MotoGP

Honda's Marc Marquez topped a wet first practice for the Portuguese Grand Prix by a dominant margin as MotoGP marks its return to Europe.

Marquez returned to the top of the order with four minutes to go with a 1m51.041s, and though Suzuki’s Joan Mir would briefly snatch first away from him with his final effort of 1m51.031s, the Honda rider fired in a 1m50.666s at the death to end FP1 fastest of all. LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez completed the top 10 ahead of KTM’s Brad Binder and Luca Marini on the sister VR46 Ducati – though the Italian did have a crash at Turn 8 late in the session. Championship leader Enea Bastianini – who struggled in the wet race in Indonesia in March – was a low-key 14th at the end of FP1 behind Tech3 KTM rookie Remy Gardner, while Nakagami headed Argentina race winner Aleix Espargaro on the other Aprilia in 15th. A couple of minutes after Nakagami’s crash, his factory Honda counterpart Marc Marquez returned to the top of the order with a 1m51.219s. He was unharmed in the crash and made it back out on his second RC213V, though the incident briefly left some debris on the way into Turn 10 – though only required a yellow flag to clear, rather than a session stoppage. After 15 minutes of running, Ducati’s Jack Miller had taken over at the top of the standings with a 1m51.437s, having taken over from his teammate and November’s Algarve GP winner Francesco Bagnaia.

RNF Racing's Andrea Dovizioso says Yamaha has apologised to him over his recent struggles on the marque's 2022 MotoGP bike but is convinced “you can be ...

So, for sure you can be fast with the Yamaha in this moment. “So, I’m very disappointed about that because I really want to be in front. The Yamaha now isn’t bad.

Marc Marquez has edged Repsol Honda team-mate Pol Espargaro on combined times in two wet Friday practice sessions at the Portuguese MotoGP round.

WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team Suzuki Team SUZUKI ECSTAR WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team Ducati Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati Ducati Lenovo Team Suzuki Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Repsol Honda Team Repsol Honda Team

Fabio Quartararo believes he has figured out how to banish his wet weather demons on the Yamaha MotoGP bike following a rain-hit Friday at the Portuguese ...

This is why I think the position is really bad but my feeling is not that bad. I need to adapt a little bit better and I understand today – to be honest, the position was really bad – that my feeling was not as bad. “I feel more on the limit how I’m doing than how I should be doing it.

Livio Suppo has outlined the factory Suzuki team's primary targets as the transfer market starts to gain momentum in Portugal.

We are in the same position that I said a couple of months ago. "Our intention is to renew with both of them, and we will start speaking with their management soon. It will come as no surprise then that new Suzuki boss Livio Suppo has outlined his and the blue brand's primary focus is to renew both Mir and Rins' contracts beyond 2022.

Pol Espargaro dominated a wet FP2 for the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix, leading a Honda 1-2 from teammate Marc Marquez as Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia ...

With Honda annexing the top of the timesheets with Espargaro and Marquez, Andrea Dovizioso led the Yamaha charge in third on the RNF Racing-run M1. He walked away from the crash and was able to return to the session on his second bike, but was left in 16th as a result. As Bagnaia picked himself out of the gravel, Honda’s Espargaro demoted him from the top of the standings with a 1m50.984s.

Jack Miller says he found improved rear-end feeling from his Ducati in a wet Friday of practice for the Portugal MotoGP round.

“In FP2, we were able to take a step forward, and in the final minutes of the session, my feeling improved a lot. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a full day of work in the wet, and it definitely wasn’t easy,” said the Queenslander. While that was a front-end lose, it was the other end of his bike that the Ducati Lenovo Team rider had been struggling with.

Red Bull KTM Ajo's Dani Holgado set the pace in the opening Moto3™ session of the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal as the treacherous weather conditions caught ...

14 hours ago 14 hours ago 17 hours ago Fernandez has subsequently been declared unfit for the remainder of the weekend after fracturing both his fourth and fifth finger on his left hand. The rain made for extremely tricky conditions and 12 riders were thrown off their machines without much warning. Red Bull KTM Ajo's Dani Holgado set the pace in the opening Moto3™ session of the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal as the treacherous weather conditions caught out no fewer than 12 riders.

Fabio Quartararo believes he has figured out how to banish his wet weather demons on the Yamaha MotoGP bike following a rain-hit Friday at the Portuguese ...

