Moto3 Portimao Qualifying: And 6 for Raúl Fernandez

This is the last epic of the Moto3 season on the Portuguese track of Portimao. The time for qualifying which will take place under the sun has come, before the last race of the COVID19 era, 2020, begins tomorrow.

A qualifying session which will begin with the usual Q1 where on this occasion the four best drivers will be drafted. This session will last fifteen minutes. Then the Q2 session will take place and will see the best take pole position.

This morning it is Masia Yellow who took the lead during FP3 by breaking the track record in 1.47.398s. He got ahead Albert Arenas et Jeremy Alcove. Suffice it to say that the conditions will have improved further enough to see a beautiful spectacle on the track and the track record be taken again.

The championship has not yet been played and is contested between Albert Arenas who is eight points ahead and Ai Ogura , the Japanese pilot. Tony Arbolino is the 3rd contender for the title but is eleven points behind the leader.

 

But before that, a reminder of the facts…

 

Moto3™ Portimao	2020
FIM CEV record	1'48.776 Fabio Quartararo (2014)
FP1	1'48.896 Jaume Masia
FP2	1'47.987 Albert Arenas
FP3	1'47.398 Jaume Masia
Q1	1'47.635 Darryn Binder
Q2	1'48.051 Raul Fernandez
Warm Up
Course
All time lap record	1'47.398 Jaume Masia

It's 21,6° in the air and 27,8° on the track.

Here is the list of drivers who will participate in Q1:

Here we go for 15min:

It is Suzuki before Yamanaka et Pizzoli who sets the best time in 1.48.934s. Pawi is the 4th best time of the session.

5 minutes from the goal, Antonelli takes the lead in 1.48.600s ahead of Fenati, Suzuki and Kofler. Antonelli further improves in 1.48.592s. He is ahead Fenati, Kofler and Lopez. Arbolino is 11th.

Last second and Suzuki takes the best time of the session in 1.48.090s.

Ogura was hot...Leaving the pit very late for his last run..

Binder in turn recovered the stake by ultimately signing the best time of the session in 1.47.635s. Suzuki, Ogura and Antonelli are the 3 other drivers to join Q2. Arbolino finishes 13th and will start far on the starting grid, the championship is moving away!

Q1 standings:

 

Q2 session: 

It's been going for 5 minutes and no one on the trail..

It is Bedroom which signs the reference time e, 1.48.236s.

kick of Migno in turn 4.

Rodrigo also goes to the mat in turn 12

Fernandez takes provisional pole in 1.48.051s ahead Alcoba, Sasaki, Arenas and Antonelli. Ogura is not out yet..

Ogura on the track, failing to get going...He is 14th in the time trial, he laps in 1.51.662s.

The Japanese did well in his last lap, he finished 5th.

Fernandez takes pole in 1.48.051s ahead Alcoba, Sasaki, Suzuki, Ogura, Arenas, Antonelli, Foggia, Masia and Rodrigo. 

Full Q2 ranking: