Marco Bezzechi triumphed in Portugal. © APA/afp / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA

Bezzecchi shines from start to finish

Marco Bezzecchi converted his pole position at the Portuguese Grand Prix into a victory.

09 November 2025

From: dpa

The Italian won on Sunday in Portimao on his Aprilia, ahead of Spanish Ducati rider Alex Marquez, who had already secured the runner-up position in the world championship, and Pedro Acosta. The Spaniard had started from second place on his KTM and finished second in the sprint the previous day, behind Marquez and ahead of Bezzecchi. Ducati star Marc Marquez, who had been prematurely crowned world champion weeks earlier, was absent due to injury.

South African Brad Binder finished fifth on the second KTM, while Francesco Bagnaia crashed on his Ducati. This dealt the Italian another setback in his fight for third place in the championship. Ahead of next weekend's season finale in Valencia, Bezzecchi, after his lights-to-flag victory, is 35 points ahead of Bagnaia and the closest challenger to the Marquez brothers. Acosta is now only three points behind Bagnaia. The competitiveness following Marquez's withdrawal from this year's championship is evident in the fact that there have been six different winners in the last six races.