Qatar MotoGP test

The second day of the final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test is underway in Qatar. With the season-opening grand prix weekend - to be held at the same Losail circuit on March 16-18 - featuring an earlier track schedule this year, testing will take place from 1-9pm over the three days.

The recent announcement that Tech3 is to end its long association with Yamaha renewed speculation that Valentino Rossi's VR46 team could enter MotoGP and take over the satellite M1 supply. Such a partnership has long been expected, whenever Rossi retires as a rider.

Video footage of reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa during day one of the final pre-season test, in Qatar. Marquez set the tenth fastest lap time, with Pedrosa just behind him after suffering two falls.

Jorge Lorenzo helped draw a line under a lowly 22nd on the final day in Buriram by leading substantial parts of the opening day of MotoGP testing Qatar.

Maverick Vinales' turbulent pre-season took another twist as the rider who had been 12th fastest on the final day in Thailand topped the timesheets in Qatar.

Thursday marked the opening day of the final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test, in Qatar. With the season-opening grand prix weekend - to be held at the same Losail circuit on March 16-18 - featuring an earlier track schedule this year, testing takes place from 1-9pm over the three days.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

The third and final 2018 MotoGP pre-season test began in Qatar on Thursday afternoon.

Jesko Raffin 0.3s quicker than his best race lap on a Honda-powered Moto2 Kalex, using a 'standard' Triumph engine, electronics and clutch

With engine specification for the leading MotoGP manufacturers frozen at round one, this week's pre-season test in Qatar offers their last chance to decide on a specification for 2018.

Cal Crutchlow certainly isn't afraid of doing things his own way. And when it comes to the spread of aerodynamic winglet fairings and rider coaches in MotoGP, the LCR Honda rider is openly sceptical of how much difference they make.