Rennie Scaysbrook | November 14, 2021
For the fourth time in 2021, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took victory as the Italian led home a historic Ducati 1-2-3 at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. Bagnaia saw the checkered flag just ahead of Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) for a Bologna lockout.
The race, however, will forever be remembered as Valentino Rossi’s (Petronas Yamaha SRT) last dance too, and The Doctor delivered a P10 in his farewell MotoGP appearance in front of a packed Circuit Ricardo Tormo crowd. Bagnaia also dedicated the win to his mentor.
Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) saw the checkered flag in P17 as the Italian premier class race winner also says goodbye to Grand Prix racing in an emotional Sunday in Valencia, and teammate Iker Lecuona heads for WorldSBK after scoring a final point of the year.
Polesitter Martin grabbed the holeshot into turn one as fourth place Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) got a great start to get the better of Bagnaia, with Miller slotting into second. Rossi made a good start and was up a place into P9, whereas World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was P6.
Up ahead, Miller then dived up the inside of Martin at turn one on lap two to take the lead, but it was short-lived. Martin and Mir cut through on lap two, and Miller down to third, then it was fourth, then fifth – the Australian was going backwards after briefly leading.
The Suzukis were charging though – hard. Mir was harassing Martin, before Bagnaia then used the GP21’s superior grunt to take P2 off the 2020 Champion. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) then snuck past Mir at turn six on lap three, as the top four – Martin, Bagnaia, Rins and Mir – started to create a gap to now fifth-placed Quartararo. Miller was down to P6, seemingly struggling in the early stages.
The race then settled as the front runners held station, but Martin, Bagnaia and Rins were now 0.7s ahead of Mir. After a few laps of following the World Champion, Miller was back through on Quartararo and up to P5, as Rins set the fastest lap of the race. However, at turn six on lap 11 of 27, Rins then went down. The Spaniard tucked the front of his GSX-RR, handing teammate Mir third.
Rossi, meanwhile, was now 10th, 0.6s down on Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) who, as things stood, was losing out on the Rookie of the Year crown with Martin leading.
Bagnaia was swarming all over the back of the race-leading rookie though and with 12 laps to go, at turn 14, Pecco pounced. Now, with some clear air, what could the Italian do? The fastest lap, a 1:31.042, came next and the hammer was well and truly down. His mentor Rossi was still 10th with 11 laps to go, but VR46 Academy’s first World Champion and fellow Yamaha star Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was right behind him.
Up front though, Martin was not letting Bagnaia pull clear. On two consecutive laps, the rookie was quicker than Bagnaia, and a second or so behind, Miller grabbed P3 off Mir at turn two. It was a Ducati 1-2-3 with eight laps to go, and history was on the cards for the Bologna factory. Miller wasn’t done yet either, the Australian 1.3s back when he passed Mir, but by five laps to go, he was just 0.7s off Martin.
With two laps of the season to go, Bagnaia was 0.8s clear of Martin and it seemed the battle would be for second. Miller was closer than ever to Martin, but the rookie was holding firm. Unable to make a move, Miller couldn’t quite make it a factory Ducati 1-2 as Bagnaia crossed the line to win for a fourth time in 2021, although Martin clinched the Rookie of the Year crown with a P2 – his fourth podium of the season. Miller, in third, helps Ducati make history with their first 1-2-3 in MotoGP with his fifth rostrum. In addition, Bagnaia’s P1 and Miller’s P3 helps Ducati take the Teams’ Championship, adding to their Constructors’ crown.
Mir held onto P4 by just 0.2s in the end as Quartararo homed in, but El Diablo takes P5 to cap off a title-winning season. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) was P6, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was P7, with Bastianini’s P8 was not quite good enough for the Rookie of the Year title – nine points split the Italian and Martin in the end. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) struggled in the latter stages and slipped to P9, finishing one place ahead of The Doctor.
Rossi took P10, where he started, to bow out in style.
Morbidelli crossed the line less than a second away from Rossi as the Italian now aims to get fully fit for 2022, Andrea Dovizioso (Petronas Yamaha SRT) had a good final weekend of the season to finish in P12, and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol), Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and WorldSBK-bound Lecuona take home the final points of 2021.
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) joined Rins in suffering a DNF in Valencia, the Japanese rider was okay after his turn six crash.
MotoGP (Top 10)
1. |
Francesco Baganai |
(Duc) |
|
2. |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.489 |
3. |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.823 |
4. |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 5.214 |
5. |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 5.439 |
6. |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 6.993 |
7. |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 8.437 |
8. |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 10.933 |
9. |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 12.651 |
10. |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 13.468 |
Moto2
Remy Gardner is the 2021 FIM Moto2 World Champion! Heading in with a 23-point advantage, the Australian needed to take a handful of points in the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana to wrap up the crown, and that he did with a 10th-place finish. After a season of consistency with 12 podiums, of which five have been victories, the number 87 kept his nerve to the last to become a World Champion.
