
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Improve Feeling on Wet Portuguese GP Friday

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo took on a very wet Autódromo Internacional do Algarve today in the first two free practice sessions. The duo ended the first day in Portimão in 18th and 20th place respectively in the combined FP standings.
Portimão (Portugal), 22nd April 2022
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo braved wet conditions on the first day of the Grande Prémio de Portugal. The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is already a challenge in the dry, let alone with impaired vision due to heavy rain and wind. They ended the day in P18 and P20 respectively.
Morbidelli had been looking forward to riding at the Algarve track, but the damp conditions in FP1 proved to be a challenge. He focused on adjusting his bike to the wet rollercoaster track and ultimately finished the session in 19th place with a 1’52.072s, set on lap 8/19, 1.406s off the best time.
The number-21 rider made the most of the short bit of dry track time at the start of FP2. He went straight to action to get a fast lap in. A 1’51.911s put him in provisional sixth place and made him one of the few riders to make a time improvement compared to this morning. With 30 minutes on the clock, the rain started hammering down again. Morbido finished the afternoon session in seventh place in the FP2 results, 1.204s from the top. It put him in P18 in the combined results, 1.245s from first.
Quartararo knew that it was going to be two difficult sessions when he saw the 100% rain weather forecast for the Friday. He got straight to work in the 45-minute morning session. His best lap, a 1’52.061s, put him in 18th place.
El Diablo was determined to close the gap in FP2. Early on in session, he set a 1’52.534s on a drying circuit for 13th place, 1.827s from the top. He then used the remainder of the track time to improve his bike’s wet set-up as it poured down with rain. His faster morning time put him in P20 in the combined results, with a 1.395s gap to the front runners.
Morbidelli had been looking forward to riding at the Algarve track, but the damp conditions in FP1 proved to be a challenge. He focused on adjusting his bike to the wet rollercoaster track and ultimately finished the session in 19th place with a 1’52.072s, set on lap 8/19, 1.406s off the best time.
The number-21 rider made the most of the short bit of dry track time at the start of FP2. He went straight to action to get a fast lap in. A 1’51.911s put him in provisional sixth place and made him one of the few riders to make a time improvement compared to this morning. With 30 minutes on the clock, the rain started hammering down again. Morbido finished the afternoon session in seventh place in the FP2 results, 1.204s from the top. It put him in P18 in the combined results, 1.245s from first.
Quartararo knew that it was going to be two difficult sessions when he saw the 100% rain weather forecast for the Friday. He got straight to work in the 45-minute morning session. His best lap, a 1’52.061s, put him in 18th place.
El Diablo was determined to close the gap in FP2. Early on in session, he set a 1’52.534s on a drying circuit for 13th place, 1.827s from the top. He then used the remainder of the track time to improve his bike’s wet set-up as it poured down with rain. His faster morning time put him in P20 in the combined results, with a 1.395s gap to the front runners.
Massimo Meregalli
Team Director
Franco Morbidelli
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider
Fabio Quartararo
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider