Alex Marquez takes victory at Portimao in the Tissot Sprint after a hard battle with Pedro Acosta

Marco Bezzecchi started from pole position for the Tissot Sprint ahead of Pedro Acosta from his first front row start since the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix with Fabio Quartararo rounding out the front row. Francesco Bagnaia headed the second row with Alex Marquez in fifth and Johann Zarco in sixth. Nicolo Bulega was replacing Marc Marquez and started in 18th on his first weekend on a MotoGP bike.

The lights went out and Bezzecchi lead the field ahead of Acosta and Marquez, Quartararo was fourth and Pecco Bagnaia was fifth.

Bezzecchi, Acosta and Marquez pulled away from Quartararo and Bagnaia. On lap three Acosta overtook Bezzecchi into turn one to take the lead.

On lap four Bezzecchi was slipstreaming Acosta to setup a move into turn one, but Marquez had a great exit out of the final corner and was able to pass Bezzecchi into turn one for second place.

On lap four Bulega lost the front at turn 13 and was out of the race. Bezzecchi got sucked in Marquez’s slipstream and ran deep into turn one, losing a couple of tenths to the front two.

On lap six Marquez blasted passed Acosta on the home straight, but Acosta wasn’t going to give up first place and immediately attacked into turn three, but Marquez got the cutback, then Acosta tried again into turn five and this time made it stick.

Marquez pulled the same maneuver on Acosta and retook the lead into turn one, but Acosta took the lead back again into turn five.

Marquez made the move for a third time and again made it stick. Acosta was unable to get the drive out of turn four to attack into turn five and Marquez held onto the lead.

Fabio Di Giannantonio overtook Bagnaia and was started to close in on Quartararo in the final few laps. Bagnaia was beginning to struggle and had Zarco, Femin Aldeguer and Brad Binder for company.

Marquez held off Acosta to take victory in the Tissot Sprint, Bezzecchi rounded out the podium in third. Quartararo was fourth ahead of Di Giannantonio. Aldeguer snatched sixth ahead of Zarco and Bagnaia with Binder taking the final points paying position.

Featured Image: Ksc Photography Services.