The past clues which hint at the MotoGP order in Qatar

The MotoGP season kicks off this weekend in Qatar - two years after it last visited the Losail circuit for a race weekend as last season's round was called off. As ever, the pecking order is difficult to map out at this early stage of the season, but perhaps the 2019 race offers some clues as to how things might shake out...

Lewis Duncan Mar 27, 2021, 9:24 AM

This time 12 months ago, the season-opening MotoGP encounter in Qatar was cancelled as the chaos of COVID-19 began to unfurl across the globe. Mercifully, a year later, Friday practice for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix is in the books and we can theorise about how the race will shake-up rather than if we’ll see any racing at all.

All of pre-season testing took place on the Losail International Circuit, so Friday in Qatar was basically a case of picking up where the riders left off after the five days (well, effectively four, given the final day was ruined by high winds).

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.