Francesco Bagnaia secures sprint race victory for Ducati Lenovo at MotoGP season opener in Portugal

World champion Francesco Bagnaia won the sprint race in the first MotoGP of the year in Portugal. The sprint offered up the chance of 12 points for the winner and then nine for second place, seven for third, and a point fewer all the way down to ninth place. Ad The action from Portimao kicked off after qualifying with Marc Marquez in pole, followed by Bagnaia in second and then Jorge Martin in third as the last rider on the front row.

Catalunya Grand PrixQuartararo pips Marquez to Catalunya GP pole15/06/2019 AT 14:10 Marquez led from the start but could only hold off the challenge of Ducati Lenovo’s Bagnaia for so long before giving up the lead. There was early drama as Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini went out in the second lap, and two later Marco Bezzecchi followed into the gravel. As competition heated up at the front of the pack, Jack Miller raced into second place, but in the final lap there were seven riders all with a shout of claiming the win.

Miller tops Portugal GP practice as multiple riders suffer crashes 'We are not contenders today' — Marquez doesn't think Honda have turned corner yet Ultimately it came down to a shootout between Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, with the former carrying the win to start the season top of the pile. Sunday sees the full MotoGP go ahead with the chance to win further points in the new campaign. Portimao Sprint Race Top 10 1.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) — 19m 52.862s 2. Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) +0.307s 3. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) +1.517s 4.

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) +1.603s 5. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) +1.854s 6. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) +2.106s 7.Miguel Oliveira (RNF Aprilia) +2.940s 8.