Marquez comes up
That makes Dovizioso the only non-Iwata marque machine in the mix after the opening day's action, with reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) the next closest but a couple of tenths off Rossi.
He was sixth, his FP1 time his best, and began that very session with a trademark save on the edge. There was also an interesting extra spotted on his machine: a second lever on the left handlebar. What was it? A rear brake lever, although the number 93 says it'll go back in the box for now as it isn't ready to race.
Impressive showing
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) put Suzuki in seventh, his laptime from FP1, ahead of Quartararo's closest rival for the title of top Independent Team rider in 2019: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing).
An impressive showing from Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) put the Noale factory in ninth, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) rounding out what could prove a pivotal top ten.
Rossi steps up
Rossi had been strong in Sepang last year and it was clear from the get-go that he meant business again in Malaysia this weekend. He set a solid pace, spending most of the session in fourth and sixth place, but really put his game face on in the final minutes.
He upped the ante on a double soft-tyre combination, setting a 1‘59.893s for provisional first. However, as the pace quickened at the end of FP1, he was moved to eighth, 0.866s from first.
Dovizioso improves
Dovizioso ended the day in third place following two scheduled free practice sessions.
The Ducati Team rider, who was fifth this morning after FP1, was able to improve his feeling in the afternoon session, and with a time of 1'59.206, he wrapped up the day in third place.