Preview, schedule and how to watch the 2018 Qatar MotoGP GP on television

The wait is over, which for some has surely been far too long, and here it is: the start of this year’s 2018 MotoGP World Championship. On Friday the 16th, with the first official practice sessions, Saturday the 17th with the first fight for pole, and Sunday the 18th with the first race of the season, which, as has been customary in recent years, will be the Qatar GP, at the Losail circuit.

After pre-season testing, all the experts point to Marc Márquez as the main candidate to win the 2018 World Championship and retain the title. It’s not that the Honda rider is clearly superior to his rivals, but he has been the most consistent and the one with the best race pace. Dovizioso is pointed to again as the main rival , given that Lorenzo still doesn’t seem to be getting the most out of his Ducati and the Yamahas are having many problems.

In the intermediate class, Moto2, there are no clear favourites after Morbidelli and Luthi, first and second last season, made the step up to MotoGP. Logically, the baton should be taken up by the third-placed rider from last season, the Portuguese Oliveira, but watch out for Álex Márquez, because he seems to be stronger than ever this year, and we will see what Joan Mir is capable of after dominating Moto3 last year.

Mir’s successor in Moto3 will apparently come from one of three riders: Enea Bastianini, Aarón Canet and Jorge Martín, with the latter being singled out as the big favourite. The three have dominated the pre-season training sessions, making it clear that Honda will continue to lead the category this season.

Qatar GP 2018 schedule

Despite the time difference between Spain and Qatar, the fact that the race is run at night at the Losail Circuit means we can follow the whole race weekend at fairly normal hours, although slightly different from European time. Here are the times for the first grand prix of the 2018 motorcycle racing world championship:

Friday 16 March:

• 10:50 – 11:30 h. -> Free Practice 1 in Moto3
• 11:45 – 12:30 h. -> Free Practice 1 in Moto2
• 12:45 – 13:30 h. -> Free Practice 1 in Moto3
• 15:10 – 15:50 h. -> Free Practice 2 in Moto3
• 16:05 – 16:50 h. -> Free Practice 2 in Moto2
• 17:05 – 17:50 h. -> Free Practice 2 in MotoGP

Saturday 17 March:

• 10:40 – 11:30 h. -> Free Practice 3 in Moto3
• 11:35 – 12:20 h. -> Free Practice 3 in Moto2
• 12:35 – 13:20 h. -> Free Practice 3 in MotoGP
• 14:45 – 15:25 h. -> Qualifying in Moto3
• 15:40 – 16:25 h. -> Qualifying in Moto2
• 16:40 – 17:10 h. -> Free Practice 4 in MotoGP
• 17:20 – 17:35 h. -> Qualifying 1 in MotoGP
• 17:45 – 18:00 h. -> Qualifying 2 in MotoGP

Sunday 18 March:

• 11:40 – 12:00 h. -> Warm Up in Moto3
• 12:10 – 12:30 h. -> Warm Up in Moto2
• 12:40 – 13:00 h. -> Warm Up in MotoGP
• 14:00 h. -> Race in Moto3
• 15:20 h. -> Race in Moto2
• 17:00 h. -> Race in MotoGP

For 2018, MotoGP races can only be watched on television in Spain through Movistar, which offers its motor package from 10 euros a month. Another option would be Videopass, the streaming service on the official championship website, whose price for the whole year would be 139.99 euros.