Current MotoGP champion establishes best pace under the floodlights of Qatar, beating teammate by a difference in second quarter
Lorenzo officially started the year the way it ended 2015: forward. On Thursday (17), he made the best mark in the first free practice prior GP of Qatar, opening round of the 2016 MotoGP championship. He did 1min55s440, 0s267 down Rossi, completing the double Yamaha. Unlike what happened in 2015, Honda was not the second team on the timesheet. Ducati's Andrea Iannone - third - and Hector Barbera - bedroom - were eyeing the double champion and vice world pilots last year. Recalling that the Italian manufacturer uses the model 2014.
Pedrosa made the seventh time, 0s658 behind his compatriot. Marquez came right back with the eighth brand. The fifth best of the day was Viñales, Suzuki.
Smith ended the session in 11th and was the protagonist of the only downfall on Friday, feeling the Losail asphalt like in curve 13, missing two minutes to the end.
The next practice sessions will take place on Friday. TL2 will be at the noon and TL3 at 14h55, both GMT.
SOURCE: motorsport