MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1 / MARCH 26-28, 2021
LOSAIL INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT / DOHA, QATAR
P52
AND… WE'RE BACK!
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
I
t's been a long winter, but the
world's fastest racers were finally
let off the leash at the opening
round of the 2021 MotoGP World
Championship in Qatar.
It was a race that was looking like
a Ducati benefit. Pole went to facto-
ry team newbie Francesco Bagnaia
and Pramac Ducati's Johann Zarco
hit a remarkable new top speed
record of 225 mph in FP4; however,
it was Monster Energy Yamaha's
Maverick Vinales who rode a clever
and cunning race to take first blood,
passing leader Bagnaia on lap 15
and pulling clear for a 1.092-second
victory.
Zarco's Pramac Ducati team
debut netted the Frenchman a fine
second place as he held off Bagnaia
and 2020 World Champion Joan
Mir (Suzuki Ecstar), who stormed
his way into the leading group after
qualifying down in 10th.
It was looking as though Mir would
take second, but he ran wide on the
last corner, which allowed Zarco and
Bagnaia to draft past to mug him of a
podium place at the flag.
MOTOGP 2021
ROARED INTO LIFE
UNDER THE DESERT
FLOODLIGHTS
AT QATAR, WITH
YAMAHA'S MAVERICK
VINALES PUTTING
IN A STUNNING RIDE
TO TAKE ONE OF HIS
FINEST VICTORIES.
