FIRST LOOK: Rossi on track for Petronas, Espargaro at Repsol Honda...
Testing is fully underway for MotoGP teams and riders on day two of the opening test in Qatar.
One of the main attractions is of course nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who has already been on track for the first time with his new Petronas M1 Yamaha.
After making the switch from the factory Monster Energy Yamaha team to the Petronas squad for 2021, (the first time moving teams since 2012), Rossi is preparing for what will be his 20th season in MotoGP.
The 42-year-old is one of nine riders to have changed teams for the 2021 MotoGP season.
Pol Espargaro in action for Repsol Honda at the Losail International Circuit.
Without Marc Marquez at either of the Qatar tests, Espargaro is the main focus for the Japanese team in Qatar. Espargaro had his best season in 2020 with KTM and will be hoping to carry the form that took him to fifth in the championship over into his first season at Honda.
Danilo Petrucci heading out for his first laps in the all new KTM Tech 3 orange. The Italian was one of the first rider changes to be announced for the 2021 season, as his long-time tenure with Ducati came to an end last year.
With Miguel Oliveira replacing Espargaro in the factory team, Petrucci will be alongside Iker Lecuona on the new RC16.
Australia's Jack Miller ahead of factory Ducati Team debut.
| 2021 Qatar MotoGP test times - Saturday (5pm) | ||||||
| Rider | Nat | Team | Time | Lap | ||
| 1 | N/A | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | 1m 56.013s | 5/12 |
| 2 | ^2 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.159s | 28/30 |
| 3 | = | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.256s | 21/26 |
| 4 | ^3 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.288s | 32/32 |
| 5 | ˅3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (M1) | +0.394s | 14/14 |
| 6 | ˅1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.548s | 14/18 |
| 7 | ˅6 | Aleix Espargaro | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.592s | 5/13 |
| 8 | ^3 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (M1) | +0.715s | 10/11 |
| 9 | N/A | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.806s | 10/11 |
| 10 | ˅2 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (M1) | +0.979s | 21/21 |
| 11 | ^1 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.198s | 17/17 |
| 12 | ˅6 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +1.226s | 12/17 |
| 13 | ˅4 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.282s | 14/14 |
| 14 | ^6 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* | +1.599s | 12/12 |
| 15 | ˅1 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | KTM Test Rider (RC16) | +1.604s | 14/14 |
| 16 | ˅6 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.684s | 22/24 |
| 17 | N/A | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +2.063s | 4/4 |
| 18 | ˅5 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +2.071s | 27/30 |
| 19 | ^2 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia (GP19)* | +2.073s | 16/16 |
| 20 | N/A | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +2.460s | 12/12 |
| 21 | ˅5 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia (GP19)* | +2.525s | 18/18 |
| 22 | N/A | Yamaha Test2 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (M1) | +2.790s | 3/3 |
| 23 | ˅8 | Michele Pirro | ITA | Ducati Test Rider (GP21) | +2.904s | 16/16 |
| 24 | ˅7 | Yamaha Test1 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (M1) | +3.097s | 15/15 |
| 25 | ˅7 | Yamaha Test3 | N/A | Yamaha Test Rider (M1) | +3.280s | 10/11 |
| 26 | ˅7 | Takuya Tsuda | JPN | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +3.680s | 26/26 |
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