Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales ended the three-day Sepang MotoGP test as he did the Valencia outing in November at the top of the timesheets, setting a 1’59.398 but he was chased hard by the Repsol Honda of Marc Marquez as the HRC elves worked their overnight magic.

Vinales, who is new to the M1 this season, rocketed to the number one spot with his 40th lap of 72 to go ahead of his Spanish compatriot. Marquez - along with team-mate Dani Pedrosa - had been struggling with the new-spec engine but both the former champion and Pedrosa found pace overnight.

Marquez, as predicted yesterday by rival Valentino Rossi, put in a 1’59.506 on his 18th lap despite having difficulty with corner-exit grip, while a late charge by Pedrosa saw him jump to fourth with only minutes remaining and Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso was the Italian filling in that particular sandwich.

The works Ducati man set a 1’59.553 for third place on the day and it was good enough for fourth overall as yesterday’s blinding lap by former team-mate Andrea Iannone was only bettered by Vinales. Iannone was the only one of the big players not to improve today and his cause wasn’t helped by a crash towards the end of play.

Rossi hadn’t been setting the world alight on the new-framed, new-fairinged M1 but went out with a softer rear tyre with an hour left of today and improved his laptime to a 1’59.589 for sixth place overall and just two-tenths behind upstart Vinales.

Alvaro Bautista has been at the business end for the whole three days and was sitting in top spot earlier today but faster laps saw him slip back. However, the Pull&Bear Ducati man ended in seventh place overall, one place ahead of two-time champion and Ducati test rider Casey Stoner, whose 1’59.639 today was good enough for eighth overall.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow also upped his game today with a 1’59.728 while Jorge Lorenzo, who won’t be pleased with tenth place, can take positives that he has identified what he needs to change in order to be fast and is only four-tenths off the pace.

Monster Yamaha’s Johann Zarco won the battle of the rookies with a 1’59.772 in 11th and was the last rider under the 2’00 barrier. Alex Rins, on the second Ecstar Suzuki, was just behind him and one in front of Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia. Danilo Petrucci is getting to grips with the 2017 Desmosedici in 14th with Jonas Folger 15th.

Scott Redding is having trouble with his Desmosedici GP16, particularly feeling for the front Michelin, and ended up in 19th, one behind Karel Abraham. Sam Lowes, on the second works Aprilia, is 23rd, one behind Bradley Smith’s KTM.

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Combined times for three days