Schedule and times for the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix
The 2021 MotoGP season gets underway this weekend at the Losail International Circuit, for the first of two rounds in Qatar.
Teams and riders head into the opening race weekend after six days of Official testing in Doha, which also includes the shakedown test day on March 5th.
Yamaha and Ducati look like favourites based on testing results with Jack Miller, Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo all setting lap times quicker than the official lap record.
However, World Champions Suzuki along with Honda's Pol Espargaro, can't be ruled out either after their impressive performances.
Here's a look at the combined MotoGP times from the Official Qatar test.
| 2021 QATAR MOTOGP TEST II - COMBINED BEST LAP TIMES | |||||
| POS | RIDER | NAT | TEAM | TIME/DIFF | DAY |
| 1 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | 1m 53.183s | 1 |
| 2 | Maverick Vinales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.061s | 2 |
| 3 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.080s | 1 |
| 4 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.140s | 2 |
| 5 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.261s | 2 |
| 6 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.457s | 2 |
| 7 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.644s | 2 |
| 8 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.677s | 2 |
| 9 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.716s | 1 |
| 10 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.716s | 1 |
| 11 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.810s | 2 |
| 12 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.079s | 1 |
| 13 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.244s | 2 |
| 14 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.300s | 2 |
| 15 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Esponsorama (GP19)* | +1.322s | 2 |
| 16 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.343s | 1 |
| 17 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.508s | 2 |
| 18 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.509s | 2 |
| 19 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.712s | 2 |
| 20 | Yamaha Test2 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +1.815s | 1 |
| 21 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia (GP19)* | +1.839s | 2 |
| 22 | Yamaha Test1 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +1.897s | 2 |
| 23 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +2.012s | 2 |
| 24 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | KTM Test Rider (RC16) | +2.457s | 1 |
| 25 | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +2.459s | 1 |
| 26 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +2.571s | 2 |
| 27 | Yamaha Test3 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +2.648s | 2 |
| 28 | Michele Pirro | ITA | Ducati Test Rider (GP21) | +3.549s | 2 |
| 29 | Takuya Tsuda | JPN | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +4.612s | 1 |
The Moto2 and Moto3 classes will also be in action following their recent test on March19-21
Combined times from the Official Moto2 testing in Qatar.
| 2021 QATAR MOTO2 TEST - COMBINED BEST LAP TIMES | |||||
| POS | RIDER | NAT | TEAM | BIKE | TIME |
| 1 | Sam Lowes | GBR | Elf Marc VDS Racing Team | KALEX | 1'58.655 |
| 2 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | KALEX | +0.013s |
| 3 | Remy Gardner | AUS | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KALEX | +0.048s |
| 4 | Jake Dixon | GBR | Petronas Sprinta Racing | KALEX | +0.182s |
| 5 | Xavi Vierge | SPA | Petronas Sprinta Racing | KALEX | +0.216s |
| 6 | Bo Bendsneyder | NED | Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team | KALEX | +0.249s |
| 7 | Nicolò Bulega | ITA | Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 | KALEX | +0.320s |
| 8 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KALEX | +0.375s |
| 9 | Albert Arenas | SPA | Aspar Team | BOSCOSCURO | +0.427s |
| 10 | Aron Canet | SPA | Aspar Team | BOSCOSCURO | +0.550s |
| 11 | Stefano Manzi | ITA | Pons HP 40 | KALEX | +0.676s |
| 12 | Ai Ogura | JPN | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia | KALEX | +0.679s |
| 13 | Cameron Beaubier | USA | American Racing | KALEX | +0.695s |
| 14 | Joe Roberts | USA | Italtrans Racing Team | KALEX | +0.706s |
| 15 | Marcel Schrotter | GER | Liqui Moly Intact GP | KALEX | +0.818s |
| 16 | Tony Arbolino | ITA | Liqui Moly Intact GP | KALEX | +0.858s |
| 17 | Jorge Navarro | SPA | Speed Up Racing | BOSCOSCURO | +0.861s |
| 18 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 | KALEX | +0.866s |
| 19 | Hector Garzo | SPA | Pons HP 40 | KALEX | +0.881s |
| 20 | Thomas Luthi | SWI | Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team | KALEX | +1.003s |
| 21 | Somkiat Chantra | THA | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia | KALEX | +1.021s |
| 22 | Marcos Ramirez | SPA | American Racing | KALEX | +1.048s |
| 23 | Lorenzo Baldassarri | ITA | MV Agusta Forward Racing | MV AGUSTA | +1.076s |
| 24 | Augusto Fernandez | SPA | Elf Marc VDS Racing Team | KALEX | +1.084s |
| 25 | Celestino Vietti | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | KALEX | +1.253s |
| 26 | Lorenzo Dalla Porta | ITA | Italtrans Racing Team | KALEX | +1.314s |
| 27 | Yari Montella | ITA | Speed Up Racing | BOSCOSCURO | +1.505s |
| 28 | Simone Corsi | ITA | MV Agusta Forward Racing | MV AGUSTA | +1.681s |
| 29 | Barry Baltus | BEL | NTS RW Racing GP | NTS | +1.848s |
| 30 | Hafizh Syahrin | MAL | NTS RW Racing GP | NTS | +2.218s |
Combined times from the Official Moto3 testing in Qatar.
