MotoGP is set to begin the 2020 season in Qatar in 2 weeks. So far, the first pre-season test of the year (not counting 2019 post-season tests) has completed, in Singapore.
At present, they are in Qatar, at the final pre-season test of the season, before they first race at the same track on March 8. Qatar is a nigh-race, hence the pre-season test is also taking place under the lights.
Since the Singapore test, we have learned many things.
- Quartararo is fast
- Marc Marquez’s shoulder recovery is taking longer than expected
- Rossi is taking the loss of the factory seat in stride
- Ducati is behind than most people expected, though they are still innovating (see below)
- Ducati seems to be testing a ride-height adjustment feature
- Kawasaki asked for a wildcard entry, using their WSBK machine, and were denied by MotoGP’s CEO
- Aprilia and KTM are much farther up than anyone thought
So what has happened in Qatar so far? Suzuki seems to be ruling day 1, with both riders at the top of the time sheets. The top 14 rider are all within 1 second of Rins. The top rookie is Binder, just 1.2 seconds behind on a factory KTM. There are two more days of testing and then the arduous wait until the first practice of the 2020 season.
