MotoGP: Race Report From Portugal

MotoGP: Race Report From Portugal

© 2023, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Michael Gougis.

More From MotoGP In Portugal

By Michael Gougis

Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia kept his cool in the opening chaotic laps of the MotoGP race, kept his nerve with Maverick Vinales stalking him the entire race and kept his perfect record intact by winning his second race in a row in Portugal.

 

Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (1) led Maverick Vinales (12) and Marco Bezzecchi (72) across the line after a fraught MotoGP race saw several of the front-runners on the ground and out of the race. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (1) led Maverick Vinales (12) and Marco Bezzecchi (72) across the finish line after a fraught MotoGP race saw several of the front-runners on the ground and out of the race. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

Bagnaia added the Sunday race win to his equally measured victory in Saturday’s sprint race and came away from the weekend with a perfect 37 points.

Surprise sprint race podium finisher Marc Marquez clipped Jorge Martin and plowed into local hero Miguel Oliveira, taking himself and Oliveira out of the race. Marquez suffered a suspected broken metacarpal bone, was given a double long lap penalty at the next round, and was jeered by Portuguese fans with extended middle fingers and boos as he got a scooter ride back to the pits. Oliveira was diagnosed with a contusion to his leg. Martin dropped several positions and later crashed.

Maverick Vinales took a close second for the Aprilia factory team, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming his second MotoGP podium on his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Desmosedici. Johann Zarco took fourth on the Prima Pramac satellite Ducati, while Alex Marquez finished fifth after running near the front for much of the weekend.

 

Pedro Acosta (37) took the lead on the second lap and was never headed as he pulled away from Aron Canet for a clean win in the Moto2 race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) Pedro Acosta (37) took the lead on the second lap and was never headed as he pulled away from Aron Canet for a clean win in the Moto2 race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

Americans Joe Roberts (16) and Sean Dylan Kelly (4) both battled throughout the Moto2 race in Portugal, with Roberts finishing 14th and Kelly 20th. Photos by Michael Gougis.
(Above) American Sean Dylan Kelly (4) battled throughout the Moto2 race in Portugal, finishing 20th. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

American Joe Roberts (16) finished 14th in the Moto2 race on his Italtrans Kalex.
(Above) American Joe Roberts (16) finished 14th in the Moto2 race on his Italtrans Kalex. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

Pedro Acosta took a clean win in the Moto2 race, Daniel Holgado held off the field to take the Moto3 victory and Angel Piqueras won both Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races.

 

Holgado: Daniel Holgado (96) led Ayumu Sasaki (71) and Ivan Ortola (48) at the beginning of the Moto3 race in Portugal. Holgado won, with Sasaki sixth and Ortola a lap down. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) Daniel Holgado (96) led Ayumu Sasaki (71) and Ivan Ortola (48) at the beginning of the Moto3 race in Portugal. Holgado won, with Sasaki sixth and Ortola a lap down. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Rookies Cup: Máximo Quiles (28) leads eventual race winner Angel Piqueras (18) in the second Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) Rookies Cup: Máximo Quiles (28) leads eventual race winner Angel Piqueras (18) in the second Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.

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