Fabio Quartararo of Petronas Yamaha SRT set the fastest lap to top the timesheets on day two of the of the MotoGP Test in Qatar yesterday.
With a timing of 1:54.038, the Frenchman defeated day one pacesetter Alex Rins of Team Suzuki Ecstar by 0.162 as Yamaha and Suzuki continue to look very strong. Third fastest went to Maverick Vinales of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP as the top trio were split by 0.226 at the Losail International Circuit.
In the Yamaha camp, things are looking pretty good if you glance at the timesheets. Quartararo shot to the top with just over an hour and a half of Day 2 remaining with the best time of the test, with Franco Morbidelli of Petronas Yamaha SRT of claiming P4 and Valentino Rossi of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP sitting P9. Quartararo commented that he has a better day than he did on Saturday, however the Iwata factory are having some troubles with engine braking, but things don’t seem too bad with all the Yamahas inside the top 10 and their holeshot device seems to be a final version. One team who won’t be benefiting from a holeshot device at the opening Grand Prix is Team Suzuki Ecstar.
Alex Rins and Joan Mir were the men to beat on Day 1 in Qatar but both had a bumpier ride yesterday, crashes for the duo at turn 1 and turn 6 weren’t ideal. Nevertheless, the two Spaniards looked in good shape on the whole as they continued to test the new GSX-RR chassis, as well as some electronic, rear shock and new Michelin tyre testing. Ducati were again using their revolutionary ride height adjuster, with Jack Miller of Pramac Racing admitting that he’d been using the device for a number of races – and that it’s a big help. It’s also worth noting the GP20’s superior top speed, with Miller describing it as a “rocketship” – the Ducatis topping the timesheets with relative ease.
Johann Zarco of Reale Avintia Racing impressed again to sit as the second fastest Ducati on Day 2 in P6. Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci said he was pretty happy with his pace, the Italian doing 11 laps on a used tyre and getting into the low 1:55s. Petrucci finished P12 on the timesheets, with teammate Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati Team P8. The latter said he’s pretty happy with his race pace, but admits there is work to be done to match the Yamahas and Suzukis.
Top 10 on Day 2
1. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – 1:54.038
2. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.162
3. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.226
4. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.443
5. Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) + 0.482
6. Johann Zarco (Reale Avintia Racing) + 0.527
7. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.574
8. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) + 0.624
9. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.702
10. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.721.
motogp.com
Fabio Quartararo of Petronas Yamaha SRT in action during the second day of the MotoGP Test in Qatar.
