Moto3 recap: Round 1 - Qatar

Danny Kent’s dominance of Moto3 in 2015 wasn’t clearly apparent in qualifying at Qatar but having topped two practice sessions he was always confident of making a splash in the desert. Kent was never able to follow anyone in qualifying, Fabio Quartararo was in a similar situation, and as a result  the two qualified further down the field than their pace would have indicated. On race day however both were in the lead group and dicing for the win.

Alexis Masbou started from pole position and won the race for Racing Team Germany but with less than a second separating the top nine at the flag this was a typically barnstoming Moto3 race. RTG has had a very difficult year but in Qatar Masbou and John McPhee were both on the pace and finished in the top five. With Efren Vazquez a title contender for the squad last year there was plenty of pressure on Masbou to fill his shoes and the Frenchman’s first GP win showed his speed but the inconsistency of the team has robbed him and McPhee of showing their potential this year.

Enea Bastianini led coming out of the last corner and was overtaken at the very last second by Masbou. Kent’s solid podium was an indicator of what to expect from the Englishman in the first half of the year. He constantly moved through the lead group during the race but having fallen to fourth on the last lap he made a key move on his teammate, Vazquez, and held on for 16 points.