After winning 9th place in his first MotoGP race two weeks ago, French world champion Fabio Quartararo hopes to restart the season at Yamaha, which is running out of power in Indonesia this weekend.
Luckily for Quartararo, other favorites, the Spanish Mark Marquez (Honda) and the Italian Peco Bagnaia (Ducati), also did not achieve great results with the fifth place and one abandonment, respectively.
The successful winner of his first Grand Prix is the 24-year-old Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati-Gresini), who will surprise him this marathon season when he will have 21 Grand Prix records.
“I didn't expect that victory; I wouldn't have thought of going to Qatar and winning my first race!” Corp. admitted to AFP Nadia Padovani, who took over her husband Fausto Grresini's team, who died at the age of 60 on February 23, 2021 due to COVID-19.
After finishing the Losail circuit, it's time to head to Lombok, a paradise island with the new Mandalica circuit.
It is not enough to say that Indonesia is waiting patiently for this event. On Wednesday, riders were welcomed by President Joko Widodo, a motorcycle fan who opened the circuit in November by riding a motorcycle through the streets of the capital Jakarta.
The World Championships passed throughout the country in 1996 and 1997, when the premier category was already 500 cc. This is the first time in the United States since the introduction of MotoGP in 2002 and the arrival of 1000cc displacement.
“They deserve and will have a Grand Prix!” Marquez celebrated, “It will be a great event for the country and MotoGP.”
“We hope to be the first in a long series. We have a long-term agreement on the race in Indonesia.” “, said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, promoter of the championship.
After holding pre-season training in February, the asphalt of the Mandalica circuit was restored to provide more grip after criticism from drivers who fear safety.
Starting Friday, you can re-test the track in free exercises 1 and 2 (02h50 and 07h05 GMT). From Saturday the situation will be serious, followed by a third free practice session and a qualifying session, which will determine the order of the Sunday Grand Prix.
Can Quartararo achieve the 16th pole in MotoGP on this 4.3 km circuit? French is not guaranteed. Suspicion has been confirmed in Qatar in pessimistic months after Yamaha development has been discontinued. “The disappointing thing is to know that I really do my best,” he regretted the French.
- Ducati's “Good Circuit” -
“I don't want to stop in Qatar,” he claimed in a Yamaha statement this week. “I feel good and ready to attack.”
Fighting for victory, the 22-year-old Frenchman can reach the same goal as Marques.
Honda has a good memory of Honda, who won the Sentul in 1996 and 1997 with Mick Duhan and Tadayuki Okada.
“Qatar was a good start, but we always want more people to get on the podium and try to win,” explained the Spanish MotoGP World Champion.
Marquez has had physical problems for the last two seasons. At first, the right arm was broken, and due to the problem of double vision, “we need to understand the bike better and start showing speed.
The 2021 runner-up Italian Francesco Bagnaia also expects to return to the podium after four victories in 2021.
“I think it's a good circuit that matches the characteristics of our bikes,” says Ducati Rider. I explained that. “In order to find a good 'feeling', I will try to study my driving style first, starting with the first training session.”
For the second and third time in Qatar, Brad Binder (KTM) and Paul Espargaro (Honda) can surprise again, like Bastianini.
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