Algarve MotoGP, Portimao - Free Practice (1) Results
The title may be decided but new champion Fabio Quartararo and nearest rival Francesco Bagnaia were once again the class of the field during opening practice for the Algarve MotoGP at Portimao.
Jack Miller made it two factory Ducatis in the top three, followed by the Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir. Rookie Luca Marini was an impressive sixth as Pol Espargaro, Maverick Vinales and Franco Morbidelli also made strong starts to the weekend.
Marc Marquez, winner of the past two MotoGP rounds, is missing the event after still feeling 'unwell' several days after sustaining a 'slight concussion' while training on an off-road bike. Marquez is replaced by test rider Stefan Bradl.
The hard front tyre option has been changed from the disliked asymmetric version selected for April's Portimao round, to a symmetric hard compound.
Home star Oliveira, winner of last November's inaugural Portimao race while using a symmetric hard front, was one of those to struggled badly with the revised tyre allocation in April, when Quartararo dominated the race from Bagnaia and Mir.
Although Quartararo has already wrapped up the 2021 riders' title, with Bagnaia and Mir on course for second and third, Ducati and Yamaha remain locked in a close battle for victory in the teams' and constructors' championships.
| Algarve MotoGP, Portimao - Free Practice (1) Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'40.192s | 21/21 | 334k |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.045s | 16/22 | 339k |
| 3 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Team (GP21) | +0.131s | 19/19 | 343k |
| 4 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.359s | 18/20 | 342k |
| 5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.497s | 17/19 | 334k |
| 6 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +0.593s | 16/18 | 339k |
| 7 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.603s | 16/19 | 345k |
| 8 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.661s | 20/20 | 340k |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.695s | 11/17 | 332k |
| 10 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.697s | 20/20 | 342k |
| 11 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.756s | 20/22 | 340k |
| 12 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.803s | 19/19 | 338k |
| 13 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP21) | +0.892s | 19/20 | 343k |
| 14 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.007s | 22/22 | 338k |
| 15 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.023s | 19/19 | 339k |
| 16 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +1.104s | 18/18 | 334k |
| 17 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP21)* | +1.156s | 19/19 | 342k |
| 18 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.183s | 18/19 | 336k |
| 19 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.200s | 20/20 | 334k |
| 20 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Ducati (GP19)* | +1.364s | 17/19 | 340k |
| 21 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.462s | 20/20 | 338k |
| 22 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.888s | 7/19 | 338k |
* Rookie
Official Portimao MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 38.862s (2021)
Fastest race lap:
Alex Rins SPA Suzuki 1m 39.450s (2021)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
