Qualifying
Quali created a bit of a sensation as the rookie, but very capable Jorge Martin on his Pramac Racing Ducati took pole position. On the front row with him was Johann Zarco his teammate and Maverick Vinales, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP. Considering the drag bike starts Ducati has been making with their launch control system this must have been a daunting position for Maverick and his teammate Fabio Quartararo, who was on P5. Still, it’s never over until the well-proportioned lady has sung, and so it was for the second race at Losail in a week.
The Race
Off the line it was Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco, then soon Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia, Miguel Oliveira KTM, Alex Rins Suzuki, Joan Mir Suzuki, so where were the factory Ducatis? Miller 8th and Bagnaia 11th. It seems the Pramac boys have sussed the launch control better than the factory, or is it the same system, a mystery or just down to on the day good luck and positioning?
A couple of laps in and Jorge Martin had settled into a nice pace in the lead followed by Zarco, Rins, Aleix Espargaro, Oliveira and Joan Mir. Fabio Quartararo was eighth and Vinales a lowly 11th. With 17 to go Alex Rins managed to split the Pramac Ducatis for a few laps, but soon it was status quo with Martin and Zarco back in P1 and P2. Then Rins again, P2.
Nine laps to go and Jorge Martin was metronomic in the lead with Zarco second and Pecco Bagnaia now coming to play in third. Fabio Quartararo moving into fifth, on the move. Marquez crashed out. There was a bit of mixing it up between Miller and Rins, which slowed them both up.
Five laps to go and Fabio Q hit the front until he hit the straight when Martin’s Ducati blasted past him. That right there is the definition of frustration when you work your butt off in the corners and then get pinned on what our American cousins like to call the straightaway. Quartararo though was composed and looking like the Fabio of early 2020, the skill set showing through once more.
Then it happened, and it was sublime. Fabio hit the front and this time he was a man possessed, using the agility of his Yamaha to cut in on the corners, leaving no possibility of the Ducatis getting close, though they tried. Fabio gapped the red bikes as they, Martin and Zarco battled it out, and cleanly and with respect Johann took his teammate for second as Fabio placed first over the line.
The Result
The podium scene was a delight, with Fabio and Johann singing the La Marseillaise, fellow countrymen showing respect to France and themselves.
Fabio is back, having openly admitted to being unable to handle the pressure of the late 2020 season, he has put the demons behind him and is now El Diablo once more.
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Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