This is why I think the position is really bad but my feeling is not that bad. I need to adapt a little bit better and I understand today – to be honest, the position was really bad – that my feeling was not as bad. “I feel more on the limit how I’m doing than how I should be doing it.

MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo remains crystal clear about the main area of improvement needed with the Yamaha M1.

“It’s the strange thing of this bike, because how much we lose on the grip is huge. “So Fabio is not saying wrong things, just he doesn't know about the grip, because he hasn't tried [other bikes]. But this is normal. “Of course we miss a lot of rear grip in the wet, that’s for sure. But it’s not about the rear grip. “But all the Yamaha riders ask for power. “But for me, with the way of riding the Yamaha, I think I have quite a lot of experience with that bike, it’s not grip; it’s power.

RNF Racing's Andrea Dovizioso says Yamaha has apologised to him over his recent struggles on the marque's 2022 MotoGP bike but is convinced he 'can be fast” ...

“But as they confirm when we do the meetings, they know very well in this moment Yamaha is struggling a little bit. So, for sure you can be fast with the Yamaha in this moment. “So, I’m very disappointed about that because I really want to be in front.

Francesco Bagnaia says he took a scoop of Portimao gravel back to his garage after his MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix FP2 crash to raise a point in the safety ...

In FP2 the conditions were not great and for sure if it rains more it will be really dangerous.” “If you look, every crash in this track when you arrive to the gravel you start to roll a lot. “Normally wet, but not that wet. And this means you can get hurt from the gravel, so it’s not so safe. “And for me it was a bit dangerous, but for the rest it was not bad. “Yes, because for the crash we had for sure the bike was too much destroyed because the gravel is too big, it’s not smooth like the standard gravel like we have to have in the tracks,” he said.

After Francesco Bagnaia fell from his Ducati in Friday afternoon's MotoGP practice at Portimao, the Italian bent down and scooped up a handful of.

“When you crash in this situation it’s easy to have pain from that. “The gravel is too big and it’s not smooth like the standard gravel we have to have in the track. And it destroys the bike for nothing.” It’s something we have to speak about in the Safety Commission for our safety, for the safety of our bikes too. Every crash at this track, when you arrive at the gravel you start to tumble a lot. “But even walking the track yesterday I pulled up at Turn 8 and pulled a rock out that was about ‘that’ big and the gravel bed as well has got grass growing through it.

Francesco Bagnaia says he took a scoop of Portimao gravel back to his garage after his MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix FP2 crash to raise a point in the safety ...

In FP2 the conditions were not great and for sure if it rains more it will be really dangerous.” “And for me it was a bit dangerous, but for the rest it was not bad. “Looks like the track doesn’t drain the water and you have aquaplaning. “Well, the thing is here the grip’s not terrible, it wasn’t bad this morning, quite good,” the KTM rider noted. “The last 10 minutes from my point of view was 100% red flag,” he said. “So, it’s something we have to speak about in the safety commission.

Marc Marquez has made the perfect start to the Portimao MotoGP after leading the way from team-mate Pol Espargaro on combined times.

The only non-Ducati rider to crash was Takaaki Nakagami, who also suffered an accident at turn nine. In practice two, Bagnaia had an unsavable accident at turn two when he lost the front immediately after touching the brakes. Bezzecchi’s time at the top was relatively short-lived though, as Marquez bolted back to the front of the field with ten to go. While Ducati came to the party in the shape of both factory riders Bagnaia and Miller, Marquez and Oliveira continued to dominate proceedings. Under pressure to keep his place in MotoGP, there was also a much improved showing from Alex Marquez who claimed a first top six of the season. While a sizable gap of six tenths separated Espargaro and his team-mate, Marquez was the most consistent of the two after Espargaro could only manage 14th in the morning session.

Valentino Rossi is back in the MotoGP paddock, for the first time since his retirement at the end of last year. The seven-time premier class champion took ...

Those who made the cut after 135 minutes of practice are, from fastest to slowest, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM), Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar), 2021 MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) courtesy of his Friday benchmark, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda), Bezzecchi, Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team). Also failing to make the top 10 on combined times were the likes of Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha), and 2021 Moto2 champion Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM). Nevertheless, the 23-year-old will go straight into Qualifying 2 later in the afternoon (local time), having clocked a 1:51.136s in Friday’s first practice hit-out which was good enough for seventh on the combined timesheet ahead of FP4.

