Portimao Moto3: Rookie Acosta wins last-lap duel to take commanding points lead

There was drama before the race, as second-row starters Deniz Oncu (Tech3) and Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta) were handed pitlane starts for irresponsible riding in qualifying, with the pair joining Gresini’s Jeremy Alcoba and Binder’s team-mate John McPhee.

Poleman Andrea Migno grabbed the holeshot from Leopard Honda duo Xavi Artigas and Foggia, with rookie Artigas moving into the lead at the start of the next lap.

Foggia found his way to the front of the pack into Turn 1 on the fourth lap and resisted a brief attack from Doha race winner Acosta on the Ajo KTM on the fifth tour.

Artigas’ race came to an end at Turn 3 on lap four when Gresini’s Gabriel Rodrigo made contact with the Leopard Honda’s rear wheel, the Argentine hit with a long lap penalty for the incident.

Foggia absorbed pressure from the group behind led by Acosta up until lap 18, when the Ajo rider launched a raid on the outside on the run into Turn 1.

Acosta ran in too hot, however, allowing Migno to hit the front again ahead of Foggia.

Foggia did not allow Snipers Honda’s Migno to spend much time heading the pack, the Leopard rider scything through on the inside of the Portimao right-hander at Turn 11, with Acosta getting back into second two corners later.

Start action, Andrea Migno, Rivacold Snipers Team leads

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Acosta tried to pass Foggia again into Turn 1, this time on the inside, but the Leopard rider managed to fend him off under braking.

Foggia led the field across the line to start the final lap, with Acosta attempting a pass at Turn 3 but unable to break through.

Behind, Aspar’s Sergio Garcia’s podium hopes were dashed by a massive moment, while Acosta’s Ajo team-mate Jaume Masia crashed at Turn 5.

Acosta found a way through on Foggia at Turn 13 and somehow stayed aboard his KTM despite a big wobble through the plunging final corner to beat Foggia by 0.051s.

Back-to-back victories for Acosta have put the 16-year-old rookie 31 points clear in the championship standings.

Migno held onto the final podium spot by 0.031s to claim his first rostrum since Valencia 2019, while Tech3’s Ayumu Sasaki and Rodrigo completed the top five.

Niccolo Antonelli got his Avintia KTM home in sixth ahead of Max Racing’s Romano Fenati, Garcia, Masia – who was able to rejoin after his crash – and Ryusei Yamanaka (Prustel GP).

Alcoba was able to recover to 14th from the pitlane, while both Binder and McPhee took the chequered flag without points in 20th and 23rd.

Portugal Moto3 results - 21 laps

Cla	Rider	Bike	Time	Gap
1	Pedro Acosta	KTM	38'01.773
2	Dennis Foggia	Honda	38'01.824	0.051
3	Andrea Migno	Honda	38'02.357	0.584
4	Ayumu Sasaki	KTM	38'02.388	0.615
5	Gabriel Rodrigo	Honda	38'02.448	0.675
6	Niccolo Antonelli	KTM	38'02.502	0.729
7	Romano Fenati	Husqvarna	38'02.546	0.773
8	Sergio García	GASGAS	38'03.018	1.245
9	Jaume Masia	KTM	38'14.260	12.487
10	Ryusei Yamanaka	KTM	38'14.281	12.508
11	Stefano Nepa	KTM	38'14.314	12.541
12	Jason Dupasquier	KTM	38'14.366	12.593
13	Filip Salač	Honda	38'14.606	12.833
14	Jeremy Alcoba	Honda	38'15.516	13.743
15	Deniz Öncü	KTM	38'15.561	13.788
16	Yuki Kunii	Honda	38'17.007	15.234
17	Carlos Tatay	KTM	38'19.805	18.032
18	Andi Gilang	Honda	38'22.057	20.284
19	Riccardo Rossi	KTM	38'22.116	20.343
20	Darryn Binder	Honda	38'35.147	33.374
21	Maximilian Kofler	KTM	38'35.183	33.410
22	Lorenzo Fellon	Honda	38'38.275	36.502
23	John McPhee	Honda	38'39.313	37.540
24	Izan Guevara	GASGAS	39'10.325	1'08.552
	Kaito Toba	KTM	38'41.954	6 Laps
	Adrian Fernandez	Husqvarna	30'13.094	5 Laps
	Tatsuki Suzuki	Honda	27'11.128	6 Laps
	Xavier Artigas	Honda	10'01.400	17 Laps
View full results