And yes, the Suzukis showed
themselves massively improved,
topping the speed charts and
first free practice. But come the
race and they, once again, left
their riders needing superhuman
efforts for relatively down-beat
results.
What was the biggest sur-
prise?
Not that sophomore Enea
Bastianini won, for he had al-
ready shown a depth of talent in
his rookie 2021 season--in par-
ticular an ability to save tires and
go fast in the closing laps, when
it matters most. Both his podi-
ums were achieved in this way.
The difference this time was that
he had qualified on the front row,
thanks to a newer Ducati. But
still second-hand. He, like rookie
Bezzecchi, is on last year's Des-
mosedici, the well-developed
masterpiece which won seven of
18 races in the hands of Bag-
naia, Miller and Martin.
The surprise was the new
model, the GP22. It seems
Ducati, the paragons of prog-
ress, have taken a rare misstep,
and the results showed it. Mill-
er's bike broke down from the
E
verything was wrong at the
opening round in Qatar.
Or if not actually wrong,
somehow inverted.
Yes, a Ducati won, as expect-
ed. But it was the wrong Ducati.
Yes, the all-new Honda came
out of the crate fighting fit. But it
was the wrong Honda.
Yes, KTM arrived down in the
mouth, at a track where they
have always struggled and came
close to victory.
P150
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
THE WRONG HONDA –
AND OTHER TALES OF
THE DESERT NIGHT
Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini
and Pol Espargaro on the
Qatar podium. A sign of
things to come?
