Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo celebrated a commanding victory in the Portuguese GP on Sunday.
The Frenchman met the flag over five seconds clear of countryman and pole sitter Johann Zarco to take the lead in the championship standings with Aleix Espargaro completing the podium after a dramatic race. Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins dispatching an incredible comeback from the back of the grid to fourth at the flag.
The premier class action sat in the middle of the Portuguese GP schedule as the 25-lap race prepared. Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia in a lot of pain but cleared to compete after his massive highside during Saturday’s qualifying but starting from the back of the grid. Tech3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez declared unfit after damage to his right hand during his own Q1 crash.
Pramac Racing’s Zarco lined up on pole alongside Suzuki’s Joan Mir and Aprilia’s Espargaro with the second Ducati of Jack Miller narrowly behind in fourth. The second GSX-RR of Rins down in 23rd after a challenging weekend so far.
An impressive qualifying showing for Mooney VR46 placed Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini sixth and eighth on the afternoon’s grid ahead of the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro.
Lights out and Mir grabbed the holeshot as Quartararo launched from fifth to second with Zarco back in third. Alex Marquez celebrating his birthday in fourth, from 14th, as Jack Miller leapfrogged to third shortly after. Home hero Miguel Oliveira ran fifth as the first lap concluded having started outside of the top ten, Espargaro just behind on the RS-GP before he bettered at the start of lap two.
Further back another stunning start saw Rins into the top ten from the back of the grid, Marquez behind, while Bagnaia struggled from 23rd. The Suzuki continuing to climb as he captured ninth, the younger Espargaro the next in his sights as Zarco recovered into podium contention on the factory Ducati of Miller.
The 2020 and 2021 Champions looked to break free out front as the race unfolded, one second the gap to the Ducati’s behind as the pace continued to rise. LCR’s Marquez looking to get through on the Australian ahead as Quartararo did just that on Mir down the home straight out front.
Disaster struck Bezzecchi as the VR46 tumbled down the times to 19th and into the path of Bagnaia. Marini being bettered by Andrea Dovizioso two places ahead.
Rins ran eighth on lap five as the Repsol circulated together on the back of the top ten. Mir struggling to hold on to Quartararo as he dropped into the clutches of Zarco, Jorge Martin succumbing to the final sector as he crashed out of 11th.
Marquez got through on his teammate for ninth before Espargaro hit back and Enea Bastianini joined the fight. Quartararo now 1.5s clear of the pack as he settled into the lead.
Bagnaia entered the points with 18 laps to go, Maverick Viñales his next target but a second ahead. His Aprilia captain bettering the LCR for fifth with Rins doing likewise and immediately challenging the RS-GP as Marquez found himself in seventh and going backwards fast. Oliveira was the next to capitalise on the Honda’s fading form, sending the 26-year-old into his brother’s path as Bastianini moved on Espargaro for tenth. The success was short lived, however, as the championship leader crashed out of the race at turn eight.
Quartararo’s lead extended to 2.5s as the Frenchman continued to up the pace. The live standings hinting of his dominance overall if the race concluded as it currently stood.
Takaaki Nakagami was the next to succumb to the rollercoaster layout as the Idemitsu rider crashed out from 12th after contact with Brad Binder, rejoining at the back. Bagnaia collecting the position as his fightback continued.
The halfway stage found a fairly spread out pack. Zarco and Rins the only challengers with Mir and Espargaro defending accordingly in second and fifth as Miller began to pick up speed with red sectors announcing his podium intentions.
Zarco tasted brief success as lap 16 began but Mir hit back and pushed hard to defend his runner-up’s up spot as the Frenchman ran wide. Another attack coming one lap later as the Pramac secured the spoils and Mir found Miller now on his rear wheel.
Espargaro could taste the podium battle with eight laps to go as the RS-GP picked up pace. Half a second the gap to bridge to the Australian ahead with Rins fading slightly in sixth.
Binder crashed out on the RC-16 at turn 11 before drama struck the podium fight. Miller skittling Mir out of contention after a turn one move for third. Espargaro found himself promoted to the podium in the aftermath with Rins now running fourth - and level on points with the reigning champion - Oliveira looking at a top-five finish at his home race.
Five laps to go and the lead was over five seconds strong for Quartararo. Zarco eight-tenths ahead of the Aprilia in third for a French one-two with a family, and Honda battle building for the top six as Marquez reeled in his younger brother.
A late retirement for Fabio Di Giannantonio dropped the Gresini rider out of points contention with three laps to go. Marquez bettering his sibling before Alex immediately hit back next time around.
The final lap found Quartararo nearly six seconds clear for his first victory of the season, Zarco completing the French celebrations on second with Espargaro completing the podium in third.
Rins settled for an incredible fourth after a disastrous Saturday from Olivera and the Marquez brothers, in chronological order, with Bagnaia rescuing a heroic eighth at the flag. Pol Espargaro led Viñales over the line for the final top ten positions with Dovizioso, Marini, Franky Morbidelli, Remy Gardner and Bezzecchi collecting the final points.
