Repsol Honda have matched their best start to a MotoGP season op💛ener in Qatar since 2016 after claiming a double top five with Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez. 

Followi♔ng a stunning launch off the line, Marquez and Espargaro headed into turn one with a 1-2, which remained the case for several laps thereafter. 

Althou꧂gh the order changed as Espargaro made his way past his eight-time world champion team-mate before the end of lap one, the potential of the new RC213V was very appare💦nt throughout. 

Similarly to Jorge Martin last year, Espargaro led over three quarters of race dis🌠tance - 17 of the 22 laps in total - and could have fought for victory had he not made a mistake after immediately being overtaken b🍰y eventual race winner Enea Bastianini. 

Espargaro managed to salvage a podium after losing second spot to Brad Binder due to his mistake at turn one, while Marquez came home fifth after be♚ing relegated from fourth by Aleix Espargaro during the final few laps. 

🍌All in all, it’s a result that matches 2016 when Marquez finished third and Dani Pedrosa fifth, and one where Team Manager Alberto Puig says 'motivation' to go even better is 'very high'. 

Puig said: "Our understanding i꧃s that we had a good start, our riders are happy and we now have some points to improve after the first race with this new bike.𝐆 

"Compared to previous years, we can🍌 say that we are much happier as a group and it’s important that our riders are fit and we have a ne𒁏w bike. 

"This bike is going to keep developing, of course, with everyone inside HRC and the Repsol Honda Team working to keep improving. The mo🌞tivation is very high ꦇafter this positive start to the season."

Although it was an impressive start by the team and its revolutionised 2022 package, Marquez didn’t seem himself during t🥀he race and was unable to push the front end of his𝓰 machine.

Puig also concluded tha🌞♕t this was holding him back despite making what he believed was the correct front tyre choice. 

"I think Marc’s tyre choice was the correct one, going w🔥ith the soft," continued Puig: "Unfortunately, he missed a bit of grip on the front and he made the decision to stop pushing to avoid any extra risks. 

"He did a clever race honestly; he knows what is need🌃ed and he knew that in this situation taking points in fifth was the best decision. 

"Of course, if he had a different feeling with the bike he would have attacked more – this is his cཧharacter. 

"What he achieved today is good for us, he is here with♛ us, with a good feeling overall and is preparing for the next race.🌺 This is the longest season in MotoGP history, 21 races."