MotoGP | Portuguese GP Sprint Race: Bagnaia makes a mistake, Vinales wins, Marc Marquez second

MotoGP GP Portugal Sprint Race – Maverick Vinales won the Sprint Race of the Portuguese Grand Prix, the second round of the 2024 MotoGP.

The Aprilia rider, who started from the front row, ran an intelligent race and with four laps to go he took advantage of the mistake of leader Pecco Bagnaia, who up until then had been dominating the race.

The #12, which gave Aprilia its second victory in the Sprint Race after Barcelona 2023, beat a revived Marc Marquez, who, despite an error at the start of the race, finished second, ahead of Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac).

For Marquez this is the best result in a Sprint Race, just in Portimao last season he came third. The eight-time world champion achieved a second place, author of a clean but decisive overtaking on Martin.

Fourth was Bagnaia, who after the mistake was no longer able to lap at the pace of the leaders. The #1 Ducati finished ahead of Jack Miller's KTM and pole-man Enea Bastianini's Ducati, who at the start was unable to activate the front lowering device, immediately losing positions.

Excellent race for rookie Pedro Acosta (KTM Team GASGAS Tech3), seventh and ahead of Aleix Espargarò's Aprilia and the best of the Japanese bikes, Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha. Raul Fernandez was tenth on the Team Trackhouse Aprilia.

Colorless race for Marco Bezzecchi who finished 46th on the VR11 Racing Team Ducati, while Franco Morbidelli (Ducati Pramac) and Luca Marini (Honda Repsol) finished in 16th and 18th position respectively.

Brad Binder, Johann Zarco, Fabio di Giannantonio and Alex Rins fell, all falling without consequences. A race to forget for the Hondas, the best being that of Joan Mir, 14th at 14.035s from the top.

The world championship ranking sees Bagnaia in command with 37 points, followed by Jorge Martin at two points and Brad Binder at 8 points. Marc Marquez is fourth, 10 points behind.