Petrucci leads FP4 among multiple fallers

Danilo Petrucci has surged to the top of the times ahead of qualifying at the Qatar MotoGP as the temperature drops triggering numerous offs.

The factory Ducati rider led the times during both the initial race preparation runs and across the late time attacks ahead of qualifying which takes place this evening at the Losail International Circuit.

Petrucci’s 1m 54.854s saw him take top spot ahead of Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, Monster Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and former team-mate Jack Miller, on the factory-specification Pramac Ducati, to see three GP19s inside the top four.

In windy conditions track temperatures dipped considerably compared to Friday’s practice under the floodlights, with Alex Rins (Suzuki), wildcard rider Bradley Smith (Aprilia) and Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM) all going down at Turn 2.

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez also suffer an off in FP4 going down at Turn 6 midway through the 30-minute practice.

MotoGP debutant Fabio Quartararo caught the eye again taking fifth place on the Petronas Yamaha, with five-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton in the team garage as part of a sponsorship event, with Marquez slotting into sixth place despite his fall.

Joan Mir led the Suzuki charge after Rins’s off with seventh place in front of LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami, Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and Rins who rounded out the top 10.

Jorge Lorenzo also returned to track action after missing the majority of FP3 due to a heavy high-side with the new Repsol Honda rider ending the session in 15th place, while Monster Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi continued to suffer down in 18th place.