On Friday Pol Espargaró had fallen, suffered multiple fractures and is in Barcelona to undergo surgery. This Sunday, in the final, the Spanish starred in a situation that was criticized on social networks.
The previous MotoGP disembarkation at the Termas de Río Hondo racetrack, in Santiago del Estero, had everything. On Friday, Pol Espargaro fractured his jaw and a dorsal vertebra during the first practice session of the Algarve Grand Prix in Portimao (Portugal), and this Sunday the Spaniard Marc Márquez ended up with a fractured thumb after hitting hard against Miguel Oliveirain a race won by the defending champion, the Italian Francis Bagnaia (Ducats).
On the first date of the season, Bagnaia finished ahead of Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) and Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati-VR46), in a race in which polesitter Márquez fell and had to retire, suffering a new fracture after having been hit by a humerus injury in the last two years.
“It was long! I no longer have the habit of completing such long races”pointed out the winner, referring to the dispute on Saturday of the first ‘sprint’ test, which he also won.
After starting in pole position at the Portimao circuit, Márquez (Honda) abandoned after a violent crash with the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia-RNF), who also had to leave the test.
The Spaniard, a six-time world champion in the highest category, suffered a fractured thumb on his right hand, according to the competition.
“Possible fracture of the first metacarpal (thumb) of the right hand in pilot N.93. He will undergo additional tests at the Dexeus hospital in Barcelona”pointed out the MotoGP.
If the injury is confirmed, it would be a blow for the 30-year-old, whose last three seasons have been marked by various physical problems and operations.
Oliveira, the local idol, had had an excellent start, after starting fourth on the grid and placing second. Despite the spectacularity of the maneuver, he only suffered a bruise on a leg.
Second on the starting grid, behind Márquez, Bagnaia took control of the race from the second lap.
At the finish line, fourth position went to the Frenchman Johann Zarcothanks to an excellent comeback from three places on the last lap.
The other French Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), MotoGP world champion in 2021, finished in eighth position, after starting tenth on the grid.
On Saturday, Bagnaia had already won the first sprint in the history of MotoGP, a new, shorter race format, which will be held throughout this season on the eve of the traditional Sunday event and which offers up to twelve additional points in the World Championship, in addition to of those attributed in the grand prize.
In the World Cup ‘Pecco’ commands again, with 37 points (the maximum possible), ahead of Viñales (25) and Bezzechi (16). Zarco is fourth with 15.
Greatly absent from the Portimao starting grid, Enea Bastianini (Ducati), also Italian, suffered a violent fall in the sprint on Saturday. The 25-year-old driver suffers a fractured shoulder blade and will not be able to be at the Argentine GP next week.
In the lower categories, the 18-year-old Spanish promise Pedro Acosta (KTM Ajo) prevailed in Moto2 after starting third. He took first place on the second lap to win ahead of his compatriot Aron Canet.
In Moto3, the Spanish Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) resisted the pressure of the competition until the end and won the first race of his career at the age of 17.
