MotoGP Test Portimão J2 LIVE: Twelve riders break the track record but Pecco is on another planet

The final part of the 2023 winter tests is about to start on the asphalt of Portimão. Since this morning, the teams MotoGP rotate, simulate long runs, and prepare as best as possible for the start of the season. In the first part of the day, Pecco Bagnaia was the fastest in 1'38.154, but the afternoon was still long. Like yesterday, Aprilia seems to be in the game with its four machines in the top 10. Note the absence of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing), due to an injury sustained yesterday. Already, we are much faster than yesterday, with a new record time.

 

 

Overall, these tests are proof that Italy and more broadly Europe hold a new place within the MotoGP landscape. All Ducatis are fast, and if no rider Mooney VR46 Racing Team is not yet well ranked, there is no doubt that Luca marini (10th) will try to catch up with his colleagues a little later in the day.

 

 

Here is the ranking at midday in Portimão:

 

Just now, Brad Binder improves his time and moves to 11th position. The situation of KTM is quite special at the moment, because we have not observed a reference time until now. The South African may be on the path at the moment as he seems to be pushing, while the majority of the grid is at a standstill. Aleix Espargaro, the least visible at Aprilia yesterday, has just improved his mark and taken 5th place. The Spaniard has always had good intrinsic speed and there is no doubt that he can find a lot of speed on a lap. 

 

 

Alex Rins (15th), with 49 laps completed, is the man who has covered the most laps so far. Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, Takaaki Nakagami, Augusto Fernandez, Franco Morbidelli et Pecco Bagnaia have also passed the bar 40 rounds. At the same time, we announced the cessation of Luca marini, apparently plagued by a mechanical problem at the end of sector #2. 

fabio quartararo improves little by little, by putting on a medium front and soft rear tire. Disillusioned yesterday, he was very disappointed, specifying that the first race would not be within the reach of the Iwata company. Now 8th, his ranking yesterday, he still remains 0.7s behind Pecco Bagnaia. 

 

Here is the ranking at 15 p.m.: 

 

Very relevant information noted by the journalist MotoGP Simon Crafar, who, this morning, saw fabio quartararo try the fairing last year. Not a good sign for a team that is struggling considerably in Portimão, which is all the more incredible as the Frenchman dominated the 2022 Portuguese Grand Prix head and shoulders. Still at the bottom of the rankings, Franco Morbidelli et Jack Miller. Let's hope this doesn't hold true for the start of the season. The Australian now tries the hard tire at the front, as Pol Espargaro et Brad Binder. Perhaps this is the solution to making the RC-16 work, whether it's badged with KTM or GasGas.

That's it ! fabio quartararo may have found a solution on the handlebars of his YZR-M1 ! He also breaks the old track record and ranks second, 0.148 s behind the reference time of Pecco Bagnaia. Directly, he continues with a second round in 1'38.356, always very fast. There is no doubt that this effort will please the Blues. Like yesterday, “El Diablo” goes through a lot of tricks; already 63 for today, the highest total to date. Marco Bezzecchi, quite discreet until now compared to his teammate Luca marini, also gets into shape. Quite fast for a few laps, here he is 9th in the scratch but still seven tenths behind bagnaia. It must be said that the pace is very fast this afternoon in Portimão. It may be surprising, but Enea Bastianini (11th) is relatively discreet over these two days. 

Poleman here last year, Johann zarco shows his fangs and ranks third less than two tenths behind bagnaia, helped by soft rubber at the front and rear. 

 

 

Here is the ranking at 16 p.m.: 

 

Alex Marquez is back on track, having placed in the top 3 at the start of the day. Having a Desmosedici GP22, he does not have many new parts to test and can devote himself fully to adapting it to the machine. Watch out for him in two weeks. At the house of KTM, the situation does not change. Binder hovering around 15th place, seven tenths off the reference time. 

 

 

While the afternoon is relatively calm, Augusto Fernández is reported stopped at turn 5 due to a mechanical problem. A little after, Pecco Bagnaia finally gets back on the trail. Can he still improve? Repsol Honda continues its day with a Marc Márquez ranked 10th in 1'38.778. Joan Mir is 15th, while Franco Morbidelli rises to 17th position… but remains very far from the mark. 

