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2021 MotoGP Round 2: Tissot Grand Prix of Doha (i.e. Qatar 2)


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#1 Risil

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Posted 01 April 2021 - 20:34

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MotoGP is back!!!

 

However it hasn't gone far. For reasons that I'm not sure have been fully explained, the MotoGP circus remains in Qatar for a second go at the Losail circuit in order to bulk out its skeletal, record-equallingly large 19-race calendar. Maybe Qatar is owed one from 2020. Anyway, it's a nice track and we're not paying for the lighting bills, so I suppose we should accept things gracefully. I can copy and paste bits of last week's thread because it's still completely applicable, so there are fringe benefits too.

 

 

When’s the thing getting underway? Practice is on Friday between 1.50pm and 8.45pm (local time, subtract 2 hours for BST) and after an afternoon of practice on Saturday, qualifying takes place at 5.30pm (Moto3), 6.25pm (Moto2) and 8pm (MotoGP). Sunday afternoon sees warm-up sessions for the three classes, and then races at the following times:

 

5pm: Moto3

6.20pm: Moto2
8pm: MotoGP

 

That felt good. Where are we in 2021? Just one round is in the record books so it would be premature to draw up a championship table. But if I did, Yamaha factory rider Maverick Vinales would be at the top, after he battled past four fast-starting Ducatis who seemed to struggle either with the windy conditions, or tyre life, or both. Also competitive were current champion Joan Mir, who had a similar gameplan of hanging back before fighting past the Ducatis but faded to fourth at the last corner, and Ducati riders Pecco Bagnaia and Johann Zarco, who jumped Mir at the end. Dreaming of better are Alex Rins and Jack Miller, who looked fast at times last Sunday but either failed to make progress (Rins) or eventually made too much of the opposite of progress (Miller). Aprilia were respectable. Honda, KTM and the Petronas Yamahas just looked out of it, in desecending order.

 

Moto2 and Moto3 were won by semi-veterans Sam Lowes and Jaume Masia, but many of us chose to be more excited by rookies Pedro Acosta and Izan Guevara in the juniors and Raul Fernandez and Cameron Beaubier in the intermediates. Or Moto2's Remy Gardner, who as Nova pointed out in-thread may be the closest thing to a Honda winner for a while.

 

Anyway, more MotoGP this weekend, this time without the distraction of an exciting Formula One race. Sounds good, right?



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#2 P0inters

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Posted 01 April 2021 - 22:43

Can't see past Vinales for the win again. He just looked too dominant last weekend. Reckon the Suzukis will be better though. Gonna go with: 1. Vinales 2. Mir 3. Quatararo 4. Zarco 5. Rins


Edited by P0inters, 01 April 2021 - 22:45.


#3 Yamamoto

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Posted 01 April 2021 - 23:35

Looking out for better results for Miller and Pol in particular. Neither should be dismayed by the first weekend, but need to get a good early result in. And the two Petronas guys of course. I'll go with Morbidelli to hit back hard and win this one.



#4 dissident

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 09:41

Yeah, watch out for Pol, he looked really strong towards the end of the race.



#5 KinoNoNo

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 10:37

I think the Ducattis are going to learn from last week where they were week on Sunday.

 

They are still rocket ships in quali and off the line, so if they can get off the last corner better and improve their tyre management they are still going to be in the mix.



#6 manmower

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 13:18

FP1 isn't over yet and Morbidelli's already had two mechanical failures... again. What on earth is going on there.



#7 thegamer23

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 13:27

FP1 isn't over yet and Morbidelli's already had two mechanical failures... again. What on earth is going on there.

The guy can't catch a break! 

Smoke from the engine with both of his bikes, session over!

Vinales on top so far, but this afternoon session is not very representative of the ultimate pace.



#8 JustNotFastEnough

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 14:02

Ducati 1,2, 3 and 4 by 1st corner irrespective of grid position. What an engine.



#9 DS27

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 17:33

Fernandez quickest in Moto 2 - early days, but potentially the most impressive rookie in this class since MM.

 

Commentators saying they think race pace will be slower as everyone will be managing tyres even more than last week.


