For the moment, on the hilly Portimao circuit, Enea Bastianini is the master of MotoGP. Faster on Friday, the Italian from Ducati was also faster on Saturday, setting the best time in qualifying. A strange session, quickly marked by the falls of Marc Marquez (Ducati Gresini) and Brad Binder (KTM), and which took a while to get going.
But once they got going, the drivers pushed hard to try to get pole. It was first Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) who made an impression, with a time of 1’37″942. Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac) was placed just behind him, four thousandths, but his time was canceled for exceeding runway limits.
Marc Marquez 8th after a fall
During the second burst of fast laps, Martin took power in 1’37″812, quickly beaten by Bastianini (1’37″706), a time ultimately sufficient to offer him the second pole of his career after that of Austin in 2022. Because no one has managed to do better than the Italian, even if Maverick Vinales didn’t come far. The Aprilia rider was only 4 thousandths behind after the second sector, and he failed at 82 thousandths.
Behind the first line Bastianini – Vinales – Martin, Bagnaia set the 4th time, ahead of Jack Miller (KTM) and Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati VR46). The third row is full of promise with Pedro Acosta (GasGas), Marc Marquez, who managed to get back on the track after his fall with 4’35 on the clock, and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), who fought well with the means which he has. His compatriot Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) had less success, and he will start 19th.
