New Avintia Ducati rider Johanಌn Zarco could 💃be one to watch during qualifying for the Qatar MotoGP season opener.

Pl꧃aying catch-up after missing l𓆉ast year's Valencia and Jerez tests, the Frenchman turned heads with the sixth fastest lap time during day two of the final pre-season outing at Losail.

Zarco admits he's not yet able to be as strong for race pa♊ce, but is understand𓂃ing more about the Desmosedici GP19 with each lap.

The former Tech3 Yamaha, KTM and LCR Honda rider comp🎃leted 186 of those laps over the three days in Qatar, finishing 14th overall on the combined timesheets, 0.7s behind Maverick Vinales (Yamaha).

“It has beeღn a good test," Zarco said. "Compared to Mala💛ysia I had a better control of the bike and when the tyres are new, I can get a good lap time.

"Now we are trying t𝄹o feel this comfortable on the bike every lap.

"For sure I'm not yet able to do it consistently, but eveꦿry time I ride this bike I'm getting a better answer and it's giving me motivation to do even more. So it's very positive.

"I’m ⛄happy with the test and I can’t wait for the first race.”

Avintia's Ruben Xaus added that one of the reasons for Zarco's progress has been a "positive connection" with the team's n💟ew crew chief Marco Rigamonti, wh▨o previously helped Andrea Iannone to victory with Ducati and podiums at Suzuki.

On the other side of the A🦋vintia garage, Tito Rabat was only 0.1s slower than Zarco for the 17th fastes𓂃t lap time.

"It was a positive test. It will be a hard-fought championship as we are all in the same second," hꦬe said. "I'm satisfied with the lap time, but we have to improve lap by lap."