Event of the Day: Qatar Grand Prix
Our event of the day is the Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit. Maverick Viñales will start the race in pole position after an excellent qualifying run yesterday. This season of MotoGP is being hailed as one of the closest yet, with numerous talented riders who could vie for the championship. Be sure you don’t miss what will be an unforgettable start to the season. As the riders ready their engines to start the 2019 season in Qatar later today, there is a wide field of riders who could compete for the championship. Valentino Rossi is a seven-time MotoGP champion who dominated the sport in the early 2000s and still serves as a threat in the sport. He finished 3rd in the 2018 standings with four podium finishes but no race wins. He will be eager to get back on top and secure his first race win since the 2017 Dutch TT. Maverick Viñales is a former Moto3 champion and MotoGP Rookie of the Year. He finished 4th last year, recording an impressive win at the Australian Grand Prix. He will be eager to improve on this and prove himself amongst the stars of the sport.
Andrea Dovizioso finished second in the standings last season and is the defending champion at Qatar. He will be eager to get his season off to a good start. Marc Márquez is the three-time defending MotoGP champion and has been one of the most dominant riders of the last decade. He will be unwilling to relinquish his crown after so long on top. As well as a highly competitive field for the championship, there are a number of exciting rookies competing this season. Francesco Bagnaia is the 2018 Moto2 champion and joins Parmac Racing for the 2019 MotoGP season. Miguel Oliveira finished 2nd in Moto2 last season and joins Red Bull KTM Tech3, the first rider to come through the team’s farm system from Moto3. Joan Mir also starts in MotoGP for this first time this year. The 2017 Moto3 champion joins Team Suzuki Ecstar to fill the vacant spot left by Andrea Iannone’s transfer to Aprilia. He finished 6th in Moto2 last season and like Bagnaia and Oliveira, will be eager to prove himself on the premier stage. The Qatar Grand Prix marks the first race in a 19-race season that runs from today until mid-November. After the excitement of yesterday’s qualifying, this is a race you won’t want to miss.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Premier League, where Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal, 5th in league, are on a 3-game domestic unbeaten streak and can reclaim fourth from United with a win today. They will surely find extra motivation following the 3-1 loss to Rennes in the Europa League earlier this week. Manchester United are yet to lose in domestic play in 2019 and come off a historic upset against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. This is one Premier League fixture you won’t want to miss. Elsewhere, Ireland host France in the Six Nationsat the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The Paris Half Marathon takes place today. In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs host the Milwaukee Bucks at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. On the PGA Tour, the Arnold Palmer Invitational concludes at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando. The BNP Paribas Open continues at the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by MotoGP