Pol Espargaró and Stefan Bradl will kick off the 2021 MotoGP World Championship campaign in Qatar, whilst regular rider Marc Márquez continues on the road to recovery.
Following five days of testing at the Losail International Circuit at the beginning of March, the Repsol Honda Team return to the Qatari track this weekend for the 2021 MotoGP season opener. Pol Espargaró will debut with his new team, having concluded the two preseason tests with a good feeling. The Spaniard is motivated and also satisfied with the results of his initial runs with his new bike.
Accompanying him in Qatar will be Stefan Bradl, standing in for Marc Márquez. Whilst Márquez is working hard to recover as quickly as possible from the injury he suffered at last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, Bradl will look to build on two positive tests this preseason -in which he featured at the head of the timesheets on more than one occasion.
POL ESPARGARÓ:
“The first race is finally here, I am really excited to get back on the Honda. We had a good test and I am looking forward to the first race weekend. There are some things we still need to learn and understand about the bike and it will be an intense opening weekend, but I am excited. Racing the Repsol Honda is something most people dream of and I can’t wait to do it. I am not setting a target for the race other than do the best that we can. Let’s put on a good show for all the fans that are at home, it’s time to go racing!”
STEFAN BRADL:
“First of all I want to say thank you to HRC and wish Marc all the best on his continued recovery. We had a good test and I have been riding well after a busy 2020 and a good start to 2021. Hopefully we can have another strong weekend and gather some good information for Honda. It will be great to race in Qatar again, it has been a while since I have raced there but certainly the two tests have me up to speed with the track so I don’t think this will be a disadvantage to us. Let’s start the season.”
