Moto2 Combined Qual
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MotoGP: Stoner Talks Racing, Retirement, Rossi, And More
Stoner talks racing, retirement, Rossi and more
The two-time MotoGP™ World Champion and Legend himself sits down for a Press Conference in Portugal
Friday, 05 November 2021
MotoGP™ Legend Casey Stoner is back in the house! The Australian is attending the Grande Premio Brembo do Algarve and on Friday, he sat down for a one-off Press Conference to answer a few questions from the media.
Here are some key quotes before the questions from the floor. To watch the whole Press Conference, head to the following link on motogp.com.
Why now?
Casey Stoner: “It’s been a strange. It’s been three and a half years! I believe it was Mugello 2018 the last time I was in the paddock. So it’s been far too long. You know, this was my whole world, I suppose. For a lot of years, everyone we knew… everything. And a lot of people, you know, in this paddock are family and friends, so it’s, it’s been far too long. And you know, we’ve missed everyone to be honest. So yeah, it’s been fantastic. We tried to come over last year, we had plans. And then of course, COVID hit, but it was fantastic MotoGP was able to run at all.
“Then this year, of course, everybody learned how to get through the situation a bit better. And Australia just recently opened up so we thought we’d come over and try and, you know, talk to some people one on one, and, and make some connections again that I suppose lost over the last few years.”
Thoughts on 2021?
CS27: “It’s been incredibly interesting. You know, in terms of diversity of brands on the podium and riders and everything, it’s kind of, you know, day by day, weekend by weekend, it’s plucking the podium out of a hat, there’s sort no form guide, I suppose. over the last two years. But especially this year, when people that you’re expecting to be at the front all of a sudden they’re struggling, and then other people you really didn’t expect to be there will go off and disappear and win a race.
“So it was difficult and almost a little confusing to to watch it this year, just to see some of the results that were happening. And like I said it was it was very unexpected. So in terms of, you know, watching it, it was fantastic. I’d personally like to see a little more consistency from some riders, but at the same time, I guess the current format gives some riders that generally maybe wouldn’t be at the front, some confidence over certain weekends to then go and achieve something that you know in the past wouldn’t be possible.”
Are Ducati on the brink of taking a World Championship again?
CS27: “For a long time now they’ve been close to having, you know, the complete package and getting the job done. But unfortunately, you know, it’s again, which Ducati rider is going to be fast on which weekend. We need to see a little bit more consistency, maybe a bike that is going to suit all the tracks. We’ve always had that issue, all the manufacturers have good tracks and bad tracks. But yeah, certain styles and certain circuits that does seem to struggle with. So they just need to create a little bit more consistency and a little bit, let’s say, easier package at certain times. But they’ve always been very, very close.
“I think you know, if everything sort of swings their way yes, they can win a Championship. But when you’ve got Yamaha that’s producing a great package year after year and I mean what a year Yamaha has had across a whole lot of different forms of motorsport this year. So they’re constantly putting out a package that is very, very difficult to beat. You’ve got Marquez that when you know he’s fit and healthy, on the Honda. They’re very difficult to beat. So, you know, it makes it tough for them. It’s not just throw some bikes out on track with a rider on it, you need that whole package to work together. And that can sometimes be difficult.”
Does he get itchy feet since retirement?
CS27: “The only times I’d have it is probably around qualifying. I quite honestly didn’t ever enjoy race day that much. Sometimes it was nice and easy and everything went well. But it was so… you know, when you’re on the edge of these things, it’s so easy to make those mistakes. So I constantly had that, unfortunately, it was just part of my personality that I didn’t want to make mistakes. It’s not that I just wanted to go out there and ride, you know, comfortably and naturally, it was like, ‘I don’t want to mess up’. Because I’ve got a whole team of people that are expecting something out of me. So I learned to deal with that better in my later years and didn’t have to worry about that as much. But I don’t really get the wish or want to race again.
