Rennie Scaysbrook | October 24, 2021
Sunday
MotoGP
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is the 2021 MotoGP World Champion. After Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed out of the race lead in the closing stages of the 2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP, the title was decided as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) emerges victorious, with Pol Espargaro securing his maiden podium with Honda. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) passed Quartararo on the last lap to bag his second podium of the season, but the day – and year – belongs to the Frenchman.
Fabio Quartararo. 2021 MotoGP World Champion.
From pole position, Bagnaia got a decent getaway but it was teammate Jack Miller who got the best launch from the front row. Pecco grabbed the holeshot though as Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) carved his way into P2 from the second row. Miller grabbed P2 from Oliveira at Turn 4 though, with Marc Marquez then getting the better of Oliveira down into Turn 8. Quartararo didn’t make a rapid start, but more importantly, he stayed trouble-free.
The top three of Pecco, Miller and Marc Marquez soon found themselves 1.3s clear of Pol Espargaro, who had also dispatched Oliveira, before drama unfolded for one of the Ducatis. Miller, at Turn 15, was down and out of the race from P2 on Lap 4, Bagnaia’s wingman was no longer able to help the Italian. Now, Pecco had Marc Marquez swarming all over his rear wheel. Meanwhile, Quartararo was up into P10, scrapping with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing).
By Lap 9, Quartararo was up to ninth. Martin, on Lap 13, crashed at Turn 1 as Quartararo become embroiled in a five-rider battle – fifth to ninth split by less than a second. Quartararo, keeping calm, picked his way past teammate Franco Morbidelli and Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) to climb to P7 on Lap 15 of 27, with Pecco continuing to hold the relentless Marc Marquez at bay.
Francesco Bagnaia kept a metronomic pace until crashing out in the latter stages of the race.
With 10 to go, Quartararo sliced his way past Rins for P6, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) next on El Diablo’s radar. And sure enough, with nine to go, Quartararo was ahead of the Aprilia RS-GP and now in P5. Baring a disaster from Oliveira, that was as good as it was going to get for Quartararo, with the KTM star eight seconds up the road. Or so we thought.
17 seconds ahead of Quartararo, Bagnaia was holding up his end of the bargain. All Pecco could do on home soil was win, but he had an eight-time World Champion hanging onto his coattails. Pecco was looking incredibly strong, starting to pull clear of Marc Marquez, before Lap 23 of the Emilia-Romagna GP became the title-deciding lap of 2021. Turn 15, where Miller crashed earlier in the race, saw Bagnaia crash unhurt. Straight back up on his feet, Pecco knew. Ducati knew. Yamaha knew. Quartararo knew. A new MotoGP™ World Champion was about to be crowned.
Pecco’s crash, closely followed by an Oliveira crash, left Marc Marquez P1, Pol Espargaro P2 and Quartararo, the new World Champion a sensational P3 from P15 on the grid. Enea Bastianini wasn’t going to allow Quartararo to have an easy cruise home to the podium though, the Italian was hungry for a second P3 of the season.
Marquez (left) and Espargaro (right) made it a Repsol Honda 1-2.
The checkered flag came out and Marc Marquez won his second race in a row, his third of the season, with Pol Espargaro coming home second to hand Repsol Honda a fantastic 1-2. Bastianini, with a move at Turn 14, got the better of Quartararo on the last lap to cement another wonderful rostrum to take the lead in the Rookie of the Year fight, but just behind, introducing the 2021 MotoGP World Champion, Fabio Quartararo.
Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) crossed the line in fifth to beat sixth place Rins by 1.2s, with Aleix Espargaro taking P7. P8 went the way of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) who claims his best result in Aprilia colors, Marini secured a second top 10 of the season in P9 sporting a special Grazie Vale color scheme, and speaking of, Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crossed the line in 10th in his final MotoGP race on Italian soil.
The moment the world championship ended for Bagnaia.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had an eventful day. The South African crashed on the sighting lap, started from pitlane and ended up finishing P11. Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team), Andrea Dovizioso (Petronas Yamaha SRT), Morbidelli and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) – despite a crash – were the final points scorers at Misano.
There we have it. The 2021 MotoGP World Champion is crowned, congratulations to Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha on an incredible season, as we now look forward to the final two races of the season.
