Yamaha Racing Team rider Maverick Vinales (right) is closely followed by Repsol Honda Team’s Marquez during the MotoGP Pre-season test at the Phillip Island Circuit.
In-form Maverick Vinales will be looking to keep up his pace against nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi and world champion Marc Marquez when the MotoGP stars tune up ahead of the 2017 season as Qatar's Losail circuit hosts the final pre-season test from March 10 to 12.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, Vinales was the quickest of all on his Yamaha debut at MotoGP pre-season test in Valencia, Spain in November last year, and he went on to prove that its no mistake, repeating that feat at both Sepang and Phillip Island circuits.
His new team-mate and former World Champion Rossi did not endure such luck at the Australian circuit and was placed outside the top ten.
However, Rossi will be focusing on all the data analysed from Malaysia and Australia before hitting the accelerator at the state-of-the-art track at Losail where the first race of the year will be staged under the floodlights while getting used to the new wing-less design of the bikes.
Repsol Honda Team’s Marquez, recovering from a dislocated shoulder following a crash endured during the team’s private test at the Circuito de Jerez on February 24, is expected to pose the biggest threat to Vinales.
Marquez, who enjoyed his third MotoGP world title and fifth world title overall in 2016, and his team-mate, three-time world champion Dani Pedrosa are all set to make life hard for other competitors, on their new Honda's RC213V machines.
The Ducati Team also announced that their new bike will be seen in action in Qatar this weekend.
Ahead of the 2017 season, Andrea Dovizioso concentrated on development and newcomer Jorge Lorenzo focused on touching the intended speed.
The 28-year-old Lorenzo left Yamaha to join Ducati, and the winner of three world titles and 41 races is enjoying his company at Ducati.
Ducati says some interesting technical developments have been tested by the Borgo Panigale factory and Dovizioso ended the Phillip Island test in P7. Lorenzo, meanwhile, was only a fraction of a second off his new teammate and was happy with the run ahead of Qatar test.
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).
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing recently announced that they are preparing an updated MotoGP engine for riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith to test in Qatar this weekend. The riders impressed on the final day in Australia with testing off multiple chassis options ahead of Losail test.
MotoGP's Grand Prix Commission has banned the aerodynamic winglets and the three days of pre-season test at the Losail Circuit gives riders plenty of time on track to familiarize with their new machines ahead of the season opener, Grand Prix of Qatar which will take place on March 26.
The track activity for the MotoGP test will be from 16:00 to 23:00 and the entrance to the Grandstand will be free for all the spectators.
Spectators can also show their MotoGP Ticket for the Grand Prix of Qatar or purchase the same during the MotoGP test at the Welcome Centre and to enter the Paddock during the MotoGP test from March 10 to 12.