Edited by DS27, 02 April 2021 - 17:33.


#10 manmower

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 09:00

Miller looks like he's trying to prove something after last week, ragged but super fast. Ironically though, hot lapping seems like one of the last things he should be worried about.



#11 ch103

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 10:37

Miller looks like he's trying to prove something after last week, ragged but super fast. Ironically though, hot lapping seems like one of the last things he should be worried about.

 

I said it on reddit before but Miller is probably the least supported Ducati rider ever.  I think Gigi has motivations to make Miller successful, to spite Dovi, but beyond that all the other Ducati riders are piling on the disrespect in an attempt to get Jack's bike.  

 

With that said, I think Miller has the mental toughness to be the 'one man against all' but being in an all italian team wont be easy for Jack.



#12 Pete_f1

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 10:53

A dust storm is blowing in!

#13 Pete_f1

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 13:24

I take it the qualifying has been postponed?

Alright got my times and practice sessions wrong

Edited by Pete_f1, 03 April 2021 - 13:31.


#14 OvDrone

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:06

Thank you for the OP Risil. I really want this new tradition to continue and I'd love to contribute to it.

 

Ever since last year, I somehow got into watching MotoGP qualifying, and I am adoring it.



#15 thegamer23

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:07

Mir so far qualified for Q2

MotoGP quali is always a spectacle!

Edited by thegamer23, 03 April 2021 - 17:08.


#16 OvDrone

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:18

Oliveira! That's more like it.

 

Impressed with Marini and better signs from Petrucci.



#17 thegamer23

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:19

Shocker for Rossi, at the back of the grid!

 



#18 registered

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:21

Bradl only Honda in Q2

#19 thegamer23

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:27

Red Alert

 

Is it going to be a Ducati front row?


Edited by thegamer23, 03 April 2021 - 17:27.


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#20 thegamer23

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:34

Woah, Martin P1 so far in Q2



#21 OvDrone

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:34

Getting so absorbed by the magick of this sport. Grandiose.



#22 manmower

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:39

Here come the real flyers.

#23 manmower

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:41

Martin still improving.

#24 thegamer23

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:43

Amazing quali

 

Pramac Ducati 1-2

 

Martin-Zarco  :eek:

 

The Rookie is on FIRE


Edited by thegamer23, 03 April 2021 - 17:43.


#25 carbonfibre

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:43

wow great job from Martin!

#26 OvDrone

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:44

Pristine Pramac.

 

Martin was completely on another level. WOW

 

Cannot wait for tomorrow. Sublime.



#27 registered

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:44

Jack 'title contender' Miller not looking like the hottes Ducati this season so far

#28 ehagar

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:45

Pramac has a great rider combination this year.

#29 dissident

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:45

whoaaa  :clap:



#30 realracer200

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 17:49

Like I said last week Ducati is clearly the best bike this season.



#31 Disgrace

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 19:13

Will Rossi even last the season? This is humiliating now.



#32 Risil

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 19:15

Will Rossi even last the season? This is humiliating now.


He qualified fourth a week ago!

#33 Disgrace

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 19:18

He qualified fourth a week ago!

 

Yes sir, but the lap was set following Bagnaia on his pole-winning lap. The way the race unfolded sadly was more representative.



#34 NixxxoN

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 19:59

Jack 'title contender' Miller not looking like the hottes Ducati this season so far

Before being considered for title contender, he should make the previus step, to win some races



#35 dissident

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 20:32

Like I said last week Ducati is clearly the best bike this season.

 

They've been strong in Qatar for a while now, plus Yamaha & Suzuki seemed to have better race pace.

 

Having said that, when a rookie puts it on pole... 



#36 ehagar

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 22:01

Like I said last week Ducati is clearly the best bike this season.

 

I'd wait until at least Jerez before making any judgements. KTM and Honda should be much better over the next two rounds.



#37 manmower

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 22:13

If Martin repeats last week's start he's going to be a speck on the horizon by the time everyone else gets off the grid.

#38 KinoNoNo

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 22:16

I suspect Martin will be this week's hare.



#39 RPM40

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 22:43

Will Rossi even last the season? This is humiliating now.

