MotoGP | Qatar Test Day 2: Quartararo finishes in the lead, Rossi at the back

MotoGP Test Qatar Day 2 – The second day of IRTA testing of the MotoGP class held at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar saw the riders return to the track after a "study" Day 1 with many new features.

Yesterday we saw Valentino Rossi for the first time in Yamaha Petronas, the official Ducati pair formed by Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, Danilo Petrucci taking the "measures" on the KTM of Team Tech 3, Johann Zarco in Ducati Pramac together with the rookie Jorge Martin, Fabio Quartararo riding the M1 Factory, Pol Espargarò in Repsol Honda, Alex Marquez in Honda LCR and our rookies Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini riding the Ducatis of Team Avintia (Marini “wears” the Sky VR46 colours).

At Honda Stefan Bradl tested the new frame without carbon insert and the performance was positive. KTM has instead brought a fork locking system to keep the bike lowered not only at the rear but also at the front during starting. In Ducati new fairing with flow conveyors for Jack Miller. Of note are the crashes without consequences of Alex Marquez and Jorge Martin.

The fastest of this second day was Fabio Quartararo, who on board the Yamaha Factory recorded the best lap of 1:53.940, achieved in the 52nd of 59 laps. “El Diablo” tested the new chassis which his sidekick Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi were also able to try.

Second time for Jack Miller, who brought the official Ducati to just 77 thousandths of a second behind Quartararo. The Australian rider preceded the excellent Aleix Espargarò on the Aprilia by 0.135s, who confirmed himself as a great protagonist after yesterday's best performance.

Franco Morbidelli, the best of the Italian drivers, did well. The Yamaha Petronas rider is in fact fourth just 0.213s from the top. His M1 is the least updated of the four on the track, even if some small details brought by the Tre Diapason house have improved the top speed.

“Morbido” precedes Stefan Bradl, who continues to replace Marc Marquez. The Honda tester is ahead of the Ducati of Johann Zarco's Team Pramac, the Yamaha of Maverick Vinales and the Suzuki of reigning champion Joan Mir. Closing out the Top Ten are Francesco Bagnaia with the second official Ducati and Alex Rins with the Suzuki.

No stopping @stefanbradl at the #QatarTest, in the area and gathering great data.@MotoGP pic.twitter.com/ra1GkcuesE

- Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) March 7, 2021

The best KTM is that of Miguel Oliveira, eleventh; the Portuguese rider precedes the Repsol Honda of Pol Espargarò and those of the LCR Team of Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Marquez.

Excellent Enea Bastianini, sixteenth and best rookie. Ducati rider Avintia (2020 Moto2 world champion, ed.) is ahead of Lorenzo Savadori's Aprilia and the other two rookies, Luca Marini (Ducati Sky VR46 Avintia) and Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac).

Difficult day for Valentino Rossi, only twentieth at 1.768s from the top, occupied by whoever took his place in the Yamaha Factory, Fabio Quartararo.

Let's go @ValeYellow46 !!

Less than 90 minutes of running left today. #QatarTest | #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/qCuRXVLtZr

- PETRONAS SRT (@sepangracing) March 7, 2021

The "Doctor", who completed 50 laps, with the best time set on lap 35, is ahead of Danilo Petrucci's KTM, with the rider from Terni gaining a few positions and lowering his time compared to yesterday. “Petrux” is the second KTM rider in the ranking, Iker Lecuona and Brad Binder, in fact occupy the 23rd and 24th position, ahead of the luxury tester of the Austrian manufacturer, Dani Pedrosa.

It's getting dark in the desert ✨🇶🇦#KTM # Tech3 #MotoGP #Tech3KTMFactoryRacing #DP9 @MotoGP #QatarTest pic.twitter.com/DPY5To4fGM

- Tech3 Racing (@ Tech3Racing) March 7, 2021

The first #QatarTest comes to a close and it's a familiar name on top! 🏁

A late time attack sees @FabioQ20 top the times! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1cfXNAhsXV

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 7, 2021

Stay "connected", interviews with the pilots will follow.