RACE PREVIEW

# QatarGP

Moto3™ consistently provided great racing throughout 2023 , as well as an epic championship battle between Jaume Masia and Ayumu Sasaki , which was decided at a dramatic penultimate race .

With both men now racing in Moto2™ , a host of riders will be eager to fill the power vacuum at the front of the class . Especially Aspar CFMOTO entrant David Alonso , who starts his second season at world level . The Colombian teenager was the revelation of 2023 , finishing third in the World Championship , scoring four victories – and all when he was a newcomer to the majority of the tracks .

But he won ’ t have it all his own way . GASGAS Tech3 ’ s Dani Holgado will be out for revenge after his title challenge fell short in the autumn of last year . The Spaniard will be hopeful the experience gained across 2023 will propel him to another sustained push this time around .

Ivan Ortola has switched to the MT HELMETS – MSI squad for 2024 and will be eager to build on a solid season last year when he took his first and second victories and finished sixth overall . The Spaniard will surely kick on again this year .

LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Inact GP ’ s Collin Veijer is another in contention for the crown . The tall Dutchman scored two brilliant victories in 2023 , his rookie season . The same can be said of Jose Antonio Rueda , riding for Red Bull KTM Ajo for a second season . And Taiyo Furusato ( Honda Team Asia ) will be seeking to build on a promising end to last year , when he scored a maiden podium in Thailand .

As ever , there are a host of exciting rookies that will be eager to grab international attention . Leopard Racing ’ s Angel Piqueras is the most eye-catching after he won both the Junior GP and Red Bull Rookies series in 2023 . CFMOTO Aspar Team ’ s Joel Esteban , Sic 58 Squadra Corse ’ s Luca Lunetta and Rivacold Snipers Team ’ s David Almansa are other names to keep an eye on .

Like Moto2™ , the junior category has switched tyres for this year , with Pirelli coming in as the sole supplier . Expect to see lap records broken through the season , with the 26 entrants aware that a switch in riding style will be necessary to get the best out of the Italian rubber .

There are Ten KTMs , ten Hondas and two Husqvarnas , GASGAS and CFMOTO machines apiece on the 2024 grid with 26 riders in total .

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