Jorge Martin controls in MotoGP win in Portuguese GP from Enea Bastianini as Pedro Acosta scores first premier class podium.
Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin took early lead in Portuguese GP and maintained it to win his first main race in Portuguese GP ahead of pole-sitter Ducati’s Enea Bastianini and GASGAS Tech3’s Pedro Acosta, who scored his first premier class podium in his second outing.
The duo were promoted after a final lap crash for Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, who ran second for most part of the grand prix. There was also late crash between Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Gresini Ducati’s Marc Marquez which is being investigated.
This allowed KTM riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller to be fourth and fifth ahead of VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo in seventh, Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro eighth, Trackhouse Aprilia’s Miguel Oliveira and VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio in the Top 10.
As it happened –
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) takes victory to win the Portuguese GP after a mistake-free race. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) took second place on a dramatic final lap of the race, finishing ahead of MotoGP rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) who crossed the line to finish on the podium in just his second MotoGP weekend.
Martin led the field on the entry into turn one, making a perfect start to the Portuguese GP. Chasing Martin out of the gates was (Sprint winner) Maverick Vinales onboard the Aprilia Racing machine. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) battled with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), with the two riders fighting inches apart for the same piece of tarmac on the opening lap. Bagnaia (in fourth) held off the eight-time World Champion as they settled in for an important race.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) lost the front at turn five, ending chances of a good result in lap two of the race. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) crashed on lap five, falling at turn eight. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was beginning to make ground in the early stages of the race, battling with both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machines of Jack Miller and Brad Binder. Miller ran wide on the entry to turn one, dropping two positions and allowing Binder and Acosta to fight.
Acosta was on a charge, passing Binder after an impressive manoeuvre on the brakes, stealing the position from the South African. The rookie soon set his sights now on Marc Marquez, entering the top five in his first year in the class. Acosta was quickly catching Bagnaia, amazing the paddock with his confidence.
However, as the race progressed Acosta ran wide on the entry to turn one, getting sucked into the corner by Bagnaia’s slipstream. At the front however, the trio continued to run a hot pace with Martin leading the race by half a second as Bastianini waited for the right time to pounce from third position.
The fastest lap changed hands many times throughout the race with Acosta setting the pace in the early stages before Bastianini and Bagnaia responded. However, with 10 laps remaining Martin pushed to set a stunning 1:38.830 – extended his lead to the race briefly before Viñales responded one lap later.
Alex Marquez became the next retirement from the race after re-joining after a crash at the beginning of the race. Acosta made a brave lunge at turn three, launching his attack on Bagnaia with five laps remaining in the race. Amazingly, Acosta checked out, bridging a gap of over two seconds with Marc Marquez now trying to pounce, falling on his first attempt to find a gap in Bagnaia’s defence.
Marc Marquez made a move at turn five, passing Bagnaia before running wide allowing Bagnaia to try to get the cutback, resulting in both riders coming together, and both crashing out. Bagnaia would retire to pits as Marc Marquez continued outside of the points. On the last lap of the race, Bastianini overtook Viñales, with the Spaniard’s Aprilia slowing down on the straight. Viñales ran wide and suffered from a problem on the final lap of the race, ending any hopes of a podium finish and resulting in a crash.
At the line, Martin was able to cross the line to win the Portuguese GP after a masterclass ride to win by 0.882. Bastianini came across the line in second ahead of rookie sensation Acosta who was promoted to the podium position in third – becoming the third youngest rider to finish on the podium in the premier class.
Binder and Miller brought their KTM’s to fourth and fifth position in a great day for the Austrian manufacturer. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) finished in sixth after a solid Sunday for the Italian, ending the race ahead of the top Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ rider, Fabio Quartararo who was seventh. Aleix Espargaro was the sole Aprilia Racing rider to finish and to round out the top eight.
Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) finished ninth to the delight of the Portuguese crowd in the grandstand. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top 10 as the team turns their sights to America. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) finished in 11th, ahead of Joan Mir and Aled Rins. Rounding out the point-scoring positions were Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR).
Results: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1771917939404353681?s=20
[Note: The story is as per press release]