Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales dominated the first practice session of the 2017 MotoGP season in Qatar, ending up nearly six tenths clear of the opposition.
After topping all four official MotoGP tests since leaving Suzuki at the end of 2016, Vinales started the new campaign in style, setting a best lap 0.596s clear of his closest challenger, Honda's Marc Marquez.
Vinales moved to the top inside the first 15 minutes, turning a 1m55.668s to displace early leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati).
That benchmark stood into the final five minutes, with Marquez having become his closest challenger, 0.178s behind.
Jorge Lorenzo was the first rider to make a move in the closing stages, jumping up to second place and then replacing Vinales at the top with a 1m55.607s.
Ducati’s new recruit’s time at the top was fleeting, though, with Vinales responding immediately with a 1m54.739s, 0.868s faster than Lorenzo’s time, with Marquez also improving to move back into second place.
There was more to come from Vinales, as he went even quicker on his next lap to a 1m54.316s.
While reigning world champion Marquez also found more pace on his final flying lap, Vinales finished the first session of the year 0.596s clear.
Marquez’s Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa also flew late to claim third, ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha rookie Jonas Folger, while Lorenzo fell to fifth, 1.291s slower than Vinales.
Komentar
Posting Komentar