MotoGP LIVE Portimão FP3: A crazy end to the session!

The last meeting of the 2020 season, the 16th Portuguese Grand Prix takes place for the first time on the magnificent track of the very hilly Algarve Autodrome in Portimão.

Due to its very numerous sequences without major braking and without major accelerations, the circuit appears on paper to be rather favorable to in-line four cylinders compared to V4s despite its long starting straight. However, at the end of the first day, it is a perfect alternation that we observe at the top of the ranking, with a Ducati V4 preceding a Yamaha, an Aprilia V4, another Yamaha, a KTM V4, a Suzuki and a Ducati V4.



Si Johann Zarco, Maverick Viñales, Aleix Espargaró, Fabio Quartararo, Brad Binder, Joan Mir, Andrea Dovizioso, Pol Espargaró, Jack Miller and Franco Morbidelli have in fact pre-qualified for a direct passage to Q2, a very clever one who could announce the final hierarchy because many of the contenders were cut short at the last minute in a game where we are still far from having exploited all the possibilities of soft tires…

We should therefore not underestimate the possibilities of Stefan Bradl, Takaaki Nakagami, Miguel Oliveira and Cal Crutchlow while conversely, Álex Rins, Álex Márquez, Danilo Petrucci and especially Valentino Rossi really appeared in difficulty during their first day on the Portuguese circuit.

Today, the sessions resume a normal duration on an abrasive and atypical surface due to its unevenness: the maximum slope is 12% on the descents and 6% on the ascents, while the transverse slope is 8%. at certain points.

Despite recent tests at the beginning of October on the track with nine right turns and six left turns, as well as a straight line of almost a kilometer, Michelin Moreover, play caution while bringing 4 types of front tires and 4 types of rear tires, instead of the usual 3. The allocation includes a soft, a medium and a hard front with a symmetrical design, plus a second hard in an asymmetrical version with a harder right side. For the rear, Michelin offers an asymmetrical soft, medium and hard with a reinforced right side due to the greater number of curves in this direction. A second hard, in a symmetrical version, is also available.

Brembo does not anticipate any difficulties and even judges the Portuguese circuit as the easiest of the season in terms of braking.

La weather forecasts is also optimistic and promises us a beautiful sunny weekend, although a little windy near the Atlantic Ocean. This is still confirmed this morning with an immaculate sky and exceptional temperatures of 19° in the air and 20° on the asphalt resurfaced this year for Formula 1.

Finally, in addition to the hierarchy that will emerge over the course of the sessions, we will follow the duel between Suzuki and Ducati, strictly tied on points for the constructor's title: Only the best driver from each brand will score points on Sunday. If it is about Joan mir ou Alex Rins, this will give Hamamatsu the triple crown for the centenary of the Japanese firm!

Thanks to the official website MotoGP.com, here is a few minutes of live images in this article : It cannot be refused!


Start of the session: 10:55 a.m. French time.
End of session: 11:40 a.m.

MotoGP™ Portimao	2020
October test	1'40.170 Aleix Espargaró (See here)
FP1	1'40.122 Miguel Oliveira (See here)
FP2	1'39.417 Johann Zarco (See here)
FP3	1'39.205 Jack Miller (See here)

When the red lights go out... For once it's not customary, Joan mir rushes ahead Franco Morbidelli, while conversely, Fabio Quartararo takes the track after everyone else.

The slightly cooler temperatures of the morning allow some, like Johann zarco, to use a soft rear tire.

Maverick Vinales recorded the first reference of the morning in 1'41.896.

Jack Miller is hot

fabio quartararo takes command in the next passage in 1'41.002 before handing it over to Miguel Oliveira in 1'40.791 then at Takaaki Nakagami in 1'40.658.

Stefan bradl then comes a reminder that everything remains open and writes 1'40.513 at the top of the timesheet.

Takaaki Nakagami Honda then took over in 1'40.485, thus lining up two RC213Vs in the first two places.

Pol I will espargaro releases the big attack and gets a little heat at the exit of turn #7…

As a reminder, the direct access bar to Q2 is set at 1'39.888 by Frank Morbidelli, 10th in the combined ranking.

A little before mid-session, Miguel Oliveira, whose helmet pays tribute to his country, takes the leadership of the session by registering 1'40.290.

The hierarchy is then composed of Miguel Oliveira, Takaaki Nakagami, Stefan Bradl, Johann Zarco, Pol Espargaro, Aleix Espargaro, Andrea Dovizioso, Fabio Quartararo, Franco Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales, Álex Márquez, Jack Miller, Álex Rins, Brad Binder, Danilo Petrucci, Valentino Rossi, Joan Mir, Cal Crutchlow, Lorenzo Savadori, Francesco Bagnaia, Tito Rabat and Mika Kallio, but the ranking of the top 10 combined did not change.

In the wake, Aleix I will espargaro hoists his Aprilia into second position before pulling straight ahead.

Takaaki Nakagami regained the advantage in 1'40.114 then 1'39.804 thanks to a soft tire mounted at the rear. With the same medium/soft tire fitment, Alex Marquez completes a new Honda double at the top of the ranking.

This is very fleeting since a few seconds later, fabio quartararo and Jack Miller improves the reference to 1'39.414.

Almost everyone is now on a soft rear tire, with the exception of Valentino Rossi and Mika Kallio hard, and Maverick Vinales and Lorenzo Savadori in medium.

There are 10 minutes left and Miguel Oliveira has exited Franco Morbidelli from the top 10 combined…

All drivers are now on soft tires at the rear but there is little improvement until four minutes from the checkered flag, when Johann zarco starts to light the first sector in red…

Unfortunately, the Frenchman's first attempt came to nothing, unlike that of Miguel Oliveira who takes command in 1'39.372 one minute from the end of the session: did you say motivation?

However, nothing is yet decided since Pol I will espargaro et Alex Rins are able to progress and it is indeed the Suzuki rider who records 1'39.555 a few seconds before the flag drops.

Miguel Oliveira does not intend to stop there and slams 1'39.330 but Jack Miller beats the Portuguese on the post in 1'39.205, a new circuit record whileAlex Rins runs out of fuel!

Another crazy end to the session, especially in the combined ranking 13 drivers stand in less than half a second!

See you at 14:30 p.m. for FP4!

FP3 classification of the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão:

FP1/FP2/FP3 classification of the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão:

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com