“I did enjoy practice and qualifying, especially on the weekends. Certainly not testing. But Practice and Qualifying was always fun when everything would come together. And then you just got to go as hard as fast as you possibly could for a lap or two. When you got everything right, I got way more of a thrill out of that than I ever did winning a race. Because in the races, you never went as hard as you could, you always had to manage tyres, fuel… you’re always managing the situation, and you look like a fool if you go and try and go as hard as you can and crash. So there was always a an element of holding back, whereas qualifying a lot of the time you got to let loose. And you know, that was a lot of fun.”
On Valentino Rossi and their rivalry:
CS27: “If Valentino was still loving his racing, then, you know, there’s, there’s no reason not to race. I myself wouldn’t be able to do it. Because you know, for me, racing was winning. I still accepted the fact that I couldn’t win sometimes, but at the same time, the reason I got up in the morning to race was to win. And so I really would struggle to not be running competitively at the front, and I’ve missed Valentino at the front. I think the last, you know, two, three years, I would have loved to seen him battling it out with the guys. I think the racing could have been incredible with that. Like it was in the season before.
“You know, me and Valentino have had some amazing battles, we had a fantastic rivalry. Some good points and bad points, some things went my way and other things really didn’t. But there was one thing that, you know, was fantastic about racing Valentino, and it’s that I got to learn from him, whether it was on track or off the track with his media. He was always very savvy, and very clever, very cunning. So I got to learn a heck of a lot. And I think also, my achievements in my career were validated all the more having raced against him in his era.”
Moto2: Raul Fernandez Heads FP2 At Algarve GP
FIM Moto2 World Championship
Algarve International Circuit
Portimao, Portugal
November 5, 2021
Free Practice Two Results (all using Triumph engines and Dunlop tires):
- Raul Fernandez, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.246
- Sam Lowes, UK (Kalex), 1:43.248
- Remy Gardner, Australia (Kalex), 1:43.368
- Jorge Navarro, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:43.372
- Ai Ogura, Japan (Kalex), 1:43.445
- Aron Canet, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:43.446
- Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.563
- Celestino Vietti, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.581
- Augusto Fernandez, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.692
- Xavi Vierge, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.702
- Marcel Schrotter, Germany (Kalex), 1:43.726
- Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.744
- Cameron Beaubier, USA (Kalex), 1:43.753
- Jake Dixon, UK (Kalex), 1:43.868
- Stefano Manzi, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.869
- Albert Arenas, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:43.872
- Nicolo Bulega, Italy (Kalex), 1:44.077
- Fermin Aldeguer, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:44.149
- Marcos Ramirez, Spain (Kalex), 1:44.161
- Hector Garzo, Spain (Kalex), 1:44.190
- Hafizh Syahrin, Malaysia (NTS), 1:44.268
- Thomas Luthi, Switzerland (Kalex), 1:44.314
- Somkiat Chantra, Thailand (Kalex), 1:44.354
- Joe Roberts, USA (Kalex), 1:44.498
- Simone Corsi, Italy (MV Agusta), 1:44.590
- Bo Bendsneyder, Netherlands (Kalex), 1:44.643
- Tony Arbolino, Italy (Kalex), 1:44.711
- Tetsuta Nagashima, Japan (Kalex), 1:44.903
- Barry Baltus, Belgium (NTS), 1:45.093
- Piotr Biesiekirski, Poland (Kalex), 1:45.945
- Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy (MV Agusta), 1:46.789
MotoGP: Quartararo Fastest In FP2 At Algarve GP
FIM MotoGP World Championship
Algarve International Circuit
Portimao, Portugal
November 5, 2021
Free Practice Two Results (all on Michelin tires):
- Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:39.390
- Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 1:39.522
- Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 1:39.611
- Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:39.680
- Pol Espargaro, Spain (Honda), 1:39.792
- Johann Zarco, France (Ducati), 1:39.889
- Alex Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:40.042
- Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:40.069
- Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:40.122
- Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:40.176
- Jorge Martin, Spain (Ducati), 1:40.179
- Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 1:40.225
- Danilo Petrucci, Italy (KTM), 1:40.231
- Maverick Vinales, Spain (Aprilia), 1:40.284
- Luca Marini, Italy (Ducati), 1:40.323
- Enea Bastianini, Italy (Ducati), 1:40.467
- Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:40.498
- Stefan Bradl, Germany (Honda), 1:40.700
- Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:40.935
- Iker Lecuona, Spain (KTM), 1:41.097
- Valentino Rossi, Italy (Yamaha), 1:41.174
- Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Yamaha), 1:41.214
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Quartararo on a roll to beat Ducati duo on Day 1
The newly-crowned Champion tops the timesheets ahead of Bagnaia and Miller
Friday, 05 November 2021
It was a very impressive opening day of action at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve for 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). After claiming P1 in FP1, the flying Frenchman topped FP2 with a 1:39.390 to beat Francesco Bagnaia by 0.132, with Jack Miller making it two Ducati Lenovo Team machines in the top three.
