Rennie Scaysbrook | May 31, 2021
2021 Italian MotoGP News—Sunday
Riders split on the decision to race
Sunday was an emotional affair for all involved. The decision to hold a minute of silence for Jason Dupasquier on the grid, ten minutes before the start of the MotoGP race at 14:00 local time left riders with an incredibly short space of time to switch emotions and focus. As Miguel Oliveira said, “There is no preparation for anything like this.”
Three riders – Pecco Bagnaia, Danilo Petrucci, and Aleix Espargaro – contested the decision to go ahead with the race so soon after the confirmation of his death. “The thing I don’t accept is that we have raced today,” Bagnaia said. “Like is said before, if it happened to a MotoGP rider today, we speak about him and not about the race because we don’t race today.” Petrucci agreed. “Is it a different life because it’s a Moto3 rider, is he less important? I don’t think so…”
Each of the three podium finishers defended the decision to go ahead as planned, however. Fabio Quartararo said, “We know the difficult moments that can happen. It (only) happens a few times in a long time, so I think that unfortunately, it’s sad to say, but it’s our job.”
Track limits infractions highlighted again
Post-race decisions of the FIM Stewards were being debated once again after incidents on the final laps of the Moto2 and MotoGP races. Joe Roberts was demoted from third to fourth as he narrowly touched the green on the exit of turn five.
The end of the MotoGP race verged on farce as Miguel Oliveira was initially demoted from second to third because he did the same, exceeding track limits on the final lap by the narrowest of margins. But he was soon reinstated as Joan Mir was judged to have done the same.
“I don’t think I gained any advantage touching the green there,” said Oliveira. “I think even in Misano last year we asked to extend the painting out of the last corner just to avoid this kind of situation. It’s very often are the times wherein the MotoGP class you go off track limits and you gain any advantage.”
With Johann Zarco fourth, and not far off the fight for second, there was a belief he could inherit third. After all, the rule states a rider must drop a place if track limits are exceeded on the final lap and there is no clear disadvantage.
But as Pramac team boss Francesco Guidotti, who clarified the rules with the Stewards post-race explained, “They simply told me that both riders, Oliveira and Mir, went on the green at Turn 5. In that sector, Zarco was 0.7 behind, so in that case he was far enough not to apply the penalty. Because if it was less than half-a-second in the last sector, it would be a different interpretation but 0.7s behind at Turn 5, I mean when they went out 5-10cm. To be honest for me it’s OK.”
Sunday
Fabio Quartararo claimed an emotional 2021 Italian MotoGP race win at Mugello hours after the news filtered through of Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier’s passing.
Quartararo dedicated his win to the fallen 19-year-old, who passed away following injuries sustained in a multi-bike crash in Moto3 Qualifying 2. Quartararo’s win came after he pulled clear of compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), the latter succumbing to attacks from Miguel Oliveira, and Suzuki pair Joan Mir and Alex Rins.
Quartararo’s new front start device worked wonders off the line as the polesitter managed to keep Ducati’ Francesco Bagnaia at bay until the braking zone, when the Italian dived up the inside of the Frenchman to lead. Pecco then led the way as the riders settled into the race, but the Ducati rider tucked the front at turn nine on lap two, Bagnaia’s race was over. Quartararo was handed the lead, as compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) frustrated El Diablo in the early laps by utilizing his Ducati grunt on the front straight.
Eventually, Quartararo broke the slipstream of Zarco heading onto Lap 5 after making good progress on the twisty part of the circuit, and from there, the Yamaha star was able to edge clear of Zarco in second place. By Lap 11 his lead was up to 2.7s over second place Zarco, who had Oliveira clinging onto his tailpipes. Comfortably lapping in the 1:47s, Quartararo was in a league of his own at Mugello and took a third win of the season by 2.5s.
Oliveira and Mir battled it out for the final podium place, with Oliveira taking second and Mir third. There was confusion in Parc Ferme as Oliveira was first demoted to third for exceeding track limits, promoting Mir to second. Then, Mir was docked the position for exceeding track limits, putting Oliveira back into second—the same position they crossed the line in.
Fourth went to Zarco after Rins crashed out on the final corner with a handful of laps remaining, from Brad Binder, who made it two KTM’s in the top five.
Rounding out the top 10 was Jack Miller, Aleix Espargaro, Maverick Vinales, Danilo Petrucci (KTM) and Valentino Rossi (Yamaha).
Marc Marquez crashed out on lap two, as did Bagnaia, while Enea Bastianini didn’t start after crashing into the back of Johann Zarco on the run to the start line.
