Portimao, Portugal

2023 Portimão MotoGP Free Practice Result: Bezzecchi Robs Quartararo

By Zara Daniela | Sat, 25/03/2023 - 10:52

The premier class took to the track for this brand new exhibition session and Fabio Quartararo did show off to begin with, making a fast start at the top of the timesheets until the Ducatis woke up. Marco Bezzecchi jumped ahead barely 10 minutes into the session and kept top spot until the chequered flag, with Quartararo demoted to second but also setting a good pace. Aleix Espargaro progressed to third throughout the session, ahead of Pecco Bagnaia, whose session ended with a fast tumble at turn one.

2023 Portimão Moto2 Practice 3 Result: Canet Attacks The Lap Record

By Zara Daniela | Sat, 25/03/2023 - 10:06

Barely an hour into the first race Saturday of the season and a second all time lap record surrendered, this time to Aron Canet’s charms. While Friday’s leader was dusting himself off and relaunching his attack, Canet took over the top of the timesheets and ended the session almost a tenth quicker than his rivals. Filip Salac was another prominent feature throughout the session, up in second position at the chequered flag, while Pedro Acosta’s time attack was thwarted by a light tumble at turn three but the Spaniard got back on track to reclaim third.

2023 Portimão Moto3 Practice 3 Result: Ortolá Takes Over Lap Record

By Zara Daniela | Sat, 25/03/2023 - 09:22

Before the day’s schedule starts to get more unfamiliar, the lightweight class enjoyed their usual third practice session, albeit in a shortened version focused on fighting for a precious spot in Q2. Although Friday’s leader, Dani Holgado, held onto top spot on the combined standings for much of proceedings, Ivan Ortolá attacked in the final seven minutes and improved the all time lap record with the only 1:46 time of the morning. Jose Antonio Rueda came within a tenth of a second of the leader, with compatriot David Muñoz in third.

Portimão MotoGP Friday Round Up: When Safety Should Be Paramount, But Sometimes Isn't

By David Emmett | Sat, 25/03/2023 - 02:01

The first day of MotoGP's new era did not proceed entirely to plan. There were a lot of reasons for that, some the fault of Dorna, some completely out of their hands. But we will get to that in a minute. First, an institutional failure.

As the MotoGP riders entered the final and hectic 15 minutes of what we must now call P2 – the second timed practice, which in effect determines who will pass directly into Q2, and who will have to hope to defeat 10 other riders in Q1 for one of the two spots which will take you into Q2 – the combination of low grip, falling temperatures, and sheer unbelievable pace the riders were setting came back to bite a couple of the MotoGP riders.

Two men fell within a couple of seconds of each other, in almost the same spot, in almost the same way. Pol Espargaro fell first, his rear letting go over the crest at Turn 10, before spitting him off the bike. Miguel Oliveira fell a few seconds later, a little way ahead of Espargaro, the rear of his Aprilia letting to in a similar way, and catapulting the Portuguese rider high into the air, before he came down hard enough to knock all of the wind out of his sails.

Cause of the crash

2023 Portimão MotoGP Practice 2 Results: Miller Smashes Record In Session Disrupted By Red Flags

By David Emmett | Fri, 24/03/2023 - 17:08

The first hour-long session of timed practice for the MotoGP class got off to a halting start. The session was red flagged after a power cut in Race Direction meant that they couldn't run the session. Practice resumed for half an hour, until Pol Espargaro had a massive crash at Turn 10, being flicked off his bike and then pushed to the barrier by it, hitting the barrier on his own. As horrific as the crash looked, he was reported to be conscious and was transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment.

2023 Portimão MotoGP Practice 1 Results: Alex Marquez Leads Joan Mir As MotoGP Hits The Track

By David Emmett | Fri, 24/03/2023 - 12:03

The first session of MotoGP practice for the year started with tricky conditions, a dryish track where a few drops of rain had fallen during the latter part of the Moto2 session. That disrupted the team's practice programs, meaning some riders pushed on a new tire, while others didn't.

Alex Marquez ended the session as fastest, taking to the Gresini Ducati like a duck to water. Joan Mir disrupted the Ducati party by putting the Repsol Honda into second, while the Mooney VR46 team of Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi took third and fourth.

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