MotoGP Algarve FP3: Bagnaia and Quartararo split by 0.001

November 6, 2021 EMR Writer

Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo come incredibly close to one another heading into QP.

0.001 seconds, that’s all that split the world champion and hopeful vice-champion heading into qualifying later today with the entire field within 1.1 seconds of Bagnaia, we are yet to see Bagnaia and Quartararo battle it out on the track this year but we may be about to see our prayers answered come Sunday’s race with the pair coming incredibly close within each others’ best lap times of the weekend, the pair were joined in the top three by Joan Mir who was only 0.025 seconds back from Bagnaia. Already here in 2021 Mir has scored a podium at the track and could be about to repeat the feat come Sunday, of course this is providing he can qualify well after struggling all year long.

Jack Miller has been busy brainstorming the new project for ‘Miller Taxi’s’ with ‘Miller Airlines’ as he jumps his way around Portimao into fourth place, he has been within the top five for every session this weekend and also has podium history here at the circuit, is a ‘Miller Podium’ looming? Rounding out the top five was Alex Marquez who rocketed his way up the timesheets later on, we know Marquez is quick as a two time MotoGP podium finisher but has struggled quite significantly this year with the LCR team, could this finally be where his season turns for the better? He led Franco Morbidelli who is stronger and stronger every round as his knee heals, another rider with podium history in Portimao.

Next up were Alex Rins and Pol Espargaro ahead of a superb Luca Marini who yet again makes his way into Q2 repeating his performance at Misano, seemingly fired up by his teammates podiums recently he really is impressing on the two-year-old GP19 ahead of Jorge Martin who occupied the last Q2 spot.

Missing out on Q2 were some strong names including Takaaki Nakagami, Iker Lecuona, Enea Bastianini and Aleix Espargaro, however with the field as close as they are it’s incredibly hard to get into the top 10.

Full results –