MotoGP: Dovizioso, Rossi, Marquez top the pile in FP1

Battle has commenced as action kicks off for the start of the MotoGP season at Losail International Circuit in Dubai.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) went fastest in FP1 in Qatar, showing good form to start the season – the first in which he says he can be called a title contender from Day 1. But compatriot and recently re-signed Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was incredibly close in second, just 0.061 off the top after having led the way.

Third was reigning Champion and Dovizioso’s key rival last season, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), as the FP1 gives us the first taste of what is sure to be another tantalizing season of action with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) locking out the top six.

GRAND PRIX OF QATAR
MotoGP Free Practice 1

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Bike Km/h Time Gap 1st/Prev.

1 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 348.8 1’55.366
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 344.1 1’55.427 0.061 / 0.061
3 93 Marc MARQUEZ  SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 346.4 1’55.743 0.377 / 0.316
4 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 343.1 1’55.816 0.450 / 0.073
5 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Ducati Team Ducati 344.9 1’55.888 0.522 / 0.072
6 5 Johann ZARCO FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 342.8 1’55.943 0.577 / 0.055
7 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR LCR Honda CASTROL Honda 349.1 1’55.989 0.623 / 0.046
8 42 Alex RINS SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 342.4 1’55.997 0.631 / 0.008
9 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Alma Pramac Racing Ducati 350.8 1’56.076 0.710 / 0.079
10 53 Tito RABAT SPA Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 340.4 1’56.111 0.745 / 0.035
11 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 344.4 1’56.130 0.764 / 0.019
12 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 346.0 1’56.265 0.899 / 0.135
13 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 343.5 1’56.313 0.947 / 0.048
14 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Angel Nieto Team Ducati 343.9 1’56.528 1.162 / 0.215
15 55 Hafizh SYAHRIN MAL Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 341.2 1’56.544 1.178 / 0.016
16 43 Jack MILLER AUS Alma Pramac Racing Ducati 343.7 1’56.680 1.314 / 0.136
17 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 344.9 1’56.999 1.633 / 0.319
18 45 Scott REDDING GBR Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 339.7 1’57.115 1.749 / 0.116
19 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN LCR Honda IDEMITSU Honda 343.2 1’57.183 1.817 / 0.068
20 12 Thomas LUTHI SWI EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 337.7 1’57.211 1.845 / 0.028
21 21 Franco MORBIDELLI ITA EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 339.3 1’57.273 1.907 / 0.062
22 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 342.5 1’57.389 2.023 / 0.116
23 10 Xavier SIMEON BEL Reale Avintia Racing Ducati 344.7 1’59.151 3.785 / 1.762
24 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Angel Nieto Team Ducati 340.2 1’59.462 4.096 / 0.311

Records:

Fastest Lap: Lap: 12 Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1’55.366 167.8 Km/h
Circuit Record Lap: 2016 Jorge LORENZO 1’54.927 168.5 Km/h
Best Lap: 2008 Jorge LORENZO 1’53.927 170.0 Km/h