2017 Qatar MotoGP FP3 Result: Viñales Fastest As Lorenzo Misses Q2

Submitted by David Emmett on

Maverick Viñales has topped the final session of free practice for the MotoGP class at Qatar, and goes into qualifying on Saturday as the fastest man of the field. The Movistar Yamaha rider did not chase a fast lap like the other riders, comfortable as he was knowing that he had already qualified for Q2.

Andrea Iannone put in an astonishing lap to come out of nowhere and take second place, just a hundredth of a second behind Viñales' FP3 time, but still over half a second slower than the Yamaha rider's best time set in FP1. Johann Zarco ended FP3 in third, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa. Cal Crutchlow set the sixth fastest time, but crashed in Turn 2 near the end of the session. 

Marc Marquez was seventh in FP3, but was third quickest overall thanks to his time yesterday. Danilo Petrucci and Jorge Lorenzo were eighth and ninth, but were not quick enough to qualify straight for Q2, and will have to pass through Q1 on Saturday. 

Combined results:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 25 Maverick Viñales Yamaha 1'54.316    
2 29 Andrea Iannone Suzuki 1'54.848 0.532 0.532
3 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1'54.912 0.596 0.064
4 5 Johann Zarco Yamaha 1'55.008 0.692 0.096
5 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 1'55.042 0.726 0.034
6 45 Scott Redding Ducati 1'55.085 0.769 0.043
7 26 Dani Pedrosa Honda 1'55.113 0.797 0.028
8 94 Jonas Folger Yamaha 1'55.713 0.892 0.095
9 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda 1'55.211 0.895 0.003
10 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1'55.414 1.098 0.203
To Q1
11 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati 1'55.435 1.119 0.021
12 99 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati 1'55.461 1.145 0.026
13 19 Alvaro Bautista Ducati 1'55.581 1.265 0.120
14 76 Loris Baz Ducati 1'55.624 1.308 0.043
15 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1'55.634 1.318 0.010
16 43 Jack Miller Honda 1'55.959 1.643 0.325
17 17 Karel Abraham Ducati 1'56.003 1.687 0.044
18 42 Alex Rins Suzuki 1'56.179 1.863 0.176
19 53 Tito Rabat Honda 1'56.368 2.052 0.189
20 8 Hector Barbera Ducati 1'56.725 2.409 0.357
21 22 Sam Lowes Aprilia 1'56.854 2.538 0.129
22 44 Pol Espargaro KTM 1'57.116 2.800 0.262
23 38 Bradley Smith KTM 1'57.654 3.338 0.538

FP3 only results:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 25 Maverick Viñales Yamaha 1'54.834    
2 29 Andrea Iannone Suzuki 1'54.848 0.014 0.014
3 5 Johann Zarco Yamaha 1'55.008 0.174 0.160
4 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 1'55.042 0.208 0.034
5 26 Dani Pedrosa Honda 1'55.113 0.279 0.071
6 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda 1'55.211 0.377 0.098
7 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1'55.296 0.462 0.085
8 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati 1'55.435 0.601 0.139
9 99 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati 1'55.461 0.627 0.026
10 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1'55.634 0.800 0.173
11 19 Alvaro Bautista Ducati 1'55.676 0.842 0.042
12 94 Jonas Folger Yamaha 1'55.713 0.879 0.037
13 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1'55.790 0.956 0.077
14 17 Karel Abraham Ducati 1'56.095 1.261 0.305
15 42 Alex Rins Suzuki 1'56.249 1.415 0.154
16 53 Tito Rabat Honda 1'56.617 1.783 0.368
17 45 Scott Redding Ducati 1'56.662 1.828 0.045
18 43 Jack Miller Honda 1'56.692 1.858 0.030
19 22 Sam Lowes Aprilia 1'56.854 2.020 0.162
20 76 Loris Baz Ducati 1'56.935 2.101 0.081
21 8 Hector Barbera Ducati 1'57.005 2.171 0.070
22 44 Pol Espargaro KTM 1'57.630 2.796 0.625
23 38 Bradley Smith KTM 1'57.654 2.820 0.024

 

Round Number: 
1
2017
MotoGP
Losail, Qatar
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Comments

Apical replied on
Site Supporter

Surely this is not possible. A.I. the maniac six tenths of a second per lap quicker than JLo.

Makes me wonder why the red team sacked A.I. Ducati could have saved a lot of money.

But it is worth it to see Maverick on the Yamaha. Two blue bikes at the top.

Perhaps blue is the colour for this weekend. I love the blues.

Athorn replied on

Speed has never been A.I.'s problem. It's the whole struggling to finish races without recklessly crashing into other riders thing that tends to diminish his value. Talent without discipline just isn't worth much. If Iannone ends the season ahead of Lorenzo in the points, I'll be shocked. 

Motoshrink replied on
Site Supporter

Weather and track conditions - could we be stepping into another season in which it plays a major role? Maybe even more so?

It got downright weird last yr. Just the sheer number of events affected. Hoping for better and ready for worse.

A.Espargaro and Aprilia are in good company. Poncheral's Tech3 Tots are trotting impressively. And yes, meatball head maniac is looking as I thought he might on the Suzuki and this is good indeedy.

Pedrosa et al gain and Rossi et al loss on the softer Michelins. Tire management issues may be even more important this season. Ducati is a question mark for me there.

Maverick is here, Yamaha is on. Qatar time! Let's line em up and go.

mikemet replied on
Site Supporter

Yamaha could have saved a lot of money by replacing Rossi with Zarco.

Mike Lewis replied on

Even though Rossi is quite a bit slower so far, Yamaha makes WAY more money having Rossi on its bike than it would save by hiring Zarco. But Zarco's speed has been pretty impressive thus far. As is his likely ability to finish, if Moto2 is any indication. 

Panigale1199 replied on

The change in the tyre stiffness and compound has caught Rossi off guard. It looks like the setup woes haven't been sorted out.

Kudos to Ianonne. It seems like he has come to grips with changing his breaking style. Let's hope he can keep it on two wheels for the entire race.

Kudos to Zarco and Folger. They made it to QP2 at the first GP. Tech 3 may be the cream of the satellite crop this season.

I can't wait. The season is in full swing.

sir_nj replied on
Site Supporter

how does Yamaha qualify in those positions, especially with two rookies on year old bikes being in the middle?  I know Rossi is thrown a bit by the tyre stiffness but how then are the year old bikes masking this or do the riders not care?