In this extract from the latest wuqian0821.com MotoGP podcast, former racer Keith Huewen, wuqian0821.com MotoGP editor Peter McLaren and podca🌜st host Harry Benjamin discuss contrasting opening round fortunes for♛ Aprilia, Yamaha and Suzuki.

Aprilia, now the only factory still with technical concessions, made its best ever start to a four-stroke MotoGP season with fourth place by Aleix Esp🐼argaro, although team-mate Maverick Vinalဣes could only manage twelfth.

Defending world champions and last year's double Qatar winners Yamaha were left in&nb✅sp;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 2023 contract ꦉnegotiations?

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