Monster Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo became the 2021 MotoGP World Champion after fighting through from 15th to fourth in the Emilia Romagna GP.
Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez headed an HRC one-two, for a back-to-back victory, from Pol Espargaro after battling with the fallen Pecco Bagnaia from the outset. Quartararo almost securing the celebrations with a podium before Bastianini denied him on the line - for the Italian’s second Grand Prix rostrum at home abroad a two-year-old satellite Ducati.
An emotional Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli welcomed the premier class as Valentino Rossi prepared for his final race on Italian soil at his home circuit. His younger brother racing in the neon yellow ‘Grazie Vale’ livery seen on the Sky VR46 Moto2 riders, in celebration.
Quartararo’s first chance to claim the MotoGP crown began with the Frenchman suffering his worst ever premier class qualifying performance, and starting 15th on the grid. His championship rival Bagnaia launching from his fourth consecutive pole and at the head of an all-Ducati front row - alongside Jack Miller and Marini - for the first time in MotoGP history.
The drama began before the grid had even formed as Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder crashed on his sighting lap, due to heading out on a hard front tyre despite the cool temperatures. The South African already enduring a difficult weekend with 20th in qualifying compared to the remaining Austrian trio, all inside the top 10.
Provisional tyre selection saw Quartararo and Johann Zarco opting for the medium rear Michelin, versus the soft majority, with Maverick Viñales the sole rider utilising the soft compound front. The Aprilia rider changed his mind on the grid, returning to the favoured medium choice as Miller and Bagnaia swapped to a hard front/medium rear combination.
The race start saw the pole man maintain control as Miguel Oliveira swept through to second, before Miller and Marquez dived through for podium contention.
The Ducati pair headed the field, with Miller playing protector as Bagnaia looked to build a lead. Marquez joined by Repsol teammate Espargaro in fourth at the close of lap two with Oliveira dropped into the clutches of Franky Morbidelli.
Joan Mir was issued a double long lap penalty for a jump start as the third lap began, the Suzuki crashing out and taking birthday boy Danilo Petrucci with him at turn two.
Quartararo was up to 12th as lap four got underway, Marquez setting the fastest lap of the race as he looked to stay in touch with the Desmosedicis ahead. Miller crashed out of second as the fifth lap neared, a fast turn 15 spill frustrating the Australian as the left hand tyre temperature of the hard front bit.
Marquez was hard on Bagnaia’s wheel next time around, Espargaro two seconds adrift in third from Oliveira and Morbidelli as Quartararo entered the top 10.
Aleix Espargaro sat sixth from Marini and Jorge Martin with Alex Rins the buffer to the advancing Frenchman. Binder was up to 15th after his pitlane start, Iker Lecuona ahead with Alex Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami circulating 12th and 13th respectively.
Quartararo dispatched Martin in to the path of his Pramac teammate as he captured ninth on lap nine. Binder up to 14th as Lecuona dropped two positions, Nakagami crashing out with Marquez stopping due to a technical in quick succession as LCR suffered a disastrous minute.
Lecuona was the next to fall, this time at the opening corner. Marquez proving his fitness was ever increasing as he maintained the pressure on Bagnaia out front.
Aprilia’s Espargaro dispatched Morbidelli for fifth at the mid point of lap 12, Martin becoming the latest victim of the Rimini track as the next lap began.
Just over a second covered the second group as five riders battled for fifth position, Morbidelli dropping to the back of the second group as Quartararo advanced to seventh with Rins and Espargaro ahead.
Binder’s disastrous weekend going from bad to worse as repeated track limits warnings converted to a long lap penalty with 12 to go.
Bagnaia set the fastest lap of the race with 11 left to run as he looked to break free of the eight-time world champion, Marquez looking cool as he maintained the pressure.
Quartararo tussled with Rins for sixth next time around, dispatching the Suzuki with three-tenths now the aim to the top-five running Aprilia. The Frenchman finding success two laps later.
Zarco was on the move further back as he dropped Marini towards Enea Bastianini, the Avintia rider bettering his garage mate for ninth moments later while Viñales leapfrogged his old Yamaha bike, for 11th.
Andrea Dovizioso collected the latest long lap penalty, from the back of the field as Morbidelli fell further, to 14th, to circulate at the head of a three-M1 train before Rossi picked him off for an extra point and
Marquez looked to be settling for second as the race reached five to go, Bagnaia now holding an eighth-tenth gap and building as the end came into sight.
It was not to be, however, as Bagnaia crashed out in heartbreaking style at the same place as his teammate. Quartararo securing the championship if he crosses the line.
Further drama saw Oliveira take the next tumble as the temperatures dropped, Quartararo rising to the podium alongside Espargaro with Bastianini running fourth from Zarco, Rins and the Aprilia duo with two laps to go.
Marquez, gifted the victory without needing to make a move, took the chequered flag five seconds ahead of his Repsol Honda teammate, having backed off from his dominant eight-second lead at the start of the final lap. Espargaro delirious to complete the HRC one-two.
Quartararo came home seven seconds back and expecting third before a late charge from Bastianini denied him the podium. However, the new MotoGP World Champion was anything but disappointed with his dramatic finish.
Zarco completed the 27-lap race in fifth from Rins, Espargaro and Vinales with brothers Marini and Rossi completing the top 10 for the Italian legend’s last race at home.
Binder, Michele Pirro, Dovizioso, Morbidelli and Nakagami completed the finishers inside the remaining points positions.
