Bagnaia captured the dash with a last-lap overtake and earned 12 factors to maneuver to the highest of the riders’ standings forward of Sunday’s race.
Launched this season in an try to make the game extra gratifying, the sprints can be run the day earlier than the race and can be roughly 50% of the total distance, which was 12 laps across the Portimao circuit.
Marc Marquez surprised the sphere when he took pole place in qualifying earlier than being helped by a slipstream, however was no match for his Honda Ducatis, whose straight-line tempo helped Bagnaia take the lead on the opening lap.
Barely completely different perform! 😎 @PeccoBagnaia receives the primary ever winner’s medal for #TissotSprint! 🏅… https://t.co/2Vfjv21Pk2
– MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) 1679758734000
Marquez struggled to maintain his rivals at bay and shortly Pramac Racing’s George Martin overtook him and in addition took the lead from Bagnaia whereas Jack Miller and miguel olivera He additionally overtook the six-time champion who slipped to fifth.
However with two laps to go, Marquez noticed a gap as Oliveira and Miller pushed for place, doing a dangerous double overtake to go up and end third.
On the ultimate lap, Martin appeared set to take the checkered flag, however the Spaniard ran large at flip one, opening the door for Bagnaia to maneuver forward and win the dash.
Former champion Fabio Quartararo and Honda’s Joan Mir have been concerned in a collision that noticed the latter crash, whereas the Yamaha rider managed to maintain his steadiness, however misplaced a number of locations consequently, ultimately ending tenth.
(with inputs from Reuters)