Algarve MotoGP, Portimao - Free Practice (1) Results

Free Practice (1) results from the Algarve MotoGP at Portimao, round 17 of 18 in the 2021 world championship.
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Portuguese MotoGP 17 April 2021
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Portuguese MotoGP 17 April 2021
© Gold and Goose

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
PosRiderNatTeamTime/DiffLapMax
1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1'40.192s21/21334k
2Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Team (GP21)+0.045s16/22339k
3Jack MillerAUSDucati Team (GP21)+0.131s19/19343k
4Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.359s18/20342k
5Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.497s17/19334k
6Luca MariniITASky VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)*+0.593s16/18339k
7Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.603s16/19345k
8Maverick ViñalesSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.661s20/20340k
9Franco MorbidelliITAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.695s11/17332k
10Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Gresini (RS-GP)+0.697s20/20342k
11Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+0.756s20/22340k
12Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+0.803s19/19338k
13Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP21)+0.892s19/20343k
14Iker LecuonaSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.007s22/22338k
15Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.023s19/19339k
16Danilo PetrucciITAKTM Tech3 (RC16)+1.104s18/18334k
17Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP21)*+1.156s19/19342k
18Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.183s18/19336k
19Andrea DoviziosoITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.200s20/20334k
20Enea BastianiniITAAvintia Ducati (GP19)*+1.364s17/19340k
21Stefan BradlGERRepsol Honda (RC213V)+1.462s20/20338k
22Valentino RossiITAPetronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.888s7/19338k

* 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)

By Peter McLaren

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