Yamaha put three bikes in the top three spots in the opening free practice in Qatar, Jorge Lorenzo, Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi and the three were separated by just by just 0.
071s.
Lap times however were still high – at least two seconds slower, due to the dirty and dusty track, but the Yamaha riders can still be satisfied.
Lorenzo said his best lap came easily, even if he did save it for the end of the session, putting Crutchlow and Rossi in their places.
“It’s a very good way to start the season, on top.
To have three Yamahas in the first three positions like in Jerez means this track can be positive for us.
We need to improve though because the other guys will come in the next practice.
We’ll make the step little by little by riding, improving the bike and also the track will improve.
Today we tried both bikes and tomorrow we will try the new chassis here,” said Lorenzo.
Valentino Rossi’s third place on the timesheets left the Italian smiling like a Cheshire cat and looking like a young boy on Christmas day.
The Italian’s satisfaction was almost palpable especially since he seems to have made the M1 ‘his’ and is no longer using his team mate’s set-up and his pace is very close to Lorenzo, even if he admits that Lorenzo stresses the rear tire less.
“The first practice was very positive for us, we are in third position and we are very close to Jorge.
Our pace was ok, especially because I used just one set of tyres to understand if I could be fast with a lot of laps.
The setting and balance of the bike is good so it looks like we can be competitive,” said Rossi.