MotoGP | Portimao Test Day 2: Ducati double, Quartararo "holds on", Honda sinks

Portimao MotoGP 2023 test – The IRTA pre-season tests which saw all the MotoGP riders as protagonists concluded today in Portimao.

On the Portuguese Algarve circuit, the same one that will host the first race of the MotoGP championship on March 26th, there was the final two days which, between confirmations and surprises, effectively closed the winter parenthesis of the 2023 season, which we remember as a great new is the Sprint Race, a race that will take place on Saturday at 15pm and which will have distance and scores halved compared to the traditional Sunday race.

Ducati confirmed itself as a great protagonist, even if Yamaha with only Fabio Quartararo managed to set excellent times and Aprilia is not far from the top, while Honda is sinking. It should be noted that the first twelve drivers lapped below the track record set by Pecco Bagnaia, who in 2021 lapped in 1:38.725.

Worth noting are the crashes of Brad Binder at turn 3, Alex Marquez at turn 2, Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira. Technical problems for Johann Zarco, Luca Marini (twice, at turns 1 and 7, ed.) and Augusto Fernandez.

Absent was Fabio Di Giannantonio, on precautionary rest after yesterday's fall at turn 7, where he suffered a head injury with temporary loss of consciousness. “It was a simple slide, even if it was at high speed. I hit my head on the gravel, which is like a wall here, and I passed out for a moment. They explained to me that it took me some time to get up, but I don't remember,” Diggia told Sky Sport. Controversy over the gravel, too large and dangerous for riders in the event of a fall, a danger already reported by Bagnaia last season.

Coming to the time table, Pecco Bagnaia was in the lead for a long time and with less than an hour to go he posted the "Monstre" time of 1:37.968, the only driver to break the "wall" of 38 minute and XNUMX minutes.

The Ducati rider, who completed 61 laps, put his brand mate Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) behind him, with "El Diablo" who improved significantly on time-attack compared to the Sepang tests. The two French are separated by 0.296s and 0.334s respectively.

Five Ducatis follow, those of Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team riders), Enea Bastianini (Team Factory), Alex Marquez (Team Gresini) and Jorge Martin (Team Pramac). Seven Ducatis in the top eight positions confirm the quality of the Desmosedici, whether they are the 2022 or 2023 version.

Closing out the Top Ten are Brad Binder with the KTM Factory and Aleix Espargarò with the Aprilia. The driver from the Venetian manufacturer stopped early due to a forearm problem and may have to undergo surgery for compartment syndrome.

Miguel Oliveira on the Aprilia RS-GP 22 of Team RNF is 11th, ahead of the RS-GP 23 of Maverick Vinales. Three Hondas follow, that of Joan Mir (who arrived in the official team this year, ed.), that of the eight-time world champion Marc Marquez and that of the LCR Team of the new signing Alex Rins. The leaders are far away but it is Marquez who surprises, finishing (albeit by a few thousandths) behind his compatriot Joan Mir.

Raul Fernandez with the second Aprilia RNF finished 16th, ahead of the KTM of former Ducati Jack Miller (+0.941s) and the GASGAS of Pol Espargarò.

Franco Morbidelli's difficult moment continues, far from the top and also from team-mate Fabio Quartararo. The #21 Yamaha finished the day in 19th place, 1.098s behind Bagnaia. Behind him are the Honda LCR of Takaaki Nakagami, the GASGAS of rookie Augusto Fernandez and the Ducati of tester Michele Pirro.

Official Portimao MotoGP record

best lap
Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati 1:37.968 (2023 Test Portimao)

Fastest race lap
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1:39.435 (2022)

MotoGP Portimao Day 2 test, the final times