He's only gotten 3 podiums in the last 2 seasons and last year placed 15th in the championship, yet he stayed. This is no different to his normal recent form.



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#40 RPM40

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 22:45

Before being considered for title contender, he should make the previus step, to win some races

As a fan of Miller (being an Australian) I don't see anything about his results that would scream title contention. He hasn't won any races in recent years, although there was an instance or two last year it looked possible. 

 

He does seem to be glued to the top 5, but he needs a step up to challenge for an actual title. 

 

Consistent results may have worked for Mir when there is no Marquez on the grid, but assuming he is anything like the rider he used to be you need to win a lot of races to beat him.  



#41 DS27

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 23:05

Well, that was a sensational qualifying session. Can't wait for the race. Pramac 1-2. Rookie Martin on pole. Rossi in his worst ever qualifying performance. Bradl top Honda. Vinales strong for two consecutive weekends.

 

I have everything crossed for a Zarco win.


Edited by DS27, 04 April 2021 - 08:23.


#42 Requiem84

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 07:18

We had this discussion last season and quite a few people said that they would like Rosssi to stay as a P4 or P3 was still quite an accomplishment.

I disagreed I think, and even more so now if his form remains like this. Its rather sad than inspiring..

#43 greenman

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 07:33

He's only gotten 3 podiums in the last 2 seasons and last year placed 15th in the championship, yet he stayed. This is no different to his normal recent form.

Nah come on, pace-wise his 2020 wasn't that bad apart from the opening race in Jerez. After that race he's had some decent results and even ran as the fastest Yamaha a few times. But he ruined his season by three consecutive crashes (two times on lap 1 if I recall, and the third time from 2nd place - in a race where Maverick was nowhere for example...), and then getting Covid and missing two more races. Then in the three races after his return he was also bad, but actually just about where Quartararo and Vinales were on the same bike.

 

I figure that his 21st place yesterday is as much of an outlier as his 4th place last week. The problem is that the field is so close, that anything not going right, will put people way down the order. Eg. Franky out of points while only being about 25 seconds behind Maverick last week, and even Rossi was only 10 seconds back, but way down in 12th. Hope he figures it out and has some nice results before retiring. Otherwise it could be a long season...

 

As for today's race, probably more of the same, look out for Mir and the Yamahas coming through, while Ducati's will lead after the start before fading. I'll put Zarco as the most likely Ducati winner. Re: Miller, he's good, but he hasn't done anything yet to convince me he's a championship contender ™



#44 manmower

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 09:15

The thing with Miller is after six years in the top class he still isn't seem particularly preoccupied with managing his races. Half the time he goes too fast too soon, because he's rolling the dice and counting on dumb luck to hang on until the end. Hardly how a championship contender would ride. Last week he was 3rd for a bit, then clung to 4th-5th for a lot of the race, only to be knocked back into 9th again in the closing laps, just ahead of Avintia rookie Bastianini. And when he does manage to stay closer to the front, his close racing tactics aren't always brilliant either, like in last year's shortened Austria GP.

 

He is more of a Crutchlow-esque figure, contending for the podium and aiming for the occasional standout performance.

 

Now that I've posted this I can just see him pulling the pin from lap 1 and getting lucky today, but whatever. :) It'll take a lot more than one race to change my mind.

 



#45 ch103

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 11:21

I suspect the battle for the win will be between Zarco, Vinales & Mir or Rins.



#46 Yamamoto

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 11:30

In these lawless, post-Marquez days, the closest thing to a safe bet is that the Suzukis come through in the race. So the question is how much work they have to do and how much ground they can make up after the first lap or two. 



#47 HerbieMcQueen

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 12:26

May I ask who this Scottish (or Northern Irish, please forgive my ignorance) co-commentator is in the Moto2 warm up? He's makes Neil Spalding sound like Murray Walker. At least Spalders had interesting things to say.



#48 Yamamoto

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 12:29

I'm not watching but I imagine it's Michael Laverty. Never as exciting as Eugene.



#49 Disgrace

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 14:32

Moto3 fisticuffs in the run-off!



#50 registered

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 14:35

Did McPhee kick the other rider?