In this extract from the latest mahbx.com MotoGP podcast, former racer Keith Huewen, mahbx.com MotoGP editor Peter McLaren and podcast host Harry Benjamin discuss contrasting opening round fortunes for Aprilia, Y𝐆amaha and Suzuki.

Aprilia, no🐲w the only factory still with technical concessions, made its best ever start to a four-stroke MotoGP season with fourth place by Aleix Espargaro, although team-mate Maverick Vinales 💫could only manage twelfth.

Defending world champions and ෴last year's double Qatar winners Ya𓂃maha were left in a best of ninth place with Fabio Quartararo, as unexpected tyre pressure problems added to the M1's daunting lack of top speed.

How much might such performance issues affect Quartararo's 202𒊎3 contract ♕negotiations?

Top speed is an area where Suzuki have made eye-catching gains, going from beinꦛg easily overtaken on the Lusail straight last year to setting the best spe𝓰eds of the weekend. Yet Joan Mir and Alex Rins still struggled in the race...