Huge difference in top speeds

Thursday practice for the season opening Qatar MotoGP also allowed top speeds of the new 1000cc machines and privateer CRTs to be accurately measured for the first time.

According to official timing, there was a massive 48.7km.h between the fastest manufacturer bike and slowest CRT of Danilo Petrucci, whose Ioda-Aprilia was also 13.9km/h slower than any other CRT.

Petrucci, 20th out of the 21 riders in terms of lap time, wrote on his Twitter page @Petrux9: "My best speed 288km/h. [Next] slowest CRT bike 302km/h. Fastest CRT bike 317km/h. Fastest MGP bike 337km/h. Says it all.

"It's a real shame. Our bike goes like a Moto2. I'm so sad, it's really frustrating for me and for the team. We are close with lap time.

"But we are so much far as speed. For me it's the worst situation I could stay, cause the bike is good but without engine is difficult."

Unlike the full Aprilia (ART) MotoGP machine, Ioda has built its own steel trellis chassis to be powered by Aprilia's RSV4 Superbike engine.

The fastest 800cc speed in last year's Qatar event was a 330.2km/h, also by satellite Ducati rider Barbera.

The top Moto2 speed on Thursday was 277.2km/h, set by Mike di Meglio's Speed Up, while a best of 223.0km/h was set by KTM's Arthur Sissis in the new Moto3 class.

Qatar FP1 - Top speeds:

1.Hector BarberaESP Pramac Racing (GP12)337.2km/h
2.Alvaro BautistaESP San Carlo Honda Gresini (RC213V)336.8
3.Karel AbrahamCZE Cardion AB Motoracing (GP12)336.1
4.Casey StonerAUS Repsol Honda (RC213V)334.5
5.Valentino RossiITA Ducati Team (GP12)334.3
6.Nicky HaydenUSA Ducati Team (GP12)334.2
7.Dani PedrosaESP Repsol Honda (RC213V)332.9
8.Stefan BradlGER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)330.9
9.Andrea DoviziosoITA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)330.0
10.Jorge LorenzoESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)329.9
11.Cal CrutchlowGBR Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)329.2
12.Ben SpiesUSA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)326.7
13.Colin EdwardsUSA NGM Forward Racing (Suter-BMW CRT)315.1
14.Randy De PunietFRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT)314.0
15.Aleix EspargaroESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT)311.8
16.Michele PirroITA San Carlo Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT)309.5
17.Mattia PasiniITA Speed Master (ART CRT)307.6
18.Ivan SilvaESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)304.7
19.Yonny HernandezCOL Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)303.7
20.James EllisonGBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT)302.4
21.Danilo PetrucciITA Came IodaRacing (Ioda-Aprilia CRT)288.5