Home hero Miguel Oliveira topped a rain-lashed FP3 for the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix as Marc Marquez crashed and championship leader Enea Bastianini ...

However, Bezzecchi’s session was ended with around five minutes to go when he crashed heavily at Turn 2. Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo felt on Friday he could make a breakthrough in wet-weather riding on his Yamaha and ended FP3 in third ahead of Binder and Marc Marquez – who returned to the circuit in the closing moments after his earlier crash. The return of the rain midway through FP3 would ultimately come to Marc Marquez’s rescue, as it would keep him fifth on the combined order courtesy of his FP1 best of 1m50.666s. Marquez landed on his head and broke the visor on his helmet, but was able to remount his bike and return to pitlane having completed just five laps. The 2020 Portugal winner then shot to the top of the order with a 1m50.583s to finally depose Marquez from the first spot he’d held onto since FP1. Ducati’s Jack Miller was the first significant improver in eighth on the combined order with a 1m51.334s, before Oliveira leaped up to third a few moments later with a 1m50.796s.

Remy Gardner has hailed the lessons he took from a wet Friday of practice at the Portuguese MotoGP round, when he was at his most competitive so far this ...

“Today was a good day and I gained a lot of experience in the wet,” said the 2021 Moto2 world champion after the conclusion of FP2 at Portimao. “I started to understand the tyres a bit more, and enjoyed riding the bike a lot as well. Gardner has just a single point after his first four races in the premier class, and admitted after the last round that his rookie season to date has been “a big slap in the face”.

Free Practice (3) results from the Portimao MotoGP at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, round 5 of the 2022 world championship.

(-40) (-38) (-38) (-33) (-33) (-30) (-30) (-19) (-17) (-15) (-11) (-5)

Red Bull KTM's Miguel Oliveira headed a wet but frantic FP3 at Portimao as the home hero delighted MotoGP fans braving the awful conditions.

Jack Miller in the danger zone of promotion but with limited running out on track. The South African crashing out of his next red sector personal best as the final 20 minutes began. Six to go and Miller headed out in a bid to consolidate his Q2 position. The second KTM of Brad Binder sat fourth in the session, sixth overall as the midsession played out. Quartararo showcased a dominant step taken from Friday’s dismal 20th place as he ran second, 0.02s behind the Portuguese rider in charge. Ducati Lenovo’s Bagnaia sat outside the promotion zone after 15 minutes of action.

Despite the miserable weather, there are big smiles on the Portuguese fans' faces thanks to Oliveira's masterful FP3 lap.

Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro was the final man to improve with 20 minutes remaining, sneaking inside the top ten and, as a result, pushing his teammate Maverick Viñales out of an automatic Q2 place. 2 days ago The other key moment from Saturday morning's FP3 was yesterday’s pacesetter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashing at Turn 8. 20 minutes were left when the rain started once again, making the lives of everyone outside of the top ten slightly more difficult. The World Champion was then pushed back to third after Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir moved into second spot. The home fans have something to cheer about now!

Jack Miller says he is “tired” of comparing the 2022 Ducati MotoGP bike with the 2021 version that is currently leading the championship.

“The whole point of it is to be different. “But I’m not trying to think about that bike. We’re only four races in and we’ve had two top fives.

Suzuki is yet to lock down either of its 2023 MotoGP riders - but it has no intention to look beyond Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

“We haven’t started to talk for the next years,” said Rins, “but the good thing and the thing that remains me calm is that already Livio and the Japanese guys said to me that they want to continue. “We are in the same position that I said a couple of months ago. “We are where we were in Qatar,” Suppo told The Race at the Portuguese Grand Prix. “Our intention is to keep both, and I know well that it’s very difficult to replace both of them.

Home hero Miguel Oliveira topped a rain-lashed FP3 for the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix as Marc Marquez crashed and championship leader Enea Bastianini ...

