Bagnaia claims Portimao pole with new lap record, Quartararo only seventh

Francesco Bagnaia has set a new Ducati record after taking his fifth consecutive MotoGP pole at Portimao. 

The Italian, who has been first or second in every session so far this weekend, also set a new lap record around the Algarve International Circuit. 

Following the opening Q2 run, it was team-mate Jack Miller who provisionally sat on pole after setting what was then a new lap record too.

The Australian rider’s second effort was the first sub 1m 39s lap of the weekend, while Joan Mir joined Miller in doing so - half a tenth off the Ducati rider.

However, Bagnaia’s final three laps were all improvements as he went on the claim pole with a 1:38.725s. 

It was a disappointing qualifying session for 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo as he could only manage seventh. 

Quartararo had matched Bagnaia for pace throughout the weekend, but the Yamaha man was unable to hook up the perfect lap. 

Behind the front row of Bagnaia, Miller and Mir is Pramac duo Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco, while Pol Espargaro will line-up for tomorrow’s race in sixth. 

There was one crasher during Q2 as Luca Marini went down at turn 14 early on. The Italian eventually finished 12th.

Qualifying One

KTM rider Brad Binder had a disastrous start to Q1 after crashing at turn three, while team-mate Miguel Oliveira was third following his opening run. 

The home favorite initially went second behind Aleix Espargaro, however, Zarco who did an extra quick lap managed to go from ninth to first on his final flying lap before returning to pit lane. 

At the beginning of stint number two, Iker Lecuona went quickest thanks to setting the weekend’s fastest lap. 

Rookie Enea Bastiainini momentarily went P2 behind the Tech 3 man, but Zarco then relegated the Italian to third on his penultimate lap. 

The Pramac rider went even quicker on his next effort to pip Lecuona - both riders advanced to Q2, while Bastianini was the first to miss out.