
MotoGP: Portugal – Who was where
MotoGP returned to the ‘Roller coaster’, Portimao. Last time at the circuit two Ducati riders stood on the podium, with a Suzuki in between. Now in 2022 It was Johann Zarco who started the Grand Prix from pole. Will Ducati win again in Portugal or can home hero Miguel Oliveira win again at his home race.
Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP:
Fabio Quartararo:
The reigning world champion is back on top of a MotoGP podium. This is Quartararo’s first race win since the British Grand Prix in 2021. The French rider absolutely demolished the field in the dry and once he got to the lead he stayed there.
Franco Morbidelli:
Once again it was an awful weekend for the 2020 runner up as he struggled to score points. Morbidelli started in 19th place and made his way up to 13th in the race.

WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
Andrea Dovizioso:
The experienced Italian rider has had an awful return to MotoGP with Yamaha. But after a messy race from some riders Dovizioso made his way into 11th place.
Darryn Binder:
Still the South African rider has struggled in MotoGP on the Yamaha in dry conditions. The South African rider finished in 17th place.

Ducati:
Pramac Racing:
Johann Zarco:
The experienced Frenchman started from pole position at Portimao and looked strong. Zarco found himself in second place and battled for second place all race long with Joan Mir. Zarco is keen to keep his name in the mind of the Ducati management for contract talks.
Jorge Martin:
The Spaniard had an awful weekend in Portugal as he qualified in 15th place and then had a dreadful race as he crashed out early on.

Ducati Lenovo Team:
Francesco Bagnaia:
After crashing in qualifying Bagnaia started in 24th place on the grid. The preseason championship favorite looked battered and bruised before the race. However, the Italian made up ground in the race and made his way to 8th.
Jack Miller:
The Australian rider started from the head of the second row and looked like he meant business. However, Miller did not have the pace for the podium. But once again Miller made a mistake and lost the front taking out a Suzuki rider.

Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
Luca Marini:
After qualifying in eighth place it was a shock to see the Italian rider all the way down in 14th. Marini kept his calm in the race and secured a strong 12th place finish.
Marco Bezzecchi:
Once again Bezzecchi had a strong qualifying as he started from sixth place and looked strong. But his race was not as good as qualifying as he finished 15th place.

Gresini Racing MotoGP:
Fabio Di Giannantonio:
Disaster for Di Gi as he had to retire from the race on lap 24. But he was not in the points once again.
Enea Bastianini
Bastianini has lost his championship lead as he did not finish the Portuguese Grand Prix. The Italian crashed out on lap ten.

Aprilia:
Aleix Espargaro:
The Spanish rider had an amazing weekend he qualified on the front row in third place. But the race was even better as he kept his cool and finished third overall as others fell around him.
Maverick Vinales:
The Spanish rider scored more points today in his first full season with Aprilia. Vinales made his way into another top ten as he finished tenth place.
Lorenzo Savadori:
The wildcard rider was done dirty this weekend as he came into a full wet weekend with a dry race. Savadori did his best, but crashed on the last lap.

Suzuki:
Alex Rins:
The Spanish rider had a sensational opening lap as he made his way up from 23rd on the grid as he passed 13 riders. Rins really has a point to prove in 2022 and is doing it in style as he really is a championship contender this year.
Joan Mir:
The 2020 champion started off strong leading the race but he battled for second for the majority of the race. However, he was taken out by Miller on the 19th lap of the race.

KTM:
Miguel Oliveira:
The home hero did not manage a win or a podium in Portimao. However, he did secure a strong fifth place finish, his best result since the Indonesian Grand Prix.
Brad Binder:
The South African rider had a poor qualifying down in 12th place. But his race was even worse. After a poor start and making his way through the field Binder had a rare crash.

Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
Remy Gardner:
More points this season for the young Australian as he got stuck in and managed to make his way to 14th place.

Honda:
Repsol Honda Team:
Marc Marquez:
After a head on battle with his brother in the latter stages of the race it was a decent showing from Marquez. The Spanish rider finished sixth place and matches his result from America.
Pol Espargaro:
The younger Espargaro brother had a strong ride in Portimao as he finished ninth place. This was his best result since the opening race of the season.

LCR Honda:
Alex Marquez:
The younger Marquez brother looked incredibly strong all weekend. He qualified high up in seventh place and matched that in the race as he took his best race result this season.
Takaaki Nakagami:
Once again Nakagami had an awful weekend as he qualified in seventeenth place and then crashed out again. However, he did finish and crossed the line in 16th.

Come listen to us talk about the Portuguese Grand Prix and see my rider ratings on the Superbike Show on Wednesday at 7pm.
Images from MotoGP.com