Lorenzo sets pace in FP1 in Qatar

Defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo topped the timesheets in the first practice session of the new season in Qatar.

Lorenzo won the 2015 title in the last race of the campaign in Valencia in controversial fashion after team-mate and challenger Valentino Rossi had been moved to the back of the grid for knocking Marc Marquez off his bike at Sepang two weeks earlier.

And the Movistar Yamaha rider set his stall out for the new season in FP1, edging Rossi by 0.267 seconds at the Losail International Circuit in Doha.

Ducati’s Andrea Iannone was third with Avintia’s Hector Barbera fourth ahead of Maverick Vinales of Suzuki Ecstar.

Marquez could only manage eighth behind Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa.