Fabio ♌Quartararo narrowly beat title rival for much of 2021 Francesco Bagnaia to top spot d♔uring today’s MotoGP practice sessions at Portimao.

The pair showed incredible pace from the outset, and while others got close at times, Quartararo and Bagnaia head into Sunday’s race as the firm ꦦfavorites.

Although their battle for the championship was a thrilling one while it lasted, on-track fights between 💫the two were at a minimum. 

But with today’s free practice results as evidence🐠 that a race-long tussle could be in store, it🌼’s a prospect that new MotoGP World Champion Quartararo is excited about. 

Speaking after day-one, 🌄Quartararo said: "I enjoyed today's sess𒁃ions a lot, because the last two race weekends were more about stress and not making any mistakes than about enjoyment. 

"Now I'm enjoying riding so much again. Even in the time-attack it's been a while since I waಞs able to get that feeling of being on 𝔍the limit. But I was really enjoying it. It's nice to battle for first in the timesheets with Pecco. 

"Sunday♚ is the most important, but it's nice to see the two most competitive riders of the second half of the season fighting."

Even though Quart📖araro’s pace was electric, the 22 year-old was unable to g𝕴et through his and the Yamaha team’s full plan due to high wind affected tyre performance.

"For today, we had planned to try the medium and the hard tyres, but because of the wind it was quite difficult to adapt myself properly, so we need to do it tomorrow instead,"&nbs🌄p;added Quartararo. 

"Other than that, we wanted to try a few things ღon the bike, but to be honest the most important thing was to be b⛦ack after Misano and check my riding, and I think it was quite okay. 

"The triple crown is not just in my hands, so instead my target this weekend is to fight for the race victory and then we will see what happens, also concerning the team and constructor's Title. We n🃏eed to at least try to win to secure the triple crown."