Casey Stoner, the former MotoGP champion, is setting the pace ahead of the first race of the season where he was fastest in the first practice session of the Qatar grand Prix.
He's won twice before on this track and was once again fastest under the floodlights of the Losail Circuit.
The Ducati rider was in charge early on, recording his best time on the 12th of his 17 laps.
Defending world champ Valentino Rossi was second fastest, with American Colin Edwards and Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo just behind.