"I am happy. We worked so well in pre-season that everything was ready for the race. The race was much faster, the tires weren't perfect, but luckily everything went well”, he said.

“Of course I want to win to be champion again, but I know it will be difficult with the Aprilia riders and the others from Ducati. It will be difficult, we have to keep working to keep being competitive”, he said.


Despite having led the race practically from the start, Bagnaia admitted that it was not easy to win in Portimão, especially due to the tires, which were very worn at the end, revealing that the celebration of Cristiano Ronaldo was a tribute to the Portuguese who supported him in the stands.

In second place was the Spaniard Maverick Viñales (Aprilia), who said that at “some points” of the race he still thought he could pass Bagnaia, but said he was “very proud” of the team and the work that was done.

“We have to keep working. The bike is competitive, but we can't stop. Step by step we have to fight for the title. We have to be able to give Ducati a fight”, he said.