MotoGP™: Quartararo uncatchable at Silverstone

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) dominated Round 12 of the 2021 MotoGPTM World Championship at Silverstone, Great Britain, to notch up his fifth victory of the campaign. He led comfortably for most of the Monster Energy British Grand Prix to beat Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR), while Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) harvested Aprilia’s maiden MotoGPTM podium finish. The top six places featured six different bikemakers – a first in MotoGPTM history and further evidence of the MICHELIN Power range’s outstanding versatility.  

Quartararo started from third on the grid but eased past pole-sitter Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) to take control on the fifth of the afternoon’s 20 laps. He then took advantage of the grip provided by his front soft and medium rear MICHELIN Power Slick tires to pull three seconds clear of the Honda rider by the halfway mark.

He went on to finish 2.6 seconds clear of Rins (medium MICHELIN Power Slicks) who fought back from 10th at lights-out to pocket second, while Espargaro earned his first top-three finish on Michelin rubber in addition to claiming Aprilia’s maiden MotoGPTM podium placing.

Fourth, fifth and sixth places fell to Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who put six different bikemakers in the top six for the first time in MotoGPTM history.

Given the relatively mild conditions (air: 18°C / track: 22°C), none of the riders chose hard tires for the race, with the majority opting for mediums front and rear.

The result has extended Quartararo’s lead in the Riders’ standings to 65 and 69 points respectively over Joan Mir (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing).

Next round: Gran Premio TISSOT de Aragón, Spain (September 10-12).