MotoGP rookie Loris Baz was taken to hospital for a suspected broken finger after a crash in the third practice session in Qatar.
The Frenchman - who has made the move from the Superbike World Championship - slid off the track at turn two in the final session at the Losail International Circuit in Doha.
Baz finished 23rd overall with his combined time from the three practice sessions.
At the front it was defending world champion Marc Marquez who once again led the way with a time of one minute and 54.822secs.
But, while Marquez headed the leaderboard once again, Repsol Honda's stranglehold on the top two was broken as his team-mate Dani Pedrosa was only good enough for fifth.
Instead it was LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow who claimed second ahead of Andrea Iannone (Ducati), the Brit producing an impressive performance as he eased into the second qualifying session that will decide pole position for Sunday's race.
But there was no such fortune for Crutchlow's compatriots Scott Redding and Bradley Smith, who missed out on the top 10 and will now have to battle for the top two places in first qualifying to reach the 12-man pole shoot-out.
EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Redding (1:55.447) finished 12th while Monster Yamaha Tech 3's Smith (1:55.905) ended the session 18th.
TOP 10
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) (1:54.822)
2. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) (1:54.918)
3. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) (1:54.922)
4. Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki Ecstar) (1:54.994)
5. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) (1:55.024)
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) (1:55.044)
7. Yonny Hernandez (Pramac Racing) (1:55.102)
8. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) (1:55.108)
9. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) (1:55.192)
10. Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) (1:55.328)