Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 6:00 pm.
The official test session for the Portuguese Grand Prix saw Enea Bastianini move to the top of the timesheets. With ninth place, Fabio Quartararo secured his place in Q2, unlike Johann Zarco who only finished 20th.
Ducati maintains the advantage in Portimão. Two weeks after Francesco Bagnaia’s success in the Qatar GP, the Italian brand arrived in Portugal as the favourite and the mark did not miss. While Marc Marquez dominated the first free practice session, which was disrupted by the harsh weather and the dirty track, it was Enea Bastianini who gave the counters a scare in the afternoon, the hour reserved for official testing that allows the ten drivers who will compete directly in Q2 on Saturday during the qualifying session to be appointed. The world champion’s teammate took over before the last ten minutes with a lap of 1’38’057, which was not overcome until the checkered flag was raised. The Italian was 118 thousandths of a second ahead of Jack Miller’s KTM when Marc Marquez confirmed that he was comfortable on the proven track in the Algarve, where he only missed by 153 thousandths of the reference while driving a 2023 Ducati free of the developments made throughout last season. For his part, Francesco Bagnaia played a role in intimidating himself.
Quartararo can rejoice, Zarco in rematch
In fact, the number 1 only confirmed his place in the top ten in the final minutes, avoiding a repeat of what could have been a zigzag. However, the Ducati rider was content with eighth time, 484 thousandths behind his teammate and only eleven thousandths ahead of Fabio Quartararo. After a forgettable opening lap, the Frenchman took advantage of his Yamaha to set the ninth fastest time of the session and ensure he starts both races of the weekend in one of the first four rows. A sign that the “brand with the tuning fork” has regained a bit of competitiveness, as his teammate “El Diablo” confirmed. Alex Rins finished the tenth and final qualifying straight into Q2 with a time just eight thousandths worse than Habs. For Johann Zarco; the note is bitter. His compatriot Cannes, on a Honda, was unable to do better than twentieth time, one second off the benchmark and will have to fight on Saturday to enter Q2. He will have to face the other three Honda drivers on the track and also Pedro Acosta, who failed by 36 thousandths. But we will have to rely on the Spanish block to attack on Saturday.
Motorcycles / Portuguese Grand Prix
Trial Order – Friday, March 22, 2024
1- Enea Bastianini (Italy/Ducati) with a time of 1'38'057
2- Jack Miller (Australia/KTM) 0”118
3- Marc Marquez (ESP/Ducati Gresini) 0”153
4- Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati Pramac) at 0”231
5- Brad Binder (AFS/KTM) at 0″ 330
6- Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati VR46) at 0”352
7- Maverick Viñales (ESP/Aprilia) 0”354
8- Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 0”484
9- Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) at 0”495
10- Alex Rins (ESP/Yamaha) at 0”503
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20- Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda LCR) 1.090”
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