The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team got straight to work on the Grande Prémio de Portugal Friday. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins saved the best for last. After multiple yellow flags during the final stages of the Practice session, the duo perfectly timed their hot laps. They secured 9th and 10th place respectively and will take part in tomorrow's Q2.
Quartararo had put in 20 laps in the morning session to prepare for putting in his bid for a place inside the top 10 in the afternoon. Having finished the morning stint in 11th, he knew he was close to his goal. When the Practice got underway, the Frenchman showed he meant business by featuring inside the top 5 for the first two thirds of the session. Multiple late crashers caused yellow flags in the final stages, making it more challenging to get a clear lap in. El Diablo had to wait for the last few minutes to set a 1’38.552s on lap 19/20, to take ninth place in the Practice timesheets, 0.495s from first. It got him straight into tomorrow's Q2.
Rins was in his element at the Portimao circuit. He was quite literally 'flying' over the hilly circuit during FP1, finishing in seventh place. The steps made in the morning session had the Spaniard feel confident that he would be able to challenge for a spot in Q2. In the afternoon, he put in the needed work throughout the 60-minute Practice and showed his experience when it was hammer time. With yellow flags out on track, he saved his tyres as much as possible before pushing to the limit on his 22nd and final lap. His 1’38.560s put him in 10th place in Practice results, 0.503s from first, earning him a spot in Q2.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team got straight to work on the Grande Prémio de Portugal Friday. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins saved the best for last. After multiple yellow flags during the final stages of the Practice session, the duo perfectly timed their hot laps. They secured 9th and 10th place respectively and will take part in tomorrow's Q2.
Quartararo had put in 20 laps in the morning session to prepare for putting in his bid for a place inside the top 10 in the afternoon. Having finished the morning stint in 11th, he knew he was close to his goal. When the Practice got underway, the Frenchman showed he meant business by featuring inside the top 5 for the first two thirds of the session. Multiple late crashers caused yellow flags in the final stages, making it more challenging to get a clear lap in. El Diablo had to wait for the last few minutes to set a 1’38.552s on lap 19/20, to take ninth place in the Practice timesheets, 0.495s from first. It got him straight into tomorrow's Q2.
Rins was in his element at the Portimao circuit. He was quite literally 'flying' over the hilly circuit during FP1, finishing in seventh place. The steps made in the morning session had the Spaniard feel confident that he would be able to challenge for a spot in Q2. In the afternoon, he put in the needed work throughout the 60-minute Practice and showed his experience when it was hammer time. With yellow flags out on track, he saved his tyres as much as possible before pushing to the limit on his 22nd and final lap. His 1’38.560s put him in 10th place in Practice results, 0.503s from first, earning him a spot in Q2.