- AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama
Portugal – Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin has won the Portuguese Grand Prix to take the MotoGP championship lead, while rookie Pedro Acosta earned his first premier class podium with a blistering charge.
The 19-year-old Acosta finished third behind polesitter Enea Bastianini on Sunday after Saturday's sprint winner Maverick Vinales, who was in second place at the time, crashed on the final lap with what appeared to be a technical problem with the gearbox.
Australian Jack Miller finished seventh on his Red Bull KTM at the Algarve International Circuit on Sunday, more than eight seconds adrift, as quoted from the Canberra times.
Pembalap Pramac Ducati, Jorge Martin
- AP Photo/ Kittinun Rodsupan
Martin, last year's title runner-up, took the overall lead from reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, who crashed out of the race following a collision with six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez on the Gresini Ducati.
Martin has 60 points after two races while Brad Binder is second, 18 points behind. Bagnaia was pushed down to fourth in the standings as a result of the crash, 23 points behind Martin.
"I knew what I was capable of. I started fast and I was trying to manage the tyres. Maverick and Enea were super close but at the end I saw a gap and it was enough to fight for the win," Martin stated.
He rocketed off the line to take the lead going into turn one and immediately set the pace for the race out front, clocking the fastest lap and extending his lead over Vinales.
In just his second MotoGP race, Acosta became the third-youngest podium finisher in premier class history, powering from seventh on the grid to eventually finish third.
