Briefs from the Portuguese GP Sprint race

Enea Bastianini gets injured
The Italian was hit by the bike of his compatriot Luca Marini who made a mistake while trying to go on the inside during the Tissot Sprint. Bastianini fell violently before ending his race in the gravel trap. The first medical report shows a fracture of the right shoulder blade for the Ducati factory rider, who was transported to Portimão hospital to undergo additional examinations. He is already out of the main race and the Argentinian round next weekend.

Hard blow for Enea Bastianini

Reassuring news for Pol Espargaro
Victim of an impressive fall 15 minutes from the end of P2, Pol Espargaró was transported to Faro hospital to undergo additional examinations. He suffered a fairly significant pulmonary contusion, a fractured jaw and a dorsal vertebra. At this stage no permanent damage to the spine is to be feared.

Mark the cheek as Hamilton
Our specialist in the major moments of the competition, Medhi Casaurang-Vergez, pointed out to the editorial staff this afternoon the beautiful similarity between the maneuver which allowed Marc Marquez to seize the bronze medal and the overtaking of Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone in 2022. With pole position and his incredible comeback in the Sprint Race, the eight-time World Champion is the driver of the day.

"When I saw @ _moliveira88, I said 'now it's my time' - @marcmarquez93 🎙️

The 8-time World Champion explains how he managed to pull off his outstanding double overtake at the end of the #TissotSprint 🤩#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/eBY9hXgn6L

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 25, 2023

Jack Miller flies away
Jack Miller has been treating us since the start of the weekend to tricks, each one more impressive than the last. Rare are the moments when both wheels of his KTM remained on the track simultaneously. One thing is certain, the Australian rider from Townsville has found a family at KTM and a bike that lends itself perfectly to his antics. We ask for more with relish.

What a lap from @jackmilleraus! 😅

Well deserving of a celebratory stoppie and bunny hop! 😂#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/6KxOW2OLgX

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 24, 2023

Quarterly in the hard
We can't really say that the French driver is suffering at Portimāo but his start to the weekend does not invite optimism. Easily qualified in Q2 after two successful Friday sessions, he took 11th place on the grid before finishing 10th in the Sprint race and the first driver out of the points. An average day, without relief, and definitely not up to the ambitions of the 2021 World Champion.

Fabio Quartararo limits the damage © MotoGP

Pecco Bagnaia as boss
Although he was stolen from pole position by an atomic Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia was able to respond to win the Sprint Race. The Italian did honor to the number 1 which adorns his official Ducati and is this evening the first leader of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship. So, who is the boss?

A gold medal for the boss © MotoGP

ALSO READ > Bagnaia first king of the MotoGP Sprint