How Ducati turned its feared MotoGP strength into a problem in Qatar
Enea Bastianini's victory in the Qatar Grand Prix was good and bad news for Ducati. The Italian's breakthrough win on a year-old Gresini bike, and the sluggishness exhibited by the 2022 models, suggests that Ducati has failed to take advantage of having a third of the MotoGP grid and leaves it with issues to resolve
While it is true that the pre-season tests at Sepang and Mandalika already gave an inkling that Ducati would not arrive at the 2022 MotoGP season-opener as strong as expected, it was not easy to imagine a scenario as adverse as the one that transpired in Qatar last Sunday.
Gresini's Enea Bastianini assertively took the win in a very fast race, almost 11 seconds faster than the second one held in Qatar last year, on a track with much more grip. After staying on Pol Espargaro's backside throughout the race, the Gresini sophomore passed the Honda rider and unleashed a devastating turn of pace that no one could reply to.
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