Fabio Quartararo topped the second free practice of the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix. In a session where lap times were not the main focus, but rather race preparations, the 2021 champion consistently stayed at the front from the outset.
The initial leader was Raúl Fernández (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team/Aprilia), ahead of Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia). Quartararo took over the lead, stronger than Álex Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) on their second attempts. Márquez later crashed at turn two, without major consequences, and was surpassed by teammate Fabio di Giannantonio.
As Quartararo managed to strengthen his lead, the same couldn’t be said for his pursuers, as Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team/Aprilia) briefly reached second place. However, he was later surpassed by Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha). Yamaha’s top position was eventually taken by Aleix Espargaró towards the end of the first quarter of the session.
A new change in the lead occurred with less than five minutes until the checkered flag, when Quartararo clocked in 0.073s faster than Aleix Espargaró. At the same time, Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati) matched the lap time of the Spaniard, ultimately finishing second. Di Giannantonio finished fourth, 0.126s behind Quartararo, with Morbidelli in fifth. Further down the order, championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) secured the tenth spot with his final lap.
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