2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP Results
| 1 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
|
| 2 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 4.859 |
| 3 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 12.013 |
| 4 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 12.775 |
| 5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 16.458 |
| 6 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 17.669 |
| 7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 18.468 |
| 8 |
Maverick Vinales |
(Apr) |
+ 18.607 |
| 9 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 25.417 |
| 10 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 27.735 |
Moto2
For the first time since the Doha GP, Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) is a Moto2 race winner after an immensely dramatic 2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto2 race. Augusto Fernandez made it an Elf Marc VDS Racing Team 1-2 at Misano, Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) claimed third but the story was with the title race: Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crashed out from the lead, as a seventh place finish for Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – after a Long Lap Penalty – hands the Australian an 18-point advantage heading to Portimao.
Sam Lowes took his first win since Doha.
Cameron Beaubier failed to finish while Joe Roberts was a non-starter.
2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto2 Results
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
|
| 2 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 1.233 |
| 3 |
Aron Canet |
(Bos) |
+ 1.400 |
| 4 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 2.554 |
| 5 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 4.243 |
| 6 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Kal) |
+ 5.198 |
| 7 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 14.261 |
| 8 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 15.868 |
| 9 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 18.905 |
| 10 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(Kal) |
+ 19.069 |
Moto3
With the odds stacked against him, Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) came from P14 on the grid to claim a phenomenal victory at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto3 race as the title fight continues to Portimao. The Italian’s victory is his fifth and most important of 2021 so far, as Foggia beat Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to the line, with World Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) grabbing a crucial podium on the final lap.
Foggia (7) kept the title alive with another home win.
2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto3 Results
| 1 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
|
| 2 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.292 |
| 3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 4.686 |
| 4 |
Darryn Binder |
(Hon) |
+ 4.797 |
| 5 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+ 4.853 |
| 6 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 5.052 |
| 7 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 5.335 |
| 8 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 6.642 |
| 9 |
Xavier Artigas |
(Hon) |
+ 6.736 |
| 10 |
Filip Salac |
(KTM) |
+ 6.800 |
2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP News—Saturday
Suzuki open to Brivio return
It has been known for some months that Suzuki is keen to fill the role once vacated by ex-Team Manager Davide Brivio. At Misano, rumors circulated regarding the Italian’s possible return, less than a year after he departed for the Alpine team in Formula 1.
Suzuki would like Brivio back in the fold, but at this stage it’s nothing more than a rumor.
Before qualifying Suzuki’s MotoGP Project Leader Shinichi Sahara admitted the door would be open should Brivio wish to return. “It’s just a rumor,” said Sahara. “He’s a good friend for me. Still, we chat about many things. He recommends plans for the future. Hopefully, he comes back to Suzuki in some time. But this is my hope.”
On Thursday reigning champion Joan Mir stated filling the vacancy left by Brivio early into 2021 should be among the factory’s priorities. “I think we need someone like Davide,” he said. “It was not easy to manage the situation when such a person in the team like Davide left. Nobody expected it. It was difficult to manage for the Japanese (staff). It’s important now they realise we need that person and I know that they are trying to find one person.”
Marco Simoncelli remembered
Saturday marked the tenth anniversary of Marco Simoncelli’s tragic death in Malaysia. The day was marked accordingly, with an oak tree planed inside the Misano World Circuit’s Quercia corner (turn eight), along with a memorial plaque. Father Paolo and mother Rossella were both present at the unveiling.
Marco Simoncelli was remembered 10 years after his passing.
Just before, Valentino Rossi, Simoncelli’s mentor, spoke of how his great friend was essentially the first member of the VR46 Academy. “Fuck, it’s already 10 years,” Rossi said. “I feel that it’s 10 years, a long time ago. Remain a big hole, you know? I always say Marco was the first rider of the academy (even) if the Academy didn’t exist. We start for the first time with Marco to help the other riders with the training and with the support and my experience. When I see the riders and academy now, I always remember Marco.”
Viñales still some way from unlocking Aprilia potential
Maverick Viñales returned to racing at Misano after sitting out the Grand Prix of the Americas following the death of cousin Dean Berta in a World Supersport 300 race at Jerez – “The saddest moment of my life,” he called it.
Vinales came back in Misano after the death of his cousin.
But the Catalan has been struggling to unlock the potential of Aprilia’s RS-GP since jumping aboard the bike for the first time two months ago. “I don’t know where I can arrive,” he said when asked of the bike’s capabilities. “I feel we can have a lot of potential. I don’t know the bike. I can ride very fast with just seven laps of the tyre. That means I don’t understand the bike. Right now, when I push, I make a lot of mistakes.”
On his new team-mate’s struggles, Aleix Espargaro said it’s still down to inexperience. “I am able to stress bike more than Maverick,” said the #41. “He says he feels on the limit on the brakes, going into the corner. He cannot go into the corner with my speed. He says he don’t have the feeling yet.”
