MotoGP Portugal, Portimao - Free Practice (2) Results
Zarco (Avintia Ducati) leads day one of the inaugural Portimao MotoGP weekend ahead of Vinales (Monster Yamaha) and Espargaro (Aprilia) as lap times accelerate during the afternoon session.
Rins, Nakagami and then Rossi fell during FP2, the Japanese suffering possible damage to his left hand.
MotoGP is making its Portimao debut with Mir having wrapped up the 2020 title last weekend in Valencia, but six riders still in with a mathematical chance of second in the standings, currently held by Morbidelli.
Zarco (Avintia Ducati) leads day one of the inaugural Portimao MotoGP weekend ahead of Vinales (Monster Yamaha) and Espargaro (Aprilia) as lap times accelerate during the afternoon session.
Rins, Nakagami and then Rossi fell during FP2, the Japanese suffering possible damage to his left hand.
MotoGP is making its Portimao debut with Mir having wrapped up the 2020 title last weekend in Valencia, but six riders still in with a mathematical chance of second in the standings, currently held by Morbidelli.
Suzuki and Ducati are tied at the top of the constructors' standings, with Yamaha also in title contention, 13 points back. If Suzuki clinch the title it would be for the first time since 1982, Ducati for the second time along with 2007, and Yamaha for the first time since 2015.
There is also the possibility of a record 10th different race winner of the season on Sunday.
Iker Lecuona is being forced to miss his third event after a positive Covid test and is being replaced at Tech3 by KTM test rider Kallio.
Bradl is replacing injured reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who won't return until 2021.
Aprilia's Espargaro is the only full-time rider with MotoGP experience at last month's Portimao test, due to the Concession rules. The rest of the MotoGP race riders that attended were using road bikes, but test riders Bradl and Savadori were on grand prix bikes and are present this weekend as replacements.
Friday's FP1 and FP2 practice sessions were extended from 45 to 70-minutes each.
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| MotoGP Portugal, Portimao - Free Practice (2) Results | |||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max | |
| 1 | ^13 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Reale Avintia (GP19) | 1'39.417s | 27/29 | 319k |
| 2 | = | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.119s | 29/29 | 320k |
| 3 | = | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.228s | 23/25 | 322k |
| 4 | ^4 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.275s | 31/31 | 314k |
| 5 | ^15 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16)* | +0.280s | 25/27 | 313k |
| 6 | ^1 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.315s | 26/26 | 323k |
| 7 | ^5 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP20) | +0.324s | 28/28 | 331k |
| 8 | ˅3 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +0.366s | 27/27 | 321k |
| 9 | ^7 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP20) | +0.403s | 22/25 | 324k |
| 10 | ^3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.471s | 25/25 | 320k |
| 11 | ˅1 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.492s | 26/28 | 318k |
| 12 | ˅3 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.522s | 22/26 | 313k |
| 13 | ˅12 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.529s | 29/30 | 325k |
| 14 | ˅8 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.549s | 26/27 | 313k |
| 15 | ^2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Pramac Ducati (GP20) | +0.560s | 24/26 | 321k |
| 16 | ˅12 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.668s | 25/27 | 317k |
| 17 | ˅6 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.796s | 22/25 | 315k |
| 18 | ˅3 | Alex Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V)* | +0.921s | 33/33 | 320k |
| 19 | ˅1 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati Team (GP20) | +1.130s | 25/28 | 322k |
| 20 | ^1 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Reale Avintia (GP19) | +1.839s | 32/32 | 314k |
| 21 | ˅2 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.862s | 27/28 | 318k |
| 22 | = | Mika Kallio | FIN | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +2.409s | 28/29 | 315k |
Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than FP1.
= Rider is same position as FP1.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than FP1.
| Top 10 Combined Practice Times: | |||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team |
| 1 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Reale Avintia Ducati (GP19) |
| 2 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 3 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) |
| 4 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
| 5 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16)* |
| 6 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) |
| 7 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP20) |
| 8 | Pol Espargaro | ESP | Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) |
| 9 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP20) |
| 10 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) |
* Rookie.
Fastest Portimao MotoGP test time - October:
Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia 1m 40.170s (2020)
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.
