Dovizioso sets early pace in Qatar as Ducati shows its speed
Doha: Italian Andrea Dovizioso started the new season in impressive fashion as he stunned his rivals with a lap time of 1.54.361 in the Friday practice of Grand Prix of Qatar at the Losail International Circuit.
The Italian, who finished second behind Marc Marquez in the world championship last season, showed the speed of his Ducati in the second session staged under floodlights.
Fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci came in second 0.006s behind, while Alex Rins of Team Suzuki Ecstar was third 0.097s behind Dovizioso.
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) secured fourth position with a time of 1.54.831. Italian Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) wasn’t far behind his team-mate in fifth while reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) ended the day in sixth position.
Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was eighth, ahead of Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) rounds out the top ten on Friday.
Meanwhile, it was a disappointing day for reigning champion Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) who finished 11th.