FIM Moto2 World Championship Test
Losail International Circuit, Qatar
March 1, 2019
Best Day One Lap Times (all on Dunlop tires with Triumph engines):
1. Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:59.776
2. Sam Lowes, UK (Kalex), 2:00.178
3. Iker Lecuona, Spain (KTM), 2:00.201
4. Jorge Navarro, Spain (Speed Up), 2:00.269
5. Alex Marquez, Spain (Kalex), 2:00.429
6. Tom Luthi, Switzerland (Kalex), 2:00.444
7. Xavi Vierge, Spain (Kalex), 2:00.591
8. Augusto Fernandez, Spain (Kalex), 2:00.638
9. Luca Marini, Italy (Kalex), 2:00.647
10. Marcel Schrotter, Germany (Kalex), 2:00.647
11. Remy Gardner, Australia (Kalex), 2:00.650
12. Nicolo Bulega, Italy (Kalex), 2:00.663
13. Bo Bendsneyder, Netherlands (NTS), 2:00.684
14. Jorge Martin, Spain (KTM), 2:00.713
15. Fabio Giannantonio, Italy (Speed Up). 2:01.064
16. Tetsuta Nakashima, Japan (Kalex), 2:01.155
17. Jake Dixon, UK (KTM), 2:01.356
18. Simone Corsi, Italy (Kalex), 2:01.364
19. Enea Bastianini, Italy (Kalex), 2:01.401
20. Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy (Kalex), 2:01.458
21. Joe Roberts, USA (KTM), 2:01.622
22. Somkiat Chantra, Thailand (Kalex), 2:01.840
23. Khairul Idham Pawi, Malaysia (Kalex), 2:01.979
24. Andrea Locatelli, Italy (Kalex), 2:02.114
25. Stefano Manzi, Italy (MV Agusta), 2:02.120
26. Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (KTM), 2:02.195
27. Dominique Aegerter, Switzerland (MV Agusta), 2:02.322
28. Philipp Oettl, Germany (KTM), 2:02.865
29. Xavier Cardelus, Andorra (KTM), 2:03.402
30. Dimas Ekky Pratama, Indonesia (Kalex), 2:04.087
31. Lukas Tulovic, Germany (KTM), 2:04.405
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Binder supreme in Moto2™, Arbolino fastest from Fenati in Moto3™
The first day of the final preseason test takes place in Qatar
Friday, 01 March 2019
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder started the Qatar Test in fine form as he topped the timesheets on Day 1 with a 1:59.776, the only rider to dip below the two-minute mark for a demolition job on the opposition. The extremely windy conditions at the Losail International Circuit on Friday caused difficulties throughout the day, but by the end of it, Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) was second on the timesheets thanks to his second session time of 2:00.178, 0.402 from Binder’s P1 effort, and third quickest was Iker Lecuona (American Team KTM). His third session time of 2:00.201 means we saw the same top three that ended the Jerez Test in the first three positions in Qatar.
Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) sits fourth fastest after the opening day, the Spaniard 0.493 from Binder after setting his best time in session two, with compatriot Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completing a top five covered by 0.653 after he improved in the last session on Friday. Just 0.015 behind Marquez is Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP), his 2:00.444 enough to put him sixth, while EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Xavi Vierge ends Day 1 in seventh – both riders going quicker in the final session.
Eighth overall on Day 1 was Augusto Fernandez aboard his Flexbox Pons HP 40 Kalex, with his 2:00.638 enabling him to finish 0.009 ahead of both Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) – both of whom set a 2:00.647 to complete the top ten.
Arbolino did it again on Friday
In Moto3™, Tony Arbolino (Snipers Team) kicked off the final 2019 preseason test as the fastest rider after the Spaniard set a 2:07.753 to go 0.101 quicker than teammate Romano Fenati. The opening day at Losail International Circuit was seriously affected by strong winds in Doha, but in the end it was the two Snipers Team Honda riders who continued their strong winter testing form. Their nearest challenger was third placed Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing), 0.530 back from Arbolino, with his teammate Marcos Ramirez sitting fourth after Day 1 – and 0.560 splitting the top four.
Completing the top five was Honda Team Asia’s Kaito Toba, with sixth fastest Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), the 2016 winner in Qatar, the only other rider to get within a second of Arbolino – 0.881 the deficit.
Ai Ogura’s (Honda Team Asia) 2:08.784 puts the Japanese rookie in seventh place on Friday, with less than a tenth separating him from eighth place Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and ninth quickest Kazuki Masaki (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race), who was also the leading KTM rider. The only man in the top ten who failed to improve their time in the third and final session of the day was Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), the Argentine’s 2:08.926 set in session two.
The intermediate and lightweight classes will be back on track on Saturday for their penultimate day of preseason testing, keep up to date with Live Timing and results on motogp.com.