Maverick Vinales' turbulent pre-season took another twis✱t as the rider who had been 12th fastest on the final day in Thailand topped the timesheets in Qatar꧟.

The Movistar Yamaha rider,🌊 winner on his M1 debut at the Losail circuit a year ago, finished the opening evening just 0.051s ahead of Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso.

"Especially in Thai♍land we had a lot of problems oi the braꦰking area with the rear sliding a lot," Vinales said. "Here we tried a different set-up.

"In the beginning I didn't feel so g🀅ood, I felt the same problems as in Thailand, but after changing the set-up I started to feel better and better every exit.

"In the last exit I did many laps in a row and tried to concentrate on my riding style and it looks quite good. The bike was very constant and I could ride w🦩ell, but still there are many areas ꧑to improve, especially corner speed and turning.

"Sure this track is a little ꦓbit better suited to our bi🐎ke. But anyway in the areas where we wanted to improve, we improved and that's very positive.

"Tomorrow we ඣwant to try to improve especially the engine brake. It's very important.ꦆ Try to make sure the rear has grip.

"We have different tyres, different bike, it's so difficult to compare🌠 to last year. For sure one thing that is still really good is the fast corඣners. I'm as fast as before."

The Spaniard revealed he is yꦆet to make aꦦ final decision on which combination of parts he will use for the start of the season.

✤"Still it's not sure. We are trying everything and we have to deci꧙de at the end. At the last moment."

Team-mate Valentino Rossi also topped the 🔴timesheets on his way to joint sixth place (+0.379s).