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ALEX MARQUEZ SHOWS SOME SKILLS ON DAY 1 AT PORTIMAO  

Team Gresini left a mark in the inaugural day of action for the 2023 season and does so with Alex Marquez, who in his official debut on the sky-blue liveried Ducati machine surprised everyone (or almost everyone) with the quickest time in the FP1 session (1’38.782secs). In what was a more complex afternoon session, with two red flag situations, logged a 1’38.385secs – a time that was not quick enough to be seeded directly to the first Q2 of the year.

The experienced Spaniard is 0.6secs away from the top and only one tenth shy of the last classified of the ‘Q2 lot’. He will be the favourite in tomorrow’s Q1, which will also feature Fabio Di Giannantonio. The Italian, who is back in action after the crash in the official test here at Portimao, saw his confidence affected a little by a crash at turn five.

Proceedings will resume tomorrow: FP3 will begin at 10:10, while qualifying is scheduled at 10:50 (LOCAL TIME GMT).

11th – ALEX MARQUEZ #73

“Generally speaking it was a positive day, we only needed one little push to get into Q2. We missed out on the perfect lap and I’m aware it’s an area I need to improve. This was the first day of the season and maybe I was a little bit more nervous than usual. We still need to improve something strategy wise, but it’s normal on the first day of a Grand Prix.” 

21st – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49

“It was a bit of a chaotic day between track conditions and red flags, but I wasn’t expecting that much of a difference only for one day of testing I missed. We lapped the same as we did in Day one of testing, while the others had made already a big step forward. We’re a bit on the back foot and we need to understand how to be better tomorrow. The crash didn’t help, but fortunately I’m fine.”


ALEX MARQUEZ SHOWS SOME SKILLS ON DAY 1 AT PORTIMAO    - Gresini Racing
ALEX MARQUEZ SHOWS SOME SKILLS ON DAY 1 AT PORTIMAO    - Gresini Racing
ALEX MARQUEZ SHOWS SOME SKILLS ON DAY 1 AT PORTIMAO    - Gresini Racing