Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo dominated the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix after heartbreak for Alex Rins and Johann Zarco.
It was time for MotoGP to rumble around Portimao for the Portuguese Grand Prix. Marc Marquez was back, what could he do after 265 days away from a bike? Fabio Quartararo was pole followed by Alex Rins, and Johann Zarco.
The lights went out, and it was Zarco who led away. Rins was second, followed by Marquez until Mir fired up the inside. The top 6 chopped and changed, Marquez went down to ninth, Aleix Espargaró came from nowhere, and by lap 4 the top 20 were split by a ‘massive’ five seconds.
Rins then took the lead, but Zarco soon took it back, Mir and Quartararo were challenging too and Espargaró was up to fifth. Rins mugged Zarco again, and Quartararo made a massive move to head to second, but the power of the Ducati meant he challenged at the end of the long straight.
The rolling disaster continued for Jack Miller, who crashed at turn 3 on lap 6. Oliveira followed, and the reigning race winner was also out.