Michael Scott Pit Lane: The Wrong Honda and Other Tales of the Desert Night

Everything was wrong at the opening round in Qatar. Or if not actually wrong, somehow inverted.

Yes, a Ducati won, as expected. But it was the wrong Ducati.

Yes, the all-new Honda came out of the crate fighting fit. But it was the wrong Honda.

Yes, KTM arrived down in the mouth, at a track where they have always struggled ... and came close to victory.

And yes, the Suzukis showed themselves massively improved, topping the speed charts and first free practice. But come the race and they once again left their riders needing superhuman efforts for relatively down-beat results.

What was the biggest surprise? Not that sophomore Enea Bastianini won, for he had already shown a depth of talent in his rookie 2021 in particular an ability to save tyres and go fast in the closing laps, when it matters most. Both his podiums were achieved in this way. The difference this time was that he had qualified on the front row, thanks to a newer Ducati. But still secondhand. He - like rookie Bezzecchi - is on last year's Desmosedici, the well-developed masterpiece which won seven of 18 races in the hands of Bagnaia, Miller and Martin.