Bautista aiming for further improvement in warmup after qualifying 8th for Qatar Grand Prix

The new qualifying format for MotoGP provided an entertaining session under the floodlights in Qatar tonight although it didn’t work out perfectly for Alvaro Bautista, who qualified eighth fastest. The Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini rider is still struggling with some small set-up issues that he is hoping to resolve in tomorrow’s warm-up session.

Conditions at the desert-based circuit have been typically tricky since practice began on Thursday, with wind blowing sand onto the track making grip worryingly inconsistent. Yesterday evening a rare rain shower affected the Moto2 and Moto3 practice sessions.

Tonight’s MotoGP qualifying session was an historic occasion for motorcycle Grand Prix racing – the first time that qualifying has been split into two groups. The new format divides MotoGP riders into two groups following the first three practice sessions: the fastest ten and the rest.

After a final 30 minute practice session, qualifying then takes place in two 15 minute outings, with the slower group out on track first, in Qualifying 1. The fastest two riders from that session are then seeded through to the Qualifying 2 session, in which they get the chance to battle with the fastest ten riders for the best grid positions. The Moto2 and Moto3 classes continue with a traditional qualifying format.

The introduction of the new system adds extra tension to qualifying, with riders having only enough time for two short runs, which leaves no room for even the tiniest of errors by rider or team. Tonight was particularly tense, with riders wondering how the new format would work for them.

Alvaro Bautista (8th 1’55”870) “The new qualifying format was good fun, but in fifteen minutes you don’t have time to make any mistakes. I didn’t have much feel for the front tonight and we tried to fix it, but we’re still not happy. My pace on used tyres isn’t bad, so we’ll try to improve the setting in the warm-up and I’m confident that if we make a good start I can run with the front group. The race is long and this track isn’t easy, so anything could happen, but we’ll see!”

Fausto Gresini “It wasn’t too bad for us tonight even though Alvaro doesn’t have a great feeling for the front. We’ll try to find a solution in the warm-up that can give him more confidence to push. If we can do that I think he can state his case in the race.”

Sources: Gresini Racing, Honda Racing
Photo: Honda Pro Images