In a tense, red-flagged race, Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was crowned the 2021 Moto2 World Champion after finishing P10 on Sunday afternoon. Teammate and title rival Raul Fernandez won for an eighth time to finish just four points down in the overall standings, as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) claim podiums.
The Moto2 title-decider got underway but a crash that involved Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46), Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) brought out the red flags, with an oil spillage occurring between turns two and three. All riders were okay, a brief pause in proceedings happened with a clean-up operation underway, before the race got back underway.
However, after claiming his first pole since 2012 on Saturday, Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) pulled into pitlane after the warm up lap – and the experienced Italian was out of the race with some sort of issue. On track, Augusto Fernandez led Raul Fernandez into Turn 1, with the latter taking the lead at turn six on lap two. Gardner, meanwhile, made a steady start and was ninth.
Raul Fernandez wasn’t having it all his own way though. Di Giannantonio came through on the Spaniard to lead on Lap 4, with Gardner slipping backwards. Jorge Navarro (Termozeta Speed Up), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) all passed Gardner and suddenly, the Australian was P11 – and had former teammate Tetsuta Nagashima (Italtrans Racing Team) swarming all over the back of him. Still, though, as things stood – Raul Fernandez P2, Gardner P11 – the title was heading to Gardner.
With six laps to go, Gardner found a way past Lüthi at Turn 4 into P10. The top three – Diggia, Raul Fernandez and Augusto Fernandez – were split by nothing, with Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) 1.2s back on the podium scrap in P4. Then, with four to go, Raul Fernandez pounced on Diggia at turn two. A classic block pass from the Spaniard saw him take the lead, but with Gardner 10th, it still wasn’t enough. Gardner, in turn, was two seconds behind Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) in ninth, and 0.6s ahead of Nagashima in 11th.
Two laps to go. Raul Fernandez P1, Gardner P10. Diggia and Augusto Fernandez were still in touch with the race leader, while Gardner was keeping Nagashima at bay.
Last lap. 0.3s was the advantage Raul Fernandez held over Diggia and Augusto Fernandez, Gardner was still 10th – good enough. The biggest lap of Gardner’s life was coming up, Raul Fernandez was holding up his end of the bargain, so was Gardner. Raul Fernandez crossed the line to take a wonderful, mesmorising eighth victory of the season, but taking the chequered flag in P10 was the 2021 Moto2™ World Champion – Remy Gardner!
Diggia and Augusto Fernandez finished just behind Raul Fernandez in P2 and P3, rookie Vietti ends his campaign with an equal-best result in P4. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) rounded out the top five, with Vierge finishing P6 despite being involved in the red-flagged crash, a great result for the Spaniard who heads off to WorldSBK in 2022.
Lowes, Navarro and Schrötter crossed the line in sevnth, eighth and ninth, respectively, before Gardner claimed 10th. It was a nervy race, but 10th was more than good enough. Nagashima claimed P11, Lüthi – in his final Grand Prix – notched up P12 as we bid a fond farewell to the fourth highest Grand Prix appearance maker. Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40), Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) and WorldSBK-bound Hafizh Syahrin (NTS RW Racing GP) claimed the final points.
Moto2 (Top 10)
1. |
Raul Fernandez |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
|
2. |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) |
+0.517 |
3. |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.786 |
4. |
Celestino Vietti |
(SKY Racing Team VR46) |
+2.393 |
5. |
Aron Canet |
(Liqui Moly Intact GP) |
+4.978 |
6. |
Xavi Vierge |
(Petronas Sprinta Racing) |
+5.091 |
7. |
Sam Lowes |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+5.415 |
8. |
Jorge Navarro |
(Termozeta Speed Up) |
+5.808 |
9. |
Marcel Schrotter |
(Liqui Moly Intact GP) |
+7.941 |
10. |
Remy Gardner |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+9.112 |
Saturday
MotoGP
For the fourth time in his rookie season, Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) will start on pole position as Ducati dominated the final MotoGP™ qualifying session of the season at the 2021 Valencia MotoGP. The Spaniard beat Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) by just 0.064s with his sublime 1:29.936, while Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) made it a Ducati front row lockout. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT), in his last-ever MotoGP™ qualifying session, claimed a classy P10.
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the nearest competitor to the Ducatis in Q2 and bags P4, the 2020 World Champion beat fifth fastest Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) by less than a tenth, with Rins coming through Q1 to make it two GSX-RRs in the top six in qualifying – a rare sight.
