Bagnaia grabs last-lap win in first-ever MotoGP sprint

Reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia defeated Ducati stablemate Jorge Martin to win MotoGP’s first-ever sprint race at Portimao.

Bagnaia wasn’t the leader for most of the 12-lap sprint, but outduelled Martin on the final lap to pick up the full 12 points.

Surprise poleman Marc Marquez had kept the lead off the line by covering off Bagnaia, which opened the door for Enea Bastianini to leap up to second at his Ducati team-mate’s expense – albeit with Bagnaia then immediately retaliating at Turn 2, in a move that also allowed the Pramac-run Ducati of Martin through.

By the end of lap one, both Bagnaia and Martin were close enough to capitalise on the Ducati’s straightline speed and pass Marquez’s Honda on the main straight – while Bastianini was instead roughed up by local hero Miguel Oliveira. This then put him in the firing line when VR46 Ducati rider Luca Marini lunged down the inside of Turn 5, fell and took both down – with Bastianini having to go to the circuit medical centre for a check-up due to pain in his right arm. He was then sent onto hospital and has a shoulder injury that could rule him out of races.

DISASTER for Ducati! 😮@Luca_Marini_97 and @Bestia23 are out after contact at Turn 5! 💥#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/0tpHJCjsC6

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 25, 2023

Remarkably, that was already the second accident involving a title contender, with Honda newcomer Joan Mir having collided with a slumping Fabio Quartararo on the opening lap – falling off himself while relegating Quartararo to last.

That wasn't the only contact! 👇@FabioQ20 is down to 15th after contact with @JoanMirOfficial who crahses out! 😢#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/R3HA0OyRaf

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 25, 2023

All of that seemed to set up a big points day for Bagnaia in the title race, yet the reigning champion was made to really work for it. He was picked off by Martin at the start of lap four, and then got pounced on by former team-mate Jack Miller two laps later. A lap later, Miller launched his KTM down the inside of Martin at Turn 13, only for Martin to strike back on the main straight.

That tussling created a seven-bike lead group, with the leading trio trailed by Oliveira, Marquez and the suddenly caught-up works Aprilias. But this was shortlived – Martin soon began to break away again, and only Bagnaia managed to keep pace, having been able to clear Miller at the start of the third-to-last lap.

He then reeled in Martin, putting him under pressure and getting ahead when Martin ran wide at Turn 5 on the final tour.

Behind them, a lunge by Oliveira on Miller allowed Marquez to pass both, only for Oliveira to reclaim third place – and then get Turn 11 badly wrong on the final tour, taking him out of the podium battle.

⚔️ @marcmarquez93 picks their pockets as @_moliveira88 goes for the move on @jackmilleraus! #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/sC7fLcrA3s

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 25, 2023

Marquez completed the top three instead, followed by Miller – who managed to counter a late attack from Maverick Vinales. Vinales, team-mate Aleix Espargaro and Oliveira combined for an Aprilia 5-6-7.

The final points went to Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco and Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez. The recovering Quartararo came close to salvaging a point but was ultimately two tenths off in 10th – with only the top nine scoring.

It's double disaster for the @VR46RacingTeam! 😢

Bezzecchi out of the #TissotSprint too! #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/nACIVF0MQX

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 25, 2023

Beyond Bastianini, Marini and Mir, crasher Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) and Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 Gas Gas) were two other riders not to reach the finish.

Unlike in Formula 1, the sprint does not determine the Sunday grid – so Marquez will line up on pole for the main event.

Sprint Qualifying Results