 

 

With less than two hours to go, Enea Bastianini climbs back into the top 10, half a second behind his teammate. Very complicated days for Takaaki Nakagami (23rd yesterday, 19th currently), but fortunately, the driver Idemitsu LCR Honda can count on the unwavering support of its fans in Portimão, and vice versa:

 

Decidedly, fate is relentless Luca marini. Here he is stopped again after turn 1, apparently following a new technical problem. In front, the positions are fixed. We are just reporting the fall of Raúl Fernández (13th) which we hope is not serious. The Spaniard stood out yesterday with the fifth fastest time, which suggests great things to come. 

 

Here is the ranking at 17 p.m.: 

 

Watch out for Brad Binder, who is raising new hopes in Mattighofen. He entered in 6th position during his 49th loop of the day. On the other hand, the performance of other RC-16 users is worrying to say the least. Augusto Fernandez et Jack Miller are currently dead last, more than a second and a half behind Francis Bagnaia. 

 

 

Johann zarco gets closer to the head! The pilot First Pramac Racing passes second by a tenth of a second, and thus relegates Fabio Quartararo in third position. The Desmosedici with the number 5 is running, and will certainly be in the running during the first race of the year contested here in Portimão. With an hour to go, it's “El Diablo” who completed the most laps, with 88 units. Yesterday, he had achieved 90, five fewer than his teammate Franco Morbidelli. Yamaha tests a lot, but you have to keep in mind that they no longer have a satellite team to bring back more data. 

But it is not finished. Francis Bagnaia lights up red in the first sector, but does not follow for the rest of the round. Does he still have room to improve? Enough to scare more than one Japanese in the paddock. Still, it seems capable of running relatively regularly in “small 38”. And it's not over. Bagnaia does it again in the first three sectors, and completes the first lap in 1'37 (1'37.968) in history in Portimão! What a demonstration from the reigning champion! He seems to be living on another planet. 

Then, Enea Bastianini joined the top 4 during his 61st lap. When we forgot about him, the Ducati official reminds everyone of his lightning speed. The Italian continues to improve his sectors, but remains 0.4s from the lead. 

 

 

Here is the ranking at 18 p.m.: 

 

A this moment, Marco Bezzecchi improves in turn and slips into 4th place. Behind Bagnaia, a cut above everyone else, the battle for the first three places is particularly close even though it is only practice. 

We note on some photos taken on site that Yamaha is testing a real spoiler on the saddle backrest, even more radical than the Ducati wings. 

At the microphone motogp.com, Alex Marquez spoke about his situation, he who is currently in 4th position:
« The feeling was very good today, I tried a few different settings on the bike; I’m still adapting. From the morning, I was fast with the rear medium. For now we can't fight for the top 3, I still have to improve. I have a lot more confidence with the machine, it's not like last year where I didn't have the tools to surpass myself. Yes, I had a little crash, but we have to keep this mentality at the start of the season. It's too early to say exactly where we'll be in two weeks, but today we were in the mix. Overall, these two days were fruitful. »

Aleix Espargaró, he too, spoke about his arm problem and his assessment of these two days of testing:
« My arm hurt a bit today, which is why I didn't do many laps this afternoon. We're not ridiculous, we worked on the suspension and braking for turn 1, but also on the aero and electronics. The bike performs well, but we have to wait for the Portimão race to understand the hierarchy. Of course, Ducati looks very strong. »

fabio quartararo seemed happier, even if he has some reservations about his YZR-M1:
« We have made progress with the new tires. I'm pretty happy even if we're lacking everywhere. Regarding the new fin, I don't know if we will use it. In any case, it wasn't any worse. We are not completely ready although we have made some improvements. »

In the last moments, Luca Marini breaks into the top 4 and joins his teammate Marco Bezzecchi. This day is over, but also these winter tests! See you on the weekend of March 26 for the start of hostilities!

 

Here is the final ranking of this second day of testing:

Classification credit: motogp.com