Rins tops Qatar MotoGP Test Day 2 - Miller 12th

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) went one better on Sunday as the Spaniard put in a 1:54.593 to go fastest on Day 2, but it remained tight at the top as the tables turned and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) ended the day just 0.057 in arrears.

That made some headlines in itself, but the man in third stole some too: rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) stormed to third overall.

Jack Miller – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Aussie Jack Miller started well staying in the top 10 for a long time, before he had to solve a technical issue that did not allow him to try the time attack with the best track conditions. His team solved the problem, allowing him to return on track at the end of the session to improve yesterday’s time by more than 1 second and six-tenths, finishing seven-tenths of a second off the top.

Jack Miller saying, “I’m happier than yesterday. We worked effectively on the setup and geometry of the bike even though in the end we had to deal with a technical issue that slowed us down. I was able to improve my time despite the humidity that certainly didn’t help and for this, I thank the team that did a great job. Tomorrow we will try again in better conditions”.

Alex Rins – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

47 laps was the final number for Rins as the Suzuki man continued to look like a serious 2019 contender. His teammate, rookie Joan Mir, also impressed and put in a 1:55.280 to end Sunday in P11 and less than seven tenths off his teammate – as well as the second quickest rookie.

Alex Rins saying, “It would be good if the race was tomorrow! We’ve been doing a great job; in Sepang we tested a lot of parts, but here we’re confirming that those parts are good. But the important thing is the way I’m riding, step-by-step with a nice rhythm, and using worn tyres as well. The aim is to get everything 100% clear when we come back for the first race. I feel that our package is better than last year, just by changing small things. I feel happy with the bike.”

Maverick Vinales – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

So what of Yamaha? Viñales did a slightly increased 52 laps on Day 2 and was almost top, but he did say they needed to make more progress and improve on the final day. It was a different story – in terms of laptime at least – for teammate Valentino Rossi. The ‘Doctor’ ended the day down in P19 and over a second off Viñales after 51 laps, but the number 46 has never been one to blast out the blocks in testing.

Maverick Viñales saying, “We were working a little bit on the race pace and honestly I’m quite happy, because I think we made good improvements today. It was important to feel the bike a little bit more, to find a new set-up to go fast. I think that job has been done and I’m quite happy about that. We still have a lot of things to do tomorrow to further improve. I hope to go faster tomorrow, because I think the track today wasn’t great. Tomorrow we can hopefully find a bit more grip. At the moment the grip level for me is quite low but we’re still there at the front and that’s the most important.”

Fabio Quartararo – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Petronas Yamaha SRT, meanwhile, remained impressive in their own right and as help with development for the Iwata marque. Quartararo’s bike isn’t far off that of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, and teammate Franco Morbidelli’s is the same as that of Viñales and Rossi. Quartararo stunned with his laptime in third, and Morbidelli ended the day in P13 after 52 laps of more important data gathering.

Fabio Quartararo saying, “It has been a very positive Sunday night for us here at Losail and we have learnt a lot about the bike. We kept up a strong pace on used tyres and also took an important step forward with respect to our time attacks. Tonight was the first time I have left the box thinking, ‘I’m going to set a fast lap no matter what,’ and I am happy with the lap times we set, especially lapping alone, when I put together three great laps. The objective tomorrow is to complete a longer run to check how the tyres work when they are already worn, and then at the end of the evening we will try another time attack.”

Danilo Petrucci – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Another man echoing the sentiments of Suzuki boss Davide Brivio on Day 2 was Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati Team). The Italian said he’d be up to race ASAP too, and he was the fastest Borgo Panigale machine in P4. After 48 laps ‘Petrux’ did a best of 1:54.953 and, despite being down in P8, teammate Andrea Dovizioso was close with a 1:11.205 after 53 laps. Team Manager Davide Tardozzi said Ducati have “clear ideas regarding frame, engines, aerodynamics, electronics” and that they were concentrating on tyre life – with an interesting addition under the bike that rumour says is aimed at tyre temperature.

Danilo Petrucci saying, “It’s been a busy day. We were among the first ones to take it to the track, and I felt comfortable right away. In particular, I was happy with the feeling with used tyres, both the medium and soft compounds. Our pace is competitive, while we still need to improve in terms of pure speed on new tyres. I still have to look into detail at our rival’s lap times, but we all seem to be quite close. Tomorrow we’ll keep working on the setup and we’ll also run a race simulation to make another step forward, which is crucial to fight for the podium during the race.”

Andrea Dovizioso – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Andrea Dovizioso adding, “If we look at the lap times, today they probably don’t reveal too much: many riders worked esclusively for the upcoming race, but what matters the most is that my feeling with the bike is good. Today, as we had previously done in Malaysia, we did a race simulation split into two runs. It’s a very important task ahead of the opening race, even if it will unfold in slightly different conditions, and it allowed to gather interesting feedback even though it’s still difficult to gauge the true potential of our opponents. I think we’re working well and methodically, and tomorrow we’ll continue to focus on some details to find more ways to further improve.”

Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) was the top Independent Team Ducati rider on Sunday and leapt up the timesheets into P12, with Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) in P14 despite a crash. He was just ahead of the second Alma Pramac Racing machine of rookie Francesco Bagnaia.

Marc Marquez – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

At Honda, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was the fastest man for the marque, in fifth. A 1:55.004 was his best effort, but crucially the reigning Champion managed nearly 60 laps – a good sign in his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery, with Marquez having done less than forty on most test days so far.

Marc Marquez saying, “I’m very happy today because it was my first ‘normal’ day of testing. I did a lot of laps, there was a little pain in the shoulder but it’s manageable. We also made a big step with the setup of the bike, I’m happy overall with my condition and the bike. We’re getting closer and closer at a circuit that’s usually not the best for us and there’s still a day of testing left.”

Jorge Lorenzo – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Teammate Jorge Lorenzo was a second quicker than Day 1 but in a tight trio between Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Rossi, and he put in 44 laps with a best of 1:55.742 as he fights to recover from his broken scaphoid. He tried the latest fairing on Sunday, too, and said it was a much better day’s work.

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was second fastest Honda in P7, and rumour has it one of his bikes seemed to migrate to his teammate’s side of the garage too. That teammate, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), had a tough first day but was back in the mix in the top ten on Sunday, doing 35 laps and taking P9.

Aleix Espargaro – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) impressed once again on Day 2. He ended the day in sixth – just 0.002 ahead of Nakagami – and put in 55 laps. Aprilia had a new exhaust, and Technical Manager Romano Albesiano said Espargaro and teammate Andrea Iannone were testing race setup and aero. Iannone reportedly had positive feedback on the aero, and he ended the day in P16. Test rider Bradley Smith, meanwhile, was focusing on electronics.

Completing the top ten on Sunday was another headline stealer: Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He was even higher up for much of the session, and his 1:55.255 meant that all six factories were within the top ten after a fitting 44 laps for the 2013 Moto2 World Champion. Teammate Zarco was in P17 just ahead of Lorenzo, but quicker than Day 1.

Pol Espargaro – Qatar MotoGP Test 2019

Team Manager Mike Leitner said the focus had switched from bigger changes to details, and noted the pressure to get ready – especially with so many items to test. He also said both have good feelings and noted the particularly positive results for Espargaro’s testing.

So that’s Day 2 and there’s only one session remaining now before FP1 begins and the pressure really mounts. Is everybody ready to race? Some say they could start tomorrow, but there’s track time left for those left with details to define.