Fabio Quartararo dominates the Portimao MotoGP, Jack Miller wipes out Joan Mir
Looking to convert pole position into a first MotoGP victory, Johann Zarco was momentarily pushed down to fourth, before regaining💝 second round the outside of turn one.
Showing the best race pace in free practice, Mir made a breathtaking start from second, as did another pre-race favourite iꦫn Fabio Quartararo, who went from fifth to second.
Fabio Quartararo launches 2022 MotoGP title bid
However, the best start of anyone came from Alex Rins who gained ten places on the opening lap. Brilliant stuff from the Argentina and COTA podium finishe💝r.
After opening a near eight tenth lead over Quartararo, the reigning world champion went three tenths quicker than the Suzuki rider to si♋gnificantly close the gap.
Continuing to gain time in the final sector, Quartararo got a lovely slingshot out of the final corner on lap four as he powered his wꦅay, yes ‘powered’ his Yamaha past Mir on the run down t♍o turn one.
With a clear track ahead of him, Quartararo continued to break away from Mir as the gap was now over a second. Instead of looking ahead, Mir’s biggest challenge was now coming f༺rom behind as Zarco began closing in.
But as was the case in Mandalika, which ultimately cost him victory, Zarco was spending too much time stuck behind the 2020 wꦛorld champion. De🌟spite his pace advantage
Further back the two Repsol Honda’s were embroiled in a tight battle for ninth. After nearly making contact at turn one, Marque꧂z respondedꦚ to Espargaro’s aggressive overtake by lunging down the inside at turn 15. A great move from Marquez.
With battles continuing to rage on behind him, Quartararo’s Sunday stroll in the Algarve included a new all-time race lap record on lap nine - 1:3﷽9.435s.
Following an early fall for Pramac 🅠rider Jorge Martin, another rider who is in contention for a 2023 factory Ducati seat crashed out.
Yes, it’s the ♚rider you’re thinking of… Championship leader Enea Bastianini went down at turn eight, before Takaaki Nakaga𓃲mi also crashed at turn 14.
The Japan♈ese rider managed to get back underway in what was quickly bec🐈oming another weekend to forget for the LCR Honda man.
With Zar♕co still stuck behind Mir with 12 laps le🥂ft to run, Miller began closing in on the podium places after picking up his pace.
Feeling the heat from Miller behind, Zarওco attempted hꦓis first overtake for second but ran wide which gave the place back to Mir.
Des🃏pite his difficult weekend, one that left the Italian less than 100% for the race due to several big🧔 crashes, Francesco Bagnaia was in the midst of producing a brilliant effort as he moved up from last to 12th with eight laps remaining.
Miller wipes out Mir in battle for Portimao podium
While one factory Ducati was making good progress, the other cause🤪d huge drama as Miller wiped out Mir at turn one.
The Australian attempted to ov🐻ertake Mir who was already proving very difficult to out-brake into turn one, just ask Zarco, however, Miller lost the front before collecting the Spaniard. A sarcastic applause followed from Mir before Miller was seen apologising for his mistake.
With victory for Quartararo in the bag, Aleix Espargaro rapidly closed in on Zarco for second, however, the Aprilia rider was unable to get thr𓆏ough on the final lap.
Marc♛ and Alex Marquez had a tasty fight for sixth - Marc got the better of his younger brother following a move at turn 14, while Bagnaia g🐓ot the better of P. Espargaro one corner later, again on the final lap.
