MotoGP Portugal LIVE Race: Fabio Quartararo imperial in front of a dazzling Johann Zarco

Johann Zarco qualified on pole for the first time since Germany last year and for the seventh time in MotoGP. He passes Christian Sarron and takes second place on the list of French riders with the most pole positions in the category behind Fabio Quartararo (16).

Joan mir qualified in second position as the best Suzuki. This is Mir's best qualification in the premier category and his third front row start, after Styria in 2020 (following Zarco's penalty) and Algarve last year where he was third. Additionally, with Mir in second, this is Suzuki's best qualifying result since Alex Rins was also second at last year's Portuguese GP.

Aleix Espargaró qualified in third position, which is the second time he has qualified in the top three with Argentina where he was in pole position before winning. Jack Miller qualified in fourth position, it is the fourth consecutive time that he has qualified in the top four in the Algarve. He has finished on the podium twice at this circuit: P2 at the 2020 Portuguese GP and P3 last year in the Algarve.

Winner of the Portuguese GP last year from pole, fabio quartararo qualified in fifth position as the best Yamaha rider. This is the second best result of Quarterly since the start of the season, after Indonesia where he was in pole position.

Marco Bezzecchi qualified in sixth position, the best result of his rookie season so far. After going through Q1, Alex Marquez qualified in seventh position (despite a crash at the end of Q2). This is his best qualifying result since switching to MotoGP in 2020. Luca marini, who also made it through Q1, qualified in eighth position, his second best qualifying result since the start of the season after Argentina, where he was third. He finished 12th last year on the Algarve, twice.

Marc Marquez qualified in ninth position (after his time was canceled at the end of Q2) for the second consecutive time after Austin. He finished seventh last year at the Portuguese GP, which is his only MotoGP race at this track. Winner of the 2020 Portuguese GP from pole position, Miguel Oliveira qualified in 11th position for his second best qualifying result since the start of the season after Indonesia, where he placed seventh and won.

On pole position last time in Austin and on the front row since Valencia last year, George Martin failed to reach Q2 and qualified in 13th position. This is his worst result since his 14th place at the Dutch TT last year. The leader of the championship, Enea Bastianini, fell in Q1 and qualified in 18th position. Winner last year of the Algarve GP from pole, Francis Bagnaia fell in Q1 and qualified in last position (25th). This is his worst qualifying result since switching to MotoGP in 2019.

What will this Portuguese Grand Prix, fifth round of the MotoGP season, have in store for us? Before answering this question, here is the table which summarizes the facts known so far.

We will remind you that there will be one driver missing from the starting grid… Both Fernandez, Adrian in Moto3 and Raul in MotoGP will have missed this Portuguese meeting.

Before jumping into the fray here are the live images…

Here are the proposed conditions…

Here are the tires chosen…

A few minutes before departure…

Here we go ! At the first turn, Mir comes out ahead zarco au Quarterly.the latter asserts himself with authority in front of his compatriot.

Kidneys is 10th. The Suzukis are in good shape. Miller goes third, Alex Marquez is fifth behind Zarco. Marc Marquez is eleventh. Alex Espargaro is sixth. Bastinaini is in the 12th points.

After 3 rounds fabio quartararo goes ahead Mir. zarco is third.

The two Frenchmen have good rhythm. The official Yamaha align the best times on the track. zarco nibbles on Mir. George Martin fall after 5 laps.

The two officials Honda engaged in a merciless duel for ninth place. which allows Kidneys to escape and bastianini to reglue.

Alex Marquez, Aleix Espargaro Rins et Olive tree are fighting for fifth place.

Quarterly go ahead, Mir is at 2s and sees zarco to come back. 16 laps from the goal bastianini fall. The championship leader is down. Quarterly is virtually at the top of the general ranking. He is leading the race 10 laps from the goal with 3 seconds ahead of Mir. Nakagami fall.

The gaps 15 laps from the finish

Miller goes back 10 laps from the goal…

Understanding the danger, zarco take advantage of the straight line to overtake Mir and thus move up to second place.

Aleix Espargaró returns to Miller Mir et zarco. during this time, Quarterly is far ahead, almost 6s. Brad Binder fall but Miller gets carried away wanting to pass Mir. He loses the front of his Ducati and slides on the Suzuki of the 2020 World Champion. both men are eliminated. zarco seems to be assured of his podium now completed by Aleix Espargaro.

To zarco, the threat from Aprilia is becoming clearer... There are 3 laps remaining. bagnaia, moved up to ninth, threatens the two official Hondas. Under the checkered flag, fabio quartararo closing as a winner what will have been a real demonstration of force, in front of John Zarco et  Alex Espargaro. alex rins starting 23rd is fourth Miguel Oliveira closes the top 5 ahead Marc Marquez who had difficulty bringing his brother Alex into line. bagnaia who started last is eighth in front Pol Espargaro et Casa Particular in Viñales. the best rookie is Gardner, 14th in front Bezzecchi.

In the championship, fabio quartararo et alex rins are co-leaders in front Aleix I will espargaro 3 points…

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

Classification credit: MotoGP.com