Jorge Martin is stealing the headlines this week as the defending World Champion returns to competitive racing for the first time this year. The reigning title holder finds himself down the pecking order in the 2025 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix pre-event odds, relegated by the Marquez brothers and Francesco Bagnaia.
After reading our analysis, check out ourpartner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
Schedule and How to Watch the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
Riders pull out of the pits at the Lusail International Circuit for the first time on Friday, April 11th. Free Practice 1 broadcasts from 8:45 AM ET on Fox Sports. Racing shifts gears on Saturday as we build up to qualifying and the customary Saturday sprint.
Qualifying is set for 8:40 AM ET and riders will line up on the grid for the sprint at 1 PM. Teams and riders return to the track on Sunday for the night Grand Prix, which airs at 1 PM on the East Coast.
Weather Forecast For MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar
Clear skies and scorching temperatures greet riders all weekend. The high 90s are forecast for Friday during FP1 and Saturday during qualifying, with no rain on the horizon. Riders will enjoy slightly cooler weather as they navigate the sprint and GP on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Mid 80-degree temperatures can be expected after sundown.
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 Qatar MotoGP
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-250
$28.00
Francesco Bagnaia
+300
$80.00
Alex Marquez
+700
$160.00
Marc Marquez (-250):
Marc Marquez starts in the Middle East off the back of crashing out in the Grand Prix of the Americas. The Spaniard was leading comfortably until turn four of the ninth lap when he found himself sliding along the asphalt. “The Ant of Cervera” takes off in Qatar with two wins under the bike in three attempts this season.
Francesco Bagnaia (+300):
Ducati star Francesco Bagnaia entered Victory Lane in Austin, for the first time this season. The win leaves him 12 points adrift of the series leader and handed him his second podium of the term. “Pecco” touches down in the Persian Gulf desperate to retain the crown he claimed a year ago. His start in Qatar catapulted him to an 11-win season in 2024.
Alex Marquez (+700):
The younger Marquez might have struggled to overtake his brother on the track, but he leads him in the Championship. Alex Marquez leads his brother by one point at the start of the Qatar GP weekend after finishing second in every race this year.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Fabio Di Giannantonio
+1100
$240.00
Jorge Martin
+2500
$520.00
Franco Morbidelli
+2800
$580.00
Fabio Di Giannantonio (+1100):
The 2023 Qatar MotoGP Champion Fabio Di Giannantonio is hitting his stride in 2025, improving in every race. “Diggia” greeted the stewards in 10th at the Chang International Circuit, before claiming consecutive top fives in the second and third races. The VR 46 Racing rider climbed onto the podium in Texas and offers excellent value at +1100.
Jorge Martin (+2500):
The 2024 Moto GP World Champion Jorge Martin is back, after missing the first three rounds of this campaign. “The Martinator” reports for duty at the Lusail International Circuit seeking to replicate his success in the previous edition, but he starts on a new bike, after switching to Aprilia at the start of the calendar.
Franco Morbidelli (+2800):
Franco Morbidelli carries long odds into Qatar despite a consistent start to the year. The Italian has crossed the line inside the top five in every race, including the final spot on the podium in Argentina. The elephant in the room is the Italian’s past visits to the Middle Eastern Nation, failing to break into the top 10. Franco crossed the line in 11th in 2019 and 2022, his best rides at Lusail.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
Francesco Bagnaia is an easy expert pick for the Qatar MotoGP, as the defending Champion and a winner already this season. “Pecco” is favorably priced for a strong contender, carrying odds of +300, with a potential payout of $80 on a $20 wager.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Can the lap record holder at this track Jorge Martin produce a memorable comeback and start his season on a high? Will Marc Marquez bounce back after crashing out in the United States, or can his younger brother finally enter Victory Lane?
Visit our partner sportsbooksto access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
Pedro Acosta’s rise in MotoGP has been driven as much by a change in mentality as by upgrades to KTM’s RC16, and KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer credited Acosta’s increased maturity, the RC16 improvements and a new “get what you can” mindset that abandoned an all-or-nothing style. Acosta summed up the shift: “I make fewer mistakes and use my brain more.” The revised approach produced more consistent fourth- to sixth-place finishes rather than risky attempts at wins.
That change translated into results on track. After three rounds Acosta produced his strongest start in the premier class and became the first KTM rider to lead the championship after winning a Sprint and finishing second at the Thailand Grand Prix. He secured his debut Sprint victory this season, has two Grand Prix podiums so far, has scored points in all six races alongside Jorge Martín, and turned an eighth-place Sprint at the USA Grand Prix into a Sunday podium. After six races he sits third in the standings, 21 points behind leader Marco Bezzecchi as he heads to his home round at Jerez on April 24-26.
