Will Valentino Rossi post the fastest times during the final pre-season MotoGP testing in Qatar this Thursday and Friday? The nine-time World Champion was fastest in both Malaysian pre-seasoning sessions, even setting a new lap record at the Sepang circuit.

The sessions at Losail International Circuit in Qatar will be the final for teams to finely-tune their MotoGP machinery before the 18-race season begins. The two nights of testing will occur under the floodlights, just as the opening race of the season at the track on April 11.

The freshest news regarding the last test session is the return of Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo. It was made official Monday that the Spaniard will participate in the tests; the 22-year-old broke his thumb during a motocross-training accident four weeks ago, and missed out on the second pre-season test sessions in Sepang.

His doctor cleared him for riding his M1 with the broken thumb, and the tests will show if Lorenzo can use his brake 100-percent with the recovering injury. To provide some aid, his doctor made a special carbon-fiber protector, and Dainese has modified his glove to further protect the fracture during testing.

These final tests give the six MotoGP rookies this season some additional practice before the competition begins, and most eyes will be Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies. The World Superbike Champion was fifth fastest in both practice sessions during the second test in Sepang.

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