However, Bezzecchi’s session was ended with around five minutes to go when he crashed heavily at Turn 2. Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo felt on Friday he could make a breakthrough in wet-weather riding on his Yamaha and ended FP3 in third ahead of Binder and Marc Marquez – who returned to the circuit in the closing moments after his earlier crash. The return of the rain midway through FP3 would ultimately come to Marc Marquez’s rescue, as it would keep him fifth on the combined order courtesy of his FP1 best of 1m50.666s. Marquez landed on his head and broke the visor on his helmet, but was able to remount his bike and return to pitlane having completed just five laps. The 2020 Portugal winner then shot to the top of the order with a 1m50.583s to finally depose Marquez from the first spot he’d held onto since FP1. Ducati’s Jack Miller was the first significant improver in eighth on the combined order with a 1m51.334s, before Oliveira leaped up to third a few moments later with a 1m50.796s.

Jack Miller says he is “tired” of comparing the 2022 Ducati MotoGP bike with the 2021 version that is currently leading the championship.

“But I’m not trying to think about that bike. “The whole point of it is to be different. “Everything’s always different.

Turkish delight in Portimao as the Tech3 man snatched only a second career pole position ahead of the incredible Indonesian Mario Aji.

Joining the pair on row three will be Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team’s Izan Guevara. 23 hours ago 23 hours ago The pair will be joined there by Frenchman Lorenzo Fellon, who clinched a debut front row start just two weeks on from his first World Championship points. However, in double heartbreak, the Brit’s lap was cancelled for yellow flags and Öncü then went fastest with a 2:03.955. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü sprinkled some Turkish delight across the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal by timing his final flying lap perfectly to snatch a second career pole position.

Racing News: Marc Marquez walked away from another crash in practice as he flew off his Honda on a wet track at Portimao on Saturday.

Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 0.721,10. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 0.677, 9. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) at 0.041sec, 3. (ESP/Honda): 1min 50.566sec, 2. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 0.771 Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 0.643, 8. Marco Bezzechi (ITA/Ducati) 0.470, 5. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.365, 4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 0.504, 6. He nevertheless recorded the ninth-best time. "Looks like a wasted day," he said. "Tomorrow looks like it'll be wet again.

Deniz Oncu used his journey through Q1 to build and claim pole position ahead of the Moto3 Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao.

As the sun came out performance picked up and running with Xavi Artigas, the sixteen year old moved through to Q2 for the first time, despite being frustrated by having his best lap scuppered by the Spaniard. Ougunned by Daniel Holgado despite a fall (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in 13th, the MT Helmets - MSI rider could only manage a time good enough for 14th when it mattered most. Now back to familiar ground, Portimao was a chance for a lot of the rookies to shine. Fellon was also in the mix for pole for SIC58 Squarda Corse, but also fell just short. The Honda Team Asia rider was just 0.017s behind for his best qualifying performance to date. A perfectly timed final lap of 2m 03.955s saw him take pole amongst all the falls which brought out yellow flags, cancelling many of his rivals best efforts.

Johann Zarco has rescued Ducati's Crash-heavy Portimao MotoGP weekend by claiming pole from Joan Mir and Aleix Espargaro.

The yellow flags were deployed due to P. Espargaro crashing at the final corner. With the final sector now bone-dry, lap times began improving drastically. Without even starting a flying lap, reigning MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo had a moment heading towards turn seven. However, Takaaki Nakagami and rookie Remy Gardner made a bold move to head out on dry tyres, which immediately proved to be the wrong call as Gardner suffered a highside on the entry to turn nine. Not to be outshone by his brother or any other rider for that matter, M. Marquez looked to have pole position in the bag, however, his top time was set under yellow flags and therefore deleted, as was Quartararo’s time after the Frenchman went P2. After setting a lap time nine tenths better than his current provisional pole effort, Marquez was bumped down to third as Joan Mir and Jack Miller went quicker.

Casey O'Gorman looked to be on for pole position in the opening round of the 2022 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup having dominated Friday practice.

The dramatic conditions produced a number of incidents and tested not only the Rookies. Support was there as soon as they arrived back in pit lane with technical staff descending on the KTM RC 250 R to work their magical repairs with impressive speed. “It was better in qualifying and I had the confidence to go for it. While Voight was clearly pleased with himself as the session drew to a close.

Johann Zarco snatched pole in a wild wet-to-dry MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix qualifying as a crash for Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia left him last.

