A red flag period during FP2 and fine margins were the stand out features of the opening day of MotoGP action at the QatarGP, where PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team’s Franco Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi ended Friday’s practice sessions at Losail International Circuit seventh and ninth respectively - an important achievement with different track conditions predicted for FP3 potentially hindering direct entry to Q2 tomorrow.
Continuing his good form from the pre-season test, Morbidelli reinforced that he’s one to watch after ending the MotoGP FP1 session at the top of the times with a 1min 54.921secs lap. The second practice session of the day saw fine margins separate the riders, as lap times fell in the evening conditions. Franco’s fastest lap – 1min 53.676secs – saw him end the day seventh, just 0.289secs shy of the top.
Rossi, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his GP debut, improved his lap times steadily throughout the 45 minutes of FP1. At the end of the session Vale’s 1min 55.419secs lap put him ninth. After the red flag period, the Italian was a permanent fixture in the top-ten for the majority of the remaining time in FP2. At the end of the session Rossi had posted the ninth quickest time of the day, a 1min 53.874secs lap, which was 0.487secs off the fastest rider.
Tomorrow’s track action for Morbidelli and Rossi will begin with Free Practice 3 at 3.15pm local time (8.15pm MYT), and culminate in the two qualifying sessions that will take place from 8pm local time (1am MYT).
