Altering Qatar MotoGP schedule due to wet track a “joke”

The second practice was shortened from an hour to 45 minutes and the results did not count towards qualifying, following a vote amongst the riders when rain fell heavily prior to the session.

While some were initially concerned if there could be any running at all given how wet the circuit was during a preceding practice in the Moto2 class, the conditions improved significantly enough for MotoGP riders to complete their own session without any major dramas.

Due to the alteration in the schedule, Saturday’s final practice will now determine who gets into Q2 and who goes into Q1, directly before qualifying begins.

Miller was among a number of riders who was affected by poor visibility while running in a pack in FP2, as each bike left a spray behind on what was still a wet track by end of practice.

However, he feels the conditions were still suitable enough for riders to attempt a time attack, prompting him to question the call to alter the weekend schedule.

“It was wet,” said. “The conditions were the conditions. We should have had a P2. To continue changing the rules and changing the strategy and changing the whole f*****g weekend is a joke.

“It wasn’t necessary. At the end of the day we are riders. We are paid to ride to the conditions, not to complain about every time it rains or every time it’s windy.

“I understand the stuff that can really mess you up. But when it’s riding to the conditions [it’s different].

“We are all riding out there with tinted visors. A full tinted visor in the night. Rain is rain, it was everywhere. You can see where the muddy line was forming, it was not an issue whatsoever.”

Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez topped the charts in second practice in what was a positive day for the Spaniard on the Gresini Ducati, as he beat the GasGas Tech3 bike of Augusto Fernandez by almost three tenths at Losail.

Marquez revealed that he wanted Friday’s second practice to decide who gets an automatic entry into Q2, pointing out how Losail’s long run-off areas provide an additional degree of safety for the riders.

“We had a meeting, we voted,” said Marquez. “I voted to keep the schedule because in my opinion, if we’re allowed to go out, it’s because it’s safe. If it’s safe we can do a time attack.

“So, if we do tomorrow the practice then the qualifying practice then the sprint race, it’s even…