Dream start for Bagnaia with MotoGP success in Portugal

Reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia started his 2023 title defence with a maximum points haul from Portimao, concluding the weekend on top at the Portuguese Grand Prix as Pedro Acosta and Daniel Holgado stood tall in Moto2, Moto3 respectively.

Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) won the newly-introduced sprint race on Saturday and continued his winning form to take out Sunday afternoon’s GP, ahead of Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales who kept the pressure on to the flag to finish second, just 0.687s from the lead.

A solid ride from Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) saw him finish third, the Italian 2.726s from Bagnaia come race-end and over five-seconds clear of Johann Zarco (Prima Primac Racing) in P4.

Zarco emerged on top of a multi-rider battle for fourth, leading Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) who impressed in fifth to commence his stint onboard a Ducati.

In tow of the Spaniard, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Brad Binder and Jack Miller were sixth and seventh respectively, as former world champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), Aleix Esparagaro (Aprilia Racing) and new LCR Honda Castrol rider Alex Rins completed the top 10.

Notably, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) collided with home-hero Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team) in the early stages, bringing both riders down and forcing Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – who was second in the sprint race – wide. Marquez has been given a double long-lap penalty to be served in Argentina.

In terms of the championship, thanks to his victories in both the sprint race and GP, Bagnaia leads on 37 points, ahead of Vinales (25) and Bezzecchi (16). Miller is fifth in the standings with 15 points.

Oliveira has been cleared to race next weekend after sustaining contusions to his leg, while Marquez suffered a possible broken hand in the fall. Both riders were fighting in the leading group at the time of the incident.

Red Bull KTM Ajo talent Acosta reigned supreme in the intermediate class, keeping  Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) at bay in what quickly became a two-rider breakaway at the front of the field.

Tony Arbolino (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finished third, 4.460s from the lead, ahead of Filip Salac (QJMotor Gresini) and Manual Gonzalez (Correos Prepago (Yamaha VR46 Mastercamp) who completed the top five.

Notably after running inside the top three in the early stages, Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) finished 11th after serving a double-lap penalty that carried over from Valencia last year.

Moto3 saw a breakthrough victory for Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), edging David Munoz (BOE Motorsports) and Brazilian Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets -MSI) in what was a multi-rider battle for the lead.

Australia’s Joel Kelso qualified a career-best P3 and lead throughout the race, ultimately taking the chequered flag in ninth and 1.268s from the leader.

Unfortunately, following the race, he collided with race-winner Holgado after the finish line, bringing the Australian down heavily, resulting in a broken ankle.

The Red Bull Rookies Cup also competed in Portugal, with Angel Piqueras taking both victories while Australia’s Jacob Roulstone went 13-9 and Carter Thompson debuted in the class with 20-15 finishes after qualifying 12th.

Detailed results

Mixed conditions mastered by Dunker for Supersport overall

In just his second Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) round on a 600 Cameron Dunker secured the Supersport overall in Sydney thanks to a clinical race two victory in mixed conditions.

Yamaha-mounted Condon did exactly what he needed to get his championship back on track in race one, converting pole position to take the win in the overcast, but dry weather and track.

Despite getting shuffled back in the early stages of race one, Condon maintained his composure in the opening laps and took the lead from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) through turn two on lap four.

The number 26 dropped the hammer to post a 1m32.9s and stretch his advantage out to nine-tenths. The gap remained around the one-second mark for the laps that followed, with Farnsworth riding to an unchallenged second position while keeping pressure on the lead.

A clean ride from the fast-starting Tom Bramich (Yamaha) saw him finish third, ahead of Olly Simpson in P4 who recovered from running wide at turn four on lap three, while battling for the lead. Dunker (Yamaha) emerged in fifth, in front of round one winner Ty Lynch (Yamaha) who overcame reigning champion John Lytras (Yamaha).

Just two-tenths from Lytras, Hayden Nelson (Yamaha) finished P8, as Tarbon Walker (Yamaha) and Jack Favelle (Honda) completed the top 10.

Dual Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Dunker mastered the tricky mixed conditions under lights to take his first victory onboard the 600 in national Supersport.

