Photo: Gold & Goose / Red Bull Content Pool
2025 MotoGP Portugal: Who’s leaving happy and who’s disappointed?
The Portuguese Grand Prix delivered a mix of strong comebacks and continued struggles across the MotoGP field. Marco Bezzecchi’s composed victory confirmed Aprilia’s progress, while Pedro Acosta and Alex Márquez shone in the sprint fight. Meanwhile, riders like Francesco Bagnaia, Luca Marini and Alex Rins faced another difficult weekend as the championship picture continues to shift.
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Winner: Sprint Format
The sprint race in Portugal showed exactly why the format has become popular. Alex Márquez and Pedro Acosta had a thrilling battle, overtaking each other several times. Márquez won, but Acosta finished only 0.120s behind. Bezzecchi was also close, proving how strong the top 3 riders were all weekend.
Loser: Alex Rins
Yamaha’s difficulties continued in Portugal. Rins finished only 13th and could not match teammate Fabio Quartararo’s pace. Earlier results suggested improvement, but this weekend raised new doubts. The upcoming Valencia test will be very important for both Rins and Yamaha’s future development.
Winner: Marco Bezzecchi
Bezzecchi rode a smart race on Sunday. He did not panic after losing out in the sprint, and he saved his tyres early so he could push later. This allowed him to take control in the second half and win comfortably. This result proves Aprilia’s progress is real and it strengthens Bezzecchi’s hold on his place in the championship.
Loser: Francesco Bagnaia
It was another disappointing weekend for Bagnaia. After qualifying well, he used too much tyre in the sprint and fell down the order. During Sunday’s race, he crashed while trying to stay with the front group. This was his fourth grand prix in a row without finishing. He is now in danger of losing championship places, with Pedro Acosta only four points behind him.
Winner: Brad Binder
Binder delivered one of his best rides of the season. Even though he qualified poorly, he made a great start and worked his way up to a strong top-five finish. With one round remaining, he could still break into the top 10 in the championship.
Loser: Luca Marini
Honda were not expected to fight near the front, but Luca Marini struggled more than his team-mates. He qualified only 13th, went off track in the sprint and could not find grip on Sunday. While Joan Mir has already scored podiums for Honda this year, Marini still needs a standout performance.
Winner: Johann Zarco
Zarco showed good progress with Honda’s upgraded bike. After struggling to adapt to the changes, he finally found better stability and confidence. He finished seventh in the sprint and ninth in the race, which is a strong result for Honda at one of their weaker tracks.
