Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha) – the Catalan was unimpressed by the strong performance of his compatriot and set the fastest time in the first free practice, ahead of Alex Rins (Suzuki) and Honda returnees Marc Marquez.

The Marquez comeback – planned well in advance

Since FP1 in Portimão it has been crystal clear to many observers that Honda and Marc Marquez deliberately fooled the public while preparing for the season opener in Losail. Today everything looks like HRC planned to return to the Autodromo do Algarve with the Catalan. Not until it became clear, of course, that a comeback in Qatar was too risky from a medical perspective. Obviously, it wasn’t the doctors who played a major role in determining when the time for Marc’s return would take place in the last few weeks. At the press conference on Thursday evening, the 2019 world champion revealed himself when he declared that he made the decision to renounce Qatar himself early on.

Marc Marquez in the Repsol Honda Box during the first free practice session for the Portuguese Grand Prix – taking into account the meticulous and multi-week preparation for exactly this moment, the surprise about his strong performance was limited.

A comparison with Marcel Schrötter shows it – the calculation worked out perfectly
As the only MotoGP rider, Marquez had meticulously prepared for his comeback on the MotoGP replica from Honda at the Autodromo do Algarve while the competition was in Losail. The Honda MotoGP offshoot RC213V-S could be ordered for 188,000 euros after its appearance. Since this Honda has lights and indicators, this two-wheeled rocket is even approved for use on public roads. The 6-time world champion practiced in peace and quiet and the public only saw a short clip where he drove out of the boxes and a little later on the home straight from Portimão. The fact that they were meticulously rehearsed to stage a worthy return was cleverly disguised. The comparison with Marcel Schrötter showed it impressively on April 16, 2021, the calculation worked out perfectly. The German was one of the Moto2 riders who had already practiced with his team at the Autodromo do Algarve beforehand. For him, it was P4 in the first free practice and Marquez convinced with 3rd place.

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) in his crash, when he braked the first corner in FP2 and fell in the process. Directly from the Medical Center, the Japanese climbed onto his Honda again and made it into the top ten, impressively proving what MotoGP riders are made of.

Miguel Oliveira initially only on P16 – bluff or problems in FP1?

In FP1 it is often not possible to estimate exactly whether all drivers were already on the hunt for a fast time. Often enough, Valentino Rossi’s strategy of concentrating on a good racing setup early on paid off. But given the weather forecast for Friday afternoon, a very risky decision. For his part, the old master missed the top ten by just 56 thousandths to Danilo Petrucci as the surprisingly strongest KTM rider. His brand colleague Oliveira, however, disappointed with 16th place, behind Aprilia’s surprise Lorenzo Savadori and rookie Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati). In the end, however, it worked out, and it was enough, albeit just under, to make it into the top ten. Below is the result with the drivers in italics who are currently not qualified for Q2.

P, No, Rider, Km/h, Time, Gap 1st/Prev.
1, 63, Francesco BAGNAIA, 341.7, 1’39.866,
2, 20, Fabio QUARTARARO, 329.2, 1’40.206, 0.340 / 0.340
3, 36, Joan MIR, 330.2, 1’40.285, 0.419 / 0.079
4, 42, Alex RINS, 336.4, 1’40.328, 0.462 / 0.043
5, 43, Jack MILLER, 339.6, 1’40.336, 0.470 / 0.008
6, 93, Marc MARQUEZ, 333.3, 1’40.339, 0.473 / 0.003
7, 12, Maverick VIÑALES, 329.2, 1’40.426, 0.560 / 0.087
8, 5, Johann ZARCO, 339.6, 1’40.490, 0.624 / 0.064
9, 88, Miguel OLIVEIRA, 333.3, 1’40.592, 0.726 / 0.102
10, 30, Takaaki NAKAGAMI, 332.3, 1’40.611, 0.745 / 0.019
11, 73, Alex MARQUEZ, 336.4, 1’40.732, 0.866 / 0.121
12, 44, Pol ESPARGARO, 335.4, 1’40.743, 0.877 / 0.011
13, 10, Luca MARINI, 331.2, 1’40.761, 0.895 / 0.018
14, 41, Aleix ESPARGARO, 333.3, 1’40.907, 1.041 / 0.146
15, 46, Valentino ROSSI, 330.2, 1’41.125, 1.259 / 0.218
16, 32, Lorenzo SAVADORI, 338.5, 1’41.140, 1.274 / 0.015
17, 33, Brad BINDER, 337.5, 1’41.183, 1.317 / 0.043
18, 9, Danilo PETRUCCI, 328.2, 1’41.187, 1.321 / 0.004
19, 21, Franco MORBIDELLI, 331.2, 1’41.216, 1.350 / 0.029
20, 23, Enea BASTIANINI, 335.4, 1’41.836, 1.970 / 0.620
21, 27, Iker LECUONA, 330.2, 1’42.461, 2.595 / 0.625
22, 89, Jorge MARTIN, 338.5, 1’42.921, 3.055 / 0.460

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) – the provisional pole setter in the pit of the Ducati factory team. Originally Fabio Quartararo was only 38 thousandths behind the Italian on the time monitor, but the Frenchman’s best lap was then canceled by the race management.

The winners and losers

Except for local hero Oliveira, KTM still seems to have the worm. Binder was the second best of the Oranges in P15 and the two Tech 3 drivers were in the last four after the first day. The Spaniard involuntarily proved on Friday just how wrong you can be in calling someone like Jorge Martin prematurely as the upcoming high-flyer after his surprising podium in Losail. While Luca Marini was the best rookie on the Sky VR46 Avintia Ducati on P13, ahead of half-brother Rossi and Morbido were lying on the Yamahas, Jorge carried the red lantern after the 1st day. With three Ducatis in the top ten, two Yamahas, two Hondas and Suzukis and a KTM, everything looks balanced at first glance. Honda in particular, with Alex Marquez in P11 and Pol Espargaró directly behind, is not in such a bad position, as feared in many places. At the moment, you may only have to worry about Petronas Yamaha SRT and KTM, but there is still a free practice session on Saturday morning before the grid is ready.

HRC Test driver Stefan Bradl in Marc Marquez’s Repsol Honda box – at the moment everything looks as if he has been relegated to an extra with the comeback of the Catalan.

The schedule for the weekend for the Portuguese Grand Prix

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© MotoGP).