Fabio wins in Spain, but Mir edges closer

Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) returned to his winning ways in Barcelona, holding off yet another late charge by Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir who moves to second overall in the title chase.

Quartararo and Mir were joined on the podium by Mir’s teammate Alex Rins, who fought through from 13th on the grid to give Suzuki its first double podium since 2007. Bur for a long time, it looked like it might be a Yamaha lockout; Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) got the holeshot from what was his first pole position ahead of Rossi and Quartararo. Aussie Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) made the most of his holeshot device to sit in a close and comfortable fourth place in the opening stages.

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Crucially, a mistake by Danilo Petrucci (Team Ducati) caused Johann Zarco to react and lose the front of his Sponsorama Avintia Ducati GP19 in the first corner, collecting championship leader and factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso on the way down.

Quartararo had the best pace in the first half of the race, taking second from Rossi with 19 laps to go before pinching the lead from his teammate three laps later. Morbidelli had a big moment on the front at the half-way point of the race which allowed Rossi, racing his 350th premier-class grand prix, through for second. Rossi started on the front-row for the first time in a year, but with nine laps to go, his soft front tyre let go into turn two, denying the Yamaha rider his 200th MotoGP podium.

Teammate Maverick Vinales did see the chequered flag, but went from race winner last week ago to ninth over the line in Catalunya. The unpredictable Spaniard dropped back to 15th in the early stages after starting from the middle of the second row, picking up just seven points.

Meanwhile Mir nabbed third place from Miller before hunting down Morbidelli for second place with just two laps to go. His chasing teammate relegated the Italian to fourth just a few corners later, elevating himself to a podium place, making Rins the 13th different rider to celebrate on the podium in eight races.

Jack Miller hung on for fifth place from teammate Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac) and Taka Nakagami (Idemitsu LCR Honda). Petrucci crossed the line in a relatively lonely eighth ahead of Vinales, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and the highest-placed KTM of rookie Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM). Teammate Pol Espargaro joined Tech3 KTM Miguel Oliveira in the list of crashers.

Quartararo’s win now puts him eight points clear of Joan Mir, 108 versus 100. Maverick Vinales (90) drops to third ahead of Dovizioso (84), Morbidelli (77) and Miller (75).

Luca Marini (Sky Team VR46) chalked up his third win of the 2020 Moto2 World Championship to move 20 points clear of Enea Bastianni (Italtrans Racing) who couldn’t find the pace of the front-runners in Barcelona, and who finished six seconds down in sixth place. Marini was pushed right to the end by front-row starter Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who took second from Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed UP) before having a lunge for the win, but it was pole man Marini who reigned supreme.

Marco Bezzechi (Sky Team VR46) finished seventh to hang onto third in the standings, 36 points down on Marini but 11 in front of fourth-placed Lowes on 103. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM) sits in fifth despite retiring from his first GP back after testing positive to Covid-19.

Aussie Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR Sag Racing Team) was slapped with a six-place grid penalty for crashing while not respecting a yellow flag in FP2. He ended the race in 16th and currently sits 12th overall on 41 points.

Just as South African Brad Binder celebrated his maiden premier-class victory earlier this year, brother Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power) tasted his first grand-prix victory in the Moto3 category, holding off Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) to the run to the finish line.

The consistency of Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) is paying off and, despite finishing 11th, currently leads the points chase by three points from Albert Arenas (Aspar Team) who crashed out of the race. Petronas Sprinta Racing’s John McPhee also crashed, but remains in third place on 98, just three points clear of Arbolino (95) and four clear of SKY Racing Team VR46’s Celestino Vietti (94).

The series now moves to Le Mans in two weeks’ time.