MotoGP

 

Marc Marquez ended Free Practice 1 on top of the timesheets as riders took to the track for the first time in the 2015 MotoGP™ season.

Marquez finished with a 1’55.281, only seven-hundredths faster than his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa (+0.076s). Aleix Espargaro (+0.404s) managed to end the session in third place, as he took advantage of the softer tyre option which is available to Team Suzuki Ecstar, as part of the concessions given to Factory teams without a race win since 2013.

Cal Crutchlow (+0.537s) was the top satellite rider in 5th place on the CMW LCR Honda, with Pramac Racing’s Danilo Petrucci just a further one-tenth of a second back in 6th, with the Italian also using the softer tyre option on his Ducati GP14.1. Petrucci, who had to run back to the pits for his second bike after experiencing issues with his first, managed to finish the session ahead of the factory Ducati’s of Dovizioso (+0.699s) in 8th, and Iannone (+1.034s) in 10th on the GP15 bike. The fastest Open class rider was Stefan Bradl (+1.296s) in 14th on the Athina Forward Racing machine.

The MotoGP™ action continues on Friday at 18:00 local time for FP2.

 

Moto2

 

Speed Up Racing’s Sam Lowes finished both of the Free Practice sessions on top of the timesheets on Thursday in Qatar.

The British rider became the first ever Moto2™ rider to break the 2 minute mark around the 5.4 km Losail International Circuit, as he set a 1’59.717 during Free Practice 1. His time was over four-tenths quicker than the Circuit Record set by Maverick Viñales last season, and over 0.6s quicker than the rest of the field.

Johann Zarco (+0.622s) ended the day 2nd on the combined timesheets on his Ajo Motorsport Kalex, ahead of the reigning Moto2™ World Champion Tito Rabat (+0.651s) in 3rd. The Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider managed twenty laps in each session, exactly the same amount of laps that they will complete in the race on Sunday.

The final Moto2™ Free Practice session is scheduled to take place on Friday at 19:55 local time.

 

Moto3

 

KTM Red Bull Ajo’s Miguel Oliveira ended the first day of the 2015 Moto3™ World Championship on top of the timesheets after dominating the second Free Practice session.

The Portuguese rider improved on his time from FP1 to finished 0.021s ahead of Danny Kent on the Leopard Racing Honda. The Britain was one of only 4 riders not to improve his time in the second session of the day, having finished on top of the timesheets in FP1.

Ongetta-Rivacold’s Niccolo Antonelli (+0.179s) was in 3rd place overall, ahead of Isaac Viñales (+0.620s) on the Husqvarna Factory Laglisse machine in 4th.

Unfortunately for the RBA Racing Team, Ana Carrasco was deemed unfit to race in Qatar after breaking her collarbone at the final preseason test in Jerez. Her replacement will be Belgian Loris Cresson, who should arrive at the Losail International Circuit tomorrow in time for the third practice session.

The Moto3™ paddock returns Friday for FP3 at 19:00 local time, with Qualifying taking place on Saturday at 18:00 local time.

 

Source: motogp.com