P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Marquez, Bagnaia escape penalty for Portugal MotoGP clash
In the closing stages of Sunday’s 25-lap grand prix in Portugal, the factory Ducati rider and his Gresini counterpart were battling over fifth place. Marquez attempted to overtake Bagnaia on lap 23 but they collided, resulting in both riders crashing. Despite the collision, no punishment was given as the incident was deemed a racing incident by the MotoGP Stewards Panel. This collision shows the first challenge for Ducati in managing its roster since Marquez’s signing with Gresini, complicating the situation as Marquez is not directly contracted to the manufacturer. With Bagnaia now 23 points behind the winner of the Portugal GP, Ducati faces a tough situation in the championship standings. Marquez is now 27 points behind the championship leader, though his first podium on the Ducati during the sprint on Saturday helped soften the impact on his position. More updates on this ongoing situation are expected to follow.