FP1
Quartararo started the day as he meant to go on: fastest. However, the Frenchman left it until his last lap to edge out Bagnaia by just 0.045s. Quartararo’s 1:40.192 was good enough to beat third place Miller by 0.131 too, with three familiar faces fighting in out in the top three.
Team Suzuki Ecstar duo Alex Rins – who sported a phenomenal shoulder cam in FP1 – and 2020 World Champion Joan Mir completed the first top five of the weekend as the riders got a sunny and dry opening Free Practice session under their belts, impressing early on.
There were no incidents in FP1.
FP2
Conditions remained perfect in FP2 and three Hondas were able to get themselves into the top six by the time the session had reached the halfway point – Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) sat P4 ahead of Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). However, the top three from FP1 remained unchanged – Quartararo, Bagnaia, Miller – both in terms of position and time.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, a change at the top occurred. Bagnaia slammed in a 1:40.007 to leapfrog Quartararo into P1, and the Italian’s advantage was now 0.185s. The final 10 minutes then reared its head and, as usual, soft tyres and pushing for top 10 slot was the name of the game. Mir became the first rider to dip below the 1.40 bracket, and the 2020 Champion went even quicker on the next lap.
Miller then went top, but Quartararo immediately shoved the Australian down to second. Pecco was then able to string a personal best lap of the day together on his final effort, but the Italian couldn’t quite find an answer for Quartararo.
There were no crashes in FP2 either.
Combined timesheets
Behind Quartararo and the Ducati Lenovo Team duo, Mir slots into fourth. It was a positive day at the office for the Spaniard and the number 36 heads into Saturday just a couple of tenths down on Quartararo.
Fifth place Pol Espargaro leads the Honda charge, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) moving up from P13 in FP1 to take sixth overall and in FP2, readying for his charge at the title of top Independent Team rider on Sunday…
Alex Marquez enjoyed his Friday on the rollercoaster and took seventh, the Spaniard heading compatriot Aleix Esaprgaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and LCR Honda teammate Nakagami in P8 and P9, respectively. The final provisional place in Q2 goes to Rins as it stands, but the top 15 riders are split by less than a second so far…
Will FP3 see another shuffle? The skies look likely to stay dry so it’s all hands on deck for a time attack on Saturday morning from 9:55 (GMT), before qualifying from 14:10!
Raul Fernandez pips Lowes by 0.002, Gardner third despite a crash
The rookie head the veteran on Day 1, with the Championship leader third but showing good pace despite a clash in FP2
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished top of the pile on Day 1 at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve, but only just. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was just 0.002 off the Spaniard’s 1:43.246 by the end of play, with the Brit continuing his Misano momentum. World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was third quickest and quick all day, but the Australian suffered some late drama at the final corner when he crashed with Marcos Ramirez (American Racing). Riders ok, the incident was investigated and no further action was taken.
