MotoGP Portugal 2024: Bastianini tops practice race with record lap time

The MotoGP action shifts from Qatar in the Middle East to Portugal in Europe. The Portuguese edition of MotoGP 2024 kickstarted on a thrilling note with Enea Bastianini setting a blisteringly quick time to end Friday’s practice race in first position. The practice session ended with the top 10 riders earning their spots to go directly to Qualifier 2 today.

The Italian recorded a lap time of 1 minute and 38 seconds bettering the next best– Jack Miller— by 0.118 seconds. Eight-time World Champion champion Marc Marques, now a part of Gresini Racing, took the third spot tailing Bastianini by 0.153 seconds. 

MotoGP Portugal 2024: Marquez crashes

In what turned out to be an eventful practice session, Marquez crashed for the first time this season onboard the Ducati, with minutes left on the clock. However, the Spaniard showed his true class to return and take the third spot. The session began with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at the top— first Miller and followed by his teammate Brad Binder. 

Miller too had an eventful start to the session, crashing at turn five in the first 10 minutes of practice. KTM’s thunder was soon stolen as Marquez and Jorge Martin from Prima Pramac Ducati opened their throttle and had a go for the top spots. It was a thrilling end to the session, with riders opting for a time attack, to claim their spot in Q2.

Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia managed to grab the eighth spot by clocking a lap time of 1 minute and 38.552 seconds. Some big names like Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Alex Marquez and Espargaro missed out on a direct entry to Q2 and would now head to Q1 on Saturday.