Marco Bezzecchi controlled in MotoGP win in Portuguese GP ahead of Alex Marquez and Pedro Acosta, as Bagnaia had his fourth crash.
It was a clean start from Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi to lead MotoGP race in Portuguese GP ahead of KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez, who made up two places into Turn 1 ahead of Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia.
LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco was sixth from Honda’s Joan Mir, KTM’s Brad Binder, Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer and Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller in the Top 10. The other points places had Honda’s Luca Marini in 11th from Trackhouse Aprilia’s Ai Ogura.
The Top 15 will be sealed by Tech 3 KTM’s Pol Espargaro, VR46 Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio and Yamaha’s Alex Rins, as Lap 1 saw VR46’s Franco Morbidelli crashed out after tangle with Ogura and Tech 3’s Enea Bastianini.
The Italian dropped back in the order and dived into the pits to change the front fairing, which was due to the incident. He rejoined to use it as a test session, but Mir had another retirement due to mechanical issue. At the front, Bezzecchi continued to lead but Marquez got P2 from Acosta.
The Spaniard saved his bike from a moment, as Bagnaia got through Quartararo to fourth. Binder and Aldeguer made up places on Zarco to be sixth and seventh. Ogura was up to ninth from Miller, as di Giannantonio also gained places to be 11th from Espargaro and Marini.
There was further contact between Aldeguer and Binder when the former tried a move against the latter in Turn 5. The rear fairing fell off from Binder’s KTM as he lost sixth to the Gresini rider. Up ahead, Bagnaia crashed out for fourth successive MotoGP race.
This put Aldeguer in fourth from Binder after both managed to clear Quartararo. There were not a lot of movements for most part of the race apart from Marini taking 11th from Miller, who also 10th to Espargaro. Towards the end, Ogura cleared Zarco for seventh after multiple laps of wait.
With Bezzecchi in the lead, Acosta reeled in Marquez for second. It was not enough. Bezzecchi controlled in MotoGP win in Portuguese GP to almost seal third in the riders’ championship. Marquez held onto second from Acosta, with Aldeguer in fourth and Binder fifth.
Quartararo was sixth from Ogura, as di Giannantonio passed Zarco on the final lap to eighth. Espargaro rounded the Top 10 from Marini, Miller, Rins, Pramac’s Miguel Oliveira and Ductai’s Nico Bulega in the Top 15 points places.
Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori was 16th from LCR’s Somkiat Chantra and Bastianini.
Result: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1987523165572972655?s=20
Here’s how MotoGP sprint panned out in Portuguese GP
