez showing promising adaptation to his 2023-spec Ducati.
Other notable performances included Raul Fernandez in fifth and Maverick Vinales in sixth, showcasing strong form for their respective teams. The MotoGP paddock will reconvene in Qatar for the opening round of the 2024 season on the weekend of 8-10 March.