FP1
It’s all about the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo in terms of the Championship, with Gardner holding his first match point this weekend. The duo – as ever – looked strong, finishing 1-2 in FP1 in the Australian’s favour… but by just 0.014. Aron Canet (QuieroCorredor Aspar Team), rookie Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) locked out the top five in the opening session.
Fermin Aldeguer (Termozeta Speed Up) crashed and rejoined, and Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and came together, all riders ok.
FP2
Gardner was fastest in the early stages before Raul Fernandez hit back, with Lowes also able to split the duo by the flag. Gardner had a big wobble late on and then suffered the incident with Ramirez, although both riders were up and ok it was a tougher end to the day. Still, Gardner is just 0.122 off his teammate heading into FP3.
The high profile incident for the points leader was the only one of the session.
Combined timesheets
Behind Raul Fernandez, Lowes and Gardner, Jorge Navarro (Termozeta Speed Up) made good progress in the afternoon to finish P4 on Day 1, up from P13 in Fp1. He was just 0.004s away from Gardner too. Ogura crashed in FP1 but was in fine form in FP2 to claim P5, the Japanese rider only 0.001s ahead of Canet.
Sky Racing Team VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi and rookie teammate Vietti cemented Day 1 top 10s in P7 and P8, respectively. Augusto Fernandez bounced back to take P9 on the Friday combined standings, with Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) rounding out the top 10. It’s currently Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2; Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) who stand to join them in Q2…. but it can all change on Saturday morning.
After late drama for Gardner and smooth sailing for Raul Fernandez, don’t miss Moto2™ FP3 at 10:55 local time (GMT) on Saturday before qualifying from 15:10.
Fenati leads Foggia y 0.015, Acosta fourth on Friday
The veteran Italians lead Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Masia and Acosta, with the Algarve GP already shaping up for a showdown
Day 1 at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve in Moto3™ belonged to Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) as the Italian ousted compatriot and title contender Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) from top spot in FP2. Fenati’s 1:48.026 saw him beat Foggia by just 0.015s, as Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed P3 at the end of play on Friday.
FP1
Acosta led much of the session, and then Foggia hit back in the latter stages to take over by a significant margin – and one he kept, ending FP1 seventh tenths clear of Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride), with Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP) a closer third. Acosta ended the session in P6, just over eight tenths off Foggia.
Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) crashed, as did Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP), both riders ok.
FP2
For a long time it looked like Foggia’s 1:48.296 in FP1 was going to remain the fastest time on the opening day of lightweight class action, but that all changed late in the afternoon session. Fenati was able to jump ahead of Foggia and steal the Day 1 honours, but there’s nothing in it between the Italians as the latter also improved.
Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) led the resistance a couple of tenths behind the duo, and World Championship leader Acosta moved up in the afternoon to fourth, only two and a half tenths off the top.
Both Foggia and Acosta look strong once more in the Algarve, and if Friday is anything to go by, Saturday and Sunday’s battle between the top two in the title race looks like it will be a belter.
Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) crashed, rider ok, and both his teammate Andrea Migno and Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) suffered technical issues. Riders all ok.
Combined Timesheets
Behind Fenati, Foggia and Red Bull KTM Ajo, rounding out the top five is a stellar job from rookie Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), the Spaniard just 0.349s off the top, with the experienced Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) picking up P6.
Salač, Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Rossi and Yamanaka complete the top ten, with Izan Guevara (Muchoneumatico GASGAS Aspar Team), Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Carlos Tatay (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) and Nepa set to join them in moving through. Sasaki and Guevara also have Long Lap penalties to serve on race day though, after ebing observed riding slowly on the racing line on Friday.
Will the times tumble once more in FP3? Will both Acosta and Foggia make it into Q2? Find out at 09:00 local time (GMT) before qualifying from 12:35.