In the championship, Quartararo is sitting pretty on 105 points from Zarco on 81 and Bagnaia on 79.
2021 Italian MotoGP Results
1 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
|
2 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 2.592 |
3 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 3.000 |
4 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 3.535 |
5 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 4.903 |
6 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 6.233 |
7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 8.030 |
8 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 17.239 |
9 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(KTM) |
+ 23.296 |
10 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 25.146 |
Moto2
Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) picked up a memorable first win of the season after beating teammate and closest title rival Raul Fernandez by 0.014s in the Moto2 race. Home hero Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) inherited the final podium spot after American Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was demoted one position on the last lap for exceeding track limits.
Cameron Beaubier picked up a season-best eighth for the American Racing Team.
2021 Italian Moto2 Results
1 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
|
2 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.014 |
3 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 8.021 |
4 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 8.004 |
5 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 12.343 |
6 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 23.170 |
7 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 23.764 |
8 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 34.825 |
9 |
Hafizh Syahrin |
(NTS) |
+ 34.849 |
10 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Kal) |
+ 34.965 |
Moto3
Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia won the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley Moto3™ race by 0.036s over second place Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to pick his first win of 2021, as Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) cemented his first rostrum of the season with third place.
2021 Italian Moto3 Results
1 |
Dennis Foggia |
Hon |
|
2 |
Jaume Masia |
KTM |
+ 0.036 |
3 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
Hon |
+ 0.145 |
4 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
KTM |
+ 0.240 |
5 |
Darryn Binder |
Hon |
+ 0.499 |
6 |
Romano Fenati |
Hus |
+ 0.711 |
7 |
John McPhee |
Hon |
+ 0.718 |
8 |
Pedro Acosta |
KTM |
+ 0.745 |
9 |
Sergio Garcia |
GasGas |
+ 0.861 |
10 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
Hon |
+ 0.963 |
2021 Italian MotoGP News—Saturday
Grave concerns for Jason Dupasquier
On Saturday the paddock was rocked by scenes from a gruesome crash in Moto3 qualifying. Swiss teenager Jason Dupasquier fell from his KTM at Arrabbiata 2 and was hit by Ayumu Sasaki, placed just behind, causing the Japanese rider to fall, as well as Jeremy Alcoba.
When medics arrived at the crash scene, it was Dupasquier’s condition that was grave. Work was ongoing for 40 minutes before he was transported to a local hospital in Florence with serious head injuries.
“The FIM Medical Intervention team arrived immediately at the site of the accident,” said Giancarlo di Filippo, MotoGP FIM medical officer. “After that he was transferred to the hospital in a hemodynamically stable way to the hospital in Florence. We will wait for further updates from the hospital. For the moment we know he’s in a very serious condition. We are waiting for updates by the hospital.”
On Saturday night there was no further update.
Marquez v Vinales
Qualifying was lit up by a fascinating exchange between Marc Marquez and Maverick Vinales. Both found themselves in Q1. Vinales had the speed. Marquez, due to his injuries and bike difficulties, did not. So the eight-time world champion drew up a plan. “I said to the team, ‘I don’t feel the bike, I don’t feel anything, just we need to follow somebody.’ We checked the list, the fastest guy was Vinales,” he explained.
Marquez then shadowed his countryman for the majority of the session, much to Vinales’ chagrin, even following the Yamaha into pit lane after an aborted outlap. As the minutes ticked down, Vinales had no other option but push on. By doing so he towed his adversary around to the session’s quickest time. And Vinales then messed up the following lap, meaning Marquez went through to Q2 and he didn’t.
The #12 refused to be drawn into any further controversy. “I don’t have any comment on that, honestly. Just we were not fast enough. Marquez tried to justify the move. “I met Maverick before I entered the press conference, where all the TVs are, and first of all I apologized because I know that it’s not completely fair, and what I said was ‘you have a reason to be angry.’ In the end, it’s inside the rules. In the limit, but inside the rules and what I did was try to find the perfect situation to do my 100 percent and to take the best result possible.”
Yamaha men get hands on ride-height device
Qualifying hasn’t been a problem for Fabio Quartararo in 2021. But starting has. But his attempts to get off the line in Mugello should be boosted by the arrival of Yamaha’s first front holeshot device. The M1 was the only machine on the grid which didn’t feature the part which locks the front of the machine in place on the grid to lower the center of gravity and thus reduce wheelie.
