Offseason tests – MotoGP test in Qatar – D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso –

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MotoGP test in Qatar – D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

So who is the fastest rider in the very last MotoGP testing before the season resumes on March 18 in Qatar? Yes, it is the Frenchman Johann Zarco (Yamaha Tech3) himself, who finishes first on the third day and in the cumulative three days of testing in front of the official riders Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) ! Statements.

For a master stroke, it is a master stroke: while his team has just announced his and his next for the next three seasons, Johann Zarco leaves the Losail circuit at the top of the cumulative timesheet, unless two weeks from !

  • Valencia (Spain) offseason test :
  • Offseason test in Sepang (Malaysia) :
  • Offseason test in Buriram (Thailand) :
  • Offseason test in Losail (Qatar) – D1 :
  • Offseason test in Losail (Qatar) – D2 :

"It was a very good third day, I am delighted to finish with the best time", rejoices the n ° 5 who finished these last MotoGP tests in 1’54 with 2 tenths ahead of Valentino Rossi and 3 tenths over Andrea Dovizioso.

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

Not content with having come close to a few tenths of the track record set by (1’53.927, with the advantage of qualifying tires at the time), the, unique in history, and believes that it would have "even could ride a big 1’53, but you have to accept the fact that you have to understand step by step how to reach this speed " !

Great job with the team

"We did a great job with the team during those three days, I felt more confident and I was able to benefit from it. When I did a really long run to prepare for the race, I didn’t ‘was not that fast. I did 17 laps in a row, but I was probably a little tired after those three intense days. But we’re consistent and I can really relax on the bike. I’m very happy with that. and I have to keep this feeling in mind to start the race weekend well in 15 days ".

While waiting to be able to run for the official handlebars that he "fully deserves", the Tech3 rider is ahead of the Yamaha official Valentino Rossi at the end of these last pre-season tests..

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

"I’m rather happy with these tests, especially after this afternoon because I think that we have worked a lot in recent days", comments the Doctor who "gave everything this afternoon" with "a very good lap for second position ".

"I had a good pace, but the gaps are very tight on the timesheets because a lot of the drivers are strong", continues the n ° 46 who "continues to suffer with the tires, at the front as at the rear , even though I’ve only covered half the race distance. We have to try to understand what will happen from that moment until the end of the race … that we will see in two weeks ".

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

Third in 1’54.331, Andrea Dovizioso also says he is "very happy with the work done during these three days".

Title contender…

The Ducati official, who is entering a MotoGP season for the first time as a "title contender", was able to test "everything that was planned and prepare for the race, even if the track conditions in Qatar, which can change quickly, may be different in two weeks. During these tests the circuit offered a lot of grip, which is not always the case here at Losail. And in the race simulations I was fast and consistent, so I am very satisfied with our performance. "

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

These last offseason tests, on the other hand, were not so favorable for his teammate: "today it went much better than yesterday (9th Saturday in 1: 54.692 instead of, Editor’s note), we have I found a setting that allowed me to do several fairly quick laps, but we still suffered a bit when the temperature dropped and the humidity increased ", regrets Jorge Lorenzo who finished with the 10th fastest over the three days. 

"In these conditions, we are always fighting to be competitive and maintain a good rhythm", continues the Mallorcan, sounding the alarm: "we have to concentrate on improving this aspect for the first test and we still has a lot of work to do to harness the full potential of our bike "…

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

We should also note the fine fourth place of Cal Crutchlow in 1’54.457, who finished first Honda rider on the satellite RCV of the LCR team. But like Rossi, the Briton complains about the behavior of Michelin…

"Like the Deserts Miss the Rain"

"Our problem is the specifics of the front tire," laments the LCR driver. "None really suit my riding style, so we’ll have to watch that for the race because it will be crucial. But overall I’m happy with our performance and especially my 12-lap run".

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

All the pilots also carried out tests in the wet for half an hour on Saturday, on a track copiously watered by tankers. Objective: to assess visibility and grip when the desert meets rain, a relatively rare phenomenon in Losail but which has already disrupted the course of a Grand Prix twice, in particular because of the reflections caused by artificial lighting that can become very annoying in the rain.

