Pecco Bagnaia looked set to challenge Ducati teammate Jack Miller for the top spot in Friday’s FP2 with just yellow flags spoiling the show in his final time attack.

The newly-installed factory rider concluded the opening day at Qatar second in the standings, with just 0.035s separating him from his colleague in red but it could have been even more dramatic. A late fall from Repsol’s Pol Espargaro brought out the red flags just as the 24-year-old was on a charge, his sector times already down on his previous best, before he had to abort the run.

Despite being denied his time at the top, Bagnaia was clearly pleased with the day’s work.

”I’m delighted,” the Italian exclaimed, trackside. “Today it was important to finish in the top ten. The FP3 session will be held during the day, and with the heat, it will be difficult to get the same times like tonight, and on top of that, it will be windier than today.

“During the first time attack, I set a very good lap time, and if I hadn’t run into the yellow flag on my second attempt, I probably would have improved it even more. I am satisfied because I feel very comfortable with the bike.

“The time attack was very good because I did the same lap time of the test, but it was easier to make, and I feel very confident with the bike. Qualifying is tomorrow and we’re seeing that in the time attack we are so strong, so we have just to consolidate our work of the test in FP4 for the race pace.

“In the Q2 I think that we will beat the record because the track is so good, the tyre is good so I think that everything is okay to try to beat it. Let’s wait and see the conditions of tomorrow, because it looks like that will be a little bit windy, but I think that a 52.9/53.0 will be possible.”