“I’m so happy, because from Qatar 1, every time I made a great result or pole position or something, I pushed the Japanese engineers, ‘This is the most important thing, this is the most important thing,’” Quartararo said. “Now we have no more excuses. Of course we need to develop it a little bit more, because it’s our first test, but we are already seeing big improvements. So I’m super happy, and I think that we can make even better things. So I’m really looking forward (for developing it). I really want to thank Yamaha, because they worked hard, and I think they changed to a little bit, how can you say? A new style, not so old school, but new style.”
It means the Yamaha joins Honda, Ducati, Aprilia and KTM as having both a front and rear holeshot device. Only Suzuki’s GSX-RR lacks the rear device.
Saturday
MotoGP
Fabio Quartararo made it four pole positions in a row when he clinched top spot in Q2 for the 2021 Italian MotoGP at Mugello.
Quartararo slammed in a 1:45.187 in qualifying, a new lap record which enabled the World Championship leader to fend off closest rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The man third in the title race, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), left it late to seal a front row start in P3 as the two Ducatis hunt the Yamaha closely.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) nearly took a front row spot in Aprilia’s home race but had to settle for fourth, ahead of Le Mans and Jerez winner Jack Miller, Brad Binder (KTM), Miguel Oliveira (KTM), Suzuki pairing Alex Rins and Joan Mir and Franco Morbidelli.
Marc Marquez shadowed Maverick Vinales in Q1 and put in the fastest time of the session, knocking Vinales out of qualifying and will start 13th. Marquez will start from 11th while Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) will start 12th.
2021 Italian MotoGP News and Results—Qualifying
1 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
1:45.187 |
2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.230 |
3 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.245 |
4 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.351 |
5 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.411 |
6 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.556 |
7 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.558 |
8 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.809 |
9 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.889 |
10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.897 |
Moto2
Rookie Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made it back-to-back Moto2 pole positions after beating Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) by 0.267s in qualifying at Mugello. MB Conveyors Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro completes the front row at Mugello, seeing World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) demoted to P4.
Americans Joe Roberts and Cameron Beaubier will start from 10th and 26th, respectively.
2021 Italian Moto2 News and Results—Qualifying
1 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
1:50.723 |
2 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.267 |
3 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 0.374 |
4 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.583 |
5 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 0.632 |
6 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.725 |
7 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.739 |
8 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.774 |
9 |
Marcel Schrötter |
(Kal) |
+ 0.781 |
10 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.818 |
26 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+1.298s |
Moto3
After coming through Q1, SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki earned a second pole position of 2021 thanks to a 1:56.001 in Q2 at Mugello. World Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) also came through the first part of qualifying and will start P2, Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) completes the front row.
After an incident occurred on the exit of Turn 9 involving Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP), Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) towards the end of the session, the red flags were shown, signaling the end of Moto3 qualifying. Dupasquier has been transferred to Florence hospital for further examinations, with Tech3 confirming Sasaki is ok.
2021 Italian Moto3 News and Results—Qualifying
1 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
1:56.001 |
2 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 0.596 |
3 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.684 |
4 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.979 |
5 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.984 |
6 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(Hon) |
+ 1.106 |
7 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 1.109 |
8 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 1.136 |
9 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 1.151 |
10 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 1.205 |
2021 Italian MotoGP News—Friday
Marquez talks ‘transitional year’
From the heroic comeback in Portugal in April, Marc Marquez has stressed the need for patience. But it appears the eight-time champion’s recovery to full fitness will be longer than expected.
The Catalan took a 600cc bike for a private test around Spanish track Circuit Mora d’Ebre in the lead up to the Italian Grand Prix. But it was there issues right shoulder – not his upper arm he broke in July 2020 – became pronounced. Marquez injured the joint toward the end of 2019, and had corrective surgery in the December of that year. “I understood I cannot ride in a good position because if I do that then the pain in the shoulder is much more,” he said.
Marquez revealed in France that there was some lasting nerve damage from that particular injury. And team manager Alberto Puig admitted he could well withdraw from this weekend if his situation worsened. “We know that he is in pain. If the situation that arises anywhere indicates that it is better to stop, he will stop, obviously. If the moment came, it would be studied, but we are thinking about seeing how it evolves.”
Friday was a tough day, with Marquez ending twelfth. “Where I am losing more – it’s the 3 big changes of direction where I’m losing 0.2 compared to 2019.”
KTM resurgent
After a tricky start to 2021, KTM’s factory riders began the Italian Grand Prix with intent with both factory riders ending Friday inside the top six. The reason was a switch to a new chassis, first brought to the post-race test at Jerez.
