New MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo demonstrated no hangovers from his celebrations at Misano by hitting the ground quickest on the first day of free practice for the Algarve MotoGP, the penultimate round of the season at Portimao.
Fresh from becoming the first Frenchman to win either during the 500GP or MotoGP era of motorcycle racing, Quartararo was in fine form around the Portuguese circuit to head up both FP1 and FP2 sessions.
A circuit he dominated at when MotoGP visited earlier in the season, Quartararo headed up his erstwhile closest title challenger Pecco Bagnaia by just under two tenths, with his Ducati team-mate Jack Miller following up in third.
Outgoing champion Joan Mir enjoyed arguably his strongest start to a race weekend this year with a run to fourth on the Suzuki, ahead of Pol Espargaro, the Misano podium winner leading the fight for Repsol Honda in the absence of Marc Marquez.
Johann Zarco rounded out the top six from Alex Marquez, who was joined by Takaaki Nakagami in forming an LCR Honda sandwich for Aleix Espargaro in eighth place.
Alex Rins completed the top ten, ahead of Jorge Martin and Danilo Petrucci, while home hope Miguel Oliveira - who romped to a dominant victory on MotoGP’s inaugural visit to Portimao 12 months ago when it hosted the season finale - was a disappointing 19th.
2021 Algarve MotoGP | Portimao | Free Practice RESULTS
| 2021 Algarve MotoGP | Portimao | Free Practice RESULTS [FP1 + FP2] | Round 17 / 18 | |||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat. | MotoGP Team | MotoGP Bike | Timing |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Energy Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 1m 39.390 |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati GP21 | 1m 39.522 |
| 3 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati GP21 | 1m 39.611 |
| 4 | Joan Mir | ESP | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1m 39.680 |
| 5 | Pol Espargaro | ESP | Repsol Honda Team | Honda RC213V | 1m 39.792 |
| 6 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Racing | Ducati GP21 | 1m 39.889 |
| 7 | Alex Marquez | ESP | LCR Honda Castrol | Honda RC213V | 1m 40.042 |
| 8 | Aleix Espargaro | ESP | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia RS-GP | 1m 40.069 |
| 9 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda Idemitsu | Honda RC213V | 1m 40.122 |
| 10 | Alex Rins | ESP | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1m 40.176 |
| 11 | Jorge Martin | ESP | Pramac Racing | Ducati GP21 | 1m 40.179 |
| 12 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Monster Energy Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 1m 40.225 |
| 13 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Tech3 KTM Factory Racing | KTM RC16 | 1m 40.231 |
| 14 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprila RS-GP | 1m 40.284 |
| 15 | Luca Marini | ITA | Sky VR46 Esponsorama | Ducati GP19 | 1m 40.323 |
| 16 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Avintia Esponsorama | Ducati GP19 | 1m 40.467 |
| 17 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM RC16 | 1m 40.498 |
| 18 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda Team | Honda RC213V | 1m 40.700 |
| 19 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM RC16 | 1m 40.935 |
| 20 | Iker Lecuona | ESP | Tech3 KTM Factory Racing | KTM RC16 | 1m 41.097 |
| 21 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 1m 41.174 |
| 22 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha YZF-M1 | 1m 41.214 |
