Portuguese MotoGP Race Results | Quartararo marches clear in Portimao romp

Fabio Quartararo gave a sublime performance befitting of his World Champion status as he powered to a dominant Portuguese MotoGP victory in Portimao, the Frenchman landing the first win of his title defence in fine style.

A formidable display of rapid and consistent race pace aboard the factory Yamaha M1, Quartararo’s timely win gives his 2022 MotoGP season campaign a significant bounce back in the right direction following a stuttering opening four flyaway races that delivered mixed fortunes.

Coming a year after he romped to a similar runaway success at the Algarve venue, Quartararo’s strong getaway from the second row allowed him to follow hole shot man Joan Mir through the opening turns. After shadowing the 2020 World Champion for three laps as they broke away, his successor pounced at the start of lap four to move in front.

From here Quartararo galloped clear to take the flag more than five seconds clear of the opposition, a challenge headed up by countryman Johann Zarco, who also enjoyed a welcome return to the podium with a gutsy ride to second place.

His result was a saving grace for Ducati on an otherwise frustrating day for the Italian firm. Jack Miller missed out on a golden opportunity to overshadow the riders eyeing his factory seat for 2023 by losing the front of his GP22 as he was attempting a pass on Mir for third on lap 16, the Aussie taking his Suzuki rival into the gravel trap with him.

He joined Jorge Martin and erstwhile championship leader Enea Bastianini in propping up the DNF list, the latter suffering his first non-finish of the year with a tumble at Turn 8 on Lap 10 to lose his spot at the top of the standings.

Aleix Espargaro picked up the pieces from Miller and Mir to collect his and Aprilia’s second podium of the year, the Spaniard finishing on the tail of Zarco after a strong charge towards the end.

In fourth place, Alex Rins delivered a career-making performance with a back-to-front charge on the second of the Suzuki GSX-RRs, the Spaniard making impressive gains early on and maintaining strong pace to take fourth at the flag. It means he and Quartararo share the lead at the summit of the MotoGP standings, albeit in the Frenchman’s favour by virtue of his win.

Miguel Oliveira gave a strong home performance to take a top five finish on the KTM, ahead of Marc Marquez, who got the better of his brother Alex on the final lap for sixth. 

Still feeling the effects of a crash in qualifying, Pecco Bagnaia nonetheless soldiered on from the back of the grid to take a fistful of points in eighth, with Pol Espargaro and Maverick Vinales completing the top ten.

With 18 of the 24 starters reaching the finish, Andrea Dovizioso, Luca Marini, Franco Morbidelli, Remy Gardner and Marco Bezzecchi were classified 11th to 15th as the last of the point scorers.

2022 Portuguese MotoGP | Portimao | RACE Results