“The Jerez test was a massive step for us,” said Motorsport Director Pit Beirer. “Massive – I mean really small changes to the chassis and small parts, swingarm area and how we mount the engine. We made a step there. We still have both versions in the garage this weekend. The riders want to compare. But from what I saw with the lap time it’s quite clear – we made a step and let’s hope we can carry that forward to the next races.”
Brad Binder talked up the chassis upgrade. “The goal for the frame was to help us line the bike up a bit better to get out of the corners better and at Mugello it seems to be working well.” The factory RC16s were a match for the Ducati through the speed traps, too, Miguel Oliveira setting the second quickest speed in FP2, Binder the third. “The chassis does help us slightly because it allows us to line up the exit of the corners a bit better. But more so than that we got some new fuel and that has given us a bit of extra speed,” explained the South African.
Moto3 penalties for MotoGP?
Fabio Quartararo, Jack Miller and Joan Mir all called for Moto3-esque penalties to be handed out to a number of MotoGP riders, after the end of Friday’s FP2 was marked by touring on the edge of the track.
Quartararo was visibly upset by the antics, with as many as eight riders touring on the outside of the track, forcing the Frenchman to abandon one of his flying laps. “We have to take the same measures in all the categories,” said Mir. “It’s a dangerous situation for sure.”
Miller was even more vocal, claiming the MotoGP riders should be setting an example for the other categories, rather than succumbing to their worst habits. “There were so many guys in one group. There is no need for it. We don’t need to slipstream and it doesn’t make a difference for us. They are just looking for a tow and it’s ridiculous. If you cannot do the lap-time then don’t do it. I understand if there is one of two but a group of eight? That shouldn’t be on, and I think we need to punish and set an example that even in MotoGP they are getting this as well. It’s not correct.”
Friday
MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia denied Alex Rins the Friday top spot at Mugello on the opening day of the 2021 Italian MotoGP, setting a 1:46.147 at the end of FP2.
Bagnaia finished the session 0.017s clear of Suzuki pilot Rins with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha) setting the third fastest time despite having the slowest bike on the grid in terms of top speed, the Italian some 12 mph slower than early FP2 pacesetter Miguel Oliveira (KTM). down the straight.
Two-time winner in 2021 so far, Fabio Quartararo, finished day one in fourth at Mugello ahead of Red Bull KTM pairing Brad Binder and Oliveira
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) is the only Honda rider inside the top 10, the Japanese rider leading FP1 pacesetter Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Vinales did not improve his time in FP2, as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) occupy the two remaining provisional automatic Q2 spots.
Notable names outside the top 10 on combined FP1 and FP2 times included Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco in 11th, Joan Mir (Ecstar Suzuki) in 12th, and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) in 13th.
It’s been another disastrous start to the weekend for home hero Valentino Rossi, the Italian finishing 21st out of 22 riders on the second Petronas Yamaha.
2021 Italian MotoGP Results—Friday
1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
1:46.147 |
2 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.071 |
3 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.184 |
4 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.225 |
5 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.289 |
6 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.437 |
7 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.446 |
8 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Yam) |
+ 0.446 |
9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.508 |
10 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.541 |
Moto2
Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) enjoyed a successful Friday at Mugello and will head the Moto2 field into the qualifying day. Lowes’ late 1:51.365 was 0.184s better than second-fastest Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), while Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) earned third place on day one.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) was an excellent fourth on day one despite a highside crash while Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) finished the opening day in 30th.
2021 Italian Moto2 Results—Friday
1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
1:51.385 |
2 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.184 |
3 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 0.308 |
4 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.361 |
5 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.465 |
6 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.591 |
7 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.599 |
8 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 0.622 |
9 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.696 |
10 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.966 |
30 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+2.458 |
Moto3
Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) went just two tenths away from the all-time Moto3 lap record at Mugello as the South African enjoys a successful day at the office on Friday at Mugello. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) shot to P2 on his final flying lap to split the two Petronas Sprinta Racing riders, John McPhee the man in third place.
World Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) suffered a crash at the final corner with 15 minutes of the opening day left, the young Spaniard unhurt and eventually shuffled down to P16.
2021 Italian Moto3 Results—Friday
1 |
Darryn Binder |
(Hon) |
1:56.661 |
2 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.196 |
3 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.281 |
4 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.509 |
5 |
Gabriel Rodrigo |
(Hon) |
+ 0.595 |
6 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.636 |
7 |
Deniz Oncu |
(KTM) |
+ 0.664 |
8 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 0.719 |
9 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.836 |
10 |
Jaume Masia |
(Red KTM) |
+ 0.882 |
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