MotoGP Portugal 2024: Bastianini carries good form in qualifiers, snatches pole position

The practice race of the Portuguese Grand Prix was just a precursor of all the action lined up for this MotoGP weekend. The qualifiers proved to be even more exciting as Enea Bastianini continued his good run from the practice race yesterday to secure pole position. It is the first time the Italian managed to grab hold of the pole position after 2022.

During the second qualifier, Bastianini also set the fastest lap time of 1 minute and 37.706 seconds for his fifth lap. In the final race of the 2024 Portugal GP at Portimao tomorrow, Bastianini will be joined by Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales and Pramac’s Jorge Martin on the front row, both securing the second and the third positions, respectively.

Marquez crashes again

Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, securing the fourth spot, will now start at the head of row two alongside Jack Miller and Marco Bezzecchi, who managed to grab hold of the fifth and sixth spots in the qualifiers, respectively. However, the biggest surprise of the qualifiers came in the form of Marq Maequez, as the Spaniard slipped to the eight spot. Surely, he is still getting used to the environment at his new home— Gresini Racing.

After crashing out in yesterday’s practice, Marques again met with an unfortunate crash at turn 15, forcing him to retire to the paddocks to get his spare bike. Marquez lost control of the front on the out-lap as he peeled into the super-fas final corner at just under 200 kmph. However, Marquez wasn’t the only one as Brad Binder came crashing soon after on the first flying lap. 

Earlier, Alex Marquez from Gresini Racing Moto and Pedro Acosta from Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 were the two riders from qualifier 1 who made it to the second round of qualifiers. Big names like Aleix Espargaro, Fabio di Giannantonio and home hero Miguel Oliveira failed to make it to Q2.

All eyes now on the Sprint race, followed by tomorrow’s final race.