Andrea Dovizioso has set the fastest lap as Marc Marquez crashed twice on the first day of MotoGP’s final pre-season test at Qatar.
The factory Ducati rider lapped the Losail Circuit with a best time of 1:54.819s, finishing the night over 0.3sec faster than the star of the 2017 pre-season, Maverick Vinales.
Dovizioso went fastest with just over two hours remaining, taking away the ascendancy from new teammate Jorge Lorenzo on a circuit which was expected to suit the powerful Ducatis.
New Movistar Yamaha recruit Vinales continued his strong testing form in finishing second, while LCR’s Cal Crutchlow was the first of the Hondas in third.
Karel Abraham was a surprise fourth for Aspar Ducati and Lorenzo ultimately finished fifth, ahead of MotoGP debutante Jonas Folger for Tech 3 Yamaha.
Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Johann Zarco (Tech 3 Yamaha), and Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) rounded out the top ten.
Marc Marquez crashed twice on his way to twelfth, midway through the seven-hour session and again in the final hour.
The defending world champion had been testing a new fairing during the first of those crashes as Repsol Honda fashions a replacement for the now-banned winglets.
Jack Miller finished 14th on his Marc VDS Honda, seven positions off teammate Tito Rabat, who sat out the Phillip Island test due to injury.
Pol Espargaro crashed twice as he set the pace for the three Red Bull KTM bikes in 19th.
The final two days of official pre-season testing take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Result: MotoGP Pre-season test, Qatar, Day 1
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati Team | 1:54.81s | |
| 2 | Maverick Viñales | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 1:55.17s | 0.36s |
| 3 | Cal Crutchlow | LCR Honda | 1:55.42s | 0.60s |
| 4 | Karel Abraham | Pull&Bear Aspar Team | 1:55.61s | 0.79s |
| 5 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati Team | 1:55.61s | 0.79s |
| 6 | Jonas Folger | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 1:55.64s | 0.82s |
| 7 | Valentino Rossi | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 1:55.67s | 0.86s |
| 8 | Dani Pedrosa | Repsol Honda Team | 1:55.69s | 0.87s |
| 9 | Johann Zarco | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 1:55.70s | 0.88s |
| 10 | Andrea Iannone | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | 1:55.75s | 0.93s |
| 11 | Danilo Petrucci | Octo Pramac Racing | 1:55.83s | 1.01s |
| 12 | Marc Marquez | Repsol Honda Team | 1:55.89s | 1.08s |
| 13 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 1:55.91s | 1.09s |
| 14 | Jack Miller | Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS | 1:56.01s | 1.19s |
| 15 | Scott Redding | Octo Pramac Racing | 1:56.08s | 1.26s |
| 16 | Alvaro Bautista | Pull&Bear Aspar Team | 1:56.11s | 1.29s |
| 17 | Loris Baz | Reale Avintia Racing | 1:56.19s | 1.37s |
| 18 | Alex Rins | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | 1:56.58s | 1.77s |
| 19 | Pol Espargaro | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:56.66s | 1.84s |
| 20 | Sam Lowes | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 1:57.09s | 2.27s |
| 21 | Tito Rabat | Team EG 0,0 Marc VDS | 1:57.45s | 2.63s |
| 22 | Mika Kallio | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:58.03s | 3.22s |
| 23 | Bradley Smith | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 1:58.75s | 3.93s |
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