MotoGP | GP Qatar Day 1: Morbidelli, “It was a very hard-fought session”

MotoGP GP Qatar Yamaha Petronas SRT 2021 – Franco Morbidelli said he was quite satisfied with the first day of free practice for the Qatar Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2021 MotoGP.

The Italian-Brazilian rider set a good pace and achieved the seventh fastest time in the time attack, 0.289s behind Jack Miller's Ducati, the best of the day. Here's what "Morbido" said to the journalists connected via the Zoom platform.

Statements Franco Morbidelli GP Qatar Day 1

“It was very important to be in the ten. This FP2 had the importance of an FP3, because it is easier to set the time in the evening and therefore everyone used two tires and tried to set the time this evening rather than tomorrow morning. It was a very hard-fought session, of a very high level, I was seventh and tenth with just over two tenths, Pol Espargarò didn't take much more."

Statements by Franco Morbidelli on Ducati GP Qatar Day 1 performance

“The Ducatis were very strong today, the times will probably drop further, I don't know how much, but I hope within myself that they are already okay, while we can still improve.”

Statements Franco Morbidelli speed Yamaha Vs Ducati GP Qatar Day 1

“The Ducatis go very fast on the straight (354 km/h Zarco against 341 km/h Morbidelli, ed.), what we can do is go faster in the corners, I don't see what else we can do.”