Bagnaia avoids Marquez mayhem to win MotoGP opener in Portugal, Binder bounces back to finish sixth

World champion Francesco Bagnaia won Sunday's season-opening Portuguese MotoGP after a costly mistake by pole-sitter Marc Marquez.

South Africa's Brad Binder battled to a sixth-placed finish as well as neck pain after starting the race in 14th position. The KTM Red Bull rider had gained six places after just two laps in an astonishing comeback.

Binder, who is known as a strong Sunday racer, was cleared to compete on Friday after a medical check-up.

Ducati star Bagnaia coasted across the line ahead of Aprilia's Maverick Vinales in the Algarve sunshine to follow up his win in MotoGP's inaugural sprint 24 hours earlier.

Marquez crashed and wiped out home favourite Miguel Oliveira on lap three to leave the way clear for Bagnaia to get his championship defence off to a perfect start.

Bagnaia, whose teammate Enea Bastianini missed the race after injury in the sprint, leaves Portimao with a maximum 37 points from the first of the 21-race season.

"That's the start me and my team wanted," the Italian told motogp.com.

"We have to keep going like this."

He then joked that after Saturday's 12-lap dash in the sprint "I'm not used to such a long race".

Bagnaia's compatriot Marco Bezzecchi, riding Ducati's VR46 bike, came in third to complete the podium.

If it was reasonably plain sailing for the world champion it was anything but for Marquez.

A rare moment of madness from the Spaniard provided the main drama of the afternoon.

READ: Bagnaia wins first ever sprint at Portugal MotoGP, SA's Binder 12th

The pole sitter clipped Jorge Martin and then his out-of-control Honda slammed into the back of Oliveira's KTM, wiping out the Portuguese rider who had high hopes of a podium finish in front of his home fans.

Marquez received a hostile reception from