Monster Yamaha's Johann Zarco has topped the third Qatar MotoGP free practice in a session that was a slower than yesterday as high track temperatures significantly reduced grip across the pack but the Frenchman was somehow able to almost match his FP2 time.
Zarco, who has looked a little uncomfortable and under pressure so far this weekend, posted a 1'54.996 on his final lap, using a medium/soft combination which was close to his best from yesterday of 1'54.912 and was the only rider to get anywhere near Friday's times.
The top ten for automatic qualifying two positions remains the same from yesterday (see below) and Maverick Vinales will have to fight it out for a place in final qualifying.
Pramac Ducati's Jack Miller clambered into second place for the session and described it as a dust storm. He put in a 1'55.463 to go just ahead of Danilo Petrucci with Marc Marquez completing the top five.
Valentino Rossi crashed unhurt at turn five with team boss Maio Meregalli confirming it was pilot error as The Doctor lost the front. Dani Pedrosa unusually used a hard front in his Repsol Honda and HRC chief Alberto Puig said the factory riders were struggling to make the medium front work, so Pedrosa may be forced to use go hard in the cooler conditions, which won't suit him.
Automatic qualifying two positions
1 4 A.DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team DUCATI 1'55.366 12 1'54.361 15 1'55.980 10
2 9 D.PETRUCCI ITA Alma Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'56.076 10 1'54.367 14 1'55.668 10 0.006 0.006
3 42 A.RINS SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI 1'55.997 16 1'54.458 19 1'56.286 16 0.097 0.091
4 99 J.LORENZO SPA Ducati Team DUCATI 1'55.888 9 1'54.831 15 1'56.009 17 0.470 0.373
5 29 A.IANNONE ITA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI 1'55.816 17 1'54.841 19 1'55.777 14 0.480 0.010
6 93 M.MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'55.743 17 1'54.850 15 1'55.750 16 0.489 0.009
7 26 D.PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'56.265 17 1'54.851 17 1'55.830 15 0.490 0.001
8 35 C.CRUTCHLOW GBR LCR Honda CASTROL HONDA 1'55.989 9 1'54.852 15 1'56.058 15 0.491 0.001
9 46 V.ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP YAMAHA 1'55.427 16 1'54.853 15 1'56.049 8 0.492 0.001
10 5 J.ZARCO FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'55.943 15 1'54.912 18 1'54.966 15 0.551 0.059
