The wait is almost over! The 2024 MotoGP World Championship season kicks off this weekend, as well as Moto2 and Moto3. Losail hosts the opening round, which as usual will feature night races.
In MotoGP, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) begins his quest for a third title, but faces tough competition. Especially from Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati), his main rival from last year. Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) aims to return to good results and starts a new phase of his career, being for the first time in a satellite team.
There are many other debuts, such as Franco Morbidelli at Pramac, Álex Rins at Monster Energy Yamaha, or Luca Marini at Repsol Honda, as well as the satellite team of Aprilia, Trackhouse Racing. There is also curiosity to see if the Japanese manufacturers have made significant progress and can re-enter the fight with the Europeans, in a year where they have concessions.
In Moto2, champion Pedro Acosta has moved up to MotoGP, but talent is not lacking. Right away, Fermín Aldeguer (SpeedUp/Boscoscuro) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS/Kalex) are two of the main protagonists of 2023. But there are also many riders with recognized potential coming from Moto3, such as last year’s champion Jaume Masiá (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team/Kalex), Ayumu Sasaki (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team/Kalex), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo/Kalex), or Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team/Kalex).
As for Moto3, one of the riders to watch closely will be David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar), but there are also many other strong candidates for victory: like Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GasGas Tech3), Collin Veijer and Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), or José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). There are also several promising rookies, such as Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GasGas Tech3), Joel Esteban (CFMoto Aspar), or Ángel Piqueras who replaced last year’s champion, Masiá, at Leopard Racing.
Here are the timings (by Continental Portugal time) for all sessions of the Qatar GP.
Friday, March 8
11:00-11:35: Moto3 Free Practice
11:50-12:30: Moto2 Free Practice
12:45-13:30: MotoGP Free Practice 1
15:15-15:50: Moto3 Practice 1
16:05-16:45: Moto2 Practice 1
17:00-18:00: MotoGP Practice
Saturday, March 9
09:30-10:00: Moto3 Practice 2
10:15-10:45: Moto2 Practice 2
11:00-11:30: MotoGP Free Practice 2
11:40-11:55: MotoGP Q1 Qualifying
12:05-12:20: MotoGP Q2 Qualifying
13:50-14:05: Moto3 Q1 Qualifying
14:15-14:30: Moto3 Q2 Qualifying
14:45-15:00: Moto2 Q1 Qualifying
15:10-15:25: Moto2 Q2 Qualifying
16:00: MotoGP Sprint Race (11 laps)
Sunday, March 10
12:40-12:50: MotoGP Warm-up
14:00: Moto3 Race (16 laps)
15:15: Moto2 Race (18 laps)
17:00: MotoGP Race (22 laps)
