MotoGP – Quartararo winner alone, Zarco on the podium, huge dumpling Espargaro

Demonstration of a Quartararo master of the elements, French double on the podium. The strongest by far, Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha factory) stunned the competition at the Catalunya Grand Prix on Sunday, signing his second victory this season, the tenth in his career. The Niçois won hands down ahead of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac), second, and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac), third opportunist after a crazy last lap. So on the podium, Aleix Espargaro celebrated his good turn too early, and let slip big points in the fight for the title. El Diablo, always more leader of the general (147 points), did not ask so much.

The Ride of Quartararo, Bagnaia’s Nightmare

The paddock was warned, the Barcelona circuit suits the qualities of Fabio Quartararo, a real metronome of tire management. Launched in conditions made extreme by oppressive heat, the pilots played the tightrope walkers on a course with uncertain grip. A year after finishing the race in the open suit, the torso rid of the breastplate, El Diablo this time did not suffocate in the furnace of Barcelona. At the cost of a perfect takeoff, the Niçois avoided the pitfalls of the first corner, which did not spare the unlucky Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati), hit at the rear by Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda).

As the mid-season looms, the Frenchman’s announced rivals have been trapped by the overheated asphalt, like Enea Bastianini (Gresini), who fell after seven short laps of the race. Pushed by bleachers lined with tricolor flags, Quartararo delivered a flawless score, inflating his lead lap after lap. Never worried, the one who has already won here in 2020 and signed pole position last year has found an untenable pace for his opponents. On the line, Quartararo kept six seconds ahead of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac), heroic before going to operate on a suffering right hand.

Zarco can thank Espargaro who celebrated a lap too early

Behind the Madrilenian, Johann Zarco (3rd, Prima Pramac) offered, almost surprised, a French double on the podium. The Cannois, long fourth and guided by the hope of conquering the podium with the help of a hard rear tire, probably did not understand (like many) why Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), then second, released the gas. The Catalan, over-motivated on his land, celebrated his podium a lap too early, an extremely rare blunder at this level, as the pilots are showered with indications, whether on the panels or the dashboards. The runner-up to Quartararo in the general standings will take time to ruminate, he who had signed pole the day before, a track record as a bonus.

If Zarco can be satisfied with a 14th podium in the premier category and a 4th place overall, the big winner of the day is certainly called Quartararo. The reigning world champion has made the hole in the standings (147 pts), now 22 points ahead of Espargaro (2nd, 122 pts), and 53 lengths over Bastianini (3rd, 94 pts). The 2022 vintage is still long, and the Niçois is no exception to its cautious rhetoric. But given the form displayed on Sunday, the Frenchman has something more than the rest of the field.