Moto2: Raul Fernandez On Pole, Beaubier P6 At Algarve GP
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MotoGP: Bagnaia Sets New Lap Record, Captures Pole At Algarve GP
Moto3: Garcia Breaks Lap Record, Takes Pole At Algarve GP
MotoGP: Bagnaia Best During FP3 At Algarve GP
Moto3: McPhee Quickest In FP3 At Algarve GP
MotoGP: Stoner Talks Racing, Retirement, Rossi, And More
Stoner talks racing, retirement, Rossi and more
The two-time MotoGP™ World Champion and Legend himself sits down for a Press Conference in Portugal
Friday, 05 November 2021
MotoGP™ Legend Casey Stoner is back in the house! The Australian is attending the Grande Premio Brembo do Algarve and on Friday, he sat down for a one-off Press Conference to answer a few questions from the media.
Here are some key quotes before the questions from the floor. To watch the whole Press Conference, head to the following link on motogp.com.
Why now?
Casey Stoner: “It’s been a strange. It’s been three and a half years! I believe it was Mugello 2018 the last time I was in the paddock. So it’s been far too long. You know, this was my whole world, I suppose. For a lot of years, everyone we knew… everything. And a lot of people, you know, in this paddock are family and friends, so it’s, it’s been far too long. And you know, we’ve missed everyone to be honest. So yeah, it’s been fantastic. We tried to come over last year, we had plans. And then of course, COVID hit, but it was fantastic MotoGP was able to run at all.
“Then this year, of course, everybody learned how to get through the situation a bit better. And Australia just recently opened up so we thought we’d come over and try and, you know, talk to some people one on one, and, and make some connections again that I suppose lost over the last few years.”
Thoughts on 2021?
CS27: “It’s been incredibly interesting. You know, in terms of diversity of brands on the podium and riders and everything, it’s kind of, you know, day by day, weekend by weekend, it’s plucking the podium out of a hat, there’s sort no form guide, I suppose. over the last two years. But especially this year, when people that you’re expecting to be at the front all of a sudden they’re struggling, and then other people you really didn’t expect to be there will go off and disappear and win a race.
“So it was difficult and almost a little confusing to to watch it this year, just to see some of the results that were happening. And like I said it was it was very unexpected. So in terms of, you know, watching it, it was fantastic. I’d personally like to see a little more consistency from some riders, but at the same time, I guess the current format gives some riders that generally maybe wouldn’t be at the front, some confidence over certain weekends to then go and achieve something that you know in the past wouldn’t be possible.”
Are Ducati on the brink of taking a World Championship again?
CS27: “For a long time now they’ve been close to having, you know, the complete package and getting the job done. But unfortunately, you know, it’s again, which Ducati rider is going to be fast on which weekend. We need to see a little bit more consistency, maybe a bike that is going to suit all the tracks. We’ve always had that issue, all the manufacturers have good tracks and bad tracks. But yeah, certain styles and certain circuits that does seem to struggle with. So they just need to create a little bit more consistency and a little bit, let’s say, easier package at certain times. But they’ve always been very, very close.
“I think you know, if everything sort of swings their way yes, they can win a Championship. But when you’ve got Yamaha that’s producing a great package year after year and I mean what a year Yamaha has had across a whole lot of different forms of motorsport this year. So they’re constantly putting out a package that is very, very difficult to beat. You’ve got Marquez that when you know he’s fit and healthy, on the Honda. They’re very difficult to beat. So, you know, it makes it tough for them. It’s not just throw some bikes out on track with a rider on it, you need that whole package to work together. And that can sometimes be difficult.”
Does he get itchy feet since retirement?
CS27: “The only times I’d have it is probably around qualifying. I quite honestly didn’t ever enjoy race day that much. Sometimes it was nice and easy and everything went well. But it was so… you know, when you’re on the edge of these things, it’s so easy to make those mistakes. So I constantly had that, unfortunately, it was just part of my personality that I didn’t want to make mistakes. It’s not that I just wanted to go out there and ride, you know, comfortably and naturally, it was like, ‘I don’t want to mess up’. Because I’ve got a whole team of people that are expecting something out of me. So I learned to deal with that better in my later years and didn’t have to worry about that as much. But I don’t really get the wish or want to race again.
