Quartararo somehow extends his World Championship lead in a Japanese GP which had it all
This time of year always brings the MotoGP™ World Championship standings into sharp focus, but we don’t normally expect the focus to be on eighth position! Yet that is exactly what happened in a Motul Grand Prix of Japan which turned out to be one of the craziest races of the season so far. Despite finishing towards the back end of the top 10, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) extended his lead in the riders’ standings after his two nearest rivals scored dreaded ‘zeroes’.
Pecco’s crash makes it a good enough day for ‘El Diablo’
Quartararo might not be happy with how his own race at the Mobility Resort Motegi turned out, with the Frenchman unable to make his way forward after qualifying ninth. He only finished eighth but his Championship lead over Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) grew from 10 points to 18 on an even worse afternoon for the Italian. Pecco, too, struggled in traffic having started 12th, and those teams orders still aren’t in place if his battle with fellow Ducati rider Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was anything to go by. Still, Bagnaia had a chance to pass Quartararo on the final lap until he crashed under brakes at Turn 3 and recorded a DNF.
MUST-SEE: Bagnaia blunders last lap Quartararo overtake
No reward for Espargaro in an afternoon of toil
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) could at least lay claim to finishing, but the effect was the same as Bagnaia’s – zero points. The Spaniard jumped from one RS-GP to another when he pitted at the end of the sighting lap due to a technical drama and could only ride from last in the 25-strong field back to 16th, one position outside the points. It means that he is now 25 points, or the equivalent of a full race, behind Quartararo now.
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