MotoGP Jerez: Jack Miller secures an emotional maiden Ducati victory

Published: 02 May 2021

Jack Miller clinched an emotional victory at Jerez

There were celebrations throughout the MotoGP paddock this afternoon as Jack Miller secured a brilliant maiden victory as a factory Ducati rider.

The Aussie was able to take full advantage when runaway leader Fabio Quartararo suddenly fell back into the pack with a yet unknown issue. Miller had made a fantastic start and led in the opening stages before being caught by the Frenchman.

Moto2: Fabio Di Giannantonio wins for Gresini Racing

Miller still had plenty to do when in re-took the lead, but he kept his cool and crossed the line to secure a maiden dry weather MotoGP win. Miller’s one and only other victory came at Assen in the wet in 2019. Remarkably, it’s Ducati’s last victory at Jerez came in 2006 via Loris Capirossi.

Francesco Bagnaia capped off a fantastic day for Ducati by taking second spot. It’s the first Ducati one-two since the 2018 Czech Grand Prix at Brno, when Jorge Lorenzo led home Andrea Dovizioso. Bagnaia now leads the championship by two points ahead of Quartararo.

Franco Morbidelli secured his first podium of 2021 on his 2019 A-Spec Yamaha M1 in third spot – a position he held for the majority of the race.

Takaaki Nakagami equalled his best premier class result in fourth spot after holding of the challenge of reigning champion Joan Mir and Aleix Espargaro. It’s the latter second consecutive sixth place finish on the new Aprilia RS-GP.

Maverick Vinales’ race never really got going in seventh. The Monster Energy Yamaha rider opted to go for the soft front tyre rather than the medium used by most of the grid.

Johann Zarco was eighth ahead of the recovering Marc Marquez. The Repsol Honda rider suffered two huge crashes over the course of the weekend which would have no doubt played on his mind today. Teammate Pol Espargaro completed the top 10.

Miguel Oliveira was the best placed KTM rider in 11th ahead of HRC wildcard Stefan Bradl. Quartararo eventually crossed the line 13th after dropping down the order. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi endured yet another difficult weekend in 17th behind his half-brother Luca Marini.

Alex Marquez’s difficult year continued the opening lap, with the LCR Honda rider hitting the deck at turn eight. On the following lap Brad Binder crashed at turn two, before Suzuki’s Alex Rins’ had a slow fall at turn six on lap three.

Binder would crash again on lap 13 at turn 13 and retired from the race, whilst Enea Bastianini also crashed out at turn two.

Moto2 Jerez: Fabio Di Giannantonio secures maiden intermediate class victory

First published: 2 May 2021 at 12:19 by Josh Close

Fabio Di Giannantonio dominated the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez to secure his first-ever Moto2 victory.

The Federal Oil Gresini rider took the lead heading into the first corner at the start of the race and was untouchable from that moment onwards. Di Giannantonio was able to post 1:41.6s at ease and crossed the line with an advantage of 1.722s. At one stage, the Italian was almost three seconds clear.

Moto3: Pedro Acosta seals his third consecutive victory

It’s the first Moto2 victory for the late Fausto Gresini’s team since Sam Lowes’ win at Aragon in 2016 and the team’s first in all classes since the passing of Gresini earlier this year.

Marco Bezzecchi bounced back from an error on the opening lap to take second spot ahead of a resurgent Lowes. The Brit struggles in the first half of the race but found some pace in the latter stages, picking off the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo of Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez.

Fernandez held a podium position for most of the race but once again suffered for grip in the last few laps. It’s something to work on for Fernandez, but it’s also worth remember that he’s a rookie in the intermediate class.

Today’s result means that Gardner’s lead in the standings has been cut to three points by Lowes. Fernandez and Bezzecchi are a further three and seven points back respectively, whilst Di Giannantonio is only 17 points behind Gardner.

Xavi Vierge was the best of the rest in sixth spot ahead of Ai Ogura and Joe Roberts. Aron Canet and Marcel Schrotter completed the top 10 at Jerez.

Augusto Fernandez and Nicolo Bulega both crashed out at turn six on the third lap of the race in separate incidents. On the following lap Somkiat Chantra suffered a high-speed crash at turn 11 and was seen clutching his wrist as he walked away from his bike. Hector Garzo was another faller in the early stages of the race, crashing at turn six.

2020 Moto3 champion Albert Arenas suffered his second crash of the weekend at turn eight on lap 13, whilst Simone Corsi hit the deck at turn 11 a few laps later. Corsi’s MV Agusta Forward Racing bike was wrecked in the aftermath after flipping multiple times in the gravel.