"During the test in wet conditions I found that the visibility was pretty good, but the track was really slippery and I’m sure we will discuss it with the safety commission for the race in Qatar", worries in particular Cal Crutchlow…

Offseason tests - MotoGP test in Qatar - D3: Zarco in the lead ahead of Rossi and Dovizioso -

Ranking of the third day of MotoGP testing in Qatar

  1. ZARCO, Johann Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1: 54.029
  2. ROSSI, Valentino Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1: 54.276
  3. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1: 54.331
  4. CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1: 54.457
  5. VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1: 54.471
  6. MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1: 54.591
  7. RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 54.650
  8. PETRUCCI, Danilo Alma Pramac Racing 1: 54.659
  9. LORENZO, Jorge Ducati Team 1: 54.692
  10. MILLER, Jack Alma Pramac Racing 1: 54.749
  11. PEDROSA, Dani Repsol Honda Team 1: 54.774
  12. MORBIDELLI, Franco EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1: 55.132
  13. SMITH, Bradley Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1: 55.179
  14. ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1: 55.232
  15. SYAHRIN, Hafizh Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1: 55.273
  16. ABRAHAM, Karel Ángel Nieto Team 1: 55.300
  17. BAUTISTA, Alvaro Ángel Nieto Team 1: 55.347
  18. RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1: 55.465
  19. ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1: 55.489
  20. REDDING, Scott Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1: 55.595
  21. NAKAGAMI, Takaaki LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1: 55.763
  22. SIMEON, Xavier Reale Avintia Racing 1: 55.943
  23. LUTHI, Thomas EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1: 56.122

Unclassified

  • IANNONE, Andrea Team SUZUKI ECSTAR

Cumulative ranking of the three days of MotoGP testing in Qatar

  1. 5 Johann ZARCO (FRA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – YAMAHA 1: 54.029 (Session 3)
  2. 46 Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – YAMAHA 1: 54.276 (Session 3)
  3. 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Ducati Team – DUCATI 1: 54.331 (Session 3)
  4. 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW (GBR) LCR Honda CASTROL – HONDA 1: 54.457 (Session 3)
  5. 25 Maverick VIÑALES (SPA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – YAMAHA 1: 54.471 (Session 3)
  6. 29 Andrea IANNONE (ITA) Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – SUZUKI 1: 54.586 (Session 2)
  7. 93 Marc MARQUEZ (SPA) Repsol Honda Team – HONDA 1: 54.591 (Session 3)
  8. 42 Alex RINS (SPA) Team SUZUKI ECSTAR – SUZUKI 1: 54.650 (Session 3)
  9. 9 Danilo PETRUCCI (ITA) Alma Pramac Racing – DUCATI 1: 54.659 (Session 3)
  10. 99 Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Ducati Team – DUCATI 1: 54.692 (Session 3)
  11. 43 Jack MILLER (AUS) Alma Pramac Racing – DUCATI 1: 54.749 (Session 3)
  12. 26 Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda Team – HONDA 1: 54.774 (Session 3)
  13. 21 Franco MORBIDELLI (ITA) EG 0,0 Marc VDS – HONDA 1: 55.132 (Session 3)
  14. 38 Bradley SMITH (GBR) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM 1: 55.179 (Session 3)
  15. 41 Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – APRILIA 1: 55.232 (Session 3)
  16. 55 Hafizh SYAHRIN (MAL) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – YAMAHA 1: 55.273 (Session 3)
  17. 17 Karel ABRAHAM (CZE) Angel Nieto Team – DUCATI 1: 55.300 (Session 3)
  18. 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA (SPA) Angel Nieto Team – DUCATI 1: 55.347 (Session 3)
  19. 53 Tito RABAT (SPA) Reale Avintia Racing – DUCATI 1: 55.465 (Session 3)
  20. 44 Pol ESPARGARO (SPA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM 1: 55.489 (Session 3)
  21. 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI (JPN) LCR Honda IDEMITSU – HONDA 1: 55.539 (Session 2)
  22. 45 Scott REDDING (GBR) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – APRILIA 1: 55.595 (Session 3)
  23. 10 Xavier SIMEON (BEL) Reale Avintia Racing – DUCATI 1: 55.943 (Session 3)
  24. 12 Tom LUTHI (SWI) EG 0,0 Marc VDS – HONDA 1: 56.122 (Session 3)
  25. 36 Mika KALLIO (FIN) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM 1: 57.218 (Session 2)

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