Ahead of the Official Qatar Tests and the opening round of the season later this month, the Moto2™ and Moto3™ teams are taking part in private tests. This week in Portimao, a large group of intermediate and lightweight class riders are lapping the Algarve International Circuit to dial themselves in.
20 Moto2™ riders are at the rollercoaster and after the first of two days, Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) is fastest from Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team). Several rookies are continuing their adaptation to the Moto2™ machines and fastest so far is multiple Moto3™ race winner Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Spaniard was less than a second shy of Bezzecchi – as was the latter’s teammate Celestino Vietti. Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), Cameron Beaubier (Tennor American Racing) and Yari Montella (Speed Up Racing) joined the more experienced guard on track.
In the Moto3™ class, new Snipers Team recruit Andrea Migno led the way. The Italian was a couple of tenths clear of second best Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the latter impressing already on the Grand Prix stage. 14 Moto3™ riders were in action, including the likes of Petronas Sprinta Racing’s John McPhee and Darryn Binder and Gresini Racing’s Gabriel Rodrigo and Jeremy Alcoba, all of whom will be heading into 2021 as some peoples pick for the title.
The riders will be lapping the Algarve International Circuit again on Wednesday, as private testing continues. You can check out the full standings from the opening day thanks to the circuit’s Live Timing feature!