Observers still point to limitations in KTM machinery that make a title unlikely this season, but the combination of results, mentality and the prospect of an Acosta and Marc Márquez pairing at Ducati has raised talk of a possible master-versus-apprentice rivalry should Acosta get a competitive bike. Acosta called teaming with the nine-time world champion Marc Márquez a “dream come true,” and Oscar Piastri echoed the sentiment, saying he wants to see Acosta “on a bike that can compete” and calling a title fight between Acosta and Márquez “really cool” to watch. The reported Ducati move was said to have been agreed before the season but remains unannounced while a commercial agreement for 2027 between manufacturers and MotoGP is unresolved.
Fermín Aldeguer fractured his left femur in a training crash earlier this month and underwent surgery in Barcelona shortly after. The operation was described as successful, but Gresini called the fracture complex.
His long‑time physiotherapist, Aitor Tomas, said it is “impossible” for Aldeguer to be ready for the early‑February pre‑season tests at Sepang and Buriram. Tomas added the team will “fight” to have him available for the season opener and noted recoveries vary, citing Pedro Acosta’s quick return from a similar injury, but Gresini cautioned that such comparisons are imperfect.
With the season opener scheduled Feb 27–Mar 1 in Buriram, Aldeguer’s participation is uncertain. Multiple reports suggest a comeback may not come until the Qatar Grand Prix on April 10–12. If so, he would miss the first three rounds (Thailand, Argentina, USA) and all pre‑season running, further limiting bike setup and race‑trim work.
Gresini has not named a replacement; short‑term lineup decisions will depend on medical reassessment and rehabilitation progress. Separately, reports say Ducati has removed the Murcian from its 2027 rider shortlist, an unconfirmed development that could affect Aldeguer’s longer‑term prospects if his recovery or form are impacted. Updates from his medical team and Gresini will determine whether he can be fit for Buriram or will require an extended layoff into the early rounds of the MotoGP season.
At Sepang’s first preseason test, Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia reported an immediate improvement on the new GP26, citing notably better braking and corner-entry confidence after a difficult 2025 season. He ran a radical aerodynamic fairing that showed both advantages and drawbacks but produced lap times broadly similar to the older bodywork, giving the team useful comparative data for ongoing development. Bagnaia and Alex Márquez spent much of the day on long runs with used tires to assess race pace, and the squad planned a sprint simulation the next day, followed by a full race simulation on day three. The opening work built on an encouraging Valencia post-season test and left Bagnaia cautiously optimistic while warning against reading too much into a single day.
Marc Márquez set the early benchmark with a 1:57.018 while managing limits as he recovers from a right-shoulder issue, and Bagnaia ultimately placed eighth, roughly seven-tenths off that time. Ducati’s focus in Sepang was clearly on usable setup and tire feedback rather than outright sheet positions, with Bagnaia emphasizing that the team needs to better understand how new parts behave before converting test pace into race advantage. The broader test painted a mixed picture across the paddock. Yamaha’s V4 was reported to be short on power, turning, traction, and electronics, and Fabio Quartararo was later ruled out of part of the program with a finger injury. On the contrary, Alex Rins and Jack Miller struck a more positive tone about Yamaha development. Early signs from Aprilia, KTM, and Honda were encouraging through riders such as Lorenzo Savadori, Pedro Acosta, Luca Marini, and Joan Mir, even as rookies and regulars worked through setups and recoveries.
Off-track, the opening test intensified contract-year and transfer speculation. Bagnaia is in a 2027 contract year and acknowledged that impending regulation changes have helped create a lively market. Reports linked Ducati with interest in Pedro Acosta for a factory seat and indicated the factory is close to finalizing a new deal with Marc Márquez, developments that feed uncertainty around other riders’ futures. Several pieces of coverage noted that a strong return to consistent podium form by Bagnaia would complicate any premature assumptions about incoming stars, and Ducati will use the remainder of preseason testing to firm up the GP26’s setup and aerodynamic package. Overall, the Sepang opener left Ducati with encouraging technical signs and a clearer roadmap for evaluation, even as the paddock begins to reshuffle around the new rules.
The town of Cervera in Spain holds under 10,000 inhabitants, yet it’s produced the current leader and second-placed rider in the Championship. Marc and Alex Marquez are owning the circuit this year and lead the MotoGP Netherlands 2025 pre-event odds. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagania is hunting his fourth straight victory at Assen, after setting the all …
Best Bets: 2025 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix Pre-Event Odds Analysis
Jorge Martin is stealing the headlines this week as the defending World Champion returns to competitive racing for the first time this year. The reigning title holder finds himself down the pecking order in the 2025 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix pre-event odds, relegated by the Marquez brothers and Francesco Bagnaia.
