Leading from start to finish, Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) converted pole position into a dominant victory at the Grand Prix of Qatar to kick start his season in perfect fashion. The Italian beat second place Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) by 6.154s on Sunday evening in the desert, the duo finishing comfortably up the road from third place Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who profited from late drama between Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia).

Vietti got a clean getaway from pole position as we saw reigning Moto3™ World Champion Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) go into Turn 1 way too hot, as did Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up), with Acosta dropping to the back of the field. Canet made great gains in the opening three laps to go from P9 on the grid to P2, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was P3 and Fernandez was P4. After a great start, rookie Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™) highsided out of contention at Turn 5 on Lap 3.

With six laps gone, Vietti boasted a 0.9s lead over Canet as Ogura picked off Fernandez and Arbolino in quick succession. Lowes was in the quartet chasing Canet and Vietti, the latter now 1.5s clear of Canet who was, in turn, 1.9s ahead of the Arbolino, Ogura, Fernandez, and Lowes jostle.

A mistake at Turn 6 on Lap 9 then saw Arbolino lose touch with Ogura, Fernandez and Lowes, as Vietti saw his lead hit the two-second mark for the first time. That didn’t last long though. With 10 laps left, Canet was just 1.5s shy and in two consecutive laps, the Spaniard had reeled in Vietti by 0.3s. The final podium place scrap was raging on. Lowes got the better of Fernandez and Ogura within a lap, with his teammate Arbolino back in contention.

On Lap 14 of 20, Vietti had reopened the gap to Canet. The Italian was 2.3s up the road now and looking good for an opening weekend victory in 2022, with Canet 5.4s clear of the podium fight behind him. Barring any late mishaps, Vietti and Canet were going to finish first and second in Qatar, and it was between Ogura, Fernandez, Lowes, and Arbolino for the final spot on the rostrum.

Two to go. Fernandez dived up the inside of Lowes at Turn 10 for P4, as Ogura held P3 heading into the final lap. Fernandez was climbing all over the back of Ogura’s Kalex, but the Japanese star was holding firm. Fernandez lunged at Turn 15, made it stick, and trying to bite back at the final corner, Ogura tucked the front. He slid into the side of Fernandez, which somehow kept Ogura upright, but the contact cost both Fernandez and Ogura a podium. Lowes said thank you very much, this after Vietti and Canet safely crossed the line to take P1 and P2.

Vietti dominant from start to finish; Canet comfortable in P2; injured Lowes picking up the pieces to claim a hard-fought P3.

Fernandez was so close to a debut podium with Red Bull KTM Ajo but it wasn’t to be for the Spaniard, however, P4 is a solid start to the season. Arbolino was in the podium hunt throughout and gives a great account of himself in Qatar, the Italian managed to finish ahead of Ogura – somehow, the Japanese rider finished in P6. Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40) was a lonely seventh ahead of an all American duel between eighth place Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and ninth place Cameron Beaubier (American Racing).

Injured Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) picked up a commendable P10 after breaking his left hand at the Portimao Test, the German rider managed to hold off a recovering Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) – the British rider slipped to P20 on the opening lap from P7 on the grid. Acosta climbed his way back up to P12 in his first Moto2™ race, the 2021 Moto3™ World Champion beat Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Romano Fenati (MB Conveyors Speed Up) – those three riders closed out the points.

Utter domination was the name of the game for Vietti as he takes home a magnificent 25 points from the opening round in Qatar, as the intermediate class now get set for Indonesia.

Top 10:
1. Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team)
2. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) + 6.154
3. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 10.181
4. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 10.259
5. Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) + 11.421
6. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) + 12.331
7. Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40) + 14.866
8. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) + 15.371
9. Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) + 17.368
10. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 18.908

For the first time since the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) will stand on the top step of the podium after winning the Moto3™ race at the Grand Prix of Qatar. The Italian beat Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) by just 0.037s after runaway race leader Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) suffered an issue with his fairing on Lap 11, with Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) fending off Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) for the final rostrum spot.

Polesitter Sasaki got a wonderful getaway as the lights went out for 2022. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Migno were inside the top three early on, as Garcia collided with Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) – the latter crashing at Turn 7.

With 15 laps to go, Sasaki had stretched out a lead worth 1.1s. The Japanese rider was inch-perfect in the opening exchanges, as Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) and teammate Foggia completed their Long Lap penalties. Guevara was up to P12, Foggia was P23, as Suzuki then crashed at Turn 16 in an incident involving Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) – Suzuki taking the Frenchman out.

Garcia was handed a Long Lap Penalty for his incident with Tatay, which shoved him down to P11, as Sasaki extended his lead to 1.4s. 10 riders were chasing, but the squabbling wasn’t helping anyone but race leader Sasaki. Toba, Migno, Öncü, and Masia were the quartet battling away at the front of the chasing pack, and as the clock ticked down to 10 to go, Sasaki held a 2.7s lead.

With nine to go, Guevara was P12 and Foggia P13. That was soon P11 and P12 as Masia crashed out unhurt at Turn 12 when Toba came flying up the inside – was there contact? Difficult to tell, but Masia’s race was over. Then, suddenly, Sasaki’s lead was diminishing. Rapidly. On Lap 11, Sasaki lost over two seconds as we then saw why. Sasaki’s fairing was loose after a near highside at Turn 6. From total control to losing the lead in a matter of minutes, Migno soon swept through.

