Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro currently tops the Portimao Test times at the midday point on Wednesday. The Spaniard has set a 1:40.880 on his RS-GP to head Michele Pirro (Ducati Team) by 0.774, with Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) third on the timesheets – 1.172 off teammate Espargaro so far.
Let's do some exploring ????#MonsterYamaha | #MotoGP | #PortimaoTest | @AIAPortimao | @MotoGP | @mvkoficial12 pic.twitter.com/9VUgUKhv45
— Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (@YamahaMotoGP) October 7, 2020
It’s a vital test for the MotoGP™ factories as they gather crucial data for the final round of the season, held in Portugal towards the end of November. HRC’s Stefan Bradl, Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli, KTM’s Dani Pedrosa and Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo have all been on track during the opening half of Wednesday’s allocated track time, the latter hopping on a MotoGP™ bike for the first time since the February Sepang Test.
Most of the full-time MotoGP™ riders have been lapping Portimao on road-going superbikes as they get a feel for the rollercoaster circuit, before heading there on their premier class thoroughbreds on the 20-22 of November. However, the bikes don't have transponders fitted, so we're unable to know what sort of lap times they're setting.
You can follow the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve’s live timing service HERE, to keep up with the times that the MotoGP™ test riders are setting. Interviews, highlights and more will be available on motogp.com throughout the afternoon.
Test rider times as of 13:00 local time (GMT+1):
1. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) – 1:40.880
2. Michele Pirro (Ducati Test Team) + 0.774
3. Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 1.172
4. Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) + 1.389
5. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Test Team) + 1.474
6. Dani Pedrosa (KTM Test Team) + 1.898
7. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Test Team) + 5.308