- 2024-03-24
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Portuguese GP: Enea Bastianini Takes Pole Position, Maverick Vinales Wins Sprint Race in Portugal
The Round 2 of MotoGP 2024, Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal took place at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão on March 23, 2024.
In Qualifying, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo) took his second pole position of MotoGP career with 1'37.706s.
Following him by 0.082s, Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) was 2nd. Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) briefly held top spot, but finally was 3rd.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM), and Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) will start on the second row.
Rookie, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was 7th. Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) finished 8th, recovering from crashes early in the session.
This time, Japanese manufacture riders Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) and Alex Rins (Monster Yamaha) directly advanced to Q2 session, and were 9th and 11th, respectively.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) crashed on his first flying lap, then finished 10th.
Enea Bastianini said, “After a long time without pole position this is special today. I'm happy because from yesterday we have improved. It is only the first step because we have the Sprint Race but we are happy.”- In the Sprint Race, Maverick Vinales claimed his first victory of the Sprint Race and first victory for Aprilia.
Marc Marquez passed second-placed Jorge Martin on the last lap, finally finished 2nd from 8th. He secured his first podium with Ducati.
Jorge Martin pushed Maverick Vinales until the last lap, but ran wide on the penultimate lap, and was passed by Marc Marquez on the last lap, then took the 3rd place.
Francesco Bagnaia led the race until Lap 9. It looked his for the taking, but he ran well wide at Turn 1, and dropped the position finishing 4th.
His team-mate and poleman, Enea Bastianini was 6th. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) was 5th.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta had another remarkable run in 7th.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) finished 8th from 13th on the grid, and Fabio Quartararo was 9th, then both riders secured the point. - Maverick Vinales said, “Today feels good, I'm happy to be back on the top positions. I know Qatar wasn't our level, I had some issues with the setting. But here, we are showing that we are finding the way. I'm happy about how things are going and very concentrated on tomorrow, but we will enjoy today. It's my first win with Aprilia, so we'll enjoy it, of course.”
Marc Marquez said, “We knew it would be difficult because starting in eighth position is super difficult and the race tomorrow will be even more difficult. I made a mistake in the qualifying practice that I [could have avoided] because I engaged the rear device too early and then the bike was sitting and I crashed. But the team did a really great job to repair the bike and in the race I was super lucky on the first lap to have a good start. And then I worked the front tyre, I relaxed a bit, and then I came back on the last lap to attack. Tomorrow with the medium rear will be different.”
Jorge Martin said, “It was a difficult race. I started really poorly and then I was trying to be competitive, but I had some issues with the rear... also the front went super, super high. But I did my best and hopefully we can improve for tomorrow.”
Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal Qualifying Results- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / 1'37.706s
- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / +0.082s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.106s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.216s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +0.326s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +0.366s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +0.432s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +0.441s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +0.616s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.706s
- Alex Rins / Monster Yamaha / +0.796s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / No Time
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / 1'38.279s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / VR46 Ducati / 1'38.309s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / 1'38.385s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / 1'38.448s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / 1'38.454s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / 1'38.934s
- Johann Zarco / LCR Honda / 1'39.004s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / 1'39.025s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 1'39.058s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / 1'39.451s
Grande Prémio Tissot de Portugal Sprint Race Results- Maverick Vinales / Aprilia Racing / 19m 49.636s
- Marc Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +1.039s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +1.122s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +4.155s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +4.329s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +4.384s
- Pedro Acosta / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +5.088s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +6.161s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +7.501s
- Raul Fernandez / Trackhouse Aprilia / +8.484s
- Marco Bezzecchi / VR46 Ducati / +9.529s
- Miguel Oliveira / Trackhouse Aprilia / +10.519s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +11.458s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / +14.035s
- Augusto Fernandez / Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 / +14.853s
- Franco Morbidelli / Pramac Ducati / +16.049s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +16.398s
- Luca Marini / Repsol Honda / +24.907s
Photo by MotoGP - source : MotoGP
