Written by Owen Bradley
Credit: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
MotoGP returns to Portimao for the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2024. Marc Marquez took his first ever podium on a Ducati in Saturday's Sprint race, he will be looking to repeat that or even go one better in the main Grand Prix Sunday. Many riders in contention, the Top 4 separated by only 10 points in the championship, we're all set up for an absolutely thrilling MotoGP round.
MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix Results
1st Jorge Martin, Pramac Ducati
2nd Enea Bastianini, Ducati
3rd Pedro Acosta, KTM
4th Brad Binder, KTM
5th Jack Miller, KTM
6th Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Ducati
7th Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha
8th Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia
9th Miguel Oliveira, Aprilia
10th Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Ducati
11th Augusto Fernandez, KTM
12th Joan Mir, Repsol Honda
13th Alex Rins, Yamaha
14th Takaaki Nakagami, Honda
15th Johann Zarco, Honda
16th Marc Marquez, Ducati
17th Luca Marini, Honda
18th Franco Morbidelli
DNF Maverick Vinales, Aprilia
DNF Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati
DNF Alex Marquez, Ducati
DNF Raul Fernandez, Aprilia
Grand Prix
A clean start through the field, Jorge Martin took an early lead from Sprint winner Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini. The race had really settled into a lull at the front, with many riders conserving fuel and tyres ready for the ending to the Grand Prix. However, within the final 5 laps we had a lot of chaotic moments.
Pedro Acosta was absolutely flying through the field, overtaking the Factory Red Bull KTM riders of Jack Miller and Brad Binder. He powered on through the legendary World Champions of Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, which certainly unsettled Bagnaia, who would later collide with Marquez.
ASTONISHING ACOSTA
Credit: Joao Rico
Pedro Acosta, the Rookie MotoGP rider in only his second Grand Prix weekend, rode astonishingly well. Up the inside of both sister KTM's of Jack Miller and Brad Binder, and then closed in and passed Marc Marquez and an unbelievable move up the inside of Bagnaia in Turn 3. With this being only his second ever weekend in the Premier Class, it was an absolutely exceptional ride as he showed up riders on the same machinery, and then overtook and battled legendary riders. Maverick Vinales would devastatingly fall off his bike after a suspected gearbox issue, and this gave Acosta 3rd place, and a Podium finish. The 19-Year old has already set the MotoGP world alight, this is certainly the star of MotoGP's future.
MARTIN MAXIMISES
Credit: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
Jorge Martin had a far more subdued race, a quiet one at the front of the field just carefully managing the pace. For long time followers of MotoGP, we've seen races like this where a rider looks like they're on rails. Jorge Lorenzo was a fan favourite for that very reason, and it does seem like Jorge Martin is incredibly similar, without being unsettled by a battle he can run away with a race and seem unstoppable. In order to beat him, you need to give him a challenge and disrupt his rhythm, which is far easier said than done.
MARQUEZ AND BAGNAIA CLASH
Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia had similar race pace, both were a second or two from the leaders and just playing a strategic game and hoping to come back into the fight. When Pedro Acosta came through though, it seemed to frustrate the both of them, especially Bagnaia. Eventually, after Bagnaia was overtaken and had his momentum disrupted, Marc Marquez had a chance to come through, diving to the inside at the slow left-hander of Turn 5. Marquez ran deep, looking for the switchback, but Bagnaia just seemed to accelerate too early, making contact with Marquez and sending them both onto the ground. Neither of them, would score points in what could be a monumentally destructive moment in this championship, as Jorge Martin now edges further away from the other Ducati riders.
A slow-burning strategic race, with an absolutely insane ending. Martin now leads the championship, with a sizable lead over the others. But in 2024 for MotoGP, you simply can't write anything off. See you next time for the United States Grand Prix, on the 14th of April.