Alex Marquez crashed at the end of Q2 but will start seventh ahead of the second VR46 Ducati of Luca Marini, while his brother Marc Marquez will start ninth ahead of Pol Espargaro. Mir was first across the line and went top with a 1m42.198s, but was denied a first MotoGP pole by Zarco – who went 0.195s quicker aboard his Pramac Ducati. Mir made another attempt at pole moments later with a 1m43.055s, but was demoted first by Zarco, and then by Jack Miller on the sole factory team Ducati in Q2. And throughout Q2 the fight for pole was dictated by track evolution, with Pramac Ducati’s Zarco setting the pole lap on his final lap with a 1m42.003s. Slicks would eventually become the tyre to be on as Q1 drew to a close, with Alex Marquez on the LCR Honda and VR46 Ducati’s Luca Marini using soft rubber to get through to Q2. LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami was one of the first to venture out on slicks, but immediately bailed for wet tyres at the end of his out-lap.

Pramac Racing's Johann Zarco survived an action and accident-packed qualifying to secure pole position for the Portuguese GP at Portimao.

Miller was dumped to fourth in the final action from Quartararo and Bezzecchi as Marquez crashed the LCR on a slow down lap from seventh. The hot laps kept coming as Quartararo advanced back to second, Mir hitting the front on the bubble of 1’43 with two minutes left to run as Zarco then Miller bettered again. Teammate Marini joining him before Marquez leapfrogged them both, the family affair continuing as Marc Marquez followed his brother to second ahead of the VR46 duo. Marquez consolidating his lead with a dominant 1’46.316, eight-tenths clear of the Mooney VR46 with Martin and Viñales in third and fourth. Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro completed the front row with their own final efforts as late-session-leader Jack Miller dropped from provisional pole to fourth in the blink of an eye. Bastianini’s opening effort took charge as Bagnaia crashed out on slick Michelin at turn nine, the Italian landing heavily on his right shoulder after a monster highside and looking hurt.

A fascinating Q1 session saw late gambles with slick tyres pay off for Marquez and Marini as Bagnaia's roll of the dice backfires.

2 hours ago Bagnaia, who's currently undergoing checks at the medical centre, could line-up in last place for Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix. Suzuki's Alex Rins and Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin also missed out on a Q2 places. Q1 at the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal was pure drama as the premier class stars were forced to roll the dice with slick tyres on a partly-damp Portimao circuit.

Tech3 KTM's Deniz Öncü secured a dramatic pole position for the Moto3 Portuguese GP on Saturday having fought through from Q1.

Suzuki and Garcia rounded out row two from Riccardo Rossi and the impressive Ogden with Izan Guevara behind in ninth. 2’04.236 the time to beat with 30 seconds left on the clock. Ryusei Yamanaka was the next to succumb to the conditions before Garcia crashed out at turn five. Initial efforts found Tatsuki Suzuki in control from Ogden and Aji, the 2’06.4 pace intensifying as Öncü set the first 2’05 and Whatley crashed out at turn three. Öncü took charge with a 2’07.198 from Foggia, Whatley briefly dropped to fourth before he consolidated his stake on a promotion place with a 2’08.366 and returned to third. A drying and challenging Portimao Circuit saw the Turk claim the spoils with a 2’03.955 time set on his final lap, Friday hero Mario Aji and Sic58’s Lorenzo Fellon completing the Parc Fermê celebrations.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Miguel Oliveira has continued his fine form on Saturday at the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal by finishing FP4 at the top of ...

However, with the circuit starting to dry out slowly, there was very little to learn from the 30-minute session. ????— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) @_moliveira88goes fastest right at the end of the session! The Portuguese star was over eight tenths clear of Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) in ever-changing conditions.

Johann Zarco snatched pole in a wild wet-to-dry MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix qualifying as a crash for Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia left him last.

Mir was first across the line and went top with a 1m42.198s, but was denied a first MotoGP pole by Zarco – who went 0.195s quicker aboard his Pramac Ducati. Alex Marquez crashed at the end of Q2 but will start seventh ahead of the sister VR46 Ducati of Luca Marini, while his brother Marc Marquez will start ninth ahead of Pol Espargaro. Mir made another attempt at pole moments later with a 1m43.055s, but was demoted first by Zarco, and then by Jack Miller on the sole factory team Ducati in Q2. And throughout Q2 the fight for pole was dictated by track evolution, with Pramac Ducati’s Zarco setting the pole lap on his final lap with a 1m42.003s. Slicks would eventually become the tyre to be on as Q1 drew to a close, with Alex Marquez on the LCR Honda and VR46 Ducati’s Luca Marini using soft rubber to get through to Q2. LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami was one of the first to venture out on slicks, but immediately bailed for wet tyres at the end of his out-lap.

