MotoGP™: Oliveira and Michelin rewarded for polished Barcelona performance

The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya (Round 7 of the 2021 MotoGPTM World Championship) was won by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Miguel Oliveira. Aided by the grip and longevity of his MICHELIN Power Slicks, the Portuguese rider produced a confident and consistent run to beat Johann Zarco (2nd, Pramac Racing) and Jack Miller (3rd, Ducati Lenovo Team). Fourth-placed Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) still tops the provisional standings. 

Seven races into the season, and after qualifying fourth on the grid, Oliveira became the fourth different winner of the 2021 MotoGPTM campaign.

Running on hard-compound MICHELIN Power Slicks front and rear, the factory KTM rider appeared in second place on the first of the race’s 24 laps and eased into the lead the next time around.

Oliveira then warded off pressure from pole-winner Quartararo until the halfway point when the Frenchman led for two laps, but the KTM youngster soon recovered top spot.

Helped by the consistency of his tires, he went on to produce a series of quick laps that made sure of his first victory of the year, and his third at MotoGPTM level.

The Portuguese rider took the checkered flag 145 thousandths of a second clear of Zarco who was accredited with afternoon’s fastest race lap.

Quartararo was third over the line, but a three-second penalty for cutting two corners relegated him to fourth and handed the final podium placing to Miller. The Yamaha star was also handicapped in the closing stages by a problem with his leathers which became unzipped.After the race, for riding without his leather suit correctly fastened and without the required chest protector, Quartararo has been given a three-second time penalty. So he finished sixth.

Joan Mir (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) ended up fourth, ahead of Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo team), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Team), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Enea Bastinini (Avintia Esponsorama) rounded out the top 10.

All six MICHELIN Power Slick specs were used over the weekend, and five of them were selected for the grand prix around the new configuration of the Catalonian track which is reputed for its abrasive surface and repeated heavy braking. Only the front soft wasn’t chosen as the track temperature soared to 41°C, while four different specs finished in the top five as a further sign of the versatility of Michelin’s MotoGPTM range.

Quartararo continues to top the provisional Riders’ classification, 14 and 25 points clear respectively of Zarco and Miller.

The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya also hosted Round 3 of the FIM Enel MotoETM World Cup which was won by Miguel Pons (LCR E-Team) who was joined on the podium by Dominique Aegerter (2nd, Dynavolt Intact GP) and Jordi Torres (3rd, Pons Racing 40).

Next round: Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, Sachsenring, Germany (June 18-20).