Fabio Quartararo became this Sunday the first French rider in history to become world motorcycle champion in the premier category, after the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna, which saw him finish fourth while his rival Francesco Bagnaia fell with five laps from the end. History!
The day of glory has arrived for Fabio Quartararo! No need to do apothecary calculations until the end of the season, the French driver has converted his first match point, and here he is world champion from this Sunday, October 24, 2021 which will go down in the history of French sport. ! At 22, the Niçois became the first French world champion in the history of the premier class, the one called MotoGP since 2002. For 22 laps, during this Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna, the Frenchman believed that he would have to wait for the Grand Prix of Portugal, in two weeks, to get the title, despite a good comeback on the Misano circuit (he was then 5th), but five laps from the finish, his rival Francesco Bagnaia, leading the race and not really worried by his runner-up Marc Marquez, made a mistake and fell! A fall synonymous with a world title for Quartararo, whatever his final place.
Quartararo’s tears
He finally crossed the line in fourth position, behind Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro and Enea Bastianini, and just ahead of Johann Zarco. A fourth place which is more than enough for his happiness. In tears during the lap of honor, then when the giant screens showed the most beautiful images of his short but already glorious career, in front of the fans of Valentino Rossi, the legend who was playing his last Grand Prix at home, Fabio Quartararo could shake the French flag and his gold helmet of world champion. Here he is rewarded for his immense work, and at only 22 years old, he can already dream of other triumphs.
A climb up and many falls
Starting 15th after missing his qualifications, Fabio Quartararo even dropped to 17th place during the first lap, while Francesco Bagnaia had a rather quiet start. But the Frenchman quickly started his rally, and finally found himself fifth after 18 laps. He did not have much hope of finishing in a better place, since Miguel Oliveira, who preceded him, was more than eight seconds in front of him. But it was without counting on Bagnaia, who went to the ground, like Joan Mir, Alex Marquez, Jack Miller or Danilo Petrucci during the previous rounds, and therefore offered on a plateau the world title to his French rival. In Portugal on November 7 then in Valencia on the 14th, Fabio Quartararo will have the opportunity to run without pressure. He is the 2021 world champion!
Acosta still not sacred in Moto3, Gardner lucky in Moto2
In Moto3, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had the opportunity to become the youngest world champion in history, at age 17. But the coronation of the Spaniard will wait. Third in the Grand Prix behind Denis Foggia (Leopard Racing), who won his fifth race of the season, and his teammate Jaume Masia, Acosta sees Foggia come back to 21 points, but he will have another opportunity to be titled in Portugal in two weeks. Frenchman Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) took 19th place. In Moto2, the suspense remains, after the victory of Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), his third of the season, ahead of his teammate Augusto Fernandez and Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2). Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), seventh in the Grand Prix, retains the lead in the general classification with now 18 points ahead of his teammate Raul Fernandez, who missed the boat by falling heavily (but not seriously, a priori) then that he was leading the Grand Prix halfway through the race.
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Quartararo in the firmament!