After reading our analysis, check out our partner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
Schedule and How to Watch the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
Riders pull out of the pits at the Lusail International Circuit for the first time on Friday, April 11th. Free Practice 1 broadcasts from 8:45 AM ET on Fox Sports. Racing shifts gears on Saturday as we build up to qualifying and the customary Saturday sprint.
Qualifying is set for 8:40 AM ET and riders will line up on the grid for the sprint at 1 PM. Teams and riders return to the track on Sunday for the night Grand Prix, which airs at 1 PM on the East Coast.
Weather Forecast For MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar
Clear skies and scorching temperatures greet riders all weekend. The high 90s are forecast for Friday during FP1 and Saturday during qualifying, with no rain on the horizon. Riders will enjoy slightly cooler weather as they navigate the sprint and GP on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Mid 80-degree temperatures can be expected after sundown.
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 Qatar MotoGP
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-250
$28.00
Francesco Bagnaia
+300
$80.00
Alex Marquez
+700
$160.00
Marc Marquez (-250):
Marc Marquez starts in the Middle East off the back of crashing out in the Grand Prix of the Americas. The Spaniard was leading comfortably until turn four of the ninth lap when he found himself sliding along the asphalt. “The Ant of Cervera” takes off in Qatar with two wins under the bike in three attempts this season.
Francesco Bagnaia (+300):
Ducati star Francesco Bagnaia entered Victory Lane in Austin, for the first time this season. The win leaves him 12 points adrift of the series leader and handed him his second podium of the term. “Pecco” touches down in the Persian Gulf desperate to retain the crown he claimed a year ago. His start in Qatar catapulted him to an 11-win season in 2024.
Alex Marquez (+700):
The younger Marquez might have struggled to overtake his brother on the track, but he leads him in the Championship. Alex Marquez leads his brother by one point at the start of the Qatar GP weekend after finishing second in every race this year.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Fabio Di Giannantonio
+1100
$240.00
Jorge Martin
+2500
$520.00
Franco Morbidelli
+2800
$580.00
Fabio Di Giannantonio (+1100):
The 2023 Qatar MotoGP Champion Fabio Di Giannantonio is hitting his stride in 2025, improving in every race. “Diggia” greeted the stewards in 10th at the Chang International Circuit, before claiming consecutive top fives in the second and third races. The VR 46 Racing rider climbed onto the podium in Texas and offers excellent value at +1100.
Jorge Martin (+2500):
The 2024 Moto GP World Champion Jorge Martin is back, after missing the first three rounds of this campaign. “The Martinator” reports for duty at the Lusail International Circuit seeking to replicate his success in the previous edition, but he starts on a new bike, after switching to Aprilia at the start of the calendar.
Franco Morbidelli (+2800):
Franco Morbidelli carries long odds into Qatar despite a consistent start to the year. The Italian has crossed the line inside the top five in every race, including the final spot on the podium in Argentina. The elephant in the room is the Italian’s past visits to the Middle Eastern Nation, failing to break into the top 10. Franco crossed the line in 11th in 2019 and 2022, his best rides at Lusail.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
Francesco Bagnaia is an easy expert pick for the Qatar MotoGP, as the defending Champion and a winner already this season. “Pecco” is favorably priced for a strong contender, carrying odds of +300, with a potential payout of $80 on a $20 wager.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Can the lap record holder at this track Jorge Martin produce a memorable comeback and start his season on a high? Will Marc Marquez bounce back after crashing out in the United States, or can his younger brother finally enter Victory Lane?
Visit our partner sportsbooks to access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
Related Posts
Acosta’s consistency moves him to third before Jerez
Pedro Acosta’s rise in MotoGP has been driven as much by a change in mentality as by upgrades to KTM’s RC16, and KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer credited Acosta’s increased maturity, the RC16 improvements and a new “get what you can” mindset that abandoned an all-or-nothing style. Acosta summed up the shift: “I make fewer mistakes and use my brain more.” The revised approach produced more consistent fourth- to sixth-place finishes rather than risky attempts at wins.
That change translated into results on track. After three rounds Acosta produced his strongest start in the premier class and became the first KTM rider to lead the championship after winning a Sprint and finishing second at the Thailand Grand Prix. He secured his debut Sprint victory this season, has two Grand Prix podiums so far, has scored points in all six races alongside Jorge Martín, and turned an eighth-place Sprint at the USA Grand Prix into a Sunday podium. After six races he sits third in the standings, 21 points behind leader Marco Bezzecchi as he heads to his home round at Jerez on April 24-26.