“I did enjoy practice and qualifying, especially on the weekends. Certainly not testing. But Practice and Qualifying was always fun when everything would come together. And then you just got to go as hard as fast as you possibly could for a lap or two. When you got everything right, I got way more of a thrill out of that than I ever did winning a race. Because in the races, you never went as hard as you could, you always had to manage tyres, fuel… you’re always managing the situation, and you look like a fool if you go and try and go as hard as you can and crash. So there was always a an element of holding back, whereas qualifying a lot of the time you got to let loose. And you know, that was a lot of fun.”
On Valentino Rossi and their rivalry:
CS27: “If Valentino was still loving his racing, then, you know, there’s, there’s no reason not to race. I myself wouldn’t be able to do it. Because you know, for me, racing was winning. I still accepted the fact that I couldn’t win sometimes, but at the same time, the reason I got up in the morning to race was to win. And so I really would struggle to not be running competitively at the front, and I’ve missed Valentino at the front. I think the last, you know, two, three years, I would have loved to seen him battling it out with the guys. I think the racing could have been incredible with that. Like it was in the season before.
“You know, me and Valentino have had some amazing battles, we had a fantastic rivalry. Some good points and bad points, some things went my way and other things really didn’t. But there was one thing that, you know, was fantastic about racing Valentino, and it’s that I got to learn from him, whether it was on track or off the track with his media. He was always very savvy, and very clever, very cunning. So I got to learn a heck of a lot. And I think also, my achievements in my career were validated all the more having raced against him in his era.”
Moto2: Raul Fernandez Heads FP2 At Algarve GP
FIM Moto2 World Championship
Algarve International Circuit
Portimao, Portugal
November 5, 2021
Free Practice Two Results (all using Triumph engines and Dunlop tires):
- Raul Fernandez, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.246
- Sam Lowes, UK (Kalex), 1:43.248
- Remy Gardner, Australia (Kalex), 1:43.368
- Jorge Navarro, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:43.372
- Ai Ogura, Japan (Kalex), 1:43.445
- Aron Canet, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:43.446
- Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.563
- Celestino Vietti, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.581
- Augusto Fernandez, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.692
- Xavi Vierge, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.702
- Marcel Schrotter, Germany (Kalex), 1:43.726
- Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.744
- Cameron Beaubier, USA (Kalex), 1:43.753
- Jake Dixon, UK (Kalex), 1:43.868
- Stefano Manzi, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.869
- Albert Arenas, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:43.872
- Nicolo Bulega, Italy (Kalex), 1:44.077
- Fermin Aldeguer, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:44.149
- Marcos Ramirez, Spain (Kalex), 1:44.161
- Hector Garzo, Spain (Kalex), 1:44.190
- Hafizh Syahrin, Malaysia (NTS), 1:44.268
- Thomas Luthi, Switzerland (Kalex), 1:44.314
- Somkiat Chantra, Thailand (Kalex), 1:44.354
- Joe Roberts, USA (Kalex), 1:44.498
- Simone Corsi, Italy (MV Agusta), 1:44.590
- Bo Bendsneyder, Netherlands (Kalex), 1:44.643
- Tony Arbolino, Italy (Kalex), 1:44.711
- Tetsuta Nagashima, Japan (Kalex), 1:44.903
- Barry Baltus, Belgium (NTS), 1:45.093
- Piotr Biesiekirski, Poland (Kalex), 1:45.945
- Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy (MV Agusta), 1:46.789
MotoGP: Quartararo Fastest In FP2 At Algarve GP
FIM MotoGP World Championship
Algarve International Circuit
Portimao, Portugal
November 5, 2021
Free Practice Two Results (all on Michelin tires):
- Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:39.390
- Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 1:39.522
- Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 1:39.611
- Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:39.680
- Pol Espargaro, Spain (Honda), 1:39.792
- Johann Zarco, France (Ducati), 1:39.889
- Alex Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:40.042
- Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:40.069
- Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:40.122
- Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:40.176
