The start of the season was unsatisfactory, as was the top speed of his Yamaha – MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo has been at odds with himself and the motorcycle world for the past few weeks. How unpredictable the premier class has become was shown once more yesterday. The Frenchman actually returned to winning ways. The 23-year-old triumphed in the Portuguese Grand Prix in front of compatriot and pole setter Johann Zarco (Ducati).
With his ninth MotoGP success, Quartararo also took the lead in the World Championship standings, level on points with Alex Rins (Suzuki), who was fourth on the day. Local hero Miguel Oliveira finished fifth on his KTM.
Quartararo had started from the second row and in the fifth race of the season had already taken over the first position from Joan Mir (Suzuki) after the third lap. The 2020 World Champion finally had to give up his hopes when the onrushing Ducati rider Jack Miller (Aus) cleared him. Rins managed to catch up brilliantly, rolling up the field from the very back on the 25 laps. “Honestly, I gave my all in Austin and also in Argentina. But our bike just feels really good on tracks like this. I can really attack there,” said Quartararo happily.
Moto3 was won by Sergio Garcia (GasGas). Moto2, which was suspended after a mass crash, was won by Joe Roberts (Kalex).
The only Austrian starter in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, Jakob Rosenthaler from Linz, finished eighth and eleventh in Portimao. Attnanger Max Kofler finished 19th and 20th at the second station of the Supersport World Championship in Assen with Ducati.
Source: Nachrichten
