DI GIANNANTONIO SETS QATAR LAP RECORD AS MARTIN KEEPS TITLE FIGHT OPEN

Fabio Di Giannantonio hit form at one of his favourite tracks on Friday, breaking the lap record to top evening Practice at the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix. The VR46 Ducati rider was quick from the moment he fitted a soft rear tyre midway through the session, finishing 0.142 seconds ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez. Marquez’s second place secured direct passage to Q2.

Di Giannantonio had also been third in FP1. His pace came despite a significant straight-line speed problem: he was 12th through the speed trap, 5.5kph slower than the fastest Ducati. His Friday gains appeared to come instead from braking and corner entry. VR46 team boss Pablo Nieto said the team was working with Ducati to understand the deficit.

Marquez’s session included a scare when his chain broke on a straight. “The positive thing is that it happened during practice,” he said. Ducati would assess and fix the issue.

The championship leader called the title “still far”. To clinch this weekend, he must outscore Jorge Martin by 30 points and Marco Bezzecchi by eight. Both Aprilia riders looked quick on Friday, and Marquez expects a tough fight. He said Bezzecchi remains his main threat: “More important than finishing ahead of Bezzecchi would be to have better pace than him.”

Martin, recovering from a fractured wrist, completed 19 laps and placed seventh, earning direct entry to Q2. He said he was “very proud” of his performance and was rebuilding his feeling on the bike. His physical condition has improved in the two weeks since his Phillip Island crash, and he believes he is not far from the podium.

Bezzecchi was the leading Aprilia in both sessions, finishing second in FP1 and third in Practice. He said the bike was in a good place over race-length runs, though a single fast lap still needed work.

Pecco Bagnaia ended Practice fourth, 0.386 seconds behind Di Giannantonio, and said he had enjoyed riding after recent struggles. He believes a front-row start would give him “a good chance in the Sprint”.

Saturday brings qualifying and the Sprint at Lusail. KTM’s Pedro Acosta missed the top 10 on Friday and must contest Q1. Yamaha is absent from the event because of security concerns.