Binder will spearhead Row 3 in P7, the South African will launch one place ahead of 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). It’s been a quiet and tricky weekend so far for the Frenchman, and a P8 in qualifying isn’t what he’d have been looking for. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) finished P9, one place ahead of Rossi in P10.
10th for the nine-time World Champion in his final qualifying session is a job well done by the 42-year-old. It’s safe to say the Italian thoroughly enjoyed himself out there in the glistening sun, in front of a packed crowd, and now, Rossi will set his sights on ending his glistening career on a high. Morbidelli and FP3 pacesetter Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) will line-up in P11 and P12 for the season finale.
2021 Valencia MotoGP Results—Saturday
1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
1:29.936 |
2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.064 |
3 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.064 |
4 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.459 |
5 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.482 |
6 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.539 |
7 |
Brad Binder |
(Duc) |
+ 0.573 |
8 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.573 |
9 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.708 |
10 |
Valentino Rossi |
(Yam) |
+ 0.810 |
11 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.845 |
12 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 1.088 |
Moto2
In some ways, that was a fitting way to end qualifying in 2021. Remarkably, Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) claimed a first pole position since the 2012 Aragon GP in Moto2 at Valencia in Q2, after coming through Q1. It was a session that saw title-chasing Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crash, but the Spaniard starts P5, with World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) going for title glory from P8. Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) bag front row starts.
2021 Valencia Moto2 Results—Saturday
1 |
Simone Corsi |
(MVA) |
1:34.956 |
2 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 0.049 |
3 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.070 |
4 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 0.078 |
5 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.080 |
6 |
Tom Lüthi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.135 |
7 |
Aron Canet |
(Bos) |
+ 0.147 |
8 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
+ 0.161 |
9 |
Jorge Navarro |
(Bos) |
+ 0.197 |
10 |
Sam Lowes |
(Kal) |
+ 0.223 |
17 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.664 |
18 |
Cameron Beaubier |
+ 1.005s |
|
Moto3
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will start from pole position for the first time in Grand Prix racing, an accolade he was ravenous for heading into the Valencian season final. The 2021 World Champion smashed his final lap, setting a 1:38.668 to beat Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) by 0.310s, as Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) completes the front row for Sunday’s race.
2021 Valencia Moto3 Results—Saturday
1 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
1:38.668 |
2 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.310 |
3 |
Izan Gievara |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.385 |
4 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.392 |
5 |
Filip Salač |
(KTM) |
+ 0.424 |
6 |
Lorenzo Fellon |
(Hon) |
+ 0.465 |
7 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
+ 0.466 |
8 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.475 |
9 |
Niccolo Antonelli |
(KTM) |
+ 0.481 |
10 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.641 |
2021 Valencia MotoGP News—Friday
Marquez facing another Winter of healing
Marc Marquez was absent once again from the MotoGP paddock after the ‘slight concussion’ that was initially reported on 30th October was revealed as being a ‘new episode of diplopia‘ (double vision).
The concerning news for the eight-time champ was a knock on the head led to him reinjuring the eye that caused him to miss out on the 2011 Moto2 world title. The bang to his head has led to the “paralysis of the fourth right nerve with involvement of the right superior oblique muscle… This fourth right nerve is the one that was already injured in 2011,” said Doctor Sánchez Dalmau, the same Ophthalmologist that treated Marquez in the past.
There is no return date. Marquez will miss the first preseason test at Jerez next week. And going off his recovery from his 2011 injury, this could take months for his vision to improve. “It’s not a bone – it’s something more complicated, more delicate,” said Team Manager Alberto Puig. “You have to be calm and see how it goes. It’s not so easy to know how the eye can react but the doctor was positive. But he mentioned we have to be patient. Life brings you situations where you have to be patient because there is no other option. He’ll take this with calm.”
Aprilia tailing off
After so much early-season promise, Aprilia’s 2021 campaign has notably tailed off, much to the frustration of lead rider Aleix Espargaro. The arrival of Maverick Viñales in September was meant to push the RS-GP and the project onto the next level. Instead, the machine has struggled to generate heat in its tires in the cooler track temperatures present at European tracks in the autumn.
“I don’t give a shit that it’s cold,” railed Espargaro after a “shit” opening day in Valencia. “I don’t know what is going on, I don’t know what Aprilia is doing. I’m very angry,” he said.
