Martin wins drama-filled Portuguese MotoGP

If it wasn’t for the show-stopping performance of MotoGP rookie Pedro Acosta (Tech3 GasGas), you could be forgiven for thinking the Portuguese Grand Prix was a processional 25-lapper, such is how close it is in the premier class in 2024.

And while the 19-year-old finished with perhaps an unlikely podium, it was a combination of his courage as well as some high-profile casualties that made Acosta the third-youngest podium finisher in premier-class history.

It was Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati) who nabbed the holeshot from pole-sitter Enea Bastianini (Lenovo Ducati) and Sprint race winner Maverick Vinales (Team Aprilia), the latter passing the Italian for second place just one lap later. And while it was only the gaps between the leading trio that really changed for the ensuing 22 laps, it was what unfolded behind them that was making headlines.

In hot pursuit, reigning world champ Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) and Marc Marquez (Gresini Ducati) were in fourth and fifth ahead of the factory Red Bull KTM pairing of Jack Miller and Brad Binder, with Acosta in eighth. Although a mistake by the Aussie on lap five, allowed both Binder and Acosta through.

With the same air of impatience that we saw from the young Spaniard in Qatar and which ultimately cooked his Michelin rear tyre, the rookie sensation had muscled his way up to fifth place by lap eight, passing Binder into Turn 1 to start lap seven, pulling the same move on eight-time world champ Marc Marquez just one lap later.

As Acosta gapped Marquez and found himself on the rear wheel of Bagnaia, the leading trio were now more than two seconds clear of Bagnaia, Acosta and Marquez, with both factory KTMs now losing touch of the top six. Behind them, the factory Monster Yamahas who, as well as earning a place directly into Q2 the day before, were showing some promise with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins in ninth and 10th. Home hero Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing Aprilia) was 11th ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati), with both riders still coming to terms with their newer-spec machinery.

Up ahead, Acosta’s expected tyre drop never eventuated, although it was clear Bagnaia was struggling with rear grip as the laps rolled on. The Italian used all of his experience to keep the impatient rookie at bay, which he did successfully for 12 laps. The GasGas rider eventually made a lunge stick on lap 21 of the 25-lap contest, as the top three riders continued to trade fastest laps of the race and were now two seconds clear of the battle for fourth.

It took Acosta just two laps to put a two-second gap between himself and Bagnaia, leaving the two celebrated Ducati riders in Bagnaia and Marquez to battle it out for fifth place. Bagnaia successfully defended a move by Marquez on lap 22, with the Spaniard making another play at Turn 5 the next time around, which appeared to work. Marquez ran slightly wide, opening the door for Bagnaia to retake the spot, but as Marquez squared off the corner to pick up the drive, the two Ducati men made contact and crashed with just two-and-a-half laps to go.

Martin wasn’t taking any risks; he put his head down in the final stages and put almost a second of air between him and Vinales, but race-long gearbox issues for the Aprilia rider culminated as he crossed the line for the second-last time, forcing the Spaniard wide at Turn 1, resulting in an unlucky crash for the 29-year-old just one lap before the end.

Vinales loss was Acosta’s gain, however, the teenager promoted to the final podium spot behind Martin and Bastianini in just his second grand prix start in MotoGP.

Binder and Miller crossed the line in fourth and fifth, albeit 11 and 16 seconds further back, with Bezzecchi, Quartararo, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Oliveira and Fabio Do Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati) rounding out the top 10. Marquez remounted to finish 16th, with the controversial crash later deemed a racing incident.

The result puts Martin at the top of the heap on 60 points, 18 clear of Binder (42) and 21 clear of Bastianini (37). Bagnaia, who came into the race with a two-point advantage, is now in fourth on 37 points.

The series now takes a three-week break before heading to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for Round 3, which will be held over April 12 to 14.