Portimão 2024: First Red Team Pole Position and First Podium of the Year

The Ducati Lenovo Team secured the second step of the podium in the Portuguese Grand Prix race with Enea Bastianini, delivering an excellent performance that kept him in close contention at the front until the checkered flag. Francesco Bagnaia exited the race three laps from the end while battling for fifth position due to contact at turn five.

Bastianini demonstrated consistent and swift race pace throughout the 25 laps. Setting the fastest lap of the race on the twenty-first lap (1:38.685, a new race record at Portimão), Enea moved up to second place at the start of the final lap, clinching his first podium of the season.

“It was a great battle. I believed until the end, but Jorge (Mártin) pushed really hard and had a perfect race, so I had to settle for second place. It’s a special result for me, as Portimão isn’t among my favorite tracks. Sure, it’s very nice, but in the past, I had never managed to be truly fast here. The three of us at the front had some back-and-forth throughout the laps, but ultimately today, it was impossible to win. Having Maverick (Viñales) in front of me didn’t make my life easy, as he was very strong in T4, and I couldn’t get close enough on the rest of the track. If I had been in front of him, maybe I would have had a bit more chance, but I was a bit nervous during the first lap and made a few too many mistakes. I want to thank the team and my family for their support because it wasn’t easy to get back into the top positions after such a complex 2023.”