FP4 – Bagnaia still ahead, Zarco revives

The sun but also the wind were still present for this last practice session before qualifying, mainly dedicated to the preparation of the race. On a smooth Portimão circuit where getting the tires up to temperature is difficult, the rubber combinations have been varied: the drivers favored medium at the front but the three types of rubber were seen at the rear, the priority going to medium and hard.

The duel enters Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo who has animated every session since the weekend quickly resumed, the Italian taking the lead on his first lap before Quartararo got closer to 0’004. They were both on the track with a hard tire at the rear . Johann zarco, who preferred to start the session with two medium tires, interrupted the fight between the two strong men for the 2021 season and took first place.

Pol Espargaró was in an encouraging fifth position early in the session, when he crashed in the first corner without injuring himself. The Repsol Honda rider quickly returned to his garage to resume his tests on the handlebars of his second machine.

Zarco, Quartararo and Bagnaia continued to improve their lap times with each lap. The Pramac driver ended his stint, which allowed Bagnaia to regain the lead, 0 “022 ahead of Quartararo.

About ten minutes from the end of the session, the unexpected Iker Lecuona put his KTM in the lead, while the Austrian machines have been left behind since the start of the weekend. Back on track with once again a medium tire at the rear, Zarco regained power. Bagnaia, who also opted for the medium in his last stint, did better two minutes from the checkered flag and no one came to beat him.

Zarco retained second place, a good result as he will be forced to compete in Q1. Ducati finally signed a hat-trick in this session, Luca Marini coming to place his 2019 version machine in third place, ahead of Lecuona and Quartararo, who did not improve his time in his second stint, once again contested with the tough at the back. The World Champion is ahead Álex Marquez, Jack miller and Joan mir, his teammate Franco Morbidelli taking ninth place.

The qualifying session begins in the wake of these FP4. Apart from Zarco, Valentino rossi and all KTM and Aprilia riders have to go through the Q1.

Algarve Grand Prix – Free Practice 4