Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has marmalised the Qatar outright lap record in second practice today, scorching to a 1’53.380 to top the combined day one timesheets.
Marquez went three-tenths under Johann Zarco’s existing circuit best using a medium front/soft rear combination and opened a near half-second lead over Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales in second place with Jack Miller in third on a 1’53.908.
It was bad news for Valentino Rossi, however, who went from fastest man in free practice two to only 17th in the second session and could miss out on qualifying one if laptimes are slowed by the heat in the third session tomorrow.
Danilo Petrucci mixed it at the top of the sheets again, taking his factory GP19 to fourth place on a 1'54.053 on softs all round while rookie Fabio Quartararo bagged fifth place with a medium/soft combo on his Petronas Yamaha.
Andrea Dovizioso, who completed a practice start with Ducati's new holeshot device, ended in sixth place while Franco Morbidelli recovered from a crash and subsequent bike fire to bag seventh place.
Ecstar Suzuki's Alex Rins completed his day in eighth place, Aleix Espargaro took the works Aprilia to ninth while Joan Mir stunned the paddock with his first soft-tyre run, launching to the top of the sheets with a 1'54.402. The rookie subsequently slipped to tenth but has showed his pace and intentions.
Jorge Lorenzo missed out on a top-ten spot by 0.026s to finish a second down on Repsol Honda team-mate Marquez while Honda stablemate Taka Nakagami finished just behind the former world champion in 12th and one place ahead of LCR team-mate Cal Crutchlow.
Pecco Bagnaia and Tito Rabat completed the top 15 with Pol Espargaro forcing Rossi back to 17th.
