DOHA (Qatar): The long wait for motor sports fans in Qatar is almost over with the MotoGP bikes will roar into action at the official track test for 2021 season at Losail International Circuit (LIC) on Friday.
The Official Qatar Tests takes place tomorrow until March 7, followed by the second from March 10-12 with the premier class riders turning their wheels for the first time since the season came to a close last year.
The LIC will also stage pre-season testing for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes on March 19.
“The shakedown test kicks proceedings off on Friday with factory test riders and rookies on track, before the other riders then hit the asphalt for five eagerly anticipated days of testing across seven days at Losail. The excitement is building,” MotoGP.com announced on Thursday.
The 2021 season gets underway with Grand Prix of Qatar on March 28. It will be followed by the second round a week after at the same venue. The testing in Qatar will also see a number teams and factories rolling out their new bikes in Qatar.
On the rider front a lot of changes has taken place since the last season got over with Valentino Rossi’s move to Petronas Yamaha SRT topping the list and will be alongside Franco Morbidelli, with Fabio Quartararo moving to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team to partner Maverick Vinales.
Yamaha will also bring new test rider Cal Crutchlow besides Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane.
Ducati Lenovo Team
There is a change in Ducati as Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia move into the factory team and the other Borgo Panigale machines on the grid also greet new faces.
Johann Zarco moves to Pramac Racing and has rookie Jorge Martin alongside him, with Avintia also welcoming two rookies: Reigning Moto2 champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) and his former Moto2 challenger Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia). Test rider Michele Pirro will also be present for Ducati at the test.
Line-up remains same for Suzuki
Reigning Champion Joan Mir and Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Alex Rins hit reset as they try and gear up for another assault on the top, and at the test they’ll have experienced test rider Sylvain Guintoli on duty, as well as Takuya Tsuda. After discovering such a winning formula in 2020, the Hamamatsu factory will likely be doubling down on that.
