During this last test before the first Grand Prix, the 2017 vice-World Champion set the third time in 1'54.331, 0.302 behind Johann Zarco's best time. He was the only Ducati rider placed in the top eight, with the other two GP18s of Danilo Petrucci and Jorge Lorenzo finishing in ninth and tenth positions.
To Andrea Dovizioso, « I am very happy with the work we have done during the last three days because we were able to test everything we had planned and also prepare well for the race, even if here in Qatar the circuit conditions change easily and in a few weeks, they could be different from those we found during these three days. During testing the track had a lot of grip, which is usually difficult to find here at Losail, and in the various simulations we were fast and consistent, so I am very happy with our performance. »
“This test succeeded in confirming our competitiveness. We not only showed that we still had our speed from last year, but even more. We've done really well here. The pace is good, even on one lap I was fast. We are really happy.
“But as I expected, on Saturday some drivers became even faster. This concerns pace and lap times. Some riders have decent speed in these good grip conditions. The grip is better than normal. So we have to wait and see what happens on race weekend. »
Dovizioso has already decided between the Aero fairing and the standard fairing. “We have now made comparisons on two different tracks. The feeling was the same. The positives and negatives are clear. I don't know when we will use the new fairing, but our choice for Qatar is firm.
“For the race I expect other problems, the conditions will be different, I leave very happy and calm, but I know the weekend will be different. It's impossible to perfect everything on a bike, I know my bike and my riding style in Qatar, I know why we are fast here and why we weren't there in 2017 on some tracks, but we are stronger than the 'last year. I realize that our opponents are very fast.”
#QatarTest MotoGP Losail J.3: Chronos
1. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, 1:54,029 min
2. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0,247 sec
3. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0,302
4. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0,428
5. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +0,442
6. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0,562
7. Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0,621
8. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0,630
9. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, +0,663
10. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0,720
11. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, +0,745
12. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1,103
13. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1,150
14. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +1,203
15. Hafizh Syahrin, Yamaha, +1,244
16. Karel Abraham, Ducati, +1,271
17. Álvaro Bautista, Ducati, +1,318
18. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +1,436
19. Pol Espargaro, KTM, +1,460
20. Scott Redding, Aprilia, +1,566
21. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1,734
22. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, +1,914
23. Tom Lüthi, Honda, +2,093
#QatarTest MotoGP Losail: Cumulative times
1. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, 1:54,029 min
2. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0,247 sec
3. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0,302
4. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0,428
5. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +0,442
6. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0,557
7. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0,562
8. Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0,621
9. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0,630
10. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, +0,663
11. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0,720
12. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, +0,745
13. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1,103
14. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1,150
15. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +1,203
16. Hafizh Syahrin, Yamaha, +1,244
17. Karel Abraham, Ducati, +1,271
18. Álvaro Bautista, Ducati, +1,318
19. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +1,436
20. Pol Espargaro, KTM, +1,460
21. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1,510
22. Scott Redding, Aprilia, +1,566
23. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, +1,914
24. Tom Lüthi, Honda, +2,093
25. Mika Kallio, KTM, +3,189
Photos © Ducati and Motogp.com / Dorna
