MotoGP News: Bezzecchi wins in Portugal

In a display of unchallenged dominance, Marco Bezzecchi (pictured) of Aprilia Racing delivered a wire-to-wire masterclass at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, leading every lap of the 25-lap Portuguese Grand Prix to claim a crucial victory.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The Italian’s triumph not only extended his lead in the battle for third in the MotoGP World Championship but also positioned him to mathematically secure the spot with minimal points in next weekend’s Valencia finale. Behind him, a tense podium scrap unfolded as Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) fended off a ferocious late charge from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), reshuffling the Sprint race order from Saturday.

Lights Out: Holeshot Heroics and Early Chaos

As the lights extinguished, Bezzecchi nailed a flawless launch from pole to seize the holeshot, with Acosta exploding off the line in a bid for the lead but unable to dislodge the Aprilia rider. Márquez mirrored his Sprint race start, slicing through to third, while drama erupted in the midfield. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) tangled in a multi-rider pile-up at Turn 5 but escaped unharmed, capping a challenging weekend for the Italian.

By Lap 2, Márquez had pounced on Acosta for second and begun chipping away at Bezzecchi’s lead. Disaster struck further back, however, as Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol)—third in Sepang two rounds prior—limped out with a technical gremlin at the lap’s end, his hopes evaporating in the Algarve heat.

Midfield Mayhem: Bagnaia’s Tumble Shakes the Order

Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) anchored fourth early on, shadowed by a resurgent Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who was delivering one of his strongest showings of the 2025 campaign. The duo faced pressure from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who in turn was hounded by Indonesian GP victor Fèrmin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The rookie sensation made his mark at Turn 5, diving aggressively past Binder with light contact that nicked some aero from the South African and vaulted Aldeguer to fifth.

Aldeguer wasted no time, overtaking Quartararo moments later. The race’s turning point arrived on Lap 11 at Turn 10, where Bagnaia highsided into the gravel—a fourth consecutive Sunday retirement that delivered a devastating blow to his fading third-place aspirations in the standings. Aldeguer inherited fourth as the field reshuffled.

Up front, Bezzecchi’s rhythm was impeccable. By Lap 15, he had carved out a 2.2-second cushion over Márquez, with Acosta trailing a further 2.4 seconds back. The Tech3 rider enjoyed a 6.4-second buffer to the chasing Aldeguer and Binder pack, allowing the leaders to focus on their own duel.

The battle for sixth intensified as Quartararo masterfully defended against compatriot Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and a charging Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Racing), the Japanese rider turning heads with his poise in just his sophomore season.

Closing Stages: Acosta’s Surge Falls Just Short

With the race seemingly settled, Acosta ignited a stunning comeback in the final four laps, slashing three-quarters of a second from Márquez’s lead as the Gresini rider grappled with fading rear grip. By the penultimate lap, the gap had halved to one second—an audacious uphill battle, but one the #73 KTM ace has made his trademark.

Further down, Zarco’s pace dipped late, allowing Ogura to snatch seventh while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) snagged eighth in a gritty scrap. Pol Espargaró (Red Bull KTM Tech3) rounded out the top ten, marking a solid recovery for the third KTM representative.

Checkered Flag: Bezzecchi’s Majestic Solo Act

Entering the final lap, Márquez dug deep to stem the tide, holding Acosta at bay by a razor-thin margin. The 20-year-old’s inspired pursuit echoed his near-miss from Saturday’s Sprint, but Bezzecchi remained untouchable, crossing the line 1.8 seconds clear for a lights-to-flag rout. It marked the sixth different winner in as many rounds this season and Aprilia’s third victory of 2025—the manufacturer’s first such haul in a single campaign.

Márquez clung to second for his first podium since Aragon, with Acosta completing the rostrum in third, his relentless pressure underscoring his status as the Championship runner-up. Aldeguer consolidated fourth ahead of Binder’s fifth—his third top-six of the year—while Quartararo’s P6 was his strongest Portuguese result since 2022. Ogura’s seventh extended his run of back-to-back top-tens for the first time since Jerez and Le Mans, Di Giannantonio edged Zarco for eighth, and Espargaró closed the points-paying positions.

Bezzecchi’s haul vaults him 28 points clear of Bagnaia’s nearest pursuer in the third-place chase, setting the stage for a triumphant Valencia send-off. As the season hurtles toward its climax, the Aprilia star’s Portimão perfection serves as a reminder: in MotoGP, dominance is the ultimate statement.

Race Results – 25 Laps

* Rookie