Entertainment to the absolute maximum in Portimao as no fewer than six different riders held provisional pole throughout a brilliant Q2.

Pol Espargaro last corner crash saw him end up tenth on the grid ahead of a slightly underwhelming pair of KTMs in Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder. The duo have looked competitive all weekend but never looked like challenging in Q2. Despite doing the early running, Alex Marquez and Luca Marini eventually slipped back to seventh and eighth. Marquez went fastest, with World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) going second, but both laps were swiftly cancelled due to Espargaro's off. Despite sitting pretty at the top of the timesheets with the chequered flag out, Miller didn't even manage to hold on to a front row spot with Aleix Espargaro sneaking third whilst all eyes were on Zarco's charge for pole. It was no surprise that the early pacesetting was done by the Q1 graduates Alex Marquez (LCR Castrol Honda) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing), as the pair put their track knowledge to brilliant use. The 2020 World Champion's dreams of a career-first premier class pole were dashed within seconds with Zarco's final flying lap of 1:42.003 good enough for a first pole since last year's German Grand Prix. No sour grapes from Mir, though, due to second place being his best-ever result in a MotoGP™ qualifying session.

Marc Marquez says the crash for his Honda teammate Pol Espargaro at the end of MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix qualifying only took away a lap that was ...

“You don’t have the time to try anything. It’s true I have pain in my neck, but it was a normal crash. It’s true, the Indonesia crash was a massive one. Everyone was waiting for the last laps to push, because the track was coming better and better. “Happy for the speed we show but I was a bit unlucky. “I’m happy for the speed we showed…

Marc Marquez suffered his first MotoGP accident since the huge Mandalika highside on Saturday morning at Portimao.

“That lap was not amazing but it was enough to be on the second row. “Tomorrow we need to have a bit of luck in terms of tyre choice and base set-up,” he said. “I lost the front on a wet patch in the last corner,” Espargaro said of the qualifying spill. “It’s a bit like Austin, I’m happy with the speed we showed but again we were unlucky,” he said. “After that we didn’t make many laps just to avoid the risk. “But I didn’t expect to crash there because I was not pushing a lot.

Jack Miller is engaged in negotiations with the LCR Honda squad to return there for 2023 as an exit from Ducati appears more likely, Motorsport.com can ...

Miller admitted after the Austin race, in which he finished third, that he was open to the idea of stepping back to Pramac in 2023 if it meant continuing with Ducati. At the Americas Grand Prix, Miller revealed in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com that he was being “left in the dark” by Ducati over his future beyond 2022 and that no discussions had taken place about a 2023 seat. The three-time MotoGP race winner made his debut with LCR back in 2015 when he was signed to a three-year contract by Honda to come directly from Moto3, where he finished runner-up in the championship in 2014.

Zarco's pole was the seventh of his career, but the twice-former Moto2 champion has never won a race in the elite category.

because of me," he said. You always have to say you have respect but today, no I'm sorry, I was scared, because the wet patches were very slippery," said Aleix Espargaro. Marquez qualified in ninth just ahead of Pol Espargaro, having walked away from another crash in practice as he lost control in a corner and flew over the handlebars. Quartararo said he was "very happy" to be on the second row but rued not being able to record a last lap after yellow flags came out in the wake of another spill. He crashed in practice for the Indonesian Grand Prix and missed that race and the next one in Argentina with a recurrence of his double vision. Marquez qualified in ninth just ahead of Pol Espargaro, having walked away from another crash in practice as he lost control in a corner and flew over the handlebars.

Francesco Bagnaia has been taken to a local hospital for further checks after his big crash in Qualifying 1 at the Portuguese MotoGP.

The 2021 championship runner-up was flung from his Ducati when he touched a wet patch on the way to Turn 3 in the seventh minute of the session, getting to his feet with visible discomfort before sitting out the balance of proceedings. Bagnaia was one of those who gambled on slicks in the early stages of Q1 on what was still only a drying circuit, and while he was not the only one to be caught out, he was certainly bitten hardest. Francesco Bagnaia has been taken to a local hospital for further checks after his big crash in Qualifying 1 at the Portuguese MotoGP.