Detailing his issues, the Catalan continued, “It’s not possible that a heavy rider like me in a cold race like Misano or other races, I am the rider that has the coldest tire temperature of the grid. That is not possible. We’re doing something wrong in that area. Also, our bike is too rigid. When the grip is perfect and there are no bumps, we can have a super stable bike that allows me to be fast. But you never have the perfect grip or tarmac. We have to make the bike softer to generate grip to turn a bit better, because off brakes the bike is not turning enough.”
Rivalries the icing on Rossi’s career
Starting the 432nd grand prix of his 26-year career in the world championship, Valentino Rossi had the chance to cast a nostalgic eye over all he had accomplished once more. Each one of the 42-year old’s championship-winning bikes – all nine of them – were present in the paddock, and the nine-time World Champion once again fielded questions in a special press conference.
It was there where Rossi revealed the various rivalries he had throughout a glittering career were memories that stood out in particular. “The rivalry in all the sports at the top level and maybe especially MotoGP is something you don’t like a lot, but is fantastic for give the maximum and overtake your limits and find something inside that maybe you don’t know you have,” Rossi said.
“I have great, great rivalry in my career. I enjoy a lot. Especially the first part because I won more! The second part I lose more. But anyway, I enjoy. I want to say [the best] was with (Max) Biaggi, because two Italians and also in Italy have a great movement around. But also with (Casey )Stoner, (Jorge) Lorenzo, at then at the end with (Marc) Marquez, and with all the guys in the last years I always enjoy. It’s something that after you remember in a positive way, as something special.”
Friday
MotoGP
In a dry MotoGP FP2, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller landed the fastest lap to take the final day one honor of the season. The Australian set a 1.30.927 on Friday at the 2021 Valencia MotoGP to beat second-place Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) by 0.012s, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) seeing the top three split by a mere 0.068s.
You could split the top trio with a tire blanket, but then there’s a bit of a gap to Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in fourth. The Spaniard is 0.409s down on P1, while Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) rounded out the top five—0.4s shy also. Taka Nakagami had a solid opening day in P6, the Japanese rider is ahead of 2020 World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in seventh and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in eighth. Andrea Dovizioso (Petronas Yamaha) slipped to P9 by the time FP2 had ended but a top 10 is a fantastic Friday result for the Italian, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) occupies P10 ahead of Saturday’s action.
Valentino Rossi ended his final Friday as a MotoGP rider in 21st, while fellow farewell rider Danilo Petrucci was 15th.
2021 Valencia MotoGP Results—Friday
1 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
1:30.927 |
2 |
Pol Espargaro |
(Hon) |
+ 0.012 |
3 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.068 |
4 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 0.409 |
5 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.469 |
6 |
Takaaki Nakagami |
(Hon) |
+ 0.500 |
7 |
Joan Mir |
(Suz) |
+ 0.586 |
8 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 0.594 |
9 |
Andrea Dovizioso |
(Yam) |
+ 0.670 |
10 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.676 |
Moto2
Day 1 of the Moto2 title-deciding weekend is done and dusted and coming out on top by just 0.008s was World Championship leader Remy Gardner. The Australian’s 1:35.857 in a dry FP2 saw him beat Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate and rival Raul Fernandez by that slender gap, setting us up nicely for the next two days. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completed the top three, the Spaniard was 0.041s down on Gardner.
2021 Valencia Moto2 Results—Friday
1 |
Remy Gardner |
(Kal) |
1:35.857 |
2 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0 .008 |
3 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.041 |
4 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
+ 0.087 |
5 |
Xavi Vierge |
(Kal) |
+ 0.115 |
6 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.253 |
7 |
Stefano Manzi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.261 |
8 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Kal) |
+ 0.304 |
9 |
F. Di Giannantonio |
(Kal) |
+ 0.334 |
10 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.377 |
20 |
Cameron Beaubier |
Kal |
+0.960 |
24 |
Joe Roberts |
Kal |
+1.097 |
Moto3
Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) ended Day 1 at Valencia the summit thanks to his pace in a dry FP1, with Moto3 FP2 run on a drying track. Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the top three, with Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) topping the times in FP2.
2021 Valencia Moto3 Results—Friday
1 |
Izan Guevara |
(GasGas) |
1:39.561 |
2 |
Darryn Binder |
(Hon) |
+ 0.048 |
3 |
Andrea Migno |
(Hon) |
+ 0.193 |
4 |
Filip Salac |
(KTM) |
+ 0.209 |
5 |
Pedro Acosta |
(KTM) |
+ 0.332 |
6 |
Yuki Kunii |
(Hon) |
+ 0.436 |
7 |
Romano Fenati |
(Hus) |
+ 0.473 |
8 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(KTM) |
+ 0.478 |
9 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GasGas) |
+ 0.497 |
10 |
John McPhee |
(Hon) |
+ 0.521 |
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