Cameron Beaubier was the final faller in the race, with the American crashing out at turn nine on the last lap whilst chasing down a top 10 position. Jake Dixon did not take part in today’s race after being diagnosed with a concussion following his crash at turn seven in the warmup session.

Moto3 Jerez: Pedro Acosta creates more history with third consecutive win

First published: 2 May 2021 at 11:09 by Josh Close

Moto3 rookie sensation Pedro Acosta continued his fantastic start to life as a Grand Prix rider by winning the Spanish GP at Jerez.

The 16-year-old came out on top in a battle with Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Jaume Masia and Red Bull Tech3 KTM’s Deniz Öncü. Acosta dived down the inside of both riders at turn six on the final lap, holding the racing line perfectly as he trail-braked into the corner.

Moto2: Remy Gardner breaks the lap record to take pole

Acosta then perfected the final corner to avoid the chaos behind him and clinch his third consecutive victory of the 2021 season. The Spaniard has created yet more history by becoming the first rider in history to take four podiums in his first four Grand Prix races. It’s also Red Bull KTM Ajo’s fifth straight victory in the lightweight class.

Behind him, Öncü tucked the front at the final corner (turn 13) and wiped out Masia and Darryn Binder in the process. Masia and Binder remounted and crossed the line in 21st and 22nd respectively. The incident is under investigation by the FIM stewards.

Acosta was joined on the podium by veteran Romano Fenati and Jeremy Alcoba. It’s Fenati’s first podium since his victory at Misano 2 last year. It was a mighty effort from Alcoba as well considering that he had to complete a double long lap penalty.

Andrea Migno was fourth ahead of Ayumu Sasaki, whilst Carlos Tatay bounced back from his own long lap penalty to take sixth. Jason Dupasquier finished seventh after battling through from 14th on the grid, whilst Niccolo Antonelli, Xavier Artigas and Ryusei Yamanaka completed the top 10.

John McPhee’s race ended on the opening lap when the Scot suffered a highside coming out of turn seven. The Petronas Sprint Racing rider’s title hopes are all but over already this year as he has zero points from the opening four races.

Gabriel Rodrigo crashed out dramatically from the lead of the race a few laps later. The Indonesian Gresini Racing suffered a massive highside at the now infamous turn seven and landed awkwardly on the tarmac. Rodrigo was seen limping away from his bike and has since been taken to the medical centre.

Polesitter Tatsuki Suzuki became the third faller of the race when he crashed out of 10th at turn two. It’s the Japanese rider’s sixth DNF in the last eight races. Dennis Foggia crashed out at turn nine on the 20th lap.

Acosta now holds a 51-point lead over Antonelli in the standings after recording 95 points from a possible 100 in the opening four races.

Moto2 Jerez: Remy Gardner takes pole with record-breaking lap

First published: 1 May 2021 by Josh Close

Remy Gardner clinched his first pole position of the 2021 Moto2 season after breaking the all-time lap record at Jerez.

The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider ended Sam Lowes’ 100% qualifying record this year by posting a fastest lap-time of 1:40.667. That time is 0.442s quicker than the old record set by Marcel Schrotter last year.

MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo secures his fourth straight Jerez pole

Fabio Di Giannantonio secured his best qualifying result of the season so far in second spot. It’s the best grid position for the Federal Oil Gresini rider since he took pole position for the San Marino GP at Misano in 2019.

Marco Bezzecchi completed the front row in third but was only 0.086s off Gardner’s pole time, whilst Raul Fernandez was a further 0.055s back in fourth spot. Lowes completed an extremely close top five, 0.116s behind Gardner.

Xavi Vierge completes row three ahead of Augusto Fernandez and Joe Roberts, whilst Ai Ogura was the leading class rookie in ninth. Jake Dixon completed the top 10 on the Petronas Sprinta Racing machine.

Aron Canet was 11th after crashing out at turn 13 – despite his best effort to hold on to the bike. Jorge Navarro, Niccolo Bulega and Marco Ramirez completed the top 14 Q2 positions.

Stefano Manzi lost his spot in Q2 after opting to remain in his pit box rather than go for one more final run in Q1. Bendsneyder duly took Manzi position inside the top four. Meanwhile, Hector Garzo and Lorenzo Baldassarri also failed to make it through and will line-up 20th and 21st respectively.

Yari Montella (27th on the grid) crashed out of Q1 at turn 11, whilst class rookie Celestino Vietti struggled down in 29th position.

Tomorrow’s Moto2 race is scheduled to begin at 11:20am (UK time).

MotoGP Jerez: Fabio Quartararo snatches fourth consecutive Spanish GP pole

First published: 1 May 2021 at 14:07 by Josh Close

Fabio Quartararo clinched his fourth consecutive pole position around the Jerez circuit in Spain to once again stamp his authority over the MotoGP field.

