Aleix Espargaro took the afternoon honours as his Aprilia shone once again for Friday’s FP1 in Qatar.

Alex Rins and last-Sunday’s winner, Maverick Viñales, completed the initial top-three as action returned to the desert, while Petronas’ Franky Morbidelli’s technical issues were far from resolved.

The hottest temperatures faced so far in the season-opening-fortnight, saw the MotoGP field return to a 48 ℃ Losail International Circuit for Friday’s opening free practice action. After a disastrous inaugural race, Morbidelli was the first rider out on track with team-mate Valentino Rossi setting the early 1’56.8 pace before the younger Italian took over on his next attempt.

Aprilia’s Espargaro continued to demonstrate his confidence with the 2021 RS-GP as he advanced the times with a 55’4, the Suzuki pairing - headed by Rins - and a Yamaha quartet in hot pursuit. Fabio Quartararo was the first M1 to attempt an attack, as further drama dogged his Petronas cohort, Morbidelli suffering further mechanical issues as smoke poured from his limping #21 machine.

Johann Zarco became the first faller of the day as his Ducati hit the deck at turn 15, the Frenchman sliding off unhurt with half an hour to go, just as Takaaki Nakagami impressed by sending his LCR Honda up to second, a mere 0.046 behind Espargaro. Morbidelli continued to struggle with his Petronas, as the Italian again left the track at turn one at the half-way stage.

Miguel Oliveira seemed to be finding his way with the KTM as he made his way up the times, in eighth, before Danillo Petrucci did likewise, surprising the standings to take P1 with a 1’55.263. Rins held third as the final 15 minutes got going, ahead of Repsol Honda’s impressive stand-in Stefan Bradl, Nakagami and a pair of factory Yamaha’s.

With the gremlins removed, Morbidelli took charge as he advanced his M1 back to the top of the times, over a tenth ahead of the Tech3’s previous best. His confidence growing as he looked to improve further before the attempt was cut short once again by the black and orange flags.

Half a second split the top-nine as Pol Espargaro moved in to split the Yamaha’s, Viñales heading the times shortly after with a ’55.0 and five minutes left to play.

As the clocks counted down, the Aprilia was back out and menacing the times, briefly taking control before Viñales struck back, Jorge Martin jumping up to sit third on his Pramac, with just one minute to go. Espargaro and Viñales continued to play cat and mouse in the closing seconds with the Aprilia holding fast at the top with a 1’54.779. Rins stole second at the flag from Viñales and Martin with Morbidelli concluding a difficult start in fifth. Petrucci sat sixth with a vastly improved FP1 compared to last-time-out, ahead of Quartararo, Joan Mir, Bradl and Nakagami. Luca Marini began his second weekend in MotoGP in 11th from the younger Espargaro and Alex Marquez with Enea Bastianini heading Oliveira and Brad Binder’s KTM’s. Rossi completed the opening session in 17th ahead of Jack Miller, Iker Lecuona, Pecco Bagnaia, Lorenzo Savadori and the fallen Zarco.