| 2021 QATAR MOTO3 TEST - COMBINED BEST LAP TIMES | |||||
| POS | RIDER | NAT | TEAM | BIKE | TIME |
| 1 | Jaume Masia | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | 2'04.263 |
| 2 | Pedro Acosta | SPA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | +0.306s |
| 3 | Dennis Foggia | ITA | Leopard Racing | HONDA | +0.440s |
| 4 | Izan Guevara | SPA | Aspar Team Moto3 | GAS GAS | +0.455s |
| 5 | Gabriel Rodrigo | ARG | Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 | HONDA | +0.527s |
| 6 | John McPhee | GBR | Petronas Sprinta Racing | HONDA | +0.624s |
| 7 | Jeremy Alcoba | SPA | Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 | HONDA | +0.665s |
| 8 | Romano Fenati | ITA | Sterilgarda Max Racing Team | HUSQVARNA | +0.840s |
| 9 | Filip Salac | CZE | Rivacold Snipers Team | HONDA | +0.883s |
| 10 | Darryn Binder | RSA | Petronas Sprinta Racing | HONDA | +0.885s |
| 11 | Xavier Artigas | SPA | Leopard Racing | HONDA | +0.953s |
| 12 | Jason Dupasquier | SWI | CarXpert PruestelGP | KTM | +0.962s |
| 13 | Niccolò Antonelli | ITA | Avintia Esponsorama Moto3 | KTM | +1.034s |
| 14 | Kaito Toba | JPN | CIP Green Power | KTM | +1.058s |
| 15 | Sergio Garcia | SPA | Aspar Team Moto3 | GAS GAS | +1.093s |
| 16 | Ayumu Sasaki | JPN | Red Bull KTM Tech 3 | KTM | +1.134s |
| 17 | Stefano Nepa | ITA | BOE Owlride | KTM | +1.241s |
| 18 | Andrea Migno | ITA | Rivacold Snipers Team | HONDA | +1.447s |
| 19 | Ryusei Yamanaka | JPN | CarXpert PruestelGP | KTM | +1.657s |
| 20 | Carlos Tatay | SPA | Avintia Esponsorama Moto3 | KTM | +1.665s |
| 21 | Lorenzo Fellon | FRA | SIC58 Squadra Corse | HONDA | +1.684s |
| 22 | Deniz Öncü | TUR | Red Bull KTM Tech 3 | KTM | +1.753s |
| 23 | Maximilian Kofler | AUT | CIP Green Power | KTM | +2.218s |
| 24 | Yuki Kunii | JPN | Honda Team Asia | HONDA | +2.225s |
| 25 | Riccardo Rossi | ITA | BOE Owlride | KTM | +2.436s |
| 26 | Andi Farid Izdihar | INA | Honda Team Asia | HONDA | +2.747s |
| 27 | Adrian Fernandez | SPA | Sterilgarda Max Racing Team | HUSQVARNA | +2.757s |
| NC | Tatsuki Suzuki | JPN | SIC58 Squadra Corse | HONDA | |
When is the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix?
The MotoGP race in Qatar takes place this Sunday on March 28. Track action will begin on Friday March 26, for FP1 and FP2.
How to follow the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix?
For UK and European viewers, clocks change from Saturday to Sunday, meaning the race will start an hour later.
Moto3 is lights out at 17:00pm local time, Moto2 starts at 18:20pm Local time, and MotoGP gets underway at 20:00 local time.
Thursday - March 25 (GMT+3)
14:00-14:45 Moto3 CLASS PHOTO
14:45-15:20 Moto2 CLASS PHOTO
15:20-16:15 MotoGP CLASS PHOTO
17:00-17:45 MotoGP PRESS CONFERENCE
Friday - March 26 (GMT+3)
13:50-14:30 Moto3 FP1
14:45-15:25 Moto2 FP1
15:40-16:25 MotoGP FP1
18:10-18:50 Moto3 FP2
19:05-19:45 Moto2 FP2
20:00-20:45 MotoGP FP2
Saturday - March 27 (GMT+3)
13:25-14:05 Moto3 FP3
14:20-15:00 Moto2 FP3
15:15-16:00 MotoGP FP3
17:30-17:45 Moto3 Q1
17:55-18:10 Moto3 Q2
18:25-18:40 Moto2 Q1
18:50-19:05 Moto2 Q2
19:20-19:50 MotoGP FP4
20:00-20:15 MotoGP Q1
20:25-20:40 MotoGP Q2
Sunday - March 28 (GMT+3)
14:40-15:00 Moto3 WARM-UP
15:10-15:30 Moto2 WARM-UP
15:40-16:00 MotoGP WARM-UP
17:00 Moto3 RACE (18 laps)
18:20 Moto2 RACE (20 laps)
20:00 MotoGP RACE (22 laps)
Besides TV coverage, Crash.net will keep you up to date will live commentary from Friday-Sunday of every session.
Follow @crash.net/MotoGP for the latest news, analysis and paddock reaction.
Recent MotoGP Grand Prix winners in Qatar
2020: Not held
2019: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati)
2018: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati)
2017: Maverick Vinales (Yamaha)
2016: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
2015: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)
2014: Marc Marquez (Honda)
2013: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
2012: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
2011: Casey Stoner (Honda)
2010: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)
2021 MotoGP Calendar
Qatar - March 28
Doha (Qatar) - April 4
Portimao, Portugal - April 18
Jerez, Spain - May 2
Le Mans, France - May 16
Mugello, Italy - May 30
Catalunya, Spain - June 6
Sachsenring, Germany - June 20
Assen, Netherlands - June 27
KymiRing, Finland - July 11
Red Bull Ring, Austria - August 15
Silverstone, Great Britain - August 29
Aragon, Spain - September 12
Misano, Italy - September 19
Motegi, Japan - October 3
Buriram, Thailand - October 10
Philip Island, Australia - October 24
Sepang, Malaysia - October 31
Valencia, Spain - Novermber 14
PPD Argentina
PPD United States
