The Italian from Ducati saw Portuguese home rider Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia) make a lightning start and take the lead on the first lap. Not much later, Oliveira was knocked over by Spanish eight-time world champion Marc Márquez (Honda), who desperately tried to regain his place at the front after a failed start from pole position. The race was over for both drivers after the crash.
From that moment on, Bagnaia was in control of the race on the Portimão circuit. The Spaniard Maverick Viñales (Aprilia) was able to follow the world champion for a long time, but he gradually lost ground. He finished second. The Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) was third.
The winner was overjoyed with his victory in the opening race. Last year it took until the sixth race before he achieved his first success. “It was a very long race, I am very happy. This season we started as I wanted, as the team wanted. Thanks to the team who did an incredible job,” said Bagnaia, who celebrated his victory to the delight of the Portuguese public celebrated in the same way as soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo after a goal.
Bagnaia predicts a “mentally grueling” season in MotoGP. The Grand Prix of Portugal was the first of 21 race weekends, ten of which are outside Europe this year. Also new is that the road racers in the premier class have a sprint race on Saturday at every grand prix in addition to the race on Sunday. In total, they will drive 42 races this year in which points can be earned. “Especially the second half of the championship will be tough. Then there is hardly time to catch your breath, there is a race almost every week,” he said before the GP of Portugal.
Bagnaia made one of the greatest comebacks in motorsport history last season. He was 91 points behind Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) halfway through the season, but managed to finish on the podium eight times in the last ten races and win the title in the final race in Valencia.
