British rider Scott Redding led MotoGP Free Practice Two Friday evening at Losail International Circuit in Qatar with a lap time of 1:55.085 on his Octo Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP16.
Redding’s best time, which came on his 15th of 16 laps in the session, was not as fast as Maverick Vinales (1:54.316) and Marc Marquez (1:54.912) went in FP1, but Redding’s performance may have been impacted by earlier rains washing away the rubber accumulated during Thursday night’s practice, reducing grip. Redding’s time, however, ranks him third-fastest overall so far this weekend and puts him in a good position to lock a spot in Qualifying Session Two and a guaranteed spot on the first four rows of the grid.
Factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso was 11th in FP1 with a 1:55.873, but the Italian rebounded with a 1:55.185 in FP2 to finish second in the session.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammates Jonas Folger (1:55.208) and Johann Zarco (1:55.316) finished FP2 third and fourth, respectively, another strong performance by the MotoGP rookies.
Vinales, the fastest rider throughout pre-season testing and FP1, ended up fifth in the second practice with a 1:55.378 he did on his fourth lap. On the Spaniard’s seventh lap, however, he crashed his Movistar Yamaha YZR-M1 for the very first time ever. Vinales was uninjured and continued riding in the session.
Vinales’ teammate Valentino Rossi was sixth in the session, while other big names finished further down the order, including: Jorge Lorenzo, eighth with a 1:55.604; Marc Marquez, ninth with a 1:55.698; Cal Crutchlow, 12th with a 1:55.828; Andrea Iannone, 15th with a 1:56.069; and Dani Pedrosa, 19th with a 1:56.530.
The MotoGP riders return to action later Friday in Free Practice Three, when they will decide the top 10 riders who will advance directly into Qualifying Session Two. Meanwhile, a possibility of rain remains in the forecast.
Grand Prix of Qatar
FIM MotoGP World Championship
Losail International Circuit
Doha, Qatar
March 24, 2017
Free Practice Two Results (All on Michelin tires):
1. Scott REDDING, UK (DUCATI), 1:55.085
2. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Italy (DUCATI), 1:55.185
3. Jonas FOLGER, Germany (YAMAHA), 1:55.208
4. Johann ZARCO, France (YAMAHA), 1:55.316
5. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (YAMAHA), 1:55.378, crash
6. Valentino ROSSI, Italy (YAMAHA), 1:55.414
7. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Spain (DUCATI), 1:55.581
8. Jorge LORENZO, Spain (DUCATI), 1:55.604
9. Marc MARQUEZ, Spain (HONDA), 1:55.698
10. Aleix ESPARGARO, Spain (APRILIA), 1:55.750
11. Danilo PETRUCCI, Italy (DUCATI), 1:55.760
12. Cal CRUTCHLOW, UK (HONDA), 1:55.828
13. Jack MILLER, Australia (HONDA), 1:55.959
14. Karel ABRAHAM, Czech Republic (DUCATI), 1:56.003
15. Andrea IANNONE, Italy (SUZUKI), 1:56.069
16. Alex RINS, Spain (SUZUKI), 1:56.179
17. Tito RABAT, Spain (HONDA), 1:56.368
18. Loris BAZ, France (DUCATI), 1:56.501
19. Dani PEDROSA, Spain (HONDA), 1:56.530
20. Hector BARBERA, Spain (DUCATI), 1:56.934
21. Pol ESPARGARO, Spain (KTM), 1:57.116
22. Sam LOWES, UK (APRILIA), 1:57.517
23. Bradley SMITH, UK (KTM), 1:58.020