MotoGP: Viñales signs off testing clean sweep

Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales has signed off MotoGP’s 2017 pre-season testing by completing a clean sweep of all four official tests, topping the overall standings at Losail to finish well under the lap record and well clear of the chasing pack led by Andrea Dovizioso.

Finishing the day off with a stunningly fast race simulation, Viñales left the Losail circuit delighted with his three days and confident for the first round of the championship there in two weeks’ time.

“I‘m really happy, we made another step with the bike and I feel comfortable, even on the race pace we are quite happy. I feel that we can still better the electronics and gain a couple of tenths, so we have a margin to improve. For sure we‘re not on the bike‘s limit, so we can still push a little bit more. If we do the same in the first GP as we did in the test, we can fight for the victory. We have a really good package and I feel good on the bike. I have a great fitness now, so I feel comfortable.”

Dovizioso was an impressive second on overall times, utilising the Ducati’s record at the track to finish strongly, one of three in the top five as he was joined by teammate Jorge Lorenzo in fourth and Pull&Bear Aspar rider Alvaro Bautista in an impressive fifth.

Dani Pedrosa also pulled an impressive time out of the bag to finish third, with Valentino Rossi rounding out the top six, one of only three riders unable to improve his Saturday time on the final day.

Scott Redding’s breakthrough on the second day helped him to seventh overall, while Jonas Folger and Johann Zarco continued their excellent pre-season in eighth and tenth, separated only by Cal Crutchlow in ninth, unable to improve his position after a mechanical problem on his fast lap caused a crash.