Francesco Bagnaia ends opening day fastest at Portimao

Factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia topped today’s free practice two at the Algarve International Circuit ahead of Fabio Quartararo and Joan Mir. 

Bagnaia and Quartararo spent much of the session at the front as they exchanged top spot on several occasions. 

However, it was Bagnaia who was first to break the 1m 39s barrier, with a time of 1:39.866s as he held on from the Yamaha rider.

Minutes before the session began, rain started to fall around the Algarve circuit as a wet session seemed to be on the cards.

But conditions quickly improved as the sun came out, which was highlighted by the lap times being considerably faster than the morning session within minutes. 

One of the takeaways from day-one at Portimao has been Suzuki’s pace relative to six months ago. Mir and Rins both showed good one lap pace at the end of the session - something that’s been a major problem over the last year. 

Rins managed fourth place for the Japanese manufacturer, while Jack Miller took fifth for Ducati. 

In sixth place was eight-time world champion Marc Marquez, who enjoyed a positive first day back following nine months away. 

After claiming third spot in a damp FP1, the Repsol Honda rider stuck in an impressive lap at the end of the session which included a hairy moment at turn 8 to climb into the top ten. 

With unpredictable weather surrounding the Portuguese track, it could end up being a very important lap from Marquez if FP3 is wet. 

FP1 pacesetter Maverick Vinales was seventh for the Monster Energy Yamaha team. 

Rounding out the top ten were Johann Zarco for Pramac Ducati in eighth, race winner in 2020 Miguel Oliveira ninth, and Takaaki Nakagami tenth. 

Nakagami recovered from a nasty looking crash early on which resulted in the Japanese rider being taken to the medical centre.

It appeared as though Nakagami locked his front tyre coming over the crest into turn one, which left a winded LCR rider and wrecked Honda in the process.