Drying track conditions left competitors torn on tyre choice, with Lynch, Simpson and Dunker all opting for wets and breaking away in the early stages.

Three soon became two as Simpson and Dunker cleared the number 85, the pair opening up a sizeable advantage in the laps that followed. Simpson led Dunker until two laps to go, when the GTR MotoStars rider capitalised on a mistake from the South Australian to take the lead and ride to a 1.040s victory.

Simpson finished a clear second, 18 seconds ahead of Scott Nicholson who charged to third on slicks. Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) and Nelson were fourth and fifth respectively, ahead of Skeer, Passfield, Lynch – who suffered in the closing stages, Lytras and Luca Durning (Yamaha).

Notably, race one winner Sean Condon – who was riding on slicks – crashed at turn six with five laps to go, and Farnsworth was pulled off the grid prior to the race start.

Dunker’s race two victory elevated him to the round victory on 41 points, ahead of Simpson with 37 and Nelson on 29. In terms of the championship standings after round two, Lynch leads on 82 points, Simpson is second courtesy of 74 and Lytras is third with 72.

A race three victory secured Brandon Demmery the overall in both the Supersport 300 class and R3 Cup, the race one winner drafting Cameron Swain – who stood tall in race two – to the line in the final bout. Swain was second overall for the round in both categories, as Brodie Gawith completed the top three.

After two rounds, Demmery leads the Supersport 300 Championship on 128 points, ahead of Swain with 114 and Russo in third on 109. Sydney marked the first round of the 2023 R3 Cup, with Demmery leading the series on 70 points, Swain P2 courtesy of 63 and Gawith third on 52.

In the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC), race one and two winner Haydn Fordyce prevailed when it came to the overall, and leads the series in its early stages on 64 points ahead of Valentino Knezovic (57) and Riley Nauta (50). Race-three winner Bodie Paige recovered from a fall in yesterday’s encounter to leave Sydney fifth in the standings.

Detailed results

Continuing his convincing form in Sydney, Cru Halliday has secured pole position in the second round of the 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), with each of the riders on the front row covered by less than a tenth, while in Supersport Sean Condon set the qualifying benchmark.

A 1m28.970s secured the number 65 the best possible starting position for tomorrow, with Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) lining up second courtesy of a 1m29.019s and round one winner Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) third, just one thousandth from the reigning champion.

Each of the top three led at times throughout the session, as Penrite Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss (1m29.710s) will line-up fourth, ahead of Bryan Staring (MotoGo Yamaha) P5.

Glenn Allerton (GT Racing Team BMW) just missed the 1m29s mark in sixth, while Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing Yamaha), Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars Yamaha), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Ted Collins (Livson Racing BMW) completed the top 10.

Condon continued his dominant form from practice to lead Superport qualifying, taking out pole position despite sitting out the second session under the lights altogether.

The R6 rider posted a 1m32.509s in QP1 this afternoon, with Jack Passfield setting the second fastest time in the form of a 1m33.253s, however, he notably suffered a sizeable high-side on the entry to turn nine in the second qualifying session.

Completing the front row is round one winner Ty Lynch (Yamaha), setting a 1m33.538s to finish ahead of Olly Simpson (Yamaha) who was the leading rider to improve their time tonight, ending just 0.016s from a front-row starting position.

A 1m33.722s from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) was enough for P5, in front of Supersport rookie Hayden Nelson who was the final rider in the 1m33s bracket.

Lining up in P7 is Tom Bramich (Yamaha), as dual Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Cameron Dunker (Yamaha), Dallas Skeer and reigning Supersport champion John Lytras round out the top 10.

In the first Supersport 300/ R3 Cup bout, experienced contender Brandon Demmery converted pole position to victory, crossing the line ahead of round one winner Jai Russo and former Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) champion Cameron Swain – the top three separated by just 0.088s.

A thrilling Oceania Junior Cup race one saw Haydn Fordyce recover from a poor start to win the category’s first encounter of the season, leading Valentino Knezovic and Queensland’s Hunter Corney at race-end.

Detailed results