MotoGP’s ‘Sprint Era’ begins

The 2023 FIM MotoGP World Championship officially got underway at Portimao in March, where fans witnessed the first ever MotoGP ‘Tissot Sprint’ as part of the new race weekend format that’ll apply to every round of this year’s championship.

In addition to the new format, the Portimao season opener would also mark the first hitout for several riders with their new teams, including Jack Miller with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and 2020 MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir with Repsol Honda. Portimao would also see the premier class debut of Augusto Fernandez (GasGas Factory Racing Tech3).

Last year’s MotoGP World Champion, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), came to Portimao aiming to defend his title against 2021 World Champion, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), while six-time premier class champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) was fully fit for the first time in almost three years and ready to regain his place at the top of the field.

The opening day in Portugal was compromised by rain during the first Free Practise session, then a systems failure during the second, but when the track was live, it was abuzz with activity. At the end of the day, Miller set the fastest time, his 1’37.7090 breaking the circuit lap record. Next fastest was Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing), then Bagnaia.

The opening day also saw Pol Espargaro (GasGas Factory Racing Tech3) suffer a serious crash that’s expected to put the Spaniard out of action for some time.

Saturday, 25 March, would see the usual MotoGP qualifying session, then the debut of the Tissot Sprint.

In qualifying, Marquez produced a blistering 1’37.226 lap to take his first pole in dry conditions since the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix. Bagnaia and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) completed the front row, with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP Aprilia), Miller and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) on row 2.

Unlike World Superbikes, where qualifying sets the grid for Race 1, but the results of the Tissot Sprint Race determines a portion of the grid for the Race 2, MotoGP’s format sees qualifying times applied to both the Tissot Sprint and the feature race.

As the Tissot Sprint is half the normal race distance, it meant riders had 12 laps ahead of them at Portimao, with ‘half’ points, too, meaning 12 for the winner, decreasing down to a single point for ninth place.

Under clear skies, the first MotoGP race for 2023 - and the first ever Tissot Sprint in GP racing - started with Marquez getting the holeshot, while Bastianini slotted into second from sixth on the grid. But on the second lap, Bastianini’s race – and weekend – were over when Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati) crashed into him, leaving the Italian with a fractured shoulder blade.

Both Bagnaia and Martin has passed Marquez before the completion of the first lap, while Mir and Augusto Fernandez failed to finish it, due to a crash and mechanical problems, respectively.

By lap 3, Martin had the lead, with Miller briefly in front later, but the KTM RC16 was no match for the power of the Ducati Desmosedicis down Portimao’s main straight. Quartararo, meanwhile, was trying to fight his way back from last after contact with Mir on the opening lap.

The biff and barge of the opening laps were repeated in the closing stages, with Miller and the factory Aprilias rubbing fairings, then Marquez passing both Oliveira and Miller on the penultimate lap.

Out front, Martin held the advantage going into the final circuit, but Bagnaia played it cool, capitalising on Martin running wide at turn 5 to take the lead, while Oliveira threw away a podium finish with a similar misjudgement.

At the end of 12 laps, Bagnaia made history as the first ever MotoGP Tissot Sprint winner, finishing 0.307 seconds ahead of Martin, with Marquez an additional 1.21 seconds further back in third and Miller fourth.

The following day’s 25-lap feature race was almost as dramatic, with Marquez crashing into Oliveira in the opening laps, putting both out of the race.

Martin was in front initially, then Oliveira before Bagnaia took the lead, fending off Vinales for most of the race to take his second win of the weekend - the perfect start to his championship defence.

Vinales and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) completed the podium, with Miller seventh.