THE second race of the 2024 MotoGP season in Portugal was an instant classic, filled with action, drama and shock results from the first lap. Here is how it went down in Portimão.
Championship hopeful and last season’s runner-up Jorge Martin won the race comfortably after taking the lead into turn one from third place, cementing himself as an early favourite for the title.
There was drama at the end as two giants of the sport collided, as the six time riders champion Marc Marquez didn’t leave enough room for the 2023 and 2022 world champion Francesco Bagnaia, ending in both riders crashing.
Additionally, on the final lap, second placed Spaniard Maverick Viñales lost power on the start/finish straight, and then crashed out after he lost control on the dirty runoff area, only adding to the drama.
This left the door open for pole sitter Enea Bastianini to come through into second place and rookie Pedro Acosta to come through into a well deserved yet hard fought third place, the 19-year-old secured a podium in just his second MotoGP race, as he continues to set the MotoGP world alight. The Spaniard also becomes the third youngest podium finisher ever in MotoGP
Further down the order, the late drama allowed the two Red Bull KTM riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller to come through in fourth and fifth respectively.
Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi finished in sixth, with the 2021 world champ Fabio Quartararo in seventh and Aleix Espargaró in eighth.
Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira finished in a respectible ninth place in his home race, securing his team, American outfit Trackhouse Racing, their first points finish in their inaugural season, and Fabio Di Giannantiono rounding out the top 10.
Martin’s race win gives him an early lead in the championship as he sits 18 points clear of the South African Binder in second.
The rookie Acosta as well as Bastianini move up the rankings after this result keeping a close eye on thise around them, whilst Acosta continues to defy expectations in his rookie season.
Here are the current championship standings after the race in Portimão:
This race had it all, and will stick in the minds of all who watched on. The next race will take place between the 12th and 14th of April and will be held at the famous Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, USA.
