Matthew Warnier, Media365 Posted on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
Maverick Vinales recorded his first sprint success on Saturday during the Portuguese Grand Prix. The Aprilia rider took advantage of Francesco Bagnaia's mistake to take control of the race and then overtook Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin. Fabio Quartararo was unable to achieve ninth place when Johann Zarco withdrew after falling at the beginning of the race.
Maverick Vinales returns to victory. Three years after raising his arms for the final time during the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, the Aprilia racer managed to put in a good performance during the sprint at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Starting from pole position after taking pole position earlier on Saturday, Enea Bastianini was unable to confirm at Turn 1. The shot went to… Maverick Vinales but the Spaniard did not last long in first place. Indeed, he was overtaken by Jack Miller and then Francesco Bagnaia when Marc Marquez came to put pressure on his compatriot before the end of the first round. Starting from ninth, Fabio Quartararo's start was not ideal, as he dropped to 11th before seeing his teammate Alex Rins fall to the ground in front of him. Unaccustomed to shining in sprint practice, Francesco Bagnaia did his best to take control from lap three at the expense of Jack Miller.
Bagnaya let victory slip away
Behind this duo, Maverick Vinales saw Marc Marquez sticking out his shoulders to make a powerful pass. In the process, the No. 93 dropped the KTM rider to return to the double world champion lead. The fifth lap was marked by the fall of Johann Zarco at Turn 5, where the Frenchman was able to restart but in the 19th and final position, Fabio Di Giannantonio and then Brad Bender were victims of a similar mishap. Positions did not remain consistent at the front since Marc Márquez failed to brake resulting in the work of Maverick Vinales, who then finished second. Jorge Martin, after a very cautious start, began to pick up the pace. The 'Martinator' first swallowed Marc Márquez for third place before 'Picot' saw Bagnaia make a mistake with disastrous consequences. After leading by more than a second, the Ducati rider missed the braking action at the first turn of the ninth lap.
Viñales, a very strong winner
After going off the line, the Italian dropped from first to fourth, rejoining the track just in front of Jack Miller. Which makes Maverick Vinales happy, the new race leader ahead of Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez. The Pramac driver was not exempt from all blame either, as he retired on the eleventh and penultimate lap and allowed his pursuer to return. Marc Marquez is always more comfortable riding a Ducati, and he did not hesitate to attack Jorge Martin for second place. An attack that proved it was too late to hope for the best. With a lead of just over a second, Maverick Vinales took the win ahead of Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin. Francesco Bagnaia is content with fourth place but sees Jorge Martin back within two points heading into Sunday's race. On the Habs side, Fabio Quartararo was unable to catch Pedro Acosta in the second half of the race and settled for the ninth place point. For his part, Johann Zarco did not finish the race. On a roller coaster in Portimão, this race gives an idea of what the Portuguese Grand Prix promises to be lively this Sunday.
Motorcycles – Portuguese Grand Prix / Sprint
Final classification – 12 laps (55.104 km) – Saturday, March 23, 2024
1- Maverick Vinales (Spain/Aprilia) with a time of 19’49’636 (12 points)
2- Marc Marquez (Spain/Ducati Gresini) 1″039 (9)
3- Jorge Martin (Spain/Ducati Pramac) 1 inch, 122 (7)
4- Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 4 inches 155 (6)
5- Jack Miller (AUS/KTM) 4 inches 329 (5)
6- Enea Bastianini (ETA/Ducati) 4 inches 384 (4)
7- Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM Tech3) 5″088 (3)
8- Aleix Espargaro (Spain/Aprilia) 6'161 (2)
9- Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 7-inch 501 (1)
10- Raul Fernandez (ESP/Aprilia Trackhouse) at 8”484
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World Drivers' Championship standings after the race
1- Francesco Bagnaia (ETA/Ducati) 37 points
2- Jorge Martin (Spain/Ducati Pramac) 35
3- Brad Binder (AFS/KTM) 29
4- Marc Marquez (Spain/Ducati Gresini) 27
5- Maverick Viñales (Spain/Aprilia) 19
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11- Fabio Quartararo (France/Yamaha) 6
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13- Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda LCR) 4
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