Pol Espargaro narrowly missed out on the top ten during today’s💖 FP2 session heading into qualifying day for the Portuguese MotoGP Gr🐼and Prix. 

With Marc Marquez and his return to ꦬMotoGP for the first time in nine months today being the obvious headline, team-mate Espargaro somewhat went under the radar during free prac♊tice. 

It was the Spanish rider’s first time on the Repsol Honda at a circuꦬit other than Qatar. 

And during the damp, but chℱanging conditions that were FP1, Espargaro was one of the fastest riders as he finished just behind Marquez in fourth.&n🔯bsp;

However, Espargaro pointed out that not too much could be taken from that session, saying: "Today was just the day to recognise the bike on this track. In the morning we couldn’t (t❀ake advantage) because the track was not good enough, bu𒐪t still not too bad."

In the afternoon, the former Moto2 world champion narrowly missed out on a top ten spot as he ultimately finished 12th q💧uickest.  

So far in 2021, the main issue for Espargaro has been putting together the one lap time attack, ♊along with feeling comfortable when fitting the softer compound tyre. 

But while he missed out on the top ten,♏ the 29 year-old is positive about tomorrow and showing the bike’s ‘potential in one lap’. 

Espargaro said: "Honestly speaking I’m far as I couldn't match together a perfect lap, but I’m not super worried abo🥃ut today. 

♈"Everything was quite smooth and tomorrow is a day wh🥀ere we need to show our potential in one lap and I’m gonna do it."

With Marquez joining Espargaro for the fir🗹st time on track as team-mates, it will be a new experience for the former KTM rider as he gets to assess th♉e eight-time world champion’s data. 

Following day-one in Portimao, Espargaro was asked whether he has spꦛoken to Marquez yet and added: "Not so much. The day was busy so I couldn’t talk too much with him. 

"But yeah it is good ಞto have him back and also today has been good. I will have some data to🃏 check and there are a couple of places where I am slower, so we need to improve it for tomorrow, for sure!"