Moto2 Portimao-2 Qualifying: Raùl Fernandez hits hard: 7th pole and new record

Raul Fernandez, despite a fall, achieved the best time during the third and final free practice session of the Algarve Grand Prix in the Moto2 category, 17th and penultimate round of the 2021 World Championship. The No. 25 of the Red Bull Ajo Team dominated the first part of the session, closing with a time of 1'42,462. He is closely followed by his teammate and world ranking leader Remy Gardner, who was only pushed back by 36 thousandths.

Third beat for Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), which preceded Augusto Fernandez (Marc VDS) and the VR46 rookie Celestino Vietti. Sam Lowes (Marc VDS) is sixth, ahead of the Team Aspar rookie Albert Arenas et Jorge Navarro (Speed ​​Up). Close the Top Ten Hector Garzo (Pons) and Aron Canet, on the Boscoscuromoto of Team Aspar.

Stefano manzi (Pons), the rookie Ai Ogura (Team Asia), Xavi Verge (Petronas) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) also enter directly into Q2. But before that, there will be Q1. What will these qualifications give to Portimao? 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	1'42.816 Fabio Di Giannantonio
Q2	1'42.901 Sam Lowes	1'42.101 Raul Fernandez
Warm Up	1'42.447 Remy Gardner
Course	Fernandez, Canet, Gardner
All time lap record	1'42.447 Remy Gardner 2021	1.42.101 Raul Fernandez

It's 18,3° in the air and 26,2° on the track.

Q1 session:

Schrotter takes control in 1.43.670s in front Di Giannantonio, Ramirez and Roberts

Fall of'Aldeguer in turn 14. Roberts also made a mistake in turn 14

There are 5 minutes left in this session and Schrotter seems to be holding his own with his time achieved in 1.43.670s. Behind the positions have evolved, Syarhin ranks 2nd, Ramirez et Chantra complete this top4 with a view to Q2

By Giannantonio takes the lead in 1.42.816s ahead of Ramirez, Schrotter and Syarhin

kick of Dixon at turn 5.

End of session and it is Di Giannantonio, Ramirez, Schrotter and Syarhin who manage to qualify for Q2.

            Full Q1 results:

 

Q2 session: 

The temperatures are cooling: 17,7° in the air and 25,3° on the track.

R. Fernandez signs 1st provisional pole in 1.42.394s. He is ahead Bezzecchi, Vietti, Lowes and A. Fernandez. Driver Ajo takes the record again!

Gardner went out on track, but returned to the pits. He didn't even complete 1 lap...technical problem? Changing tires it seems. He leaves, he has 5.42 minutes left to set a time, he is 18th for the moment. 

Devant R. Fernandez holds up well with his excellent time. Canet follows in his footsteps, taking with him A. Fernandez, Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi.

kick of Canet in turn 13

R. Fernandez improves again in 1.42.101s! Gardner finishes his 1st lap and is positioned 8th. The leader of the world championship comes back strong and takes 2nd position with his time of 1.42.436s. Di Giannantonio is 3th, Canet et A. Fernandez, are 4th and 5th.

New pole for R.Fernandez who has the luxury of beating his own record.

Full Q2 results: