Miller too ends a podium drought that stretched back to the Catalan GP, although the Aussie was ready for a 2014 Moto3™ re-run, with ‘heaps of tyre’ ready to fight it out. Mir returns to the rostrum for the first time since Aragon, and from his first MotoGP™ top three in qualifying, also turning his fortunes around after a tough Emilia-Romagna GP. With that thought, it was done: Pecco’s victory ensures Ducati retain their Constructor crown, and it was a fantastic way to bounce back after the disappointment suffered by the Bologna camp at Misano. Lecuona made his own error and unfortunately made contact thereafter with Oliveira in some pure bad luck for the home hero. It was investigated and no further action deemed necessary. Both riders were conscious and eventually up on their feet, but with three-quarters of the race completed, the race was declared a result at the beginning of Lap 24. The last lap didn’t arrive, however, as a crash involving Lecuona and home hero Oliveira at Turn 13 brought out the Red Flags.
Focus turned then turned to the Miller vs Alex Marquez fight just up ahead, the Aussie still leading that ding-dong, with everything boiling up for a final lap scrap. Quartararo slipped out of contention and suffered his first DNF of the season – rider ok after a fairly drama-free lowside.
With five to go, at Turn 5, it was done and dusted for the newly-crowned World Champion though. Quartararo was struggling to dismiss Pramac duo Martin and Zarco too, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) soon joining the scrap for P5. Turn 1 witnessed Miller dive up the inside of the Honda, but Marquez was able to make the cutback work – so it was as you were with six laps to go. Mir, meanwhile, was holding Alex Marquez and Miller at bay by just over a second, with Martin, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Quartararo a second and a half down on the podium fight in turn.Ī fantastic fight between Marquez and Miller was unfolding for the final podium spot too. For the Ducati in the lead, it only increased and Bagnaia was nearly two and a half clear with nine to go. With 12 laps to go, it was up to nearly two seconds over Mir, who in turn had a second and a half over Alex Marquez. Third place soon went to Alex Marquez though, the double World Champion getting the job done at Turn 1 at the beginning of Lap 12.Īs things stood then, with Bagnaia leading and Quartararo seventh, Ducati would be crowned Constructor Champions. And Bagnaia really started to get the hammer down on Lap 7, his lead up to seven tenths over Mir, who in turn was a second up the road from Miller. The Australian had Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing), Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Quartararo in hot pursuit too, with a duel followed by a group how it was looking early doors. Lap 1 saw Mir then pass Miller at Turn 8, the Spaniard making his front row start count, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) losing a couple of positions in the latter half of the top ten.īagnaia and Mir had the hammer down at the front, soon nearly a second clear of Miller.
Rewinding to the start, Miller propelled his GP21 off the line very well and grabbed the holeshot diving down the hill into Turn 1, but the Australian was slightly wide, allowing polesitter Bagnaia through and into the lead. Riders ok, Oliveira also headed to local hospital for further checks. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the podium as the race ended slightly prematurely, with Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashing at Turn 13 and bringing out the red flags. Stefan Bradl, Andrea Dovizioso and Takaaki Nakagami brought up the rear, the latter crashing at Turn 5 to bring a premature end to his session.A near-perfect Pecco wins to secure one crown for Borgo Panigale after a red-flagged race on the Algarveįrancesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was unstoppable at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve and picked up his third victory of the season, with his latest 25-point haul handing Ducati the 2021 Constructors title too.