MotoGP, Martin wins ahead of Bastianini and Acosta. Bagnaia and Marquez collide and fall: out. Viñales, gearbox problems

Jorge Martin takes victory in the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix ahead of Enea Bastianini of Ducati et al Pedro Acosta of the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3, to its first podium in MotoGP. After the fall of Francesco Bagnaia e Marc Marquezwho were dueling for fifth position and collided, ending their race prematurely, and the gearbox failure of the Aprilia of Maverick Viñales Ruizwhich denied them an almost certain podium, they placed fourth and fifth Brad Binder e Jack Miller.

Thanks to this success in the second race of the season, Martin takes the lead World Championship standings at 60 pointsand enthusiastically comments on the finish line: “Today I had no problems with the bike, I felt it well since Friday. I started fast, I immediately wanted to take the lead and manage the tires well. Step by step, I tried to create a small gap for myself, creating that gap of tenths sufficient for the victory. I hammered from start to finish, big relief, I feel competitive again and I know I can do it.”

An enthusiasm that also distinguishes the third place finisher, the 19-year-old Acosta, on his first podium in MotoGP but already champion in Moto3 in 2021 and in Moto2 in 2023: “The bike was perfect for the whole race: I’ve never even had tire problems. My team did a fantastic job. I rode as I know how and I’m happy with the first podium. Today on the podium there is not only the red Ducati, but also the GasGas one. I know where I still need to improvefor example in qualifying”.

“At the end of our second Grand Prix the the balance sheet is certainly positive and tire performance was very good. I say this based on data that is irrefutable: in Moto2, the riders were very fast and Aldeguer improved the race record lap that dated back to 2020″, commented the Pirelli motorcycle racing director, Giorgio Barbier. But he also intervenes on the long race in Portimao, and in a critical way Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati: “The Marquez-Bagnaia contact? Competitions are like this, they are two champions, no one wanted to give up. With their experience they could have been a little more careful, they even fought for a fifth place. They touched slowly and with that inclination they both fell. I understand them but I don’t justify them“.

“The presence of Marquez? There are many champions here, all very strong, some are world champions who want to win. I understand the topic that is popular, but I don’t fall for the controversy,” he added. “Have more strikers in the team? It’s positive because you have a lot of data to compare, having more bikes on the track is an advantage because everyone grows. This is our philosophy,” she explained.

2024-03-24 16:54:28
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