It was game on then, for victory, with six laps to go. Foggia and Guevara were 10th and 11th and now had the lead group just up the road, but they were running out of laps. With three to go, Migno was still leading from Garcia, Toba, Öncü and John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), with rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) 0.5s away in P6.

None of the riders could get past Migno’s rapid Honda using the slipstream, so a different tactic was needed. Garcia showed a wheel at Turn 6 on the penultimate lap, but there was no way through. Last lap time. It was Migno leading Garcia, Toba and Öncü, McPhee had dropped 0.6s back. Garcia block passes Toba at Turn 6 for P2, but that allowed Migno to have a bit of breathing space.

It all came down to the last corner. Migno vs Garcia. The latter threatened with a move up the inside, but Migno closed the door. Then it was a run to the line. Garcia tried, but Migno held on to claim victory in Qatar. Garcia will be happy with P2 after his Long Lap Penalty, as Toba held off Öncü for the final podium spot. 0.5s covered the top four. Welcome back Moto3™.

McPhee was only a second away from victory in P5 as he gets his season off to a good start with his new team. Moreira produced a superb ride to claim P6 in his first Moto3™ race, the Brazilian finished 0.4s ahead of the hard-charging Foggia. The Italian did all he could after a back of the grid start and two Long Laps, as did Guevera after his back of the grid start and one Long Lap. The Saturday hero ended the Qatar GP in P8.

Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) rounded out the top 10, just ahead of rookie Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team). Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and rookie Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) were the final point scorers.

British rookie Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) crashed out unhurt in the early stages.

Migno is crowned the first winner of 2022 in the lightweight class, five years after his Mugello triumph. Next up is a trip to Indonesia!

Top 10:
1. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team)
2. Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 0.037
3. Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) + 0.573
4. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 0.594
5. John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) + 1.064
6. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) + 1.481
7. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) + 1.951
8. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) + 2.545
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) + 2.742
10. Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) + 6.055

Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) stormed to a phenomenal first pole position of the season under the glorious Grand Prix of Qatar lights, the 2021 Rookie of the Year beating Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) by 0.147s with a 1:53.011. Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) lines up on the front row in P3 as we see the top three in the 2021 World Championship struggle.

Unexpectedly, the reigning World Champion found himself in Q1. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was the fastest rider out the blocks in qualifying to beat compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) by just over a tenth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) climbed to P2 on his second flying lap to sit just 0.051s off Quartararo, as the riders dived back into pitlane to get ready for their second time attack.

Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) crashed unhurt at Turn 2 which brought out the yellow flags, as Quartararo ran wide on his third flying attempt. The yellow flags caused Zarco’s time to be cancelled, the double 2021 Qatar podium finisher was out, as Brad Binder went top of the pile with his last attempt. Quartararo slipped to P2 but it was enough to see him head into the Q2 battle.

Shadowing 2020 World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Marc Marquez set the first benchmark time – a 1:53.566 – but he wouldn’t stay at the top for long. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was the pacesetter after the first runs were completed, the Australian was less than a tenth clear of Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Martin was third, Marc Marquez fourth. Bastianini was occupying P5 as fresh rubber was slotted in.

Tensions were high under the lights heading into the final six minutes, as we got ourselves set for the first pole position battle of the season. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marc Marquez were first to emerge back out of pitlane, the latter getting his RC213V hooks into the back of Pecco’s GP22. Halfway around the lap, Pecco was 0.018s under teammate Miller’s time – Marc Marquez just 0.015s off. The tables turned through the third split as Marquez was a tenth quicker than provisional pole, Pecco half a tenth. At the line, it was Marquez who went pole by 0.128s ahead of Pecco.

This wasn’t over though. Far from it. Red sectors galore – Miller, Pol Espargaro and Martin were all on fire, as was Bastianini and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing). Tucked up behind the Repsol Honda of Espargaro, Martin leapt to P1, with Miller going third and Brad Binder slotting into P4.

Attention then turned to Mir and Pol Espargaro. Neither went onto the front row though, but Bastianini was on course to. Aleix Espargaro, a little up the road, went P5, before Bastianini pounced to claim P2 – his first front row. This meant sophomore duo Martin and Bastianini were P1 and P2 on the grid, with Marc Marquez completing the front row in P3.

Miller was shuffled off the front row after Bastianini’s late time, the Aussie makes it three Ducatis in the top four, with Aleix Espargaro bagging a top five for Aprilia. Younger brother Pol Espargaro lines up alongside the RS-GP in P6, with Brad Binder coming through Q1 to bag P7. Mir is the leading Suzuki in P8, the Hamamatsu factory have looked like the team to beat but the Spaniard and ninth place Bagnaia have work to do on Sunday. Free Practice 2 pacesetter Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had a quiet session in P10, with both Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ riders struggling – Quartararo starts his title defence in 11th, one place ahead of teammate Franco Morbidelli. 

The Martinator takes the first MotoGP™ pole position of the season, as we now get set for race day under the lights. Tune into the premier class race at 18:00 local time (GMT+3) to see who rises highest in the desert. 

Top 10:
1. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) – 1:53.011
2. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.147
3. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.272
4. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.287
5. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0.308
6. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.335
7. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.339
8. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.396
9. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.400
10. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.470