2021 Portimao MotoGP - Live Friday Practice updates!
After a pair of back-to-back season-openers in Qatar, won by Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP has arrived back in Europe for this weekend's Portimao event.
The big news is that eight-time world champion Marc Marquez will be making his return to MotoGP action, for the first time since July, 2020.
The Repsol Honda star has been sidelined due to complications from a broken right arm, requiring a total of three operations, but has now finally been given the all-clear by doctors to ride this weekend.
Although he missed last November's inaugural Portimao round, dominated by home star Miguel Oliveira (KTM), Marquez does at least have some track knowledge from a recent test on an RC213V-S production bike.
Oliveira is one of five riders to have become MotoGP race winners since Marquez's initial Jerez accident, including Suzuki's reigning world champion Joan Mir, but how will the rising stars measure-up against a recovering Marquez?
We'll get our first glimpse during Friday's free practice sessions, which start at 9:55 and 14:10 local time…
CLICK HERE for live updates during the 2021 Portimao MotoGP round...
Provisional 2021 MotoGP Calendar | |||
Round | Date | Race | Circuit |
1 | 28 March | Qatar (Evening race) | Losail |
2 | 4 April | Doha (Evening race) | Losail |
3 | 18 April | Portugal | Portimao |
4 | 2 May | Spain | Jerez |
5 | 16 May | France | Le Mans |
6 | 30 May | Italy | Mugello |
7 | 6 June | Catalunya | Barcelona |
8 | 20 June | Germany | Sachsenring |
9 | 27 June | Netherlands | Assen |
10 | 11 July | Finland (Subject to homologation) | KymiRing |
11 | 15 August | Austria | Red Bull Ring |
12 | 29 August | Great Britain | Silverstone |
13 | 12 September | Aragon | Aragon |
14 | 19 September | San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini | Misano |
15 | 3 October | Japan | Motegi |
16 | 10 October | Thailand | Buriram |
17 | 24 October | Australia | Phillip Island |
18 | 31 October | Malaysia | Sepang |
19 | 14 November | Comunitat Valenciana | Ricardo Tormo |
| Postponed Grands Prix: | |||
| Argentina | Termas | ||
| Americas | COTA | ||
| Reserve Grand Prix Venues: | |||
| 2021 Pre-season Tests: | |||
| 5 March | Qatar Shakedown Test | Losail | |
| 6-7 March | Qatar Official Test | Losail | |
| 10-12 March | Qatar Official Test | Losail | |
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.
![Johann Zarco, LCR, Honda RC213V, 2024 San Marino MotoGP, Misano, action [Gold & Goose]](https://cdn.crash.net/styles/thumbnail/s3/2024-09/GnG_1166323_HiRes.jpg?itok=vpgrU7Q4)
![Jack Miller, KTM Factory Racing, KTM RC16, San Marino MotoGP, Misano, action [Gold & Goose]](https://cdn.crash.net/styles/thumbnail/s3/2024-09/GnG_1167624_HiRes.jpg?itok=iz7mA4EQ)
![Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha Racing, Yamaha M1, 2024 MotoGP, Misano Test, action [Gold & Goose]](https://cdn.crash.net/styles/thumbnail/s3/2024-09/GnG_1168928_HiRes.jpg?itok=fcYSole_)
![Toprak Razgatlioglu, ROKiT BMW Motorrad, BMW M 1000 RR, Magny-Cours, WorldSBK [Gold & Goose]](https://cdn.crash.net/styles/thumbnail/s3/2024-09/GnG_1165133_HiRes.jpg?itok=GD5SVNVG)
