Maiden MotoGP victory for Joan Mir

Suzuki star becomes 2020’s ninth different winner in Valencia and increases title lead

Ecstar Suzuki rider Joan Mir had so much to celebrate when he crossed the line in the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia. Not only was it his first premier-class victory, but his first victory since 2017 in the Moto3 category.

With his teammate Alex Rins behind him in second, it was the first time Suzuki has celebrated a 1-2 in the premier class since 1982. Most importantly, the win puts Mir 37 points clear in the title chase with just 50 points left up for grabs.

Rins lead the race until he was overtaken by teammate Mir

Despite title rival Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crashing on the first lap and remounting, the fast-starting Mir needed only to stay on to extend his lead in the championship. But with 11 laps to go, he took the lead from Rins, put his head down and put clear air between the Suzuki machines, recording the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Behind him, Pol Espargaro fought hard to take the last podium step in what was his third-last race with the Red Bull KTM squad. Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu LCR Honda) went some way to make up for his heartbreak last time out with fourth place and top independent rider with Miguel Oliveira (Tech 3 KTM) and Aussie Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) rounding out the top six.

Pol Espargaro was happy to be back on the podium

While Mir and Rins were two of just four riders to opt for medium front and medium rear Michelin slicks in the race, the fortunes of the other two, Quartararo and Maverick Vinales (Monster Yamaha) couldn’t have been more different.

Forced to start from pit lane due to going over his engine allocation, Vinales recovered to 13th, one place ahead of Quartararo, who finished 14th (and last). It didn’t get much better for other Yamaha riders; Valentino Rossi (Monster Yamaha) retired with a mechanical failure just six laps into his return from a positive COVID-19 test, while Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) struggled to come to terms with his YZR-M1 and finished 11th.

Brad Binder (KTM) finished seventh despite taking a long-lap penalty, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Avintia Ducati) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati).

The race marked the first all-dry session of the weekend and caught many riders out. Aprilia teammates Aleix Espargaro and Lorenzo Salvadori failed to see the chequered flag, as did Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac Ducati), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Avintia Ducati) and Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda).

Mir and Rins’ historic podium means the squad now leads the rider, team and constructor championships – impressive given there is only two Suzuki’s on the grid.

The Suzuki teammates celebrate a historic 1-2

In the Moto2 category, Sam Lowes (EG Marc VDS 0,0) came into this race leading the championship by seven points but his title charge ended in the gravel when he crashed out of second place with 10 laps left.

Marco Bezzechi (Sky Racing Team VR46) won the race ahead of Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo), while Aussie Remy Gardner (Onexox TKKR Sag Team) picked up his third podium of the season in third place.

Enea Bastianini’s (Italtrans Racing) fourth-place finish was enough to hand him a six-point lead in the standings over Lowes heading into this weekend’s grand prix. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) finished fifth ahead of Bezzechi’s teammate Luca Marini, whose sixth-place finish puts him within 19 points of Bastianini in third overall. Gardner remains in sixth in the title chase on 101 points.

Raul Fernandez leads Sergio Garxia and Ai Ogura across the line in Moto3

The Moto3 race was just three laps old when Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) high-sided out of the lead. Just a handful of laps later, three more of the category’s protagonists – point’s leader Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto3), John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Juame Masia (Leopard Honda) – were out of the race leaving Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) to make the most of his position in the championship.

Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) benefitted the most, keeping his head down to take the win ahead of Sergio Garcia (EG 0,0) while Ogura pipped title rival Tony Arbolino’s (Rivalcold Snipers Team) pocket on the last lap to complete the podium.

The drama leaves Arenas (157) with just a three-point lead over Ogura (154). Vietti is now 20 points down on Arenas in third overall ahead of Arbolino (134) and Masia (133).

Maiden MotoGP victory for Joan Mir

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