Here, the rain washed away the hopes of a first evening of testing as a guide to a weapons vigil in view of a Qatar Grand Prix which will launch the 2017 season next weekend. At least one lesson would have been learned: if the clouds act up in less than seven days, the start of Grand Prix hostilities will look like a damp squib. Because Dunlop will not bring wet track tires to Losail. This Saturday, the conditions were mild. No more playing cards in the stands. It was time to show off his assets on the tarmac. And it's Nakagami who had the best deal.
An exercise to be completed in three sessions. The track gradually improves and what's more is helped by the passage of the Moto3s also present, last year's pole position time of 1'59.052 then achieved by Jonas Folger was only seriously approached during the last attempt.
And it's Nakagami who showed his cards at the end of an evening marked by a close fight between the Kalex and the KTM led by Olive tree. For their part, the Suter are not abandoned, but are fighting to stay in a top 10 which the Mistral610 de Virgin.
The start was marked by the best time of Lüthi then a double from the Marc VDS drivers followed, with Morbidely in the lead ahead Alex Marquez just in front of the Austrian motorcycleOlive tree. The last evening salvo was therefore the prerogative of Nakagami who took control of the two residents of the Marc VDS followed by Syahrin and the KTM ofOlive tree.
Beginner side fabio quartararo has gained momentum. First seventh then fourth, he finished eighth with a worse time than during the second session which would have placed him one place better.
At Tech3, we have reasons for satisfaction. Xavier Virgo was interesting with the Mistral610 which feels better and better with Kayaba suspensions which it is the only one to use. First third then eighteenth, it is in seventh place just behind Lüthi that the Spaniard finished his performance. A conclusion full of promise. The first Suter is that of Kent, ninth.
Tomorrow, work will continue. At least we hope so because the weather forecasts promise the return of rain. The Qatar Grand Prix will begin next Thursday…
Moto2 Tests Qatar J2: Chronos
1- Takaaki Nakagami – IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia – KALEX Moto2 – 2’00.187
2- Franco Morbidelli – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – KALEX Moto2 – + 0.053
3- Alex Marquez – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – KALEX Moto2 – + 0.240
4- Hafizh Syahrin – Petronas Raceline Malaysia – KALEX Moto2 – + 0.584
5- Miguel Oliveira – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM Moto2 – + 0.674
6- Thomas Luthi – carXpert Interwetten – KALEX Moto2 – + 0.714
7- Fabio Quartararo – Pons HP 40 – KALEX Moto2 – + 0.884
8- Xavi Virgo – Tech 3 Racing – Tech 3 Mistral 610 – + 0.939
9- Danny Kent – Kiefer Racing – Suter MMX2 – + 1.049
10- Axel Pons – RW Racing GP – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.065
11- Marcel Schrotter – Dynavolt Intact GP – Suter MMX2 – + 1.081
12- Jorge Navarro – Federail Oil Gresini Moto2 – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.109
13- Sandro Cortese – Dynavolt Intact GP – Suter MMX2 – + 1.124
14- Julian Simon – Garage Plus Interwetten – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.188
15- Luca Marini – Forward Racing Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.249
16- Jesko Raffin – Garage Plus Interwetten – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.257
17- Xavier Simeon – Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.323
18- Isaac Vinales – SAG Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.323
19- Francesco Bagnaia – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.326
20- Mattia Pasini – Italtrans Racing Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.456
21- Brad Binder – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM Moto2 – + 1.627
22- Simone Corsi – Speed Up Racing – Speed Up SF7 – + 1.696
23- Dominique Aegerter – Kiefer Racing – Suter MMX2 – + 1.751
24- Yonny Hernandez – AGR Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.780
25- Lorenzo Baldassarri – Forward Racing Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.848
26- Tetsuta Nagashima – Teluru SAG Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 1.997
27- Remy Gardner – Tech 3 Racing – Tech 3 Mistral 610 – + 2.012
28- Khairul Idham Pawi – IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia – KALEX Moto2 – + 2.068
29- Mashel Al Naimi – QMMF Racing – Speed Up SF16 – + 2.338
30- Edgar Pons – Pons HP 40 – KALEX Moto2 – + 2.549
31- Andrea Locatelli – Italtrans Racing Team – KALEX Moto2 – + 2.683
32- Stefano Manzi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KALEX Moto2 – + 3.704
33- Saeed Al Sulaiti – QMMF Racing – Speed Up SF16 – + 4.475
Schedules for the third day (Sunday) :
13:00 p.m. – 14:20 p.m. Moto3
14:30 p.m. – 15:50 p.m. Moto2
16:00 p.m. – 17:00 p.m. Moto3
17:10 p.m. – 18:10 p.m. Moto2
18:20 p.m. – 19:20 p.m. Moto3
19:30 p.m. – 20:30 p.m. Moto2