Francesco Bagnaia narrowly made his way through to Saturday’s Q2 session after finishing eᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚighth fastest in Friday’s second MotoGP practice in Portimao.

The reigning world champion show😼ed improved speed as the session went onও, although he couldn’t match team-mate Enea Bastianini who was quickest. 

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Asked if he was happy with the day, Bagnaia said: “I’m in the top ten so yes. It was a day of work and unluckily this mornin🔯g we didn’t have the chance to try🐻 different things.

“I’m a guy who wants to understand everything. This morning was useless but this afternoon we understood the direction 🍌to ♑follow.

“I’m happy to bꦅe in Q2. Happy because we understood the way 🍒to go.”

In Qatar, Bagnaia reminded everyone why he’s still the rider to beat, but as has always been the case in his ca🌌reer, Bagnaia built up to his grand prix success in a methodical, yet quiet way.

Not a rider who likes to boast about what he can achieve, Bagnaia alluded to wanting to do his talki꧃ng on the track again in Portimao.

“I prefer to speak with results than speaking b♔efore,” said Bagnaia. “I know my potential and what I can do.

“But if I speak before and after bei♑ng 18th, if I say I can w💧in, maybe people will think I’m crazy.

“Sometimes it is better to work in silence, working, working, working and then b♌e prepared for the main goal. I prefer to work like this.”

Bagnaia, who doesn’t need to finish fir♊st on a Friday to secure direct access to Q2🦋 did admit that it would make the weekend a lot easier, but that it’s not something he concerns himself with thinking about.

Bagnaia added: “For sure, 𝔍it would be better and would mean that if I’m first on Friday that I already have a good feeling and set-up for the weekend.

“But it was never an obsession. I just want to be prepared for everything, make 💞laps 𒐪with the tyres, the bike and understand the way for when it counts the most. But it will happen.

“Like last year it happened in Muℱgello but it is something that doesn’t count f๊or much to me.”