'Our bike is the favourite bike' around Qatar says Bagnaia

After what feels like an eternity, MotoGP racing is finally back and it was Ducati who laid down the first marker in Qatar. 

New factory riders Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia made it a one-two for the Italian team ahead of Sunday's first of two Grand Prix in the Doha desert.

Both riders finished FP1 inside the top ten, but with FP2 being the best chance to set a lap time representative to what conditions will be like for qualifying and the race, the last 15 minutes became increasingly important. 

Bagnaia went to the top of the leaderboard with just over ten minutes remaining, but was eventually pipped by the Australian with three to go. 

Speaking after his first competiive day in the factory team, Bagnaia said: "I'm feeling good. I worked a lot this winter to improve where last year I was losing too much.

"With my trainer and the training of the Academy I did a big step in front.

"But we know this track is very suited for this bike and we have to wait for a track like Portimao where I was struggling a lot last year.

"In any case I am positive for the bike and positive for the race." 

Ducati have had a lot of success in recent years at the Losail International Circuit with Andrea Dovizioso taking the last two wins, so it should come as no surprise that they look strong. 

And given their performance today, Bagnaia is feeling confident ahead of Sunday's race. 

"I think in this track, our bike is the favourite bike, for sure," added Bagnaia. 

"Frankie has also demonstrated a really strong pace and if in the first laps he will start first, he will push, so we will have to push more also, asking more of the tyres. 

"It will be very important to remain close to him or in front of him and maybe wait half-race to start pushing hard to be constant with tyres.

"But our bike and the factory Ducati team are very strong. Frankie is very strong. Zarco is also very strong. So I think 6 or 7 riders are very competitive for Sunday’s race."