MotoGP Post -Race: Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal
The 2nd round of the 2024 MotoGP season took place at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal, where Jorge Martin from Prima Pramac Racing took his first win of the season. Starting from 3rd on the grid, Martin got a great start and led the all-important first sector rankings to seize the early advantage. He rode aggressively yet efficiently to fend off the challenges of Enea Bastianini and the rookie Pedro Acosta to take the checkered flag.
Bastianini started from pole position and despite losing out to Martin’s lightning start, kept within touching distance of the leader throughout the race and get a much-needed points haul after a slow start to his 2024 campaign. Meanwhile, Acosta put up an inspired performance in his rookie season to claim his first ever MotoGP podium with a fine 3rd place, proving he will be a force to reckon with this year.
Further down the order, Brad Binder and Jack Miller from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing finished 4th and 5th respectively. Binder made significant gains from his starting position of 10th thanks to consistently quick lap times and his defensive skills. Miller also made progress but was not as efficient in converting his overtakes into lasting gains.
Marco Bezzecchi had a quiet yet effective race for 6th place. His metronomic consistency coupled with strong pace meant he lost no positions from his starting slot of 6th. 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo could manage 7th place for Monster Energy Yamaha, struggling with rear grip issues that left him unable to challenge the front runners.
Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro made net gains from start to finish, climbing from 13th on the grid to finish 8th and collecting some vital championship points. He lived up to his top volatility ranking with overtakes galore, although he was not always able to make them stick. Miguel Oliveira also made progress for his new team, gaining 6 positions to finish 9th.
Four riders failed to finish in Portugal. Alex Marquez crashed his Gresini Racing machine, while Bagnaia fell from contention just as he was mounting a challenge for the lead. Maverick Vinales was another faller, marking a disappointing start to Aprilia’s 2024 season. The final retirement came from Raul Fernandez, who is yet to finish a race this season.
With 19 rounds still remaining in 2024, Martin’s win moves him to the top of the World Championship standings with 60 points. Consistent scoring from Binder keeps him 2nd with 42 points, while Bastianini’s podium lifts him to 3rd overall in championship standings with 39 points. Bagnaia drops to 4th after his non-finish, now with 37 points.
In summary, Martin was the stand-out performer in Portugal with aggression, race craft and consistency. Bastianini and Acosta also impressed on the podium. Riders such as Binder, Miller and Espargaro made ground thanks to strong pace and overtaking. Meanwhile, Bagnaia, Vinales and Marquez will want to bounce back quickly from their crashes. After an eventful 2nd round, the MotoGP World Championship promises to thrill over the coming 19 races.