Vi~ales makes it a perfect weekend at MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas

  • Aprilia rider adds race victory to sprint race triumph
  • Acosta becomes youngest rider to take back-to-back podiums

Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales completed the perfect weekend at the Grand Prix of the Americas when the pole sitter and sprint winner claimed victory in Sunday’s race despite dropping outside the top 10 on the opening lap after a poor start.

Viñales became the first rider to win a Sunday race with three different manufacturers – having won with Suzuki and Yamaha in the past – taking the chequered flag in an eventful race that had several lead changes.

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F1 owner Liberty Media announces takeover of MotoGP

  • US-based company buys 86% stake for €3.5bn from Dorna
  • Takeover subject to clearance and could attract scrutiny

Formula One’s US-based owner Liberty Media has announced a takeover of MotoGP’s parent company Dorna, MotoGP said in a statement on Monday.

Dorna will stay an independently run company attributed to Liberty Media’s Formula One Group tracking stock and continue to be based in Madrid, with the long-serving Dorna chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta remaining in his position, the statement said.

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Jorge Martín dominates in Portugal to take MotoGP lead after eventful race

  • Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez crash out in collision
  • Rookie rider Pedro Acosta shines to claim first podium place

Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martín won the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit on Sunday to take the MotoGP championship lead, while 19-year-old rookie Pedro Acosta earned his first premier-class podium with a blistering charge after starting seventh.

Acosta finished third behind pole-sitter Enea Bastianini after Saturday’s sprint winner Maverick Viñales, who was in second place, crashed on the final lap due to what appeared to be a technical problem with the gearbox.

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Francesco Bagnaia begins defence of MotoGP title with Qatar GP victory

  • Ducati rider finished ahead of Brad Binder and Jorge Martín
  • Teenager Pedro Costa sets early pace but drops to ninth

Ducati’s defending world champion, Francesco Bagnaia, won the MotoGP season opening Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday after taking the lead in the opening lap to beat Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder and Pramac Racing’s pole sitter Jorge Martín.

Bagnaia had finished fourth in Saturday’s sprint but his faultless ride to take the chequered flag in the race moved him to the top of the championship with 31 points. Binder, who also finished second in the sprint, sits two points behind with 29 while last year’s championship runner-up, Martín, is a point further behind.

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