VOL. 53 ISSUE 9 MARCH 8, 2016 P75
best was 1:55.325; but the next
second took in another 13 rid-
ers, separated by little more than
nominal margins.
But these are early days,
as everybody adapts to major
technical changes: firstly the
electronics, and secondly the
switch to Michelin tires. Good
lap times and improving rider
confidence after a slightly shaky
start were an impressive show-
ex-Moto3 Champion headed
the time-sheets on the middle of
three days at Losail, and ended
up narrowly third overall, ahead
of Marquez, Rossi and Andrea
Iannone, finally the top Ducati
as the factory squad polish their
evolutionary GP16.
Lorenzo's 1:54.810 was less
than a tenth off his 2015 qualify-
ing time, although seven tenths
off Dovizioso's pole. Redding's
ing early dividends, while Avintia
Ducati's Hector Barbera also ran
strongly at all three tests. It was
the first time Redding had two
bikes at his disposal.
The biggest impression,
however, came from last year's
underdog Suzuki GSX-RR, and
ever-impressive Maverick Vina-
les, tipped by some as the next
Marquez. Fastest at the previous
weather-hit Australian tests, the
