Francesco Bagnaia wins the first MotoGP sprint race, Fabio Quartararo tenth

Twelve laps in apnea. Without cogitating or calculating.

Full gum. From beginning to end.

A battle of ragpickers: this is the principle of the sprint race discovered by the top names of MotoGP on the Portimao toboggan. Maximum voltage guaranteed!

Saturday’s first winner in the premier class? Francis Bagnaiaduck!

The world champion honored the number 1 plated on his official Ducati. At the end of a fight rich in twists and turns, he beat the Spaniards Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac) and Marc Marquez (Honda), pole position holder.

So here he is, taking the reins of the championship from the start with 12 points on the clock.

Fabio Quartararo 10e

Fabio Quartararo? After missing the qualifying turn, the Niçois had only one ambition: to go up the slope as much as possible.

Only 11th on the starting grid, the rider of Yamaha n°20 lost ground on takeoff before being jostled by Joan Mir (Honda).

Relegated to 19th position, he found rhythm, grabbed places, until crossing the line in 10th place. He therefore ends up empty-handed since only the first nine score points.

The Johann Zarco from Cannes (Ducati Pramac), unable to follow the leading group, did little better: 8th (2 pts).

Now it’s time for the Portuguese Grand Prix, whose launch is set for this Sunday at 3 p.m. Again with Marquez on pole ahead of Bagnaia… and Quartararo far behind (11th).