Thoughts by Kate Adams
Wow. The rollercoaster ride that is the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve circuit (Portimão Circuit) gave another race for the ages.
Before I jump into all the MotoGP action, and there is a lot to break down and digest, I must give a mention to my favorite Moto2 rider, who after 4 years in the Moto2 class, 15 second places, Aron Canet is finally a Moto2 race winner. It's been a long time coming. But I have to say, that was one of the sweetest victories I have watched in years. Could it be the start of a title charge for Canet? I surely hope so.
Coming into Portugal, all eyes naturally turn to home hero, Miguel Oliveira. Unfortunately, the satellite Aprilia star is still struggling to get up to speed on the factory-spec Aprilia. Getting up to speed while struggling with Aprilia's many technical issues saw Oliveira have a difficult weekend, only picking up a P9 in the Grand Prix. His weekend, while troubled, was much better than Trackhouse teammate Raul Fernandez, who remains pointless after a P10 in the sprint was followed by a DNF in the Grand Prix.
It wasn't the satellite team who suffered Aprilia's worst technical issue of the weekend, however. After Sprint success saw Maverick Vinales look on course to be the first rider to win 3 Grand Prix with 3 manufacturers, Saturday success turned into Sunday sadness with the rider suffering a suspected gearbox issue for most of the race; the gearbox then finally gave out on the penultimate lap of the Grand Prix leading Maverick to run wide and be spat off the bike in a highside. Teammate Aleix Espargaro suffered during qualifying but was able to pick up a pair of P8s.
Brad Binder blundered the Saturday Sprint, crashing out and leaving Jack Miller to be the top KTM with a P5. It was Sunday that saw KTM picking up precious points. Jack Miller replicated his Saturday with a second P5 on Sunday. Brad Binder picked up a comfortable P4 but the highest KTM rider was neither of the factory boys. It was rookie GasGas Tech3 rider Pedro Acosta who raised the third-place trophy in only his second Grand Prix, a very impressive performance from the 19-year-old. Highlighting this performance was the fact that Augusto Fernanderz only managed to pick up a P11 in the Grand Prix.
The Japanese cup saw Fabio Quartararo take this weekend's top spot. The Yamaha rider picked up points on both days with a P9 in the Sprint and a P7 in the Grand Prix. Teammate Alex Rins struggled this weekend, crashing out of the Sprint. He picked up 3 points with a P13 in the Grand Prix.
Honda continues to struggle; however, riders have been positive in interviews discussing steps forward the Honda has made. This is yet to translate into results, with Joan Mir being the leading Honda in both races with a P12 in the Grand Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi put in an impressive performance on Sunday. The VR46 rider has been struggling with corner entry and exit; despite this, on Sunday, he managed to pick up 10 points with a P6. Teammate Fabio Di Ginnantonio picked himself up 6 points with a P10 in the Grand Prix after crashing out of the Sprint.
Factory Ducati rider Enea Bastinini, who suffered last year from the cornering issues that Marco Bezzecchi is suffering from this year, picked up a promising P6 in the Sprint before really shining in the Grand Prix with a second place that will be sure to quash any demons the rider has after he was badly injured at this circuit in 2023. Across the garage, there were mixed fortunes with Pecco Bagnaia picking up a P4 in the Sprint, a result he would have accepted as important for the championship. It was Sunday, however, that saw the world champion involved in a racing incident that took both himself and Gresini rider Marc Marquez out of the Grand Prix.
Gresini didn't only see Marc Marquez crash out of the Grand Prix; brother and teammate Alex Marquez also crashed out, seeing him pick up no points for the weekend. A disappointing result after Marquez had picked up his second Sprint podium of the season with a P2 on Saturday.
It was Pramac Ducati who saw the mixed results the most. On one hand, you have Franco Morbidelli who crashed in the Grand Prix before rejoining and crossing the line in P18, two places behind his P16 in the Saturday Sprint. Then, on the other hand, you have Jorge Martin who picked up a pair of podiums. A P3 in the Sprint was just the start with Jorge Martin picking up his first Grand Prix win of the Sprint era that hasn't followed a Sprint win. This sees the Spanish rider lead the world championship as we head to COTA in three weeks. Finally breaking his streak of only holding a championship for 24 hours.
Results:
Sprint | Grand Prix | |
1 | M. Vinales | J. Martin |
2 | M. Marquez | E. Bastianini |
3 | J. Martin | P. Acosta |
4 | F. Bagnaia | B. Binder |
5 | J. Miller | J. Miller |
6 | E. Bastianini | M. Bezzecchi |
7 | P. Acosta | F. Quartararo |
8 | A. Espargaro | A. Espargaro |
9 | F. Quartararo | M. Oliveira |
10 | R. Fernandez | F. Di Giannantonio |
11 | M. Bezzecchi | A. Fernandez |
12 | M. Oliveira | J. Mir |
13 | A. Marquez | A. Rins |
14 | J. Mir | T. Nakagami |
15 | A. Fernandez | J. Zarco |
16 | F. Morbidelli | M. Marquez |
17 | T. Nakagami | L. Marini |
18 | L. Marini | F. Morbidelli |
19 | DNF: J. Zarco | DNF: M. Vinales |
20 | DNF: F. Di Giannantonio | DNF: F. Bagnaia |
21 | DNF: B. Binder | DNF: A. Marquez |
22 | DNF: A. Rins | DNF: R. Fernandez |
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