Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins rounded out an impressive first day at school for MotoGP 2022 setting a 1’53.432 in Friday’s second practice.
Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez looked frustrated to finish second in the premier class standings after 90 minutes of action at Doha while Suzuki’s celebrations continued thanks to Joan Mir in third.
The final session of the day fired up under the flood lights as the MotoGP machines gleamed. Enea Bastianini and Marquez took turns at the top as the overall pace picked up almost instantly before Aleix Espargaro led the way with a 1’54.490 after ten minutes of action.
Jorge Martin slid into third with Fabio Quartarao sixth on 1’54.858 pace five minutes later before Suzuki’s Mir stole the position from the Pramac man and Rins dropped the reigning champ.
The hot laps began at the halfway stage with Pol Espargaro taking over from his brother in quick succession out front, 1’54.155 the target set by the Repsol rider as Luca Marini locked up and slid out at turn one, Alex Marquez going down at turn six, seconds later.
KTM’s Miguel Oliveira was the next to impress on his way to third, before Marquez’ day went from bad to worse at turn ten much to the dismay of the LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello.
The family affair at the top of the standings came to an end as Mir split the brothers for second, before improving to control the field outright next time around with a 1’53. 976. Martin trailed the Ecstar machine on his way to third with Takaaki Nakagami finding sixth.
The times shuffled again as Bastianini claimed fifth and Marquez hit the top as the pair replicated their earlier tandem efforts, Quartararo denying the Italian his top five position on the next revolution with Espargaro improving his pace to within three-tenths of his teammate.
Rins was the next to strike with a 1’53.537 as Bagnaia joined the party in seventh. The times continuing to flicker as Aprilia’s front runner returned to sixth with his teammate Maverick Viñales somewhat adrift in 17th.
Aleix bettered his brother next time around to claim fourth as the final six minutes arrived, Andrea Dovizioso running 13th ahead of Jack Miller and FP1 hero Brad Binder with Johann Zarco and Nakagami just outside the all-important top ten.
Oliveira attempted to cement his place in the provisional Q2 as he ,over from tenth to sixth before Quartararo’s own improvement demoted the KTM one position. Bagnaia was the next to arrive, this time to fifth as Suzuki locked out the standings and Martin secured third.
The late session shuffle found Marquez in charge on a 1’53.467 as Miller entered the top five before Franky Morbidelli stole the Australian’s slot and Rins was back out front.
Six-tenths covered the top 12 as the chequered flag came out, Rins looking to advance the overall pace once more before losing out in the final sector. Marquez settling for second ahead of the remaining Suzuki with Martin, Morbidelli and Miller behind.
Quartararo sat amidst an Espargaro sandwich as the Aprilia maintained the advantage with Bagnaia claiming the final Q2 position overnight. Bastianini the first to be disappointed as he dropped to 11th just 0.581s shy of Friday's fastest time.
