The MotoGP Grand Prix in Qatar is coming up, and it’s a big deal! The race is set to take place from November 17th to 19th, and everyone’s talking about the recent winners and the top contenders for the 2023 edition.
With the final race in Valencia, Spain just a week away, the world motorcycle speed championship is making a pit stop in Qatar. The most exciting part of this season’s end is the battle for the world title between Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia, the current world champion, and Jorge Martin.
Back in 2004, the first edition of the race was won by Spanish rider Sete Gibernau. Since then, the Losail circuit has seen some impressive victories by riders like Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi. Both the Australian and the Italian hold the record for the most wins in Qatar, with 4 victories each. Stoner’s wins came in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011, while Rossi triumphed in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2015. On the other hand, Marc Marquez has only one win in the premier category, which was in 2014. Two Spanish riders have outperformed him: Jorge Lorenzo (2012, 2013, and 2016) and Maverick Vinales (2017, 2021).
On the Italian side, following in the footsteps of Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso claimed victory in Losail in 2018 and 2019, while Enea Bastianini is the current reigning champion. It’s worth mentioning that Fabio Quartararo emerged victorious in 2021 at the Losail circuit, ahead of Johann Zarco, marking a historic French double win, although not in the context of the Qatar Grand Prix. The second consecutive race held at Losail during the pandemic was under the label of the Doha GP.
As luck would have it, Enea Bastianini is returning to the Losail circuit where he secured his first win in the premier category in March 2022, just a week after his first win of the season. Despite a challenging start to the season with the official Ducati team, the Italian bounced back by winning the most recent Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Now, Enea Bastianini could shake things up in the anticipated title battle between two other Ducati riders, Francesco Bagnaia, his teammate, and Jorge Martin, who is part of the Pramac Team. The current world champion, Francesco Bagnaia, has a 14-point lead over his closest rival, which is a slim advantage considering that 37 points are up for grabs this weekend, including the sprint race (12 points for the winner) and the Grand Prix (25 points), and the same will apply next weekend in Valencia.
Stay tuned for more updates on the MotoGP Grand Prix in Qatar at Losail, happening from November 17th to 19th, and get ready to witness some thrilling racing action!