Pole for the 2022 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix went to Pramac's Johann Zarco after a dramatic qualifying that started on wet tyres and ended on slicks.

Laps Marquez was shuffled down to ninth ahead of Espargaro as a result. Laps

Joan Mir says he feels 'stronger than ever' on the Suzuki MotoGP bike after scoring a best-ever second in qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix.

The decision was nice, but that out-lap on the slick tyres I suffered a lot, I lose the rear many times. "Austin is a track that normally I don't like, I'm not fast. We have to stay there consistently but fast." I feel great and to make a qualifying lap like this one in these conditions, you need confidence. And from Austin on, I understood something. I was missing something.

Johann Zarco, riding his Pramac Racing Ducati, claimed pole position in a dry MotoGP qualifying session Saturday in Portugal.

However, in double heartbreak, the Brit’s lap was cancelled for yellow flags and Öncü then went fastest with a 2:03.955. Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) was third quickest, with Josh Whatley (VisionTrack Racing Team) putting together an impressive performance to move through to Q2 for the first time. The pair will be joined there by Frenchman Lorenzo Fellon, who clinched a debut front row start just two weeks on from his first World Championship points. Despite sitting pretty at the top of the timesheets with the chequered flag out, Miller didn’t even manage to hold on to a front row spot with Aleix Espargaro sneaking third whilst all eyes were on Zarco’s charge for pole. Aron Canet: “It was a really good qualifying because we started with slicks for the first time this weekend. I could analyse Q1 well and then for Q2 the best strategy was to stay out with the same tyres and try to gain confidence. That meant Miller still held pole but he was usurped, with the chequered flag now out, by Mir. The yellow flags were gone at the final corner and the 2020 World Champion capitalised, taking over on top. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing), meanwhile, was the first to lost out – and the Spaniard lost his front row streak, now to start P13. The only thing that is guaranteed is another stunning race, so don’t miss lights out for Round 5 of the MotoGP™ World Championship at 13:00 local time (GMT+1)! But as the other ten riders got up to speed and the track dried out further, the pace began to heat up. With the clock now ticking down to just 90 seconds and the final flying laps lined up, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller joined the party. LCR Castrol Honda’s Alex Marquez was and Mooney VR46 Team’s Luca Marini timed their attacks perfectly to end the session first and second, booking their places in Q2 in some style.

Frenchman Johann Zarco will start Sunday's Portuguese MotoGP in pole position on his Ducati Pramac after topping a crash-laden qualifying ahead of Spanish ...

You always have to say you have respect but today, no I’m sorry, I was scared, because the wet patches were very slippery,” said Aleix Espargaro. because of me,” he said. ORANGE CAP

'I was scared': MotoGP star shaken by dangerous conditions as French ace secures pole in Portugal.

Quartararo said he was “very happy” to be on the second row but rued not being able to record a last lap after yellow flags came out in the wake of another spill. You always have to say you have respect but today, no I’m sorry, I was scared, because the wet patches were very slippery,” said Aleix Espargaro. He crashed in practice for the Indonesian Grand Prix and missed that race and the next one in Argentina with a recurrence of his double vision.

In Qualifying 2, Marc Marquez looked to have set a lap fast enough for pole if not for a late crash for Repsol Honda team-mate Pole Espargaro which had brought ...

Ducati Ducati Lenovo Team Team SUZUKI ECSTAR WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team Repsol Honda Team Repsol Honda Team LCR Honda CASTROL Ducati Ducati Lenovo Team Aprilia Racing Team SUZUKI ECSTAR

Jack Miller is engaged in negotiations with the LCR Honda squad to return there for 2023 as an exit from Ducati appears more likely, Motorsport.com can ...

Miller admitted after the Austin race, in which he finished third, that he was open to the idea of stepping back to Pramac in 2023 if it meant continuing with Ducati. At the Americas Grand Prix, Miller revealed in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com that he was being “left in the dark” by Ducati over his future beyond 2022 and that no discussions had taken place about a 2023 seat. The three-time MotoGP race winner made his debut with LCR back in 2015 when he was signed to a three-year contract by Honda to come directly from Moto3, where he finished runner-up in the championship in 2014.