The Frenchman posted a quickest lap-time of 1:36.755 to beat Petronas Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli by just 0.057s. Quartararo will be full of confidence heading into tomorrow’s race given that he won both races at Jerez in 2020.

Moto3: Tatsuki Suzuki reigns supreme once again at Jerez

Morbidelli worked hard for his second spot on the grid. The Italian was forced to go through Q1 after having two laps cancelled in FP3 for exceeding track limits.

Jack Miller completes the front row after tucking in behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia for his final flying lap. Fortunately for Bagnaia, he was able to improve on his final flying lap and move up into fourth. It’s a great result for Ducati, who haven’t won at Jerez since Loris Capirossi’s success in 2006.

Takaaki Nakagami secured his best qualifying result of the season so far in fifth spot. The LCR Honda rider has reverted to the 2020 chassis and appears to have his confidence back as a result. Johann Zarco completes the top six for Pramac Racing Ducati.

Maverick Vinales will be hoping for a fast start from the third row in seventh. Vinales’ race pace looks strong, but it won’t count for much if he falls back on the opening lap. He’s joined on row three by Aleix Espargaro and Alex Rins.

Reigning champion Joan Mir has work to do from 10th on the grid, whilst Brad Binder and Stefan Bradl completed the Q2 positions.

Pol Espargaro missed out on a spot in Q2 by 0.057s and will start tomorrow’s race from 13th on the grid. Teammate Marc Marquez will start alongside him after a difficult day for both riders on the RC213V.

Marquez was taken to hospital as a precaution following a huge crash at turn seven during FP3, whilst Espargaro also suffered a carbon copy of that incident during FP4. Marquez was forced into making a couple of saves during Q1 and was unable to catch a tow behind any of the other riders.

Enea Bastianini is the leading rookie in 15th spot, ahead of Miguel Oliveira on the second factory KTM RC16. Oliveira had qualified 13th, but his lap-time was cancelled due to the Portuguese rider exceeding track limits.

Things didn’t get any better for Valentino Rossi. The nine-time world champion qualified 17th for the second successive race. Brother Luca Marini is 18th ahead of Danilo Petrucci and Alex Marquez.

Iker Lecouna, Lorenzo Savadori and the returning Tito Rabat complete the grid. Rabat is standing in for the injured Jorge Martin at Pramac Racing Ducati.

Tomorrow’s MotoGP race is due to begin at 13:00 (UK time).

Moto3 Jerez: Tatsuki Suzuki secures pole for Spanish Grand Prix

First published: 1 May 2021 at 12:42 by Josh Close

Tatsuki Suzuki’s remarkable qualifying form at Jerez continued this afternoon with the Japanese star securing pole position in Moto3.

The SIC58 Squadra Corse rider took pole in both of last year’s races at Jerez and qualified second in 2019. This year, Suzuki’s pole lap-time of 1:45.807 was 0.125s quicker than Jeremy Alcoba.

MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia ends day one on top

Andrea Migno completes the front row, despite missing out on an opportunity to set another flying lap-time. Migno failed to cross the line before the chequered flag was waved.

Gabriel Rodrigo leads row two in fourth spot, ahead of Romano Fenati and John McPhee. It’s Fenati’s best qualifying result of the season by some margin, with his previous best being 14^th.

Darryn Binder’s Q2 session came to a premature end due to a big highside at turn seven. Fortunately for the South African, he had already recorded a respectable lap-time and will start the race from seventh.

Ayumu Sasaki, Niccolo Antonelli and Deniz Oncu completed the top 10. Antonelli was another rider who mistimed his out lap in the closing seconds of the session. Championship leader Pedro Acosta will start the race from 13th after coming through from Q1.

Fellow Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Jaume Masia qualified 15th after crossing the line after the clock had hit zero.

Ryusei Yamanaka missed out on a spot in Q2 by just 0.076s following an entertaining final flying lap which saw him battle Acosta. Sergio Garcia will start tomorrow’s race down in 21st, whilst Dennis Foggia’s struggles at Jerez continued down in 23rd. The Leopard Racing rider has failed to finish three of the four races that he’s competed in at the Spanish circuit.

Tomorrow’s Moto3 race is scheduled to begin at 10am (UK time).

MotoGP Jerez: Francesco Bagnaia takes control on day one

First published: 30 April 2021 by Josh Close

Francesco Bagnaia continued his impressive start to life as a factory Ducati rider by topping Friday’s combined timesheets at Jerez.

The Italian, who currently sits second the championship, posted the quickest lap-time of the day with a 1:37.209. The only rider to get close to Bagnaia was the current series leader Fabio Quartararo on the Monster Energy Yamaha.