- Jorge Martin, Spain (Ducati), 1:40.179
- Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 1:40.225
- Danilo Petrucci, Italy (KTM), 1:40.231
- Maverick Vinales, Spain (Aprilia), 1:40.284
- Luca Marini, Italy (Ducati), 1:40.323
- Enea Bastianini, Italy (Ducati), 1:40.467
- Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:40.498
- Stefan Bradl, Germany (Honda), 1:40.700
- Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:40.935
- Iker Lecuona, Spain (KTM), 1:41.097
- Valentino Rossi, Italy (Yamaha), 1:41.174
- Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Yamaha), 1:41.214
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Quartararo on a roll to beat Ducati duo on Day 1
The newly-crowned Champion tops the timesheets ahead of Bagnaia and Miller
Friday, 05 November 2021
It was a very impressive opening day of action at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve for 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). After claiming P1 in FP1, the flying Frenchman topped FP2 with a 1:39.390 to beat Francesco Bagnaia by 0.132, with Jack Miller making it two Ducati Lenovo Team machines in the top three.
FP1
Quartararo started the day as he meant to go on: fastest. However, the Frenchman left it until his last lap to edge out Bagnaia by just 0.045s. Quartararo’s 1:40.192 was good enough to beat third place Miller by 0.131 too, with three familiar faces fighting in out in the top three.
Team Suzuki Ecstar duo Alex Rins – who sported a phenomenal shoulder cam in FP1 – and 2020 World Champion Joan Mir completed the first top five of the weekend as the riders got a sunny and dry opening Free Practice session under their belts, impressing early on.
There were no incidents in FP1.
FP2
Conditions remained perfect in FP2 and three Hondas were able to get themselves into the top six by the time the session had reached the halfway point – Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) sat P4 ahead of Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). However, the top three from FP1 remained unchanged – Quartararo, Bagnaia, Miller – both in terms of position and time.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, a change at the top occurred. Bagnaia slammed in a 1:40.007 to leapfrog Quartararo into P1, and the Italian’s advantage was now 0.185s. The final 10 minutes then reared its head and, as usual, soft tyres and pushing for top 10 slot was the name of the game. Mir became the first rider to dip below the 1.40 bracket, and the 2020 Champion went even quicker on the next lap.
Miller then went top, but Quartararo immediately shoved the Australian down to second. Pecco was then able to string a personal best lap of the day together on his final effort, but the Italian couldn’t quite find an answer for Quartararo.
There were no crashes in FP2 either.
Combined timesheets
Behind Quartararo and the Ducati Lenovo Team duo, Mir slots into fourth. It was a positive day at the office for the Spaniard and the number 36 heads into Saturday just a couple of tenths down on Quartararo.
Fifth place Pol Espargaro leads the Honda charge, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) moving up from P13 in FP1 to take sixth overall and in FP2, readying for his charge at the title of top Independent Team rider on Sunday…
Alex Marquez enjoyed his Friday on the rollercoaster and took seventh, the Spaniard heading compatriot Aleix Esaprgaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and LCR Honda teammate Nakagami in P8 and P9, respectively. The final provisional place in Q2 goes to Rins as it stands, but the top 15 riders are split by less than a second so far…
Will FP3 see another shuffle? The skies look likely to stay dry so it’s all hands on deck for a time attack on Saturday morning from 9:55 (GMT), before qualifying from 14:10!
Raul Fernandez pips Lowes by 0.002, Gardner third despite a crash
The rookie head the veteran on Day 1, with the Championship leader third but showing good pace despite a clash in FP2
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished top of the pile on Day 1 at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve, but only just. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was just 0.002 off the Spaniard’s 1:43.246 by the end of play, with the Brit continuing his Misano momentum. World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was third quickest and quick all day, but the Australian suffered some late drama at the final corner when he crashed with Marcos Ramirez (American Racing). Riders ok, the incident was investigated and no further action was taken.
