Warm-up – Bagnaia and Quartararo set the tone

This warm-up began at 9:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. in mainland France), the early morning session since the start of the weekend, with the race scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Portugal in order to keep the schedule. 2:00 p.m. classic in most other European countries, including France. The temperature was therefore quite low, 15 ° C on the track as in the air.

It was in these cool conditions, and different from those expected in the afternoon, that the pilots were able to test the tires one last time. They all opted for a soft front, when they should use the medium when racing, while the choices varied at the rear, the medium being nonetheless preferred.

After having to deal with an unstable Yamaha in qualifying, Fabio Quartararo dominated the start of the session but had to go off the track after overtaking Pol Espargaró. Álex Marquez crashed at high speed at turn 7, however the LCR rider quickly got up to return to his garage and take to the track on his second machine. Aleix Espargaró He also fell a few minutes later, in the last part of the circuit, at turn 13.

Joan mir was the only driver able to keep pace with Quartararo for much of the session, even briefly taking the lead before the Frenchman put in several impressive laps. The poleman Pecco Bagnaia waited a few minutes before hitting the track but joined in the fight for first place in the latter part of the session and took power with less than two minutes from the checkered flag.

The Ducati rider finished the session 0 “111 ahead of Quartararo, with the third place going to the impressive Iker Lecuona, very efficient since Saturday and ambitious for the race. Mir took the fourth position ahead Takaaki Nakagami, still performing well on Sunday mornings, and Alex Rins. Álex Márquez finally achieved the seventh fastest time with his second Honda, ahead of Jack miller, Pol Espargaró and Franco Morbidelli.

Johann zarco failed at the gates of the top 10. Andrea Dovizioso continues his acclimatization to the Yamaha, and finished in 18th position. After qualifying better than in the last races, Valentino rossi had to be satisfied with the 20th fastest time, two positions ahead Maverick Vinales.

Algarve Grand Prix – Warm-up