Saturday
MotoGP
For the first time since Casey Stoner in 2008, a Ducati rider has taken four consecutive MotoGP pole positions. That man is Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the Italian storms through Q1 to grab a crucial Saturday afternoon P1 at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP, his 1:33.045 was 0.025s quicker than teammate Jack Miller as factory Ducati snatch a 1-2. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) earned a maiden MotoGP front row start to make is three Ducatis on the front row, as World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) fails to make it out of Q2 and will start 15th.
Bagnaia was supreme on Saturday, coming through from Q1 to take pole.
2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP Results—Q2
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
1:33.045 |
| 2 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.025 |
| 3 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.085 |
| 4 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 0.268 |
| 5 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.394 |
| 6 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.481 |
| 7 |
Marc Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 0.805 |
| 8 |
Iker Lecuona |
(KTM) |
+ 0.848 |
| 9 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(KTM) |
+ 1.095 |
| 10 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 1.642 |
Moto2
Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) is on pole for the sixth time in 2021 after the British rider mastered the tricky Moto2 Q2 conditions at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP. It’s Lowes’ 17th intermediate class pole, an all-time record, and his 1:36.510 was 0.045s faster than second-place Jorge Navarro (+EGO Speed Up), with Augusto Fernandez making it two Elf Marc VDS Racing Team machines on the front row.
Loes’ pole gives him the all-time record in Moto2.
Title contenders Rault Fernandez (Red Bull KTM) and his teammate Remy Gardner finished ninth and 14th, respectively. Americans Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) finished 19th and 30th, respectively.
2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto2 Results—Q2
| 1 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
1:36.510 |
| 2 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 0.045 |
| 3 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.234 |
| 4 |
Aron Canet |
(Bos) |
+ 0.440 |
| 5 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 0.590 |
| 6 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.790 |
| 7 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Kal) |
+ 1.001 |
| 8 |
Albert Arenas |
(Bos) |
+ 1.048 |
| 9 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 1.092 |
| 10 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Kal) |
+ 1.176 |
Moto3
As Saturday afternoons go, that was about as good as it gets for Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy). The Italian came through Q1 to dominate Moto3™ Q2 at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP to earn his first pole position since the 2019 Japanese GP with a 1:48.563, a time 0.611s quicker than second-place
It was a first pole since 2019 for Niccolo Antonelli.
Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP). Ricciardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) – using a rear slick tire – completes the front row for Sunday’s race as World Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) lines up P5 – but Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) struggles in 14th.
2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto3 Results—Q2
| 1 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
1:48.563 |
| 2 |
Filip Salac |
(Kal) |
+ 0.611 |
| 3 |
Ricardo Rossi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.717 |
| 4 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.932 |
| 5 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 1.019 |
| 6 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 1.070 |
| 7 |
Alberto Surra |
(Hon) |
+ 1.114 |
| 8 |
Stefano Nepa |
(KTM) |
+ 1.134 |
| 9 |
Xavier Artigas |
(Hon) |
+ 1.648 |
| 10 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 1.789 |
2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP News—Friday
Moto2/3 Age Limits Raised
On Friday it was announced the FIM and Dorna had agreed in a meeting on Thursday to make changes that will affect teenagers in the motorcycle racing world. Reacting to the three deaths (one in Moto3, one in the FIM Junior World Championship, one in World Supersport 300) that have occurred in the past five months, the age limits will be raised from 2023.
Jason Dupasquier is remembered at Mugello. His and two other deaths in 2021 have caused for sweeping changes to the lower categories.
Currently, teenagers of 16 years of age can enter the Moto2 and Moto3 class. That will be raised to 18. The Red Bull Rookies Cup entry age will be raised from 13 to 15, and from 14 to 16 in the FIM Junior Moto3 World Championship. Discussions have also been ongoing to improve the quality of rider equipment, especially for chest and neck impacts. Plus, work is ongoing with technical suppliers on how to implement ‘near-instant warning systems’ for riders when an incident happens ahead on track.
The changes were met with a largely positive reaction. “Something has to be done,” said Jack Miller. But the Australian still feels the technical parity of the smaller classes is what has been causing harm. “If there is a guy losing a tenth or two in the back section or even more, they can grab a slipstream – because it’s so prominent – and stay in the group and cause chaos. Something has to be done with the bikes and the tires (to spread the field out).”
