Sawt Falasteen - Marquez wins Portuguese MotoGP sprint race

The Ducati-Gresini rider -– guaranteed to finish second in the championship behind his brother Marc –- finished ahead of compatriot Pedro Acosta (KTM), and Italian Marco Bezzecchi riding an Aprilia.

After a superb start from pole position, Bezzecchi could not hold off Acosta, who was in excellent form and then Marquez, who had started fifth on the grid.

The day's winner overtook Acosta with four laps to go.

The 21-year-old is still waiting for his first victory in the premier class, which he joined in 2024.

Starting third on the grid, the 2021 world champion, Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, finished fourth on his Yamaha, well ahead of former two-time champion, Italian Francesco Bagnaia who was eighth for Ducati.

With the world championship and runner-up titles already secured by the Marquez brothers, the battle for third place in the championship is still wide open.

At the end of this 12-lap race -- compared to 24 laps for Sunday's main event -- Bezzecchi remains third and now has a 10-point lead over Bagnaia, who is fourth overall.

Injured Marc Marquez and his compatriot, 2024 world champion Jorge Martin of Aprilia, did not make the trip to Portugal.

U.AlSharif--SF-PST