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MotoGP Qatar test: Bagnaia destroys lap record as testing wraps up

Francesco Bagnaia led a factory Ducati 1-2 in the final day of 2024 MotoGP pre-season testing after obliterating the Qatar lap record.

The reigning world champion topped proceedings on Monday at the Losail International Circuit and cemented this on day two in the desert.

Bagnaia clocked the first ever sub 1m51s lap of the Qatar Grand Prix venue, posting a 1m50.952s to lead team-mate Enea Bastianini by 0.120 seconds.

Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro capped off a solid pre-season for himself on the new RS-GP in third ahead of Gresini’s Marc Marquez, who suffered a crash late in the session.

The day began much like Monday, with few taking to the circuit in the opening hour while conditions were at their least optimal.

LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami led the way after hour one with a 1m54.978s, before Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo took over with a 1m54.122s at the end of hour two.

After three hours of running, Bagnaia had found his way to the top of the order with a 1m52.575s, before Bastianini took over with a 1m52.136s.

During the fifth hour of running, Bagnaia lit up the timing screens and smashed the outright lap record with a 1m50.952s.

Source: Autosport

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