Moto2 Qatar: Marquez fastest, Lowes second on tight opening day

In conditions close to the dusk-like start their race will see on Sunday Alex Marquez improved his time the most in the afternoon session to lead overall after Friday practice for the Moto2 Qatar Grand Prix.

The EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider got the best out of his Kalex, cutting his time in the final minutes to the best of the day - a 2m 00.932s lap.

A late challenge from Sam Lowes on his return to Moto2 saw him bank in his testing pace and move to within just 0.038s of his Spanish rival aboard his KTM (Swiss Innovative Investors Team.)

His time dropped Pecco Bagnaia down to third on his Sky Racing Team VR46 machine, as the team enter their second season in Moto2.

Dynavolt Intact GP rider Marcel Schrotter impressed in fourth on his Suter, with Lorenzo Baldassarri, who had been on top in FP1, claiming fifth for Pons HP40.

Miguel Oliveira, who finished his 2017 with three wins in a row, kept up the strong performances with a string of solid laps leading him to sixth for Red Bull KTM Ajo, who are also back for a second year as a team.

Isaac Vinales (SAG Team) had been one of the early pace setters before fading to seventh, Luca Marini took eighth for Sky Racing Team VR46, Brad Binder ninth (Red Bull KTM Ajo) with Romano Fenati the best of the rookies in tenth on his debut with the Marinelli Snipers Team after moving up from Moto3.

His fellow rookies also performed well with Jorge Navarro right behind him in eleventh, and Joan Mir a respectable 13th.

Danny Kent made his Moto2 return with Speed-Up in 14th, Hector Barbera had less to be pleased about with a break down on track to deal with, leaving him down in 17th for Pons HP40.

Eric Granado also had issues, getting shown the black flag for spilling oil early in the session.

Joe Roberts was the better of the two NTS RW Racing GP riders in 22nd overall at the close of the day for Moto2.