Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales has been the superstar of the pre-season timesheets being fastest first time out in Valencia and then repeated that feat at both Sepang and Phillip Island. With decisions made on chassis and direction, Vinales is settled and ready for battle, with plenty track time remaining for those final adjustments as the final MotoGP test gets underway at Losail tomorrow.

Not aso happy is nine-time world champion and team-mate Valentino Rossi. Having an up-and-down test at Sepang as Yamaha debuted their internal winglets, The Doctor left Phillip Island outside the top ten and frustrated at having taken what he perceived to be a wrong turn. Ever the competitor, Rossi will be keen to use all the data analysed from Malaysia and Australia to hit the ground running.

Just behind Vinales, the other pretender to the pre-season crown is Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez, who has been notably focused on long runs and track time rather than one lap pace. With the difficulties of 2016 seeming a world away, the Repsol Honda squad have chosen their engine specification and worked centuries of laps on the electronics.

Three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa was also close to his team-mate at Phillip Island in third – despite not having ridden at the track in 2016 - and both LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow and Marc VDS’ Jack Miller have been key contributors to HRC’s testing program since Valencia. Both Marquez and Pedrosa have notably played their cards close to their chest – and had their impressive showings on the timesheets do the talking.

The Ducati Team have been taking two paths throughout testing – Andrea Dovizioso concentrating on development and newcomer Jorge Lorenzo focused instead on getting up to speed on how to ride the Desmosedici. Some interesting technical developments have been tested by the Borgo Panigale factory - especially at the rear of the bike, with the exhaust moved – and Dovizioso ended the Phillip Island test in P7.

Lorenzo, meanwhile, ended Phillip Island only hundredths off his new teammate and happy with both increased one lap pace and increased consistency; his typical calling-card in the premier class. Qatar gives the Spaniard his last track time before the sessions start to count towards qualification to Q2 and the fight begins in earnest.

Team Suzuki Ecstar have had a positive start to 2017 with new line up Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins. Iannone, although further down the timesheets in Phillip Island than Sepang, is satisfied in his new home – and Rins made a huge leap up the timesheets to get into the top ten in Australia and impress. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini are another with a new line up – including a rookie – and new recruit Aleix Espargaro is very positive following testing with the updated RS-GP, with Sam Lowes moving forward steadily as he gains more track time.

The fastest rookie of the Phillip Island test was Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Ending the three days in P4 overall, the German got ahead of fellow rookie and teammate Johann Zarco. Both Tech 3 new arrivals seem to have settled into premier class life impressively, largely trading laptimes until Folger’s last minute dash in Australia.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were another that impressed on the final day in Australia. After a huge program to get through during the first two tests – including three chassis options – the Austrian factory then put it all together to get both riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith down into the 1:29 bracket. And there’s still another test remaining before the battle begins in earnest.