Moto2 Portimao-2 FP3: Raúl Fernandez untouchable

During FP2 in Portimao, Raul Fernandez responded to FP1 leader Remy Gardner by setting the best time in the last free practice session of the Algarve Grand Prix in the Moto2 category, 17th and penultimate round of the 2021 World Championship. The Red Bull Ajo Team driver, who is chasing his Australian teammate 18 points ahead of him in the Championship, set the best lap with a time of 1'43.246, beating Sam Lowes (Marc VDS) by just 2 thousandths and Remy Gardner by 122 thousandths.

Furthermore, the Australian collided Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) when the session was almost over. A fall which fortunately did not result in any consequences for either pilot. Jorge Navarro (Speed ​​​​Up) obtained the fourth time ahead of the rookie from Team Asia, Ai Ogura and the Sky Racing Team VR46 duo formed by Marco Bezzecchi and the rookie Celestino Vietti.

Augusto Fernandez (Marc VDS) and Xavi Virgo (Petronas) close the Top Ten. Marcel Schrotter (Intact GP), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini), Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Jake dixon (Petronas) also enter provisional Q2.

What will this FP3 have in store for us, the last chance to enter a top 14 directly qualifying for Q2? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

Moto2™ Portimao	4-2021	11-2021
FP1	1'43.905 Joe Roberts	1'43.667 Remy Gardner
FP2	1'43.144 Joe Roberts	1'43.246 Raul Fernandez
FP3	1'42.643 Remy Gardner	1'42.462 Raul Fernandez
Q1	1'43.318 Sonkiat Chantra
Q2	1'42.901 Sam Lowes
Warm Up	1'42.447 Remy Gardner
Course	Fernandez, Canet, Gardner
All time lap record	1'42.447 Remy Gardner 2021

We learned before the start of hostilities that Tetsuta Nagashima, replacement driver at Italtrans, will have to serve the “Long Lap Penalty” sanction at the “Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve” because he was driving slowly at turn 14 on the ideal line on Friday and another driver on a fast lap was hampered.

It's 18,3° in the air and 25,1° on the track. It's sunny.

R. Fernandez takes the lead after a few minutes of the session, achieving a lap time of 1.43.695s. Beaubier, Bezzecchi, Schrotter and Canet complete this provisional top5.

The Ajo driver is still pushing and improving. He completed a lap of the track in 1.43.335s. Behind, Gardner came to position 2nd in 1.43.675s. A. Fernandez, Lowes, and Garzo bring up the rear of this top5. There are 30 minutes left in this session.

kick of Baldassari in turn 4. Navarro also made a mistake.

R. Fernandez is gradually approaching the track record: 1.42.462s. Lowes imitates him in the effort and takes rank 2 in 1.43.219s. Gardner is 3rd in 1.43.228s.

kick of R. Fernandez in turn 13.

The 14 drivers who at 15 minutes would enter Q2 are: R.Fernandez, Lowes, A.Fernandez, Canet, Gardner, Bezzecchi, Beaubier, Virginie, Dixon, Di Giannantonio, Vietti, Ogura, Schrotter and Navarro.

kick of Biesiekirski

Very nice tour of Héctor Garzò who takes 2nd position behind R. Fernandez, setting a lap time of 1.43.066s.

10 minutes from the end of the session, the top10 is as follows: R.Fernandez, Garzo, Lowes, Arenas, A.Fernandez, Canet, Bezzecchi, Gardner, Vietti and Manzi.

There are 7 minutes left and Bezzecchi came to position itself 2nd best time in 1.42.623s. Gardner took this advantage back by achieving a lap time of 1.42.498s.

End of session with R.Fernandez the fastest in 1.42.462. Gardner is 2nd best time ahead of Bezzecchi. A.Fernandez and Vietti complete this top5.

The 14 drivers qualified for Q2 are therefore: R.Fernandez, Gardner, Bezzecchi, A.Fernandez, Vietti, Lowes, Arenas, Navarro, Garzo, manzi, Canet, Ogura, Virginie, Beaubier.

 

            Moto2 Portimao-2 FP3: Chronos

 

Credit classification motogp.com