Get 40% Off
🚨 Volatile Markets? Find Hidden Gems for Serious Outperformance
Find Stocks Now

UPDATE 2-Motorcycling-Miller cruises to Spanish GP win in Ducati one-two

Published 03/05/2021, 12:18 am
Updated 03/05/2021, 02:30 am

(Adds Quartararo comments)

May 2 (Reuters) - Ducati's Jack Miller edged out team mate Francesco Bagnaia to claim his first MotoGP win in five years at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on Sunday.

Australia's Miller used his Ducati's power to pip pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo off the start line, with the Frenchman slipping to fourth behind Petronas Yamaha SRT's Franco Morbidelli and Bagnaia on the opening lap.

Quartararo, who won both the races in Jerez last season, recovered over the next two laps to regain the lead and began to stretch his advantage to up to two seconds at the top.

However, the Yamaha rider was struck with an arm-pump problem that saw his pace drop significantly, allowing Miller to regain the lead with less than 10 laps remaining.

As Miller continued to build his advantage to over 1.5 seconds, Quartararo plummeted down the order as he was overhauled by his championship rivals.

"I had a big issue with the arm, so sad because I was feeling really easy in the front," Quartararo, who finished 13th, told reporters.

"We had amazing pace this weekend and then I just had no more power on the arm. Just so disappointed about it."

Quartararo, who underwent an arm-pump operation on the same right arm during his rookie season in 2019, said his team was evaluating options for him ahead of the French Grand Prix on May 16.

"It's something I don't understand," he added. "My brain is full of people telling me to go in one place, to go to the other. And actually right now I'm lost."

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Miller held off Bagnaia to take the chequered flag for the first time since winning the 2016 Dutch Grand Prix, while Morbidelli rounded out the podium.

"It's just indescribable what I'm feeling right now," said an emotional Miller. "I had done a lot of laps by myself this weekend and I knew I had reasonable pace.

"After Fabio took the lead, I didn't expect him to come back to me but he did.

"When I got past him, I just kept my head down and got as much as I could out of the last seven-eight laps - which felt like the longest I've ever had in my career."

Bagnaia now leads the world championship with 66 points, two clear of Quartararo.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.