The wait is almost over! The 2024 MotoGP World Championship season, as well as Moto2 and Moto3, begins this weekend. Losail hosts the opening round, which, as usual, features night races.
In MotoGP, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) begins his quest for a third title, but the competition will be fierce. Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati), his main rival from last year, is among them. Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) aims to return to good results and starts a new phase of his career, where he will be in a satellite team for the first time.
There are many other debuts, such as Franco Morbidelli at Pramac, Álex Rins at Monster Energy Yamaha, or Luca Marini at Repsol Honda, as well as the satellite Aprilia team, Trackhouse Racing. There’s also curiosity about whether Japanese manufacturers have made significant progress and can re-enter the competition with the Europeans, in a year where they have concessions.
In Moto2, champion Pedro Acosta has moved up to MotoGP, but talent remains abundant. Fermín Aldeguer (SpeedUp/Boscoscuro) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS/Kalex) are among the main contenders from 2023. Many recognized talents from Moto3 have also moved up, like last year’s champion Jaume Masiá (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team/Kalex), Ayumu Sasaki (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team/Kalex), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo/Kalex), or Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team/Kalex).
As for Moto3, one to watch will be David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar), but there are also many other strong contenders: Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GasGas Tech3), Collin Veijer and Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), or José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). There are also several promising rookies, like Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GasGas Tech3), Joel Esteban (CFMoto Aspar), or Ángel Piqueras, who replaces last year’s champion Masiá at Leopard Racing.
Here are the schedules (CET time) for all sessions of the Qatar GP.
Friday, March 8
12h00-12h35: Free practice Moto3
12h50-13h30: Free practice Moto2
13h45-14h30: Free practice 1 MotoGP
16h15-16h50: Practice 1 Moto3
17h05-17h45: Practice 1 Moto2
18h00-19h00: Practice MotoGP
Saturday, March 9
10h30-11h00: Practice 2 Moto3
11h15-11h45: Practice 2 Moto2
12h00-12h30: Free practice 2 MotoGP
12h40-12h55: Qualifying Q1 MotoGP
13h05-13h20: Qualifying Q2 MotoGP
14h50-15h05: Qualifying Q1 Moto3
15h15-15h30: Qualifying Q2 Moto3
15h45-16h00: Qualifying Q1 Moto2
16h10-16h25: Qualifying Q2 Moto2
17h00: Sprint Race MotoGP (11 laps)
Sunday, March 10
13h40-13h50: Warm-up MotoGP
15h00: Race Moto3 (16 laps)
16h15: Race Moto2 (18 laps)
18h00: Race MotoGP (22 laps)