Federal Oil Gresini Moto2’s Sam Lowes has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the opening race weekend of the season after ending the Moto2 and Moto3 Qatar test quickest, his 1m58.439s on the final day enough to beat second place Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) by 0.224s.

The entire top 10 on the combined standings set their quickest laps on day three at Losail International Circuit, with Lowes’ time quick enough to put him on pole for the MotoGP race that took place at the venue in 2004!

The aforementioned Luthi was the British rider’s closest rival, with Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) continuing his impressive preseason speed with third, 0.316s off P1. Fourth went the way of Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40), his 1m58.775s leaving him just 0.002s two from Gardner, with Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) just another 0.030s back in fifth.

EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Xavi Vierge ends the three-day test just ahead of Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) and Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) as the three Spaniards occupy sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Ninth goes to Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), his 1m58.980s putting him 0.541s off Lowes, with day one’s fastest rider Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top 10.

In Moto3, Romano Fenati (Snipers Team) ended the test at the top of the timesheets after going quickest on the final day, setting a best time of 2m05.285s to head teammate Tony Arbolino by 0.230s. With many focusing on a fast lap – and some on trying to get a tow – it was a frantic final day of action.

All of the lightweight class riders, except the injured Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), went quicker on the third and final day of testing at Losail International Circuit. But it was the Snipers Team duo who locked out the top two positions at the end of play, just like they have done on the previous two days. Their closest challenger was Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), with 0.368s splitting him from Fenati in third.

Fourth fastest was Leopard Racing’s Lorenzo Dalla Porta, the only other rider within half a second of Fenati, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing a top five covered by 0.507s.

John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) ended the test in sixth place with a best time of 2m05.899a, the British rider sitting 0.131a ahead of seventh-placed Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing). Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was eighth, just ahead of Sky Racing Team VR46 duo Dennis Foggia and rookie Celestino Vietti – it was ninth and 10th on the timesheets for the Italians respectively.

Detailed results