Quartararo wins dramatic MotoGP opener

Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) became the first Frenchman to win a premier class race in more than two decades, celebrating victory from pole position in the 2020 MotoGP opener at the Jerez Circuit’s Spanish Grand Prix.

In a drama-filled race and in searing hot conditions, Monster Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales grabbed the holeshot from reigning world champ Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Aussie Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati). Marquez took the lead by the third lap and as he started to push to open a gap, he saved a frighteningly fast front-end crash in Turn 4 on Lap 4 and ran off the track, eventually re-joining the race in 16th place.

Vinales, just one of two riders who gambled with a soft front tyre, ran wide at the end of the eighth lap, allowing hard-charging Quartararo and Miller through, and by the half-way point of the race, the 21-year-old French rider had eked out a one-second lead.

Fired up and frantic, Marquez stormed through the field and had found himself on the back of the five-rider battle for the podium with nine laps to go, taking just four laps to slot himself back on the podium in third place.

With Quartararo four seconds up the road, and Marquez looking to retain his record of finishing in the top two places in every race since last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, the Repsol Honda rider suffered a 150km/h high-side on the exit of Turn 3. The huge crash made his remarkable comeback ride futile and puts his inclusion in next week’s second round in doubt, after fracturing his humerus.

Vinales held on for second place, while Factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso beat Miller to the line to take his 102nd career podium and his first ever at the Jerez circuit, just three weeks after breaking his collarbone.

Quartararo dedicated the race to “all the people affected by COVID” and to his family, calling it “the best moment of my life, for sure.”

Miller beat Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM) to the line for fourth, Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac Ducati) was seventh ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull Tech3 KTM) a further six seconds back, while Danilo Petrucci (Team Ducati) and Taka Nakagami (LCR Honda) completed the top 10, crossing the line almost 20 seconds behind Quartararo.

Both Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) were non-starters due to injury, Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Gresini) both crashed out of the race, while Valentino Rossi (Monster Yamaha) was forced to retire with a mechanical issue.

Rossi’s half-brother Luca Marini (Sky Racing VR46) won the second round of the Moto2 World Championships ahead of Qatar winner Tetsuta Nagashima and his Red Bull KTM teammate Jorge Martin, while Aussie Remy Gardner finished seventh which puts him fifth in the title chase, 25 points down on Nagashima’s 45 points.

Albert Arenas (Team Aspar KTM) continued his stellar form in the Moto3 category with two wins from two starts, finishing the race ahead of Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) and Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Honda).

Aussie Josh Hook (OCTO Pramac) finished ninth in the opening MotoE race, which was won by Eric Granado (Avintia Racing).

The next round, the Andalucia Grand Prix, will be held at the same Jerez Circuit this weekend.