FP1
It’s all about the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo in terms of the Championship, with Gardner holding his first match point this weekend. The duo – as ever – looked strong, finishing 1-2 in FP1 in the Australian’s favour… but by just 0.014. Aron Canet (QuieroCorredor Aspar Team), rookie Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) locked out the top five in the opening session.
Fermin Aldeguer (Termozeta Speed Up) crashed and rejoined, and Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and came together, all riders ok.
FP2
Gardner was fastest in the early stages before Raul Fernandez hit back, with Lowes also able to split the duo by the flag. Gardner had a big wobble late on and then suffered the incident with Ramirez, although both riders were up and ok it was a tougher end to the day. Still, Gardner is just 0.122 off his teammate heading into FP3.
The high profile incident for the points leader was the only one of the session.
Combined timesheets
Behind Raul Fernandez, Lowes and Gardner, Jorge Navarro (Termozeta Speed Up) made good progress in the afternoon to finish P4 on Day 1, up from P13 in Fp1. He was just 0.004s away from Gardner too. Ogura crashed in FP1 but was in fine form in FP2 to claim P5, the Japanese rider only 0.001s ahead of Canet.
Sky Racing Team VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi and rookie teammate Vietti cemented Day 1 top 10s in P7 and P8, respectively. Augusto Fernandez bounced back to take P9 on the Friday combined standings, with Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) rounding out the top 10. It’s currently Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2; Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) who stand to join them in Q2…. but it can all change on Saturday morning.
After late drama for Gardner and smooth sailing for Raul Fernandez, don’t miss Moto2™ FP3 at 10:55 local time (GMT) on Saturday before qualifying from 15:10.
Fenati leads Foggia y 0.015, Acosta fourth on Friday
The veteran Italians lead Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Masia and Acosta, with the Algarve GP already shaping up for a showdown
Day 1 at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve in Moto3™ belonged to Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) as the Italian ousted compatriot and title contender Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) from top spot in FP2. Fenati’s 1:48.026 saw him beat Foggia by just 0.015s, as Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed P3 at the end of play on Friday.
FP1
Acosta led much of the session, and then Foggia hit back in the latter stages to take over by a significant margin – and one he kept, ending FP1 seventh tenths clear of Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride), with Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP) a closer third. Acosta ended the session in P6, just over eight tenths off Foggia.
Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) crashed, as did Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP), both riders ok.
FP2
For a long time it looked like Foggia’s 1:48.296 in FP1 was going to remain the fastest time on the opening day of lightweight class action, but that all changed late in the afternoon session. Fenati was able to jump ahead of Foggia and steal the Day 1 honours, but there’s nothing in it between the Italians as the latter also improved.
Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) led the resistance a couple of tenths behind the duo, and World Championship leader Acosta moved up in the afternoon to fourth, only two and a half tenths off the top.
Both Foggia and Acosta look strong once more in the Algarve, and if Friday is anything to go by, Saturday and Sunday’s battle between the top two in the title race looks like it will be a belter.
Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) crashed, rider ok, and both his teammate Andrea Migno and Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) suffered technical issues. Riders all ok.
Combined Timesheets
Behind Fenati, Foggia and Red Bull KTM Ajo, rounding out the top five is a stellar job from rookie Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), the Spaniard just 0.349s off the top, with the experienced Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) picking up P6.
Salač, Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Rossi and Yamanaka complete the top ten, with Izan Guevara (Muchoneumatico GASGAS Aspar Team), Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Carlos Tatay (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) and Nepa set to join them in moving through. Sasaki and Guevara also have Long Lap penalties to serve on race day though, after ebing observed riding slowly on the racing line on Friday.
Will the times tumble once more in FP3? Will both Acosta and Foggia make it into Q2? Find out at 09:00 local time (GMT) before qualifying from 12:35.