2022 calendar gets mixed reaction
The news that MotoGP will face its longest-ever calendar in terms of races was greeted with a mixed reaction at Misano. A provisional calendar showcased 21 races from 6th March to 6th November next year, including two new tracks – the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia for round 2, as well as the Kymi Ring in Finland for round 12.
Marc Marquez better get used to it, because there’s more races on the calendar for next year.
Some riders feel it is imperative to expand the series to countries like Indonesia that haven’t featured on the calendar for some time. “This is something good for us, for the championship. It will help MotoGP grow,” said Maverick Viñales. But Marc Marquez feels 21 is too high a number. “Dorna has to cap the number at 20 or 21 (to make sure) there are no more,” he said.
Yamaha’s mixed-condition issues remain
Friday’s mostly wet running gave Yamaha’s four riders another chance to assess the strength – and clear weakness – of the M1 in such conditions. Opinion among the four names was united: in full rain, the bike copes well. Yet as soon as the track begins to dry, they are in trouble.
Friday was a shocker for Fabio Quartararo.
These complaints have been echoed by Yamaha riders throughout the Michelin era (2016- present day). Championship leader Fabio Quartararo was particularly concerned. “The bike doesn’t turn, the bike doesn’t want to pick up, the bike has no grip. All the defects you can have in these kinds of conditions are there,” he said of FP2 in which a dry line appeared toward the end. Valentino Rossi concurred: “We suffer a lot. When the track starts to become dry we are always in trouble and the bike becomes very difficult to ride.”
And despite his limited recent experience with the M1, Andrea Dovizioso felt his issues in mixed conditions is related to the fundamentals of the bike. “I don’t have enough experience with Yamaha to answer exactly, but this thing I have now is (related to) set-up,” he said.
Friday
MotoGP
Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) ended a wet day one for the 2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP in Misano at the summit thanks to a superb 1:41.305 in FP2, a lap time that saw the Australian take a 0.927s advantage over Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) into qualifying day. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) left it late to claim third on Friday, the Spaniard is the only other rider to get within a second of Miller at Misano so far.
Jack Miller once again proved his mastery of the wet with the fastest Friday time.
Championship contender Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) was eighth, 1.3 seconds down on Miller, while title leader Fabio Quartararo was a disastrous 16th, 1.7 seconds from Miller’s pace.
2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
1:41.305 |
| 2 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.927 |
| 3 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.986 |
| 4 |
Iker Lecuona |
(KTM) |
+ 1.271 |
| 5 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 1.286 |
| 6 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 1.296 |
| 7 |
Lorenzo Savadori |
(Apr) |
+ 1.310 |
| 8 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 1.364 |
| 9 |
Danilo Petrucci |
(KTM) |
+ 1.470 |
| 10 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 1.504 |
Moto2
Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc Racing Team) took day one honors in the Moto2 class at the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP after finishing fastest in FP2, which saw the riders able to head out on slick tires as a dry line appeared. World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ended Friday in P2, 0.076s off Augusto Fernandez’ 1:40.930, as Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) also finished within a tenth of P1 in P3.
Augusto Fernandez pipped Gardner to the fastest Friday time at Misano.
Gardner’s only title rival, teammate Raul Fernandez, ended the session eighth. Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team Kalex) was 21st, three seconds from Fernandez while Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) was 29th, 3.9 seconds off the pace.
2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
1:40.930 |
| 2 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.076 |
| 3 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.082 |
| 4 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.516 |
| 5 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 1.223 |
| 6 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 1.396 |
| 7 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 1.400 |
| 8 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 1.457 |
| 9 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Kal) |
+ 1.491 |
| 10 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Bos) |
+ 1.763 |
Moto3
Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) was the fastest Moto3 rider on a wet day one at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna MotoGP. The Italian’s FP1 time, a 1:52.529, wasn’t beaten in the afternoon, but World Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got close. The Spaniard sits 0.007s down on Migno, Alberto Surra (Rivacold Snipers Team) claimed third overall as title contender Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) struggled to a P23 finish on the opening day.
Migno is out of the title race but that didn’t stop the Italian from going fastest in Moto3 on Friday.
2021 Emilia-Romagna Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
1:52.529 |
| 2 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 0.007 |
| 3 |
Alberto Surra |
(Hon) |
+ 0.278 |
| 4 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 0.820 |
| 5 |
Filip Salač |
(KTM) |
+ 0.833 |
| 6 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 0.888 |
| 7 |
Mario Aji |
(Hon) |
+ 0.900 |
| 8 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.917 |
| 9 |
Yuki Kunii |
(Hon) |
+ 1.062 |
| 10 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Hon) |
+ 1.066 |
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