Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo were encouraged by their 4th and 5th positions, with the American rider just 0.
292secs from the Honda trio in the final pre-season MotoGP test in Qatar.
“We made the bike go in a pretty good direction today and hopefully we can get a little bit more out of it.
We want to try another tyre tomorrow that we haven’t used yet, all in all it’s been a good first session,” said Spies.
“The bike seems to be closer to the front than Malaysia and I’ve got pretty good expectations after the first day.
The track is a lot more flowing here which suits our bike well; I think this should be a good track for us.
”Jorge Lorenzo: “We tried a few different things on some corners today to try to make the bike more stable when I open the throttle; in almost all the gears we have done a good job.
It seems we are closer to the Honda guys than in Sepang so I’m happy.
We are going to continue and try a few different things tomorrow to try and find some more grip as well.
”The reigning World Champion finished second in last year’s Qatar race behind Valentino Rossi, while Spies debuted to an excellent fifth on the satellite Yamaha M1.
A 19-year-old student dies suddenly on campus, prompting support for the community.
A 15-year-old boy was hospitalized after a stabbing on Elgin High Street, prompting police investigations.
The Met Office warns of significant snowfall and icy conditions in the coming days.
A tragic incident in Fort William leads to murder charges against a teenager.
A heartfelt appeal for support emerges following the tragic death of a beloved mother.
3t training centre leads the way in survival skills for oil and gas workers.
A strange object in the sky sparks speculation among residents and experts alike.
Local authorities tackle a shed fire in Dundas Street, Stromness.
Authorities investigate a dispute involving a customer at a local pub.
Aberdeen secures victory over Rangers in a nail-biting penalty shootout at P&J Live.