The number 12 takes his first ever Tissot Sprint win, the gloves come off for MM93 and Bagnaia rues an error on a showstopping Saturday.

Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) is a Tissot Sprint winner! A stunning showdown on the Algarve saw the Aprilia rider get his elbows out and then hold off Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who had their own battle down to the last lap. That culminated in a classic, brutal but clean lunge from the #93 to slice through into second and take his best Sprint result yet, with Martin relegated to third.

In the standings it’s closer than ever though, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) leading for much of the Sprint before heading wide at Turn 1 and able to stay in the battle – but not move up further than fourth.

At lights out, it was a brilliant start to the race from Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who grabbed the holeshot and started storming away on the first lap. Polesitter Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) got swallowed by the front group as the Italian was demoted to P5 following an issue with his ride height device, meanwhile, Marc Marquez was one of those who found a way through on the number 23 – jumping into third place after passing Viñales too.

Bagnaia was on a march though. He hit the front of the race early, trying to build a comfortable gap and quickly. On the chase, Marc Marquez soon found his way through to pass Viñales, and he held that for a handful of laps. But he wasn’t making headway, then running wide at the tricky Turn 5 as the task grew in size again.

Bagnaia seemed in the clear, over a second up the road from Viñales, with Martin and Marc Marquez not far off the Aprilia either. But then the #1 machine was suddenly sailing off at Turn 1, keeping it together but watching the front group flash past as he rejoined just ahead of Miller.

And so Viñales led the Sprint, with some closer and closer company. But with just over two to go, Martin was wide and that was some breathing space for the Aprilia. His, meanwhile, was being filled by a looming #93.

By the last lap, Viñales seemed to have it under control, and Martin vs Marquez was going to decide second and third places on the podium barring any serious late drama. And there was none – but there was a spectacular, on-the-edge, old skool lunge from a master of the craft.

Down into Turn 5, there wasn’t really an open door and he wasn’t really in perfect striking distance, but Marc Marquez went for it… and he made it stick. Brutal, close, and just clean enough to be worth a handshake in parc ferme, the eight-time World Champion took his best Sprint result, holding Martin off to the line in a drag race too.

After rejoining ahead of Miller, Bagnaia managed to hold the KTM off to the flag, but it was close – and Bastianini was even closer as the trio took P4, P5 and P6.

Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) wasn’t far off that battle by the flag either. He took P7 and his best Sprint result yet, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) able to recover some positions from a tough qualifying. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) took the final point in the Sprint.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was one crasher, out early but rider ok.

And so, after a Saturday spectacle, a new Sprint winner heads into Sunday with another point to prove too – and from the front row. Viñales could become the first to win with three machines in the MotoGP™ era on Sunday… or there could be another twist in the tale. With the title race narrowed to just two points you do not want to miss the Portuguese GP on Sunday, with lights out at 14:00 (UTC)!

A front row split by a tenth, Bagnaia P4 and Marc Marquez P8 after a dramatic Q2 sets the stage for a spectacle in Portugal.

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued his statement weekend at the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal with pole position on Saturday morning, Beast mode most definitely engaged. It’s close at the top, however, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) getting to within less than a tenth of the number 23 after a late charge. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) completes the front row only a further 0.024 behind, setting the stage for some serious fireworks on the Algarve.

Q1 was a hard-fought battle to move through. Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and home hero Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) were just some of those with more than a shout of moving through, and it went down to the wire. Acosta was leading the way until a late overhaul from AM73, with the Gresini taking over on top by an infinitesimal 0.005. No one could overhaul that or split the two, so Acosta and Alex Marquez moved through, leaving Espargaro P13 on the grids ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Oliveira..

Q2 began with sheer expectation and the field piled out of pitlane ready to deliver. The first drama came almost immediately as Marc Marquez slid out, the number 93 losing the rear round Turn 15 and sliding across the run off. The race was on to get back to the box and get back out. Then Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went down, rider also ok, making it two big hitters looking to reset quick.

Meanwhile, the red sectors were coming in on the first runs. The first pacesetter was reigning Champion Bagnaia, who held the top by less than a tenth ahead of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and FP2 pacesetter Viñales.

From there, the first mover was Martin as he took over on top, but Bastianini had a near instant riposte to cut another tenth off, making it #23-#89-#1 on the provisional front row. Then the red sectors starting coming in from Bagnaia again, but the final part of the lap put paid to that. One final lap was going to challenge Bastianini, and despite Marc Marquez being back out, it’s wasn’t his – it was Viñales’.

The Aprilia was up and had already proven plenty with that new FP2 lap record, but it wasn’t quite enough to take pole over the line, coming up short by just 0.082. So it’s the Beast of Bastianini back on top, ahead of Viñales and Martin relegated to P3 on the outside of the front row.

Bagnaia heads up Row 2, with Miller starting from P5 as his speed continues to impress in Portugal. Sixth goes to Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) whose Round 2 continues to be a big leap forward from a tough Round 1.

The apprentice edges out the master on Row 3. Acosta is P7 at the head of it, just hundredths ahead of Marc Marquez as the number 93 didn’t quite find the fireworks on his second run. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) takes P9, ahead of Binder who, like MM93, couldn’t quite bring the noise on his final attempt after that early crash.

And so the grids are decided, and they set quite a stage. The Tissot Sprint promises much on Saturday afternoon, and that’s just the first serving of the world’s most exciting sport at full throttle on the rollercoaster. Tune in for two stunning showdowns, with lights out on Saturday at 15:00 (UTC) and Sunday at 14:00.

The rollercoaster delivers a tantalising top ten as some key names head for Q1 – and some familiar ones fight back.

Day 1 on the rollercoaster is in the books and it’s quite a trio leading the way to Q2 at the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) blistered his way to the top by 0.118, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller the closest on the chase in second as he got back into the top echelons. Then comes Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), still within only 0.153 of Bastianini at the top, and after topping FP too. The #93 also had a low drama crash – seemingly the limit testing kind – in the afternoon…

When the afternoon session began, however, it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at the top, first Miller and then teammate Brad Binder. Miller also had an extra eventful start to the session, crashing at turn five in the first 10 minutes of Practice, rider ok. The next gambit saw Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) steal the KTM thunder, nudging the RC-16s off the top, but there was plenty left to shuffle in the ultra-tight top ten.

As ever, the tension mounted as the clock ticked down, with those guaranteed 10 places in Q2 up for grabs. The fast laps came thick and fast, but there were a good few spills too, riders all ok but pushing to and over the limit. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) crashed within seconds of each other, and then it was Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) minutes later.

After Bastianini had taken to the top, that’s where he stayed amid the drama, throwing down the gauntlet on Day 1. Miller made his late lunge for glory to slot into second, forcing Marc Marquez to settle for third. Martin ends the session in fourth, and the #89 was just ahead of Binder, who sneaked inside the top five in the closing minutes.

Sixth was a big statement from Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) after a very tough start to the season, with the Italian edging out Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) by just 0.002. The number 12 was also quick in Free Practice too, second behind MM93.

Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was outside a provisional place in Q2 until the very final few minutes, moving up to P7 in real time but that becoming P8 once the clock ran out. Then comes another headline-making duo: Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and teammate Alex Rins complete the top ten on the Algarve, both straight through to Q2. Not since 2022 have the Iwata marque had both riders straight through. It was a late one too, bumping out rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Alex Marquez and Espargaro as they now head for Q1 on Saturday morning.

Bastianini on top. Miller in the mix. And Marc Marquez looking for the limits. That’s just the top three headlines as we head into Super Saturday, so tune in for more MotoGP™ as the world’s most exciting sport heads back out on the rollercoaster!

FP2: 10:10 (UTC)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00

After a showstopping start in Qatar, we’re already back on track this weekend for the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal, with the stunning Autodromo Internacional do Algarve playing host.

The week started with news that Fermin Aldeguer would be moving up to MotoGP™ next season with Ducati, so the current Beta Tools SpeedUp rider joined the second press-conference line-up on Thursday.

Once the podcast had welcomed Enea Bastianini, the first press conference saw reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) joined by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), aka the current top three in the Championship.

Then, after news earlier this week that Fermin Aldeguer would be moving up to MotoGP™ next season with Ducati, the current Beta Tools SpeedUp rider joined the second press-conference, alongside Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing).

PECCO BAGNAIA
How much confidence do you bring into this weekend?

“First of all, I want to say I love this track, it is one of my favourites with a lot of up and downhill sections. It is a mix of Mugello and Sachsenring and I love to ride here. Last year was a perfect start to the season like it was in Qatar, so I am quite confident as I think with the 2024 bike we can be more competitive in some areas of the track, so I am looking forward to starting the weekend.”.

BRAD BINDER
How high are expectations after round one?

“Obviously, it went well in Qatar it was fantastic to start the season with two podiums. Coming here is really exciting for me as it where last year that we started to find our bearings and if we have a look at what we ran here last year and where we finished the season it was two worlds apart so I am really keen to go out for FP1 to see where our base is and see how everything works. This track is insane, it is so up and down and flowing in some places, and stop and go in others, and it is something that you need a different bike for. I think our bike will be strong here as Jack showed last year and I think this year we stand a chance of being even stronger.”

JORGE MARTIN
You said in Qatar you weren’t 100% with the GP24, how do you see your potential here?

“Well, let’s see. It is difficult to say now but for sure it’s a track I enjoy, last year I was strong, I had some issues in the race but I think the pace was really good to battle. Let’s see I feel I am in a good condition so let’s see if I can feel better with the bike, but I think I am finding the way.”

MARC MARQUEZ
What do you expect this weekend?

“Of course, the approach for the weekend is the exact same as Qatar and obviously we will have a new factor which is we will head to a circuit straight into a race weekend. This changes our planning as straight away in FP1 you need to have a lap time and be fast and that was the most difficult thing in Malaysia and Qatar, that first day I was struggling a bit so let’s see if here in Portimao I can start in the top 10 positions straight away to jump into Q2. That is the main target but let’s see where we are in a completely different race track.”

On Acosta’s overtake:
“As I said last year and I reconfirm that he will be one of the guys in the future for MotoGP and the present because as he showed in Qatar he has enough talent and before the race, I already said that you are fast with any type of bike and he was super fast on those laps. I am sure he will learn to manage tyres and he will be much better in the next races.”

Ans his save earlier in the Qatar GP

“I already said it was a good one, you really need to believe in the bike to do that. That one was a good one, he has a really good riding style and when they jump from Moto2 they have super good corner speed. When I followed Pedro for the two laps during the race he was super fast in the fast corners and made the difference.”

PEDRO ACOSTA
How much are you looking forward to riding a MotoGP bike around Portimao?

“For sure I want it to be a nice weekend, Portimao is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar, with Australia. Like Marc said it is going to be difficult as it’s the first track that we’ve come to with a MotoGP bike without testing, so this will be tricky. We will have all the support from the Factory Team and all the engineers for this so let’s try and make a consistent weekend.”

How did it feel to overtake Marc?

“It was a super nice race because the first lap was tricky for me after the moment with Jack at the start. The feeling of the bike was amazing, as since Moto3™ I have not had this feeling with the front tyre to brake at the last moment and go down the inside. The overtake was nice but he managed the whole race better so we don’t have to think too much about the overtake.”

On that Qatar GP save:

“I’ve seen many races on the TV and I’ve seen many of Marc’s saves like this. It was a good save but also it is normal in FP1 with all of the sand that is always in Qatar. Like I said it is a track I know more or less the grip and the tyres. Now we come to a track with different asphalt and also different tyre compounds compared to Qatar. We need to start from zero with our feet on the ground and just not think too much about the Qatar race as it was unreal.”

MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
What’s possible this weekend?

“It is a different situation as I know to come from an average result like in Qatar to come here and say I am ready to challenge for the victory is maybe too ambitious but I know what I am capable of doing. Nowadays the grid in MotoGP™ is very particular, you can be from 12th to first in a split second. Everything is possible and I don’t want to create any limitations or too much expectations. I am still adapting to the bike but I feel I am making steps in the right direction and hopefully this weekend straight away on Friday we can show we have the speed for the top 10. Then obviously the complexity of Qualifying well and doing the race, we need to overcome those challenges of terms of results on Saturday and Sunday.”

FERMIN ALDEGUER
How special is it to know you’ll be racing Pedro, Marc, and Miguel in MotoGP™ next year?

“I am really happy to announce my jump to MotoGP™ in 2025 but now it is time to stay focused in the Moto2™ class. In Qatar, I felt pressure from people saying I am the favourite rider but I have to manage this pressure. My season will start here in Portimao with a good feeling, but I am very happy to be going to MotoGP with Ducati.”