Yamaha Racing Maverick Vinales remained at the top of the timesheets on the third and final day of pre testing here at the Losail Circuit in Qatar. The Spanish rider finished the day .07 faster than the Ducati piloted by Andrea Dovizioso and almost a tenth and a half ahead of Honda's Pedro de la Rosa.
"This test has been crucial for us in order to prepare for the first round of the season and all in all we are satisfied. After the very positive results yesterday, we resumed our work on the bikes' set-up today, mainly focusing on race simulations," said Yamaha's Massimo Meregalli. "We finalised our testing programme by making some final adjustments to the settings as Maverick completed a very strong longer run, while Vale had to cut his run short."
"Maverick kept up his fast lap times over the last three days, during both the time attacks and the race simulation, and this gives us great confidence for the first race. After yesterday‘s good performance,"
Jorge Lorenzo was a pleasing fourth for Ducati followed by Alvaro Bautista in fifth. For the second Yamaha of Valentino Rossi, the day didn't go according to plan and he ended up 6th fastest overall....
"Valentino encountered some problems with his bike‘s set-up today, "Meregalli continued. "His engineers will draw a comparison between yesterday and today‘s endeavours to find out what amendments to the setting did and didn‘t work. Having concluded this last test, we feel eager to start the season in two weeks' time."
QATAR TEST – Combined classification after Day 3:
1. Maverick VIÑALES, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – 1:54.330 in session 3
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Ducati Team – 1:54.401 +0.071 in session 3
3. Dani PEDROSA, Repsol Honda Team – 1:54.469 +0.139 in session 3
4. Jorge LORENZO, Ducati Team – 1:54.519 +0.189 in session 3
5. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Pull&Bear Aspar Team – 1:54.714 +0.384 in session 3
6. Valentino ROSSI, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – 1:54.732 +0.402 in session 2
7. Scott REDDING, Octo Pramac Racing – 1:54.750 +0.420 in session 3
8. Jonas FOLGER, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – 1:54.807 +0.477 in session 3
9. Cal CRUTCHLOW, LCR Honda – 1:54.821 +0.491 in session 3
10. Johann ZARCO, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – 1:54.900 +0.570 in session 3
11. Marc MARQUEZ, Repsol Honda Team – 1:54.990 +0.660 in session 3
12. Aleix ESPARGARO, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – 1:55.121 +0.791 in session 2
13. Andrea IANNONE, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – 1:55.284 +0.954 in session 3
14. Karel ABRAHAM, Pull&Bear Aspar Team – 1:55.333 +1.003 in session 3
15. Alex RINS, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – 1:55.362 +1.032 in session 3
16. Jack MILLER, Marc VDS Racing Team – 1:55.455 +1.125 in session 3
17. Loris BAZ, Reale Avintia Racing – 1:55.539 +1.209 in session 3
18. Danilo PETRUCCI, Octo Pramac Racing – 1:55.556 +1.226 in session 3
19. Sam LOWES, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – 1:56.167 +1.837 in session 3
20. Tito RABAT, EG 0,0 Marc VDS – 1:56.214 +1.884 in session 2
21. Bradley SMITH, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – 1:56.351 +2.021 in session 3
22. Pol ESPARGARO, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – 1:56.471 +2.141 in session 3
23. Mika KALLIO, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – 1:56.891 +2.561 in session 3
