Quartararo peerless in British MotoGP

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) put in a ride worthy of a world championship when he scored a runaway win to capitalise on bad days for all of his championship rivals at the Silverstone Circuit. The 22-year old picked up his fifth win of the year to extend his title lead out to 65 points with just seven races left, but the headlines must go to Aprilia Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro, who finished third behind Ecstar Suzuki’s Alex Rins.

The 32-year-old Spaniard held off a late-race charge by Aussie Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) to pick up Aprilia’s first-ever podium in the modern-day MotoGP era, his first time back on the podium in 119 races, his first since 2014, and he did it with his wife and kids looking on from the box.

It was Alex Rins’ first podium of the 2021 season, too, after the opening half of his season was riddled with errors and injury, but the rare podiums by Rins and Espargaro means a hammer blow for Quartararo’s championship rivals.

Only three men opted for a soft front tyre in the 20-lap British Grand Prix – race winner Quartararo and title rivals Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) and Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki). But while the Frenchman used it to devastating effect, Bagnaia and Mir suffered, finishing 14th and ninth respectively.

Another good news story of the weekend was Pol Espargaro’s fifth-place finish, not only was it his best result of the season but he did it from pole position. He got the holeshot into turn one from his brother Aleix, and hung onto the lead for the first five laps before Quartararo eased by and reeled of a series of quick and consistent laps to eke out a 3.8-second gap by three-quarter race distance.

Related Reading:
Binder wins wet and wild Austrian MotoGP
Valentino Rossi retires after a glittering MotoGP career
MotoGP musical chairs for 2022
Triumph secures three-year extension on Moto2 engine deal

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) was strong towards the end of the race, eventually crossing the line in sixth place and it was the first time in 49 years that there were six different manufacturers in the top six places of a premier class race. Iker Lecuona put himself in the shop window by putting his Tech3 KTM over the line in seventh place ahead of Alex Marquez (LCR Honda), Mir and Lecuona’s teammate Danilo Petrucci in 10th.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) didn’t complete the opening lap after hot-headed retaliation on a hard move by Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) landed them both in the gravel and, while Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha) was at one point up to sixth place after a strong showing all weekend, he faded back to a disappointing 18th place for his last ever British GP.

Despite finishing ninth, Mir moves into second place in the standings with 141 points, 65 shy of Quartararo’s 206. Zarco is in the third on 137, ahead of Bagnaia who drops two places to fourth with 136 points. Miller stays in fifth with 118 points.

Australian Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) held off race-long pressure from Marco Bezzechi (Sky Racing Team VR46) to celebrate victory at the British Grand Prix. Not only did he put in an impressive performance to pick up the 25 points, but he did it on a day when his title rival and Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Raul Fernandez ended his day in the gravel with zero points.

Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up) picked up his first podium in 27 races when he crossed the line in third, just pipping home hero Sam Lowes (Marc VDS Racing Team) to the last step of the box. The British rider lead in the early stages of the race and was placed third for the most of the race, watching on as Bezzechi and Gardner swapped positions countless times and ready to pick up the pieces, but a late charge from Navarro relegated him to fourth. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oils Gresini) rounded out the top five.

As well as extending his series lead to 44 points over his teammate, the win means Gardner (231 points) now equals Australian Casey Stoner’s win tally in the intermediate category. Bezzechi’s (179 points) second place moves him to within eight points of Fernandez (187). Sam Lowes (127) stays in fourth ahead of Aspar’s Aron Canet (92) in fifth.

After topping every practice session and claiming pole position, Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Husqvarna) led from start to finish to top off a perfect weekend at the Silverstone Circuit. Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) stayed with the Italian during the early of the race, eventually crossing the line 1.6sec behind his experienced compatriot, while Dennis Foggia (Leopard Honda) held off rookie Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) for the last spot on the podium.

Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished an unlikely 11th but is still very much in charge of the championship with 201 points to Sergio Garcia’s (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) – who finished 16th and out of the points – 155 points. Fenati’s sits third overall on 132 points, while Foggia (118) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia (105) round out the top 10.

The series now heads back to Spain, this time to Aragon, for round 13 held over 10-12 September.