Qatar MotoGP, Lusail - Saturday Practice Results

Saturday practice results from the Qatar MotoGP at Lusail, round 19 of 20 in the 2023 world championship.
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Qatar MotoGP, 18 November
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Qatar MotoGP, 18 November
2023 Qatar MotoGP, Lusail - Free Practice (3) Results
PosRiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1'53.531s11/13341k
2Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP23)+0.073s12/13351k
3Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP23)+0.073s7/10345k
4Fabio Di GiannantonioITAGresini Ducati (GP22)+0.126s8/12343k
5Franco MorbidelliITAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.141s9/12344k
6Miguel OliveiraPORRNF Aprilia (RS-GP22)+0.368s5/12345k
7Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP23)+0.385s11/11347k
8Maverick ViñalesSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP23)+0.508s11/12346k
9Alex MarquezSPAGresini Ducati (GP22)+0.517s7/8339k
10Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Lenovo (GP23)+0.538s10/10345k
11Raul FernandezSPARNF Aprilia (RS-GP22)+0.551s6/10338k
12Enea BastianiniITADucati Lenovo (GP23)+0.580s12/12343k
13Marco BezzecchiITAMooney VR46 Ducati (GP22)+0.659s8/9347k
14Luca MariniITAMooney VR46 Ducati (GP22)+0.674s5/13346k
15Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+0.844s6/10345k
16Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.948s12/12339k
17Augusto FernandezSPATech3 GASGAS (RC16)*+1.010s7/10340k
18Iker LecuonaSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+1.290s9/14341k
19Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+1.315s3/11339k
20Pol EspargaroSPATech3 GASGAS (RC16)+1.335s3/9343k
21Jack MillerAUSRed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.488s7/12342k
22Joan MirSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+1.839s7/11346k

*Rookie.

Official Lusail MotoGP records
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia 1m 52.772s (2021)
Fastest race lap: Enea Bastianini 1m 54.338s (2022)

Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo leads a feisty final practice for the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail ahead of title Jorge Martin and Aleix Espargaro.

Espargaro was involved in an early bizarre incident when an on-track tangle between the Spaniard and Franco Morbidelli ended with the factory Aprilia rider slapping the Italian's helmet.

The incident was soon put under investigation by the FIM Stewards, with the heavy cost of a potential penalty underlined when Espargaro moved to the top of the timesheets before late improvements by Quartararo and Martin.

Martin, who starts this evening's Sprint race 14 points behind Francesco Bagnaia, had struggled badly with grip issues for most of Friday before a late recovery on new rubber.

The Pramac Ducati rider hoped the worst was behind him but again looked uneasy in Saturday practice, running wide, glancing at his rear tyre as he returned to the pits, and running his face with his hands in the pits.

However, Martin ended the session on a high by rising to second, setting the exact same time as Espargaro.

Bagnaia was tenth quickest, just ahead of surprise Friday leader Raul Fernandez, who lost the front of his RNF Aprilia at the final corner in the closing minutes.

Qualifying 1, including Quartararo, who lost a top-ten lap time due to yellow flags on Friday, will now get underway.

Francesco Bagnaia has a chance to win the 2023 MotoGP title on Sunday in Qatar, but admits it’s almost impossible… unless Jorge Martin makes a mistake.

Bagnaia is just 14 points ahead of Martin and would need to push that advantage up to 37 this weekend to avoid a final round world championship showdown at Valencia.

However, both have now used up their Official Warning for low tyre pressure and - like Luca Marini, Maverick Vinales, Franco Morbidelli, Raul Fernandez, Iker Lecuona, Pol Espargaro, Marco Bezzecchi, Marc Marquez and Aleix Espargaro – will receive a post-race time penalty for any further infringements.

Facilities and infrastructure at the Lusail circuit have been radically revamped ahead of this year’s event, including a full resurfacing. With no prior track data for the new asphalt, Michelin is offering an extra front (4) and rear (3) tyre compound this weekend.

While Bagnaia and Martin can drop no lower than second in the standings, Marco Bezzecchi is on target to confirm third over KTM’s Brad Binder.

Pramac Ducati will be crowned teams’ world champions, an exceptional effort for a non-factory squad, if their current 100-point advantage over Ducati Lenovo stands at 66 or more on Sunday.

Alex Rins is again replaced by Iker Lecuona at LCR Honda.
 

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