Valentino Rossi has topped the FP1 timesheets at the VisitQatar Grand Prix after setting the quickest time of 1:55.048, enough to lead second fastest Jorge Lorenzo by 0.079 and third fastest Marc Marquez by 0.116.
It’s only FP1 at the Losail International Circuit but already we’re seeing what an incredible year 2019 is shaping up to be. Rossi left it late to go top, with Lorenzo leapfrogging teammate Marquez late on to get his year off to a great start, with the five-time World Champion still nursing his scaphoid injury. The reigning World Champion looked ominous from the get-go, with Marquez leading the way for most of the session before a late flurry of fast laps knocked the number 93 down to third place.
Last year’s Qatar GP winner Andrea Dovizioso ended FP1 fourth fastest, 0.169 splitting him from his compatriot, with teammate Danilo Petrucci rounding out the top five with a 1:55.267 – 0.219 covering the top five riders.
Maverick Viñales ends the first session of the year in sixth place, just over two and a half tenths off his teammate, with fellow YZR-M1 rider Franco Morbidelli seventh – 0.012 off Viñales and 0.276 from Rossi. Alma Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller ends the session eighth with a 1:55.396, the Australian heading ninth place Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and tenth quickest Takaaki Nakagami.
Hafizh Syahrin was the first crasher of 2019 in the MotoGP class, the Malaysian rider going down unhurt at the final corner early in the session.
With the top 17 riders split by just 0.821 seconds, you don’t want to miss FP2 from the Losail International Circuit. Join us at 20:00 local time (GMT+3) to see who takes Friday’s honours for the first time this year.
