Andrea Doviziso in action during free practice yesterday.
DOHA: Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso started his Grand Prix of Qatar campaign in the best possible way as the Italian ended yesterday’s free practice at the top of the timing screens, stunning his rivals with a lap time of 1.54.361 to put him just 0.006s ahead at Losail International Circuit.
It was the perfect test for race pace in the second session of 2018 for MotoGP, as bikes take to the track at the same time as the lights will go out for the race, putting the track conditions to the most realistic test. Fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) completed the day as top independent rider in second position, as he set his time with three minutes remaining only to be beaten by his compatriot.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the first non-Ducati of the day, sitting 0.097s behind Dovizioso after a strong session for the Spanish rider, who led the way in the final ten minutes.
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) secured fourth position overall around the Losail International Circuit, his time of 1.54.831 was set following a busy start to his session with his Ducati machine causing sparks to fly on the home straight.
Italian Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) wasn’t far behind his team-mate in fifth with a lap of 1.54.841, whilst reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) ended the day in sixth position.
Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) sits in eighth, and the second of the independents ahead of ninth placed Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) who was unable to secure a fast lap time at the end of the session.
Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) rounds out the top ten.
Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) had a difficult end in 11th position, ahead of compatriot Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).
Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) secured a top 13 finish on board his Ducati, with Australian Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) debuting in 14th position with his new team. Completing the top 15 is rookie Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), 1.333s off the fastest man of the day.