Observers still point to limitations in KTM machinery that make a title unlikely this season, but the combination of results, mentality and the prospect of an Acosta and Marc Márquez pairing at Ducati has raised talk of a possible master-versus-apprentice rivalry should Acosta get a competitive bike. Acosta called teaming with the nine-time world champion Marc Márquez a “dream come true,” and Oscar Piastri echoed the sentiment, saying he wants to see Acosta “on a bike that can compete” and calling a title fight between Acosta and Márquez “really cool” to watch. The reported Ducati move was said to have been agreed before the season but remains unannounced while a commercial agreement for 2027 between manufacturers and MotoGP is unresolved.
Aldeguer Could Miss Three Rounds: Eyes Qatar Return
Fermín Aldeguer fractured his left femur in a training crash earlier this month and underwent surgery in Barcelona shortly after. The operation was described as successful, but Gresini called the fracture complex.
His long‑time physiotherapist, Aitor Tomas, said it is “impossible” for Aldeguer to be ready for the early‑February pre‑season tests at Sepang and Buriram. Tomas added the team will “fight” to have him available for the season opener and noted recoveries vary, citing Pedro Acosta’s quick return from a similar injury, but Gresini cautioned that such comparisons are imperfect.
With the season opener scheduled Feb 27–Mar 1 in Buriram, Aldeguer’s participation is uncertain. Multiple reports suggest a comeback may not come until the Qatar Grand Prix on April 10–12. If so, he would miss the first three rounds (Thailand, Argentina, USA) and all pre‑season running, further limiting bike setup and race‑trim work.
Gresini has not named a replacement; short‑term lineup decisions will depend on medical reassessment and rehabilitation progress. Separately, reports say Ducati has removed the Murcian from its 2027 rider shortlist, an unconfirmed development that could affect Aldeguer’s longer‑term prospects if his recovery or form are impacted. Updates from his medical team and Gresini will determine whether he can be fit for Buriram or will require an extended layoff into the early rounds of the MotoGP season.
Bagnaia Reports Brake Boost, Confidence on Ducati GP26
At Sepang’s first preseason test, Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia reported an immediate improvement on the new GP26, citing notably better braking and corner-entry confidence after a difficult 2025 season. He ran a radical aerodynamic fairing that showed both advantages and drawbacks but produced lap times broadly similar to the older bodywork, giving the team useful comparative data for ongoing development. Bagnaia and Alex Márquez spent much of the day on long runs with used tires to assess race pace, and the squad planned a sprint simulation the next day, followed by a full race simulation on day three. The opening work built on an encouraging Valencia post-season test and left Bagnaia cautiously optimistic while warning against reading too much into a single day.
Marc Márquez set the early benchmark with a 1:57.018 while managing limits as he recovers from a right-shoulder issue, and Bagnaia ultimately placed eighth, roughly seven-tenths off that time. Ducati’s focus in Sepang was clearly on usable setup and tire feedback rather than outright sheet positions, with Bagnaia emphasizing that the team needs to better understand how new parts behave before converting test pace into race advantage. The broader test painted a mixed picture across the paddock. Yamaha’s V4 was reported to be short on power, turning, traction, and electronics, and Fabio Quartararo was later ruled out of part of the program with a finger injury. On the contrary, Alex Rins and Jack Miller struck a more positive tone about Yamaha development. Early signs from Aprilia, KTM, and Honda were encouraging through riders such as Lorenzo Savadori, Pedro Acosta, Luca Marini, and Joan Mir, even as rookies and regulars worked through setups and recoveries.
Off-track, the opening test intensified contract-year and transfer speculation. Bagnaia is in a 2027 contract year and acknowledged that impending regulation changes have helped create a lively market. Reports linked Ducati with interest in Pedro Acosta for a factory seat and indicated the factory is close to finalizing a new deal with Marc Márquez, developments that feed uncertainty around other riders’ futures. Several pieces of coverage noted that a strong return to consistent podium form by Bagnaia would complicate any premature assumptions about incoming stars, and Ducati will use the remainder of preseason testing to firm up the GP26’s setup and aerodynamic package. Overall, the Sepang opener left Ducati with encouraging technical signs and a clearer roadmap for evaluation, even as the paddock begins to reshuffle around the new rules.
Best Bets: MotoGP Netherlands 2025 Pre-Event Odds Analysis
The town of Cervera in Spain holds under 10,000 inhabitants, yet it’s produced the current leader and second-placed rider in the Championship. Marc and Alex Marquez are owning the circuit this year and lead the MotoGP Netherlands 2025 pre-event odds. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagania is hunting his fourth straight victory at Assen, after setting the all …