Lorenzo fastest but Rossi and Marquez steal attention

Jorge Lorenzo set the fastest ever lap at Sepang to top the times in FP3 but once again this weekend the focus was on Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi. On their final run of the session both riders tried to play mind games with the other with the Spaniard looking for a tow from Rossi and the Italian refusing to give him one.

The incident happened on their outlap and both riders cruised for as long as their dared on their outlap to avoid helping the other. The tension between both riders has been clear all weekend and it all looks to be reaching boiling point. Eventually Rossi picked up his pace and led Marquez around on their final laps.

Marquez was able to avail of it to set his fastest time of the session to take second whereas Rossi had to settle for the fourth at the chequered flag.

Lorenzo’s pace was hugely impressive once again as he looked to lay down a marker to the field. He led the way by 0.111s from Marquez with Dani Pedrosa four tenths off the pace.

Cal Crutchlow was able to make it through to Q2 automatically but on a day where the softer Open class rear tyre reaped plenty of rewards Bradley Smith and Scott Redding both find themselves in the opening qualifying session. Against Maverick Vinales and Danilo Petrruci, who crashed in this session, in the 15 minute session they could struggle to make it through.