We have the starting shot in 2021. The Qatar Barwa Grand Prix officially kicked off with the pre-event press conference when MotoGP ™ World Champion Joan Mir took center stage, ready to begin his hoped-for title defense campaign. All around the number 36 on Thursday evening, like Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing.) Team Gresini) hope that they will pick up the trophy in November.
Until then, however, there are thousands of kilometers to race – starting under the lights of the Losail International Circuit. As the current king, Mir naturally has a goal on his back and will go into the 2021 season as a driver to be beaten. Both he and Team Suzuki Ecstar Alex Rins had a quiet pre-season test, but I enjoyed the weekend ahead and the “big challenge” he and the team faced this year.
“Yes. So happy to be back. Last year we had a really good season, a dream to reach the championship. We are here in Qatar, everyone is starting from scratch and it will be important to be great here The test wasn’t bad, but we still have a lot to do. I’m looking forward to this season, we have a big challenge ahead of us to defend the title and we’ll do our best so let’s see. “
Someone who wasn’t calm while testing was Miller. The Australian, who was named the fastest man on the timesheet earlier this month, has been dubbed one of the most popular title contenders in 2021 – and for good reason. However, the works star did not want to be carried away by his and Ducati’s test performance and knows that there are many other variables to consider on a Grand Prix weekend. But Miller searches and sounds right to fight against Me and the others.
“Yes, I feel ready as always. We didn’t have such a long break, I went back to Australia for a bit, but not as often as I would like. The pre-season went well, I didn’t have a big move, it was just one garage down, I already knew a lot of the guys, so we started right away. The times were good in the test, but we can’t really look into them, the conditions were perfect. We’re going to be starting from scratch here, it’s going to be a little different with Dunlop pads on the track, so we’ll be open-minded at the start, “explained Miller.
Something that no one would have predicted last year is that Repsol Honda would be without a win. The most decorated manufacturer in the sport has signed Pol Espargaro as a partner of Marc Marquez this year, and when it comes to tests, the younger Espargaro has settled in well. Very good. Obviously, the Spaniard didn’t want to overstate his chances for Lap 1, but admitted that his one-lap pace was not far from the likes of Miller, Quartararo and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
“Yes, it was a difficult start to the season because we only had four days of testing,” said Pol Espargaro. “It was even worse for the rookies, but it wasn’t the best preseason for the guys who changed bikes either. With these four days, the last day, I felt comfortable and was able to do something interesting with the race pace, at least around thinking about where I should be in the race. On one lap we weren’t far from Jack Miller, we know he’s very fast, Fabio and Maverick too, but I think we still have a lot to learn and it will be a bit difficult, but we’ll enjoy the first race of the season. “
The number 44 went on to explain the old adage: Honda has the most difficult motorcycle in the field. However, Pol Espargaro disagrees and says you need to adjust your driving style accordingly. But how much was he able to do that in the pre-season test?
“In the past, when I heard someone say that this bike was very difficult, I kept thinking the same thing, for me a bike from a manufacturer can be very difficult and for a rider with a better riding style than this it can be easier. For me, the Honda is certainly not the easiest, but I disagree that it is the toughest bike on the grid. You just have to match the riding style of the bike and it feels like I did a bit of that in the test.
“I don’t know how much I passed because after four days it is difficult to judge how much I am connected to the bike. I would take up this idea that the bike is difficult and I want to start being positive, being proactive and trying to make things happen. Starting here in Qatar isn’t the best place for Honda or even me, but the test has been pretty positive but we’ll try and see what we can achieve in the first few races, even if we’re still rookies with this bike. “
As the winner of three races in 2021, Quartararo will aim to complete a cross-season title challenge this season as he now dresses in factory colors. All four YZR-M1 looked very neat during pre-season testing and the Frenchman explained how he could learn from his difficult end of last year.
“Yes, I think last year and the end of the season were difficult, but I think I learned a lot of things that can bring me a lot of experience for the future and this year. It feels like it has been up and down, but I feel ready for 2021 and I think that’s the most important thing. “
Feeling ready for the 2021 season may sound very daunting at the age of 42. Not Rossi, however. The nine-time world champion is embarking on a new journey in his illustrious Grand Prix career, which is entering its 26th chapter, and after overtaking Losail faster than ever, Rossi got the same enthusiasm on the first Thursday of the year as in the 26th chapter Years earlier the season.
“Yes, the atmosphere on the Thursday of the first race is always the same as on the first day of school,” The Doctor began. “It’s always exciting, also for the shared pictures on the grid, you have the feeling that in a few hours I have changed teams after a long, long time, but I feel good. The atmosphere is good and the test wasn’t too bad, now we have to see a real race weekend. “
Seeing them do in a real racing weekend is something Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia are excited to see at the 2021 RS-GP. After a hugely impressive Qatar test, many eyes will be focused on how Espargaro and Lorenzo Savadori get along. Could Aprilia fight for regular podiums in 2021? Aleix Espargaro was certainly confident, but he was another driver who pointed out that testing and a Grand Prix weekend are two completely different prospects.
“I hope so, but you never know, a test is a test,” the Spaniard began. “The races are completely different and Moto2 and Moto3 will change the track. We’re not going to start from scratch, but somewhere we’ll have some things to change. The test was good, the RS-GP 21 looks really promising, but we have to race and compare ourselves with the others. I’m sure everyone will improve for the race. It won’t be easy, but I “I’m very motivated and I feel like I have the chance to fight with the best. It gives me positive energy and I can’t wait for FP1.”
Millions of fans from around the world can’t wait for MotoGP ™ FP1 to begin in Qatar on Friday. World champion Mir will roll out of the pit lane for the first time during a Grand Prix as driver number one in 2021. However, there are so many drivers waiting in the starting blocks to make sure it is they who get all the applause this year.
The action from the MotoGP Qatar Qualifying Race will be broadcast on EUROSPORT and EUROSPORT HD LIVE on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 8:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. IST). The same is streamed live in the Discovery + app.