---
title: "Dovizioso leads opening night of Qatar test"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/03/10/dovizioso-leads-opening-night-of-qatar-test/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-03-10T20:25:46Z"
modified: "2017-03-10T20:31:12Z"
---

# Dovizioso leads opening night of Qatar test

The MotoGP World Championship roared back into life this evening at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar for the opening night of the final pre-season test of 2017.

Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso ended the first evening of track action top of the pile on his Desmosedici GP17. The Italian manufacturer is expected to debut its aerodynamic fairing this weekend, though it did not do so on Friday.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/03/651544658.jpg)

Dovizioso completed a modest 36 laps of the Losail Circuit, clocking a best time of 1m54.819s to go 0.360s clear of Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales, with LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow a further three tenths adrift in third.

Rather surprisingly, fourth spot was filled by Aspar Team rider Karel Abraham, who makes his return to grand prix racing in 2017 following a difficult year away in World Superbikes with BMW.

The Czech rider is one of just two riders running 2015-spec machinery, but that didn’t stop Abraham guiding his GP15 to a decent 1m55.613s to go three thousandths of a second quicker than the second factory Ducati of Jorge Lorenzo.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/03/635356996.jpg)

Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Jonas Folger continues to post headline-grabbing times in sixth spot, with Valentino Rossi a few tenths behind in seventh.

Honda’s Dani Pedrosa headed the second Tech 3 bike of Johann Zarco, whilst Suzuki’s Andrea Iannone completed the top 10 despite a fall early in the session.

> Twitter: #WingletWatch developments at the #QatarTest!![](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f447.svg)![](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f447.svg)![](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f447.svg) Thoughts? https://t.co/UhnpmtZj25 (@MotoGP)

Honda debuted their aero fairing this evening, with Marquez running a design striking similar to that Suzuki used at the Phillip Island test two weeks ago. The fairing did cause the Spaniard a few issues, however.

Whilst on his first lap with it he crashed at the final corner, the balance of the bike altered more with the new fairing than he was expecting.

Unharmed, he rejoined soon after, though suffered another fall late in the session at Turn 2. He ended the night 12th and a second off of the pace ahead Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, Marc VDS’ Jack Miller and Pramac’s Scott Redding, who is feeling much happier on his Ducati after reverting to an old set of forks.

![](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/03/2017-03-10-8-1.png)