MotoGP: Martin wins Portuguese GP as rookie Acosta earns first podium.
Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin won the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit on Sunday to take the MotoGP championship lead, while rookie Pedro Acosta finished third after starting seventh.
The 19-year-old Acosta finished third behind polesitter Enea Bastianini after Saturday's sprint winner, Maverick Vinales, crashed on the final lap due to what appeared to be a gearbox problem.
Martin, last year's title runner-up, took the championship lead from reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, who crashed out of the race after colliding with six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez on the Gresini Ducati.
After two races, Martin has 60 points, while Brad Binder is second, 18 points back. Bagnaia fell to fourth in the standings as a result of the crash, 23 points behind Martin.
"I knew what I was capable of. I started fast and I was trying to manage the tyres. Maverick and Enea were super close but at the end I saw a gap and it was enough to fight for the win," Martin said.
Martin rocketed off the line to take the lead into turn one, and he quickly set the pace for the race out front, clocking the fastest lap and extending his lead over Vinales.
Bastianini was third, followed by Bagnaia and Marquez, as the top five riders separated themselves from the pack.
Behind them, however, GasGas Tech3's Acosta refused to sit back and conserve his tyres, first passing Red Bull KTM's Binder before squeezing past Marquez to move up to fifth place with his own fastest lap.
Acosta pursued Bagnaia and attempted risky overtakes on the Italian, and his persistence paid off with five laps remaining when he lunged on the inside and closed the door on the two-time champion.
Tyre management proved to be his undoing in the season opener in Qatar, but this time Acosta appeared to be at ease with the tyre temperature as he pulled away from Bagnaia and Marquez.
Acosta's heroics forced Bagnaia and Marquez to fight for fifth, but with three laps remaining, desperation turned to frustration as both riders collided and crashed when the factory Ducati rider attempted to retake his position on the inside.
Acosta appeared to be on his way to a well-deserved fourth place, but Vinales crashed on the final lap, giving him a podium finish.
In only his second MotoGP race, Acosta became the third-youngest podium finisher in premier class history.
"The bike was perfect. Today there was no problem with the tyres," said Acosta.
"We need to improve but look at this podium - it's